The Best Slow Cooker Recipes

These are my absolute favorite slow cooker recipes. The ones I come back to again and again when I want something hearty, flavorful, and truly effortless.

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I’m a huge fan of my slow cooker. If you’ve been around Life’s A Tomato for any amount of time, you know it gets used at least a few times a week at my house. There’s just something unbeatable about being able to toss a few ingredients in the morning, go about your day, and come back to a house that smells amazing and dinner that’s basically done. No fuss, no standing over the stove, no last-minute scrambling.

Nothing Boring Here!

And let’s be honest – slow cooker food used to get a bad rap for being boring. Bland chicken, mushy vegetables, same old stew. Nothing boring here, just great easy recipes! I made sure every single recipe on this list is one I actually love to eat and serve to my family. These are the keepers.

What you’ll find below is a little bit of everything I crave when I’m in slow cooker mode. We’ve got stick-to-your-ribs comfort food like Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak with perfect texture and rich gravy, Cubed Steaks with Gravy, and Stuffed Cabbage Rolls that are ideal for those cold days when you want something that really warms you up. If soup season is your favorite season, you’re covered. From my Hearty Sausage and Beans Soup and Kielbasa Sauerkraut and Potato Soup to a New England Clam Chowder that turned out way better than I ever expected. There’s even a French Onion Soup packed with deep, caramelized flavor.

Ready To Party!

You’ll also find game-day and party favorites, like my Meat Lovers Chili loaded with three meats, Down-Home Chili Dogs that are gloriously sloppy and drippy, Party Shrimp that is hands-down the easiest way to feed a crowd, and even Ranch Corn Chips for snacking. And yes, classics like Beans ‘n Wieners, just like I loved as a kid, Spaghetti and Meatballs where the pasta cooks right in the sauce, and a Holiday Green Bean Casserole that will make you scrap the traditional version for good.

All of these recipes are tested in my own kitchen, designed to be low-effort with big payoff, and perfect for busy weeknights, cold weekends, or anytime you want real comfort food without the work. So dust off that slow cooker and let’s get cooking.

The List

1

Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil

I’ve eaten my share of shrimp boils. But honestly, there’s no such thing as having had too many shrimp boils.

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2

Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak

This slow cooker Salisbury steak meat patties not only tasted fantastic they had the perfect texture.

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3

Slow Cooker Hearty Sausage and Beans Soup

This soup is packed with flavor, despite how simple it is to make.

Check out this recipe

4

Slow Cooker Cubed Steaks with Gravy

Comfort food at its best!

Check out this recipe

5

Slow Cooker Kielbasa Sauerkraut and Potato Soup

You can leave out the caraway seeds if they aren't your favorite.

Check out this recipe

6

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup

Incredibly delicious comfort food!

Check out this recipe

7

Slow Cooker New England Clam Chowder

This slow cooker New England clam chowder was much. much better than I ever expected. 

Check out this recipe

8

Slow Cooker Down-Home Chili Dogs

Slow cooker down-home chili dogs are perfect for those lovers of sloppy, dripping, great dogs.

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9

Slow Cooker Ranch Corn Chips

Packed with Ranch flavor, you can't beat this simple snack recipe.

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10

Slow Cooker Kids’ Sloppy Joe

I like to keep these simple, like I remember as a kid.

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11

Slow Cooker Meat Lovers Chili

Three meats to satisfy any carnivore’s desires. The perfect combination of spices and heat. This is the perfect chili for a cold day.

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12

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Perfect on a cold day, this soup is packed with fantastic onion flavor.

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13

Slow Cooker Beans ‘n Wieners

When I was a kid bean n’ wieners were one of my favorites. Here I am many years later and well, nothing much has changed because I still love them. 

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14

Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs

Yummy meatballs in a flavorful sauce, with the pasta already mixed in. It really doesn’t get any easier.

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15

Slow Cooker Holiday Green Bean Casserole

We’ve all had it. The traditional holiday green bean casserole. Well, scrap that and move on to this slow cooker holiday green bean casserole. Same idea, but oh, so much better.

Check out this recipe

16

Slow Cooker Party Shrimp

This is absolutely the easiest way to cook up a big batch of shrimp for a party.

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17

Slow Cooker Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

It was a cold day. The kind of day that screams stick-to-your-ribs comfort food. These slow cooker stuffed cabbage rolls hit the spot and then some.

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18

Slow Cooker Chopped Corned Beef Reuben

There’s nothing fancy about this Reuben. It’s your standard fare. Slow-cooked corned beef, tender, and then chopped. Mixed in with well-rinsed and drained kraut. Easy dressing, cheese, and rye. Done.

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19

Slow Cooker Delta Sausage

Smoked sausage is great in this slow cooker Delta sausage dish, but if you find  Andouille sausage, use it instead. It’ll add even more flavor to an already delicious meal. 

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