10 Of The Best Crockpot Recipes You’ll Want To Try This Winter (2024)

You can set it and forget it. It wondrously decreases your dishwasher loads. It is the secret to that good old “fall off the bone” tender meat. What is this magical appliance you ask? It is the infamous crockpot! These nifty devices not only simplify your life but they yield some of the most delicious meals. The best crockpot recipes allow you hours of freedom to run errands and make sure your family has a fulfilling dinner. This winter, you’ll want some savory ideas to test out that will warm you up from the inside out. Whether you’re vegetarian, a soup, beef, or chicken lover, there is something for everyone among these 10 winter crock pot recipes that you will love.

Table of Contents

The Best Crockpot Recipes for Soup Lovers

Vegetarian: Slow Cooker Winter Vegetable Soup with Split Red Lentils

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This dish is definitely a winner when it comes to the best combination for warming your body and soul on a cold winter day. The soup is truly packed with vegetables, making a very fulfilling meal. It’s also a great healthy option as the split red lentils are high in fiber and protein. Begin by sauteing some onions and celery over the stove and transferring it to the crock pot. Throw in all the veggies, stock, and seasonings and stir. You’ll have a warm, tasty meal ready to go in 4-6 hours on high heat.

Find the full recipe on A Beautiful Plate.

Vegetarian: Tuscan Bread Soup

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Like most of the best crockpot recipes out there, with this one you’ll have to do some low heat cooking to prep before setting your crockpot on high heat. Once you’ve prepped, most of your soup ingredients will need to cook in the crock pot for only about 3-4 hours. After that time has passed you’ll stir in the good stuff – cavolo nero (Italian kale), parmesan, and bread! Let it cook on high heat for 30 more minutes and there you have it, a hearty, healthy, vegetarian soup.

The full recipe can be found on Taste.com.au

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

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The beauty of cooking meat in the crockpot is in the transformation that happens over time. A once tough, chewy piece of meat becomes amazingly tender just by slow cooking it. This chicken and wild rice soup recipe does just that to some whole chicken breasts that you shred after the slow cooking process. While your meat, rice and veggies are prepared in the crockpot, the milk mixture that will thicken the soup should be made on the side, over the stove.

You’ll want to head over to Simply Sisson for all the steps to create this tasty soup.

French Onion Soup with Meatballs

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Being a classic on its own sure helps to make this one of the best crockpot recipes. Combine your favorite fully cooked meatballs, onions, broth and your essential seasons in your crockpot and you’ve got this classic dish that will warm your soul. There is also the option to substitute some of the beef broth for some ale. After you set it and forget, the only step left is to add your bread and cheese to the top. This really adds the comfort factor.

Check out the full recipe at Taste of Home.

Read More: 50 Instant Pot Soup Recipes

Something for the Beef Lovers

Beef Chili

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Here’s another classic favorite done crockpot style. While beef is the common ingredient, feel free to substitute with ground chicken or turkey. You’ll start with caramelizing the onions and then browning your choice of meat in a skillet. While still over the stove add in your seasonings and let it cook for a couple more minutes. Next it all goes into the crockpot along with some broth and the remaining ingredients. Depending on how much time you’ve got you can cook on high for as little as 4 hours or on low for up to about 8 hours. Don’t forget your choice of toppings when serving!

You can find the full recipe over on Half Baked Harvest.

Winter Warm-Up Beef Simmer

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Now this is one the best crockpot recipes because this meal is perfect to come home to after a long chilly day. The recipe uses a combination of beef and bacon along with some hearty vegetables that are sure to warm you up from the inside. Start with the ingredients in saucepan over medium-high heat, allowing the meat to brown. Once that is achieved, your veggies will go into the crockpot along with the meat mixture. After about 8 hours it is ready to serve!

Find the full recipe right on the Land O’ Lakes website.

Balsamic Pot Roast

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This recipe conveniently calls for many ingredients you probably already have on hand, such as olive oil, garlic cloves, onion, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar. You may have to grab some dry red wine, carrots, potatoes and chicken broth. You’ll begin with searing the chuck roast on all sides before placing it into the crockpot. The secret to the flavor here is sauteing your onions and garlic, then adding the balsamic vinegar to them. At this point everything is ready to go into the crockpot and cooked on low for 6-8 hours.

The recipe with all the deets you need can be found in full on Delish.

Read More: 8 Whole 30 Instant Pot Recipes

The Best Crockpot Recipes Chicken Lovers Can’t Deny

Cambodian Chicken Curry

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This very tasty chicken curry dish is ready in as little as 6 hours on low heat. While you can use other parts of the chicken to create this one, using the thighs will be your best bet to retain some juices in the meat. All your ingredients begin and end in the crockpot. After those 6 hours you have a delicious chicken curry to put over some steamed rice and enjoy!

The full recipe for this hearty meal can be found on Taste.com.au.

Chicken with Vegetables

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Beginners, this one’s definitely for you! This is one of the best crockpot recipes to start your crockpot journey with. Add carrots, celery, potatoes and your whole chicken into the crockpot. Rub the seasonings all over the chicken. On low heat, your meal will be prepared in just 6-8 hours. That chicken will be ready for carving and your vegetables nice and tender.

Find the full recipe at Taste of Home.

Chicken Supreme

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Suprême de volaille, the origin of the title of this meal, is actually French for boneless, skinless chicken breasts. What makes this one of the best crockpot recipes is the fact that this is actually a classic crockpot recipe, perfect for when you’rey in the mood for a filling dinner that will be ready in as little as 4 hours!

Start by frying some bacon in a skillet, browning your chicken breasts, then creating a creamy soup in the same skillet one after the other. Along with the chicken and soup you’ll add some mushrooms to the crockpot and have those cook on low heat. Then comes the best part second to consuming this delicious dish, sprinkling some cheese and the bacon from earlier over the top. Mouth watering to say the least!

The full recipe for this “supreme” dish is over at The Spruce Eats.

Read More: 21 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes For Quick Autumn Meals

Wintertime or not, these meals are tasty all year round. The crockpot and these recipes will definitely come in handy when time isn’t on your side. The best crockpot recipes require minimal prep and will give you plenty of time to knock things off of your to do list during your day to day hustle and bustle. The end result is always an absolutely delicious, comforting dish that your friends and family will rave about. You’ll be a crockpot pro in no time after giving a few of these recipes a try. Bon appétit!

WANT TO READ MORE?

Wondering what’s for dinner again? Check out this list of Instant Pot Recipes for the Whole Family to get some more inspiration for your next meal.

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FAQs

10 Of The Best Crockpot Recipes You’ll Want To Try This Winter? ›

It is best to thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Frozen pieces will take longer to reach a safe internal temperature and could possibly result in foodborne illness. Frozen or partially frozen foods can also cool everything else in the slow cooker.

What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
  1. Raw Meat.
  2. Seafood.
  3. Pasta.
  4. Rice.
  5. Delicate Vegetables.
  6. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
  7. Dairy.
  8. Wine and Other Liquor.
Jan 19, 2024

Can I put frozen chicken in the crockpot? ›

It is best to thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Frozen pieces will take longer to reach a safe internal temperature and could possibly result in foodborne illness. Frozen or partially frozen foods can also cool everything else in the slow cooker.

Is a slow cooker healthy? ›

A slow cooker can help with eating healthily, as this way of cooking doesn't need much (if any) fat, which can help to lower the calorie content. It also intensifies flavours – which is helpful when cutting down on salt.

Can I use a crockpot instead of a slow cooker? ›

A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker. Crockpot popularized slow cookers when they launched their version in the 1970s.

What's the difference between slow cooker and crockpot? ›

However, Crockpots generally have ceramic or porcelain pots, while most slow cookers have a metal pot. As with a lot of cooking appliances, the biggest difference comes from the distribution of heat.

What is the best meat to cook in a slow cooker? ›

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

Why do they call it crack chicken? ›

Lansing, Michigan is home for the Crack Chicken. A great seasoning for all your favorite foods. Started in 2003, customers tried our famous chicken and came back for more. Their addiction to this delicious taste made them call it Crack Chicken, and that's how the name started, and cracked the food industry world.

Can you put raw chicken in a crockpot? ›

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

When should you not use frozen chicken? ›

Per FSIS-USDA guidelines, if kept frozen continuously, chicken will be safe indefinitely, so after freezing, it's not important if any package dates expire. For best quality, taste and texture, keep whole raw chicken in the freezer up to one year; parts, 9 months; and giblets or ground chicken, 3 to 4 months.

What is the healthiest meat to slow cook? ›

common lean roasts found in the grocery store
  • chuck tender roast. A lean roast that requires slow cooking to tenderize.
  • shoulder roast. An inexpensive chuck cut with good flavor and good for roasting or slow cooking.
  • rump roast. A boneless and lean cut ideal for slow cooking.
  • eye of round roast.

Can you put raw hamburger in Crockpot? ›

Place the ground beef into the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Break up the meat with a large spoon and add the water. Cover and cook on high for 2 to 3 hours or low for 4 to 6 hours. Once the beef is cooked through, carefully pour the excess grease and liquid from the slow cooker dish.

How safe is it to leave a slow cooker on all day? ›

Are slow cookers safe to leave on? Yes, it's safe to leave a slow cooker on when you leave the house. The purpose of a slow cooker is to allow you to cook while you aren't home. Slow cookers simmer food slowly, killing bacteria and raising meat to the perfect internal temperature.

Is 3 hours on high the same as 6 on low crockpot? ›

If a dish usually takes: 15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low. 1-2 hours, cook it for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low.

Can you put aluminum foil in a slow cooker? ›

Can You Put Aluminum Foil in the Slow Cooker? Over at America's Test Kitchen, they recommend using foil to help a slow cooker do its job, particularly with low liquid dishes like lasagna or sweet potato casserole.

Can I leave my slow cooker on low overnight? ›

Most appliances will automatically shut off after 20 or so hours on this setting, but you shouldn't leave food in a slow cooker for an extended length of time. The general rule of thumb is that 2-4 hours is the maximum length of time you can leave food in a slow cooker on warm.

Can you just throw everything into a slow cooker? ›

One of the main attractions for many people is the ease of a slow cooker, so when you're looking for recipes, avoid those that suggest a lot of pre-preparation. For many dishes, particularly soups and stews, you really can just throw all the ingredients in.

Is it safe to put raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

Research conducted by USDA FSIS indicates it's safe to cook large cuts of meat and poultry in a slow cooker.

Can you put raw hamburger in a slow cooker? ›

Absolutely, which is why you should always adjust times and amounts as needed. Smaller amounts of slow cooker hamburger only need a few hours before they are done.

What is the danger zone for a Crockpot? ›

A safe slow cooker, cooks slow enough for unattended cooking, yet fast enough to keep food out of the bacterial danger zone. In the danger zone (above 40°F to below 140°F), bacteria grows very rapidly.

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