55 Slow-Cooker Recipes That Will Warm Up Your Fall
Set it and forget your way to Cozytown.
Once fall finally rolls around, our stoves and ovens are positively packed with our favorite fall cookies, holiday sides, and maybe even a cheeky little warm cocktail too. Which is why we love to free up some space by breaking out our slow cookers to help us out all season long. So do yourself (and your oven) a huge favor during sweater weather season (amongst all your apple picking and pumpkin carving) by making some of these top fall comfort foods in your slow cooker instead. Best of all, if you're like us (and doing tons of fall baking), these recipes will also save you lots of time with dinner ideas you can truly set and forget so you can focus on what's most important (dessert). These 55 slow cooker recipes make all your fall cooking soooo easy—and will leave your kitchen smelling wonderful to boot!
When the temperatures dip, we're always looking for new ways to stay warm. And what better way to do that than with a steaming mug of slow-cooker mulled wine? (Well, our Crockpot red wine hot chocolate is pretty bomb.) Fall is also prime soup-making time. We're never mad about having leftovers of Crockpot butternut squash soup, Crockpot chicken enchilada soup, and slow-cooker split pea soup. Serve any of our slow-cooker soups with plenty of crusty French bread, and dinner practically makes itself!
Have too many apples from your most recent apple-picking trip? Bust out your slow-cooker for our Crockpot apple butter and Crockpot applesauce, or make these Crockpot baked apples for an impressive holiday dessert.
If you're hoping to take some of the stress out of Thanksgiving dinner, your slow-cooker is about to be your best sous chef in the kitchen. We have tons of Thanksgiving slow-cooker recipes that will help make your Turkey Day a total breeze (and make room in your oven for all those Thanksgiving pies). Try our recipes for Crockpot sweet potato casserole, Crockpot garlicky mashed potatoes, slow-cooker stuffing, and even Crockpot turkey breast to save tons of time (that you can use for that post-dinner nap).
Crockpot Cube Steak
Looking for a hearty slow-cooker recipe that you can set and forget until dinnertime? Look no further. This easy smothered cube steak is perfect for hungry crowds, best served with mashed potatoes and a light veggie side like spinach salad.
Get the Crockpot Cube Steak recipe.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Sure, everyone loves chicken noodle soup. But for some of us, there's nothing that soothes the soul like a big bowl of chicken tortilla soup. The slight kick from chili powder and fire-roasted tomatoes gives what could easily be a very boring bowl of soup a jolt of flavor and depth.
Slow-Cooker Quinoa Chili
Unlike traditional Texas chili, this one contains lots of beans, making it a high-protein vegan dish. A mix of vegetables come together with quinoa and beans, then marry with an array of spices to create a delicious and satisfying chili even meat-lovers will want seconds of.
Get the Slow-Cooker Quinoa Chili recipe.
Slow-Cooker Garlic-Parmesan Chicken
When you think Parm + chicken, you may be thinking of the melty, saucy chicken Parm, but you might like this version even more. All the flavor from the chicken thighs, butter, garlic, and thyme seep into the tender baby potatoes for a fully satisfying, comforting meal.
Slow-Cooker Korean Beef
This is not a drill: If you toss a pot roast (we went for bottom round roast, which doesn't break the bank) in the slow-cooker with a bunch of spices and soy sauce, you'll have killer Korean beef for dinner!
Get the Slow-Cooker Korean Beef recipe.
Slow Cooker Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
This vegan butternut squash soup is made in a slow cooker, so after you chop up all your vegetables, it’s essentially hands-off. A quick blitz with an immersion blender at the end, and you’ve got a silky, drinkable butternut squash soup.
Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Meatballs With Gnocchi
Everything about Tuscany speaks to us: the landscape, the history, the art, and, of course, the food! The central Italian region has inspired many of our favorite hearty recipes, like creamy Tuscan chicken, saucy Tuscan butter shrimp, and Tuscan chicken pasta. This time, we’re doubling down on the comfort by giving meatballs and gnocchi the Tuscan treatment, in one dish. What makes this even better? It all comes together in the slow cooker.
Get the Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Meatballs With Gnocchi recipe.
Slow-Cooker Pot Roast
When it comes to comfort food, there’s nothing better than a pot of warm, fragrant pot roast and potatoes. Some people might be intimidated at the thought of cooking such a large piece of meat, but in reality, pot roast is one of the easiest things you can make—and this recipe takes that simplicity to the next level by bringing in the slow cooker.
Get the Slow Cooker Pot Roast recipe.
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Fact: A game day party or movie night-in is only as good as the Buffalo dip you serve. The best part? Your slow cooker will keep it warm and ready for dipping! Go all out and make a batch of homemade soft pretzels to serve with it.
Get the Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.
Crockpot White Chicken Chili
Our slow-cooker white chicken chili couldn't be easier, and we love the texture it takes on once the beans are partially mashed. It might feel weird to use a potato masher in your slow cooker, but trust us, it's worth it!
Get the Crockpot White Chicken Chili recipe.
Shredded Beef
The flavor profile for our shredded beef recipe mimics our carne asada with the use of garlic, scallions, orange juice, and chipotle chiles in adobo, which makes it the perfect addition to taco night, your favorite leafy green salad, or a buttery, toasted brioche bun.
Get the Shredded Beef recipe.
Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
Is it even the holidays without this cozy side? This recipe makes green bean casserole even simpler; instead of using an oven, it can be mixed and cooked in your slow cooker. Save all that oven space for the holiday ham or turkey!
Get the Crockpot Green Bean Casserole recipe.
Slow-Cooker Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken
This slow-cooker creamy lemon herb chicken spends all day bubbling along and results in everything you want in a meal: delicious, comforting, and easy. By cooking low and slow, the humble chicken breast is transformed into something that melts in your mouth. Lemon, herbs, and garlic infuse the chicken with loads of flavor with some cream at the end to round out the sauce.
Crockpot Pepper Steak
Pepper steak is a straightforward, savory sweet stir-fry that we think works amazingly when made in a slow cooker. The steak gets very tender, and it takes on some of the qualities of your favorite beef stew while still staying true to the original.
Get the Crockpot Pepper Steak recipe.
Slow-Cooker Creamy Chicken & Potato Soup
The slow cooker makes the chicken completely fall apart while making the potatoes creamy and tender. Use your favorite curry powder to spice up the dish and make it even more comforting. If you aren’t a fan of kale, you can always use spinach or Swiss chard instead!
Crockpot Spaghetti Squash
News flash! You don't have to turn on your oven to make perfectly cooked spaghetti squash. Once you've cooked up your squash, why not put it to good use? Our four-cheese spaghetti squash is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. 😍
Get the Crockpot Spaghetti Squash recipe.
Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup
Looking for a low effort, stick-to-your-ribs dinner? You've come to the right place. This Tex-Mex inspired soup is hearty, delicious, and endlessly riffable. And if you love all things spicy, add some cayenne (a pinch at a time), hot sauce, or canned chiles to your soup to kick the heat up a notch.
Slow Cooker Short Ribs
Few things feel as special—and as satisfying—as a well cooked beef short rib. This version is fall-off-the-bone tender and insanely flavorful, thanks to a quick sear before slow cooking and a Korean-inspired sauce that would make anything taste good.
Get the Slow-Cooker Short Ribs recipe.
Slow-Cooker Creamy Gnocchi Soup
When the temperature drops below 60°, all we want for dinner is soup. Make it a slow-cooker soup and it's even better. With extremely little effort, you'll end up with a soup that's so warm and comforting, you'll completely forget there's a blizzard outside.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
We love slow cookers because they do all of the work for us, meaning we can do literally anything else while the chicken cooks. Need dinner faster? Make our classic chicken cacciatore instead.
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