20 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

Preparing meals in a slow cooker is a great way to save time. Simply place your ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning, cover it, and let it cook all day. When you get home that evening, supper is ready – and as an added bonus, using a slow cooker also makes cleanup a breeze.

Soups and meats are among the most popular meals prepared in the slow cooker. Tougher cuts of meat are often used, because the process of slow cooking makes them tender. Soups, on the other hand, don’t necessarily need to be slow cooked for the purpose of tenderizing, but more as a way to allow the flavors of the meat, vegetables, spices and herbs to meld.

Anytime is a great time to use the slow cooker, but this time of year is perfect for a couple of reasons. First, as the weather turns cooler, soups and stews just sound good, more than likely because they warm the body and soul, making them a go-to comfort food in fall and winter. And secondly, with all the hustle and bustle as you prepare for the upcoming holidays, the ease and simplicity of making meals in the slow cooker just might make life a little less stressful.

With those things in mind, we’ve gathered some recipes from our archives that were designed for the slow cooker. Enjoy!