Slow cookers are a busy cook’s best friend. When you’re juggling work, kids, and household responsibilities, coming home to a ready-made meal is a lifesaver. The best part is, slow cooker recipes don’t require a lot of active time. You simply load up your crockpot with ingredients in the morning, turn it on, and dinner is served when you walk through the door at night.
For an easy beef stew, combine 2-3 pounds of beef stew meat, chopped potatoes, carrots and celery, beef broth and a packet of onion soup mix. Cook on Low for 8 hours. The long, slow cooking time results in meat so tender it melts in your mouth. Serve the stew with crusty bread to soak up the flavorful broth.
If you like Mexican fare, try slow cooker chicken enchiladas. Place chicken breasts, enchilada sauce, chili powder, cumin and garlic in the crockpot and cook on Low for 6-8 hours. Shred the chicken and mix with beans, corn and spices. Fill tortillas with the mixture, top with enchilada sauce, cheese and olives, then continue cooking until the cheese is melted.
For Italian comfort food, whip up slow cooker lasagna. Layer flat lasagna noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan and meat sauce in the crockpot and cook on Low for 5 hours. The noodles soften as it cooks and the cheese becomes ooey-gooey. Serve with a simple salad and garlic bread.
For dessert, make slow cooker chocolate lava cake. Mix chocolate cake mix, eggs, sour cream and chocolate chips, then pour into a greased crockpot. Cook on High for 2-3 hours until the center is slightly wobbly. Dust with powdered sugar and top with ice cream for a decadent treat.
The key to easy slow cooker recipes is choosing ingredients that hold up well to long cooking times, like hearty meats, starchy veggies and dairy. With minimal prep required, your crockpot can make wholesome, homemade dinners a reality even on your busiest days. Give one or more of these recipes a try – your family is sure to ask for them again and again.
