30 Easy Crockpot Dinner Ideas

1. Chicken Noodle Soup

This classic, comforting chicken noodle soup is so easy to make in the crockpot. Just combine chicken, vegetables, seasonings, and broth in the morning and let it simmer all day. The chicken breasts cook until fall-apart tender and infuse the broth with delicious flavor. Carrots, celery, and egg noodles round it out. The noodles cook directly in the soup so they soak up all the chicken flavor. This homemade chicken noodle soup is perfect for chasing away chills on a cold day. It’s also great for using up leftovers and stretching your grocery budget.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts
• Carrots, diced
• Celery, diced
• Chicken broth
• Egg noodles
• Seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder)

Recipe

2. Beef Stew

Satisfying beef stew is a crockpot classic for good reason. Cubed beef simmered low and slow becomes meltingly tender in the flavorful broth. Potatoes soak up the rich flavors and add heartiness. Diced carrots and onions add a pop of color, texture, and more flavor. The best part is coming home to a house filled with the irresistible aromas of stew after its been cooking all day. This beef stew is the ultimate comfort food. Enjoy it with some crusty bread to dip in the delicious gravy-like broth.

Ingredients:

• Beef stew meat, cubed
• Potatoes, diced
• Carrots, sliced
• Onion, diced
• Beef broth
• Seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic)

Recipe

3. Chicken Fajitas

Make weeknight fajitas a breeze by letting the crockpot do the work. Just add chicken, peppers, onions, and Mexican seasonings in the morning. When you get home, you’ll have juicy chicken and perfectly cooked veggies ready for assembly into fajitas or tacos. This recipe makes enough for dinner throughout the week. Serve it over rice with your favorite fajita toppings like shredded lettuce, salsa, guacamole, cheese, and sour cream.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts
• Red and green bell peppers, sliced
• Onion, sliced
• Fajita seasoning or taco seasoning
• Salsa

Recipe

4. Pulled Pork

Tender, juicy pulled pork is so easy to make in the slow cooker. Just add a pork shoulder roast and let it cook all day until fall-apart tender. Then shred it up with forks and mix with your favorite barbecue sauce. This versatile pulled pork is delicious served on sandwiches or tacos, stuffed in baked potatoes, or enjoyed over rice. The pork roast has plenty of fat to keep it moist as it cooks low and slow, becoming infused with smoky flavors.

Ingredients:

• Pork shoulder roast
• Barbecue sauce
• Onion, sliced
• Chicken broth or apple cider vinegar
• Seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder)

Recipe

5. Vegetable Soup

This hearty vegetable soup is chock-full of healthy ingredients. Carrots, celery, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, spinach, and more make it nutritious and delicious. The vegetables simmer in broth all day until tender. Season it with garlic, oregano, basil and red pepper flakes for lots of flavor. Make a batch on your meal prep day to have easy lunches for the week. This vegetable soup is equally satisfying served with crusty bread or a sandwich.

Ingredients:

• Mixed frozen vegetables
• Canned beans
• Diced tomatoes
• Vegetable or chicken broth
• Pasta or rice
• Seasonings (garlic, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes)

Recipe

6. Chicken and Rice

Crockpot chicken and rice is a simple, budget-friendly dinner idea. Boneless chicken breasts cook all day in chicken broth until perfectly moist and tender. Near the end of cooking, uncooked rice is added so it soaks up all the chicken flavor. Frozen vegetables like carrots, peas, corn, or green beans can also be added for more nutrition. Serve this one-pot meal with extra chicken broth ladled over the top.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts
• Rice
• Chicken broth
• Frozen mixed vegetables
• Seasonings (garlic powder, onion powder, salt)

Recipe

7. Pot Roast

Tender pot roast with fork-tender vegetables is a classic comfort food dinner. Chuck roast cooks all day in the slow cooker until it’s fall-apart tender. Potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery soak up the delicious juices. Pot roast is perfect served over mashed potatoes or egg noodles to soak up the savory gravy-like broth. This pot roast recipe makes enough for leftovers during the week – perfect for quick lunches or dinners when you don’t want to cook.

Ingredients:

• Chuck roast
• Potatoes, cubed
• Carrots, sliced
• Onion, sliced
• Celery, sliced
• Beef broth or stock
• Seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic)

Recipe

8. Mac and Cheese

Creamy, cheesy mac and cheese is taken to new levels of comfort food deliciousness when made in the crockpot. Elbow macaroni cooks until tender in evaporated milk, cream cheese, and broth seasoned with dry mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Near the end of cooking, sharp cheddar cheese is added and melted, creating an ultra creamy cheese sauce that coats every inch of pasta. For added protein, diced ham can be cooked right in the mac and cheese.

Ingredients:

• Elbow macaroni
• Evaporated milk
• Cream cheese
• Chicken broth
• Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• Seasonings (dry mustard, garlic powder, salt, pepper)

Recipe

9. Minestrone Soup

This Italian-inspired minestrone soup is loaded with vegetables, beans, and pasta simmered in a zesty tomato broth. It’s the perfect hearty soup for a cold day. Make a batch in your crockpot with tomatoes, carrots, celery, spinach, white beans, onion, garlic, and small pasta like ditalini. Season it with Italian herb blend and red pepper flakes. Garnish bowls with Parmesan cheese and crusty bread for a satisfying soup supper.

Ingredients:

• Diced tomatoes
• Mixed frozen vegetables
• White beans
• Small pasta like ditalini
• Vegetable or chicken broth
• Seasonings (Italian herb blend, garlic, red pepper flakes)

Recipe

10. Chicken Parmesan

Escape to Italy for dinner with this easy crockpot chicken parmesan. Chicken breasts cook in pasta sauce until tender and juicy. Then they’re topped with melty mozzarella cheese and served over pasta. The sauce infuses the chicken with savory Italian flavors as it cooks low and slow. Serve this comforting dish with a salad and garlic bread for a perfect weeknight meal.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts
• Pasta sauce
• Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Cooked pasta
• Seasonings (Italian herb blend, garlic powder)

Recipe

11. White Chicken Chili

This creamy white chicken chili is a fun twist on traditional beef chili. It’s made with tender chunks of chicken, white beans, green chilies, and plenty of seasonings. The combination of chicken broth, salsa verde, cumin, and cayenne pepper gives it a delicious flavor. Topped with cheese, avocado, and cilantro, this chili makes a hearty, healthy dinner any night of the week. It’s also perfect for making ahead and enjoying throughout the week.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts, cubed
• White beans, canned
• Green chilies, canned
• Chicken broth
• Salsa verde
• Seasonings (cumin, chili powder, cayenne, garlic)

Recipe

12. Lentil Stew

Cozy up with a bowl of this protein-packed lentil stew. Lentils are packed with fiber and don’t require any presoaking. Simply add them to the slow cooker with veggies like carrots, celery, and onions. Season with garlic, thyme, paprika and let it simmer away. The lentils break down into a thick, rich stew. Serve it with crusty bread or over rice for a filling vegetarian dinner.

Ingredients:

• Green or brown lentils
• Carrots, diced
• Celery, diced
• Onion, diced
• Vegetable broth
• Seasonings (garlic, thyme, paprika)

Recipe

13. Beef and Broccoli

This easy beef and broccoli is a lighter, healthier twist on classic takeout. Flank steak is cubed and then cooked until tender in a sauce of ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Meanwhile, broccoli florets steam on top of the beef, soaking up all the delicious flavors. The broccoli turns out perfectly crisp-tender. Serve this over rice for an easy weeknight dinner, or enjoy it as leftovers for lunch during the week.

Ingredients:

• Flank steak, cubed
• Broccoli florets
• Soy sauce
• Brown sugar
• Ginger, minced
• Garlic, minced
• Cornstarch

Recipe

14. Cranberry Pork Roast

This festive cranberry pork roast is perfect for fall and the holiday season. A boneless pork roast cooks low and slow in the crockpot until incredibly moist and tender. The tart flavor of cranberry sauce gives it a delicious sweet and sour flavor. Onions add even more flavor as they caramelize during the long cooking time. Slice up this impressive roast for sandwiches or serve it with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.

Ingredients:

• Pork roast
• Whole berry cranberry sauce
• Onion, sliced
• Chicken broth
• Seasonings (salt, pepper, sage)

Recipe

15. Sausage and Peppers

This easy one-pot dinner features flavorful sausages cooked with bell peppers, onions, garlic, and tomatoes. As everything simmers together in the slow cooker, the vegetables soak up the delicious spice flavors. Serve this sausage and peppers dish over pasta, rice, or potatoes for an easy weeknight dinner. Or pile it high on crusty rolls for an amazing sandwich.

Ingredients:

• Smoked sausage, sliced
• Bell peppers, sliced
• Onion, sliced
• Diced tomatoes
• Garlic, minced
• Seasonings (Italian herb blend, red pepper flakes)

Recipe

16. Chicken Tortilla Soup

This hearty chicken tortilla soup is loaded with flavor. Chicken breasts simmer in a tomato and chili-spiced broth until tender. Black beans, corn, and zesty tomatoes round it out. Topped with crispy tortilla strips, cheese, avocado, and cilantro, this soup makes a complete, satisfying meal. The spices give it just the right amount of heat. Make it on the weekend to enjoy dinners throughout the busy week ahead.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts
• Diced tomatoes
• Black beans
• Frozen corn
• Chicken broth
• Taco seasoning
• Tortilla strips
• Toppings: cheese, avocado, cilantro

Recipe

17. Lasagna

Creamy, saucy lasagna is pure comfort food at its best. This crockpot version makes lasagna a breeze. Just layer noodles, meat sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella in the morning and let it cook all day. No need to boil the noodles first – they cook perfectly layered between the saucy ingredients. The result is a dish with amazing flavor and perfect noodle texture. Serve with a leafy green salad and garlic bread for a fancy-feeling meal.

Ingredients:

• Lasagna noodles
• Ground beef
• Pasta sauce
• Ricotta cheese
• Mozzarella cheese
• Seasonings (garlic powder, basil, oregano)

Recipe

18. Beef Barley Soup

This hearty beef and barley soup is ultra comforting on chilly days. Beef simmers with veggies like carrots, celery, onions, and mushrooms until tender. Barley adds wholesome flavor and texture. As everything simmers together, the broth develops into a rich, deeply savory base. Season it with thyme and parsley for flavor depth. Sprinkle each bowl with Parmesan cheese before serving with crusty bread.

Ingredients:

• Beef stew meat
• Pearl barley
• Carrots, diced
• Celery, diced
• Onion, diced
• Mushrooms, sliced
• Beef broth
• Seasonings (thyme, parsley)

Recipe

19. Chicken and Dumplings

Nothing is more comforting than homemade chicken and dumplings. Chicken breasts cook in chicken broth with carrots, onions, and celery until fall-apart tender. Then fluffy biscuit dough dumplings are dropped in the pot to cook right in the broth. The dumplings soak up all the delicious chicken flavors and turn tender on the inside with a slight chew. Top each serving with some of the cooked veggies and broth for old-fashioned goodness in a bowl.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts
• Carrots, sliced
• Celery, sliced
• Onion, diced
• Chicken broth
• Refrigerated biscuit dough
• Seasonings (thyme, sage, parsley)

Recipe

20. Meatballs

Homemade meatballs simmered in sauce is a family-friendly dinner classic. Mix together ground beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, parmesan, and Italian spices for flavorful, tender meatballs. Drop them into your favorite pasta sauce, and let them simmer away in the crockpot. The sauce infuses them with even more flavor. Serve the saucy meatballs and sauce over cooked spaghetti or zucchini noodles for an easy, hearty dinner.

Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Eggs
• Breadcrumbs
• Parmesan cheese
• Italian seasoning
• Pasta sauce

Recipe

21. Stroganoff

This classic beef stroganoff features tender chunks of beef in a creamy, mushroom sauce. The beef cooks until perfect melt-in-your-mouth tender. Sliced mushrooms lend an earthy flavor and texture. Sour cream and dijon mustard are stirred in at the end for a luxurious, creamy sauce. Serve over broad egg noodles with a side of steamed broccoli for a comforting meal.

Ingredients:

• Beef stew meat, cubed
• Sliced mushrooms
• Beef broth
• Sour cream
• Dijon mustard
• Egg noodles
• Seasonings (garlic powder, onion powder, parsley)

Recipe

22. Potato Soup

Creamy potato soup is pure comfort in a bowl. Potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions are simmered in chicken or vegetable broth until tender. For a smoother texture, the cooked vegetables can be blended. Half and half and cheese stir in at the end for a rich, creamy base. Diced ham adds savory flavor. Garnish bowls with bacon bits, chives, and shredded cheese for delicious loaded potato soup.

Ingredients:

• Potatoes, diced
• Carrots, diced
• Celery, diced
• Onion, diced
• Chicken or vegetable broth
• Half and half
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Ham or bacon (optional)
• Seasonings (garlic powder, salt, pepper)

Recipe

23. Sloppy Joes

These easy crockpot sloppy joes are a family favorite. Ground beef browns with onion, bell pepper, and seasonings. Then ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar simmer to make a thick, saucy filling. The sweet and tangy flavors are irresistible! Pile the juicy meat onto burger buns and serve the sandwiches with potato wedges or fries for an easy dinner.

Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Onion, diced
• Bell pepper, diced
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Brown sugar
• Balsamic vinegar
• Burger buns

Recipe

24. Chicken Tacos

Spice up taco night with these flavorful chicken tacos. Chicken breasts simmer in the crockpot with taco seasoning until perfectly tender and juicy. The chicken shreds easily for assembly into tacos or burrito bowls. Top with your favorite taco fixings like shredded lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, avocado, salsa, and sour cream. The possibilities are endless for customizing these easy chicken tacos.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts
• Taco seasoning
• Salsa
• Tortillas, taco shells, or chips
• Toppings: lettuce, tomato, cheese, etc.

Recipe

25. Ribs

Fall-off-the-bone tender ribs are so easy to make in the slow cooker. Just rub bone-in pork ribs with a spice rub, then let them cook low and slow in the crockpot until the meat is pull-apart tender. The spices infuse the ribs with finger-licking flavor. Baste them with barbecue sauce during the last 30 minutes of cooking for added flavor. Serve these saucy, juicy ribs with coleslaw and baked beans for the perfect barbecue feast.

Ingredients:

• Bone-in pork ribs
• Barbecue rub
• Barbecue sauce
• Chicken broth

Recipe

26. Chicken and Rice Soup

This classic chicken and rice soup is like chicken noodle soup but uses rice instead. Chicken breasts simmer in broth with carrots, celery, onions, and seasonings until fall-apart tender. Towards the end, uncooked rice is added so it can soak up all the flavors as it cooks. The result is a hearty, comforting soup that’s perfect for chilly nights. Garnish with a squeeze of lemon and parsley.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts
• Carrots, diced
• Celery, diced
• Onion, diced
• Chicken broth
• Rice
• Seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley)

Recipe