Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Quick & Easy Meals 30 Easy Crock Pot Recipes That'll Make Meal Prep a Cinch All you need is a few minutes in the morning and a few ingredients to make a delicious dinner happen. By Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on May 9, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: VICTOR PROTASIO The crock pot may just be the best kitchen appliance in the world. You throw in a few ingredients in the morning, go about your day, and you come home to a meal ready to go. That's why easy crock pot recipes are such a mainstay for busy meal planners—low effort, delicious rewards! And the good news: You aren't just stuck with slow-cooked meats as meal options when it comes to easy crock pot recipes. You'd be surprised what dishes you can make in a slow cooker—everything from deep-dish pizza to (yes!) dessert. Check out some of our favorite easy crock pot recipes to help make your busiest days easier to manage—and keep you from reaching for the takeout menus. 01 of 30 Crock Pot Pulled Pork Tacos Kan Kanbayashi Make any day Taco Tuesday with a delicious crock pot pulled pork that comes together in minutes. Everyone can add their own favorite toppings for a customized taco experience. Get the Recipe 02 of 30 Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza Victor Protasio Using store-bought pizza dough and sauce helps make any night a pizza night. The sky's the limit for pizza toppings—and don't forget that you can opt to do half with grownup ingredients and half with simple tomato and cheese if you have fussy eaters. Get the Recipe 03 of 30 Crock Pot Vegetarian Chili With Sweet Potatoes Con Poulos The secret ingredient in this tasty slow-cooker chili—a little unsweetened cocoa powder, which gives the sauce a mole-like flavor profile. Get the Recipe 04 of 30 Chicken Pasta Soup Romulo Yanes The comfort food classic is a crock pot recipe you'll want to keep in regular rotation. (The ingredients transform plain water into tasty chicken broth as they cook low and slow.) Get the Recipe 05 of 30 Crock Pot Mexican Beef Sliders Caitlin Bensel A handful of spices and some chipotle chiles bring the heat for this flavorful crock pot beef recipe that's perfect for picnics or a quick on-the-go meal. Get the Recipe 06 of 30 Crock Pot Angel Food Cake Victor Protasio Yes, you can make cake in a crock pot! Mix together the ingredients, pop the pan into the crock pot, and you'll have a delicious dessert a few hours later. Get the Recipe 07 of 30 Big Batch Black Beans Jennifer Causey If you're looking to up your meal planning game, making big batches of base ingredients can help you easily get meals on the table for the week. Use the crock pot to put together this bean recipe, and use them all week in tacos or burritos, a fast chili, or to top salads or baked potatoes. Get the Recipe The 7 Best Slow Cookers for Easy, Hands-off Meals 08 of 30 Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin Greg DuPree Slow cooking puts the "tender" in this pork tenderloin dish, which can be delicious as is, but great for tacos, chili, sandwiches, and other uses later in the week. Get the Recipe 09 of 30 Crock Pot Puttanesca with Roasted Broccolini Jennifer Causey Get that rich, cooked-for-hours pasta sauce without having to keep tabs on it with this easy crock pot recipe. Get the Recipe 10 of 30 Slow Cooker Curried Chicken With Ginger and Yogurt José Picayo Get curry started in a hurry—then let the crock pot give it a low, slow simmer so the spices have time to meld for a flavorful addition to your weekly meal rotation. Get the Recipe The One Dangerous Mistake You're Making With Your Slow Cooker 11 of 30 Crock Pot Chocolate Pudding Cake Victor Protasio This easy-to-whip-up crock pot cake has the decadent, fudgy texture that's perfect with a scoop of ice cream. Get the Recipe 12 of 30 Chicken Mushroom Pot Pie Marcus Nilsson You have to bake the puff pastry (or biscuit, if you prefer) topper separately, but using the slow cooker makes the creamy filling a cinch. Get the Recipe 13 of 30 Crock Pot Chicken Congee Jennifer Causey This Chinese comfort food staple features a soft chicken, coconut milk, and rice base that can be kicked up with whatever you have on hand—scallions, peanuts, coconut, cilantro—and a touch of chili crunch or other spicy sauce. Get the Recipe 14 of 30 Slow Cooker Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Greg DuPree Wintertime hot beverages can simmer in the slow cooker—a perfect addition to your holiday parties. (Who wouldn't love a mulled cider or wine?) This holiday hot chocolate tweak features the warming spices from gingerbread. Get the Recipe 15 of 30 Slow Cooker Black Bean Posole Victor Protasio This traditional Mexican soup is one of those "dump and serve" easy crock pot recipes. The hardest part is chopping the onion, garlic, and chiles that add a little heat to the dish. Get the Recipe 16 of 30 Slow Cooker Shepherd's Pie Con Poulos This very British comfort food classic features a touch of stout to add to the hearty flavor profile. Get the Recipe 17 of 30 Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup If your family's a little spice-phobic, serve jalapeños on the side instead of cooking them with this tasty soup with plenty of kick. Get the Recipe The Differences Between an Instant Pot, Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, and Crockpot 18 of 30 Slow Cooker Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna José Picayo This lasagna's so easy to put together! Layer jarred sauce, uncooked lasagna noodles and plenty of cheese and spinach in your slow cooker, and push play. Get the Recipe 19 of 30 Coffee-Braised Brisket With Potatoes and Carrots Sang An Brisket becomes super tender when cooked in the crock pot. Add in potatoes and carrots for a hearty one-pot meal. Get the Recipe 20 of 30 Pork Ditalini Stew Gentl & Hyers Tomatoes, spinach, and tiny noodles give this pork-based soup a lighter touch. (Can't find ditalini? Any tiny pasta will do!) Get the Recipe 21 of 30 Crock Pot Cinnamon Pecan Monkey Bread Heather Meldrom Slow cookers are underrated for baking. They make this monkey bread an easy, hands-off brunch dish while you prep the rest of the meal. Get the Recipe 5 Deliciously Simple Slow Cooker Recipes With Just Two Ingredients 22 of 30 Crock Pot Coca Cola Carnitas Jennifer Causey Coca Cola gives carnitas a sweet, yet a little smoky, flavor—perfect for topping tacos, nachos, or an epic pulled pork sandwich. Get the Recipe 23 of 30 Slow Cooker Asian Short Ribs Marcus Nilsson A sweet-savory combo of brown sugar, rice vinegar, and soy sauce serves as the marinade for this easy crockpot recipe that's dinner party worthy. Get the Recipe 24 of 30 Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala Roland Bello Turn to the crock pot for this beloved Indian dish, so you can have it waiting when you get home from a busy day. Get the Recipe 25 of 30 Slow Cooker Tuscan Pot Roast Susie Cushner You have to do a little precook for this one—browning the roast and sauteeing the veggies—but it's worth it for a Sunday-dinner feast like this. Get the Recipe 26 of 30 Crock Pot Cuban Sandwiches Greg DuPree Orange zest adds a fresh flavor note to slow cooked pork. Hit the finished sandwiches under the broiler for a minute or two to let the cheese get perfectly gooey. Get the Recipe 27 of 30 Slow Cooker Lasagna Anson Smart Adding kale to the mix helps transform this slow cooker lasagna to a tasty one-pan meal. Get the Recipe 28 of 30 Slow-Cooker Pineapple Upside Down Cake Victor Protasio It's time for this vintage dessert to make a comeback—and the slow cooker makes it easy to make and keep the cake moist with its caramel-pineapple top. Get the Recipe 29 of 30 Chicken Adobo With Bok Choy Con Poulos This classic Filipino dish features a soy-vinegar braising liquid and a ton of great flavor packed into a very easy crock pot recipe. Get the Recipe 30 of 30 Crock Pot Creamy Chicken With Biscuits José Picayo Make this super-easy crock pot recipe even easier by subbing in refrigerated biscuit dough, rather than making your own. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit