Food Recipes 14 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes That Require Less Than 20 Minutes of Prep Consider these dishes some of the easiest recipes ever. By Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner Instagram Twitter Website Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner is a writer and recipe developer. She's a regular contributor to The New York Times, Time Out New York, Forbes, and many more publications. She also writes the food newsletter, Specialty. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on January 4, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Antonis Achilleos The beauty of a slow cooker is how easy the countertop appliance can make meal prep. However, set-it-and-forget-it recipes often tend to feel like the stuff of legend, with full-on dinners requiring a few too many steps to make the slow cooker meal feel that much easier. Still, plenty of complete meals can be created in the slow cooker, and they’re not all soups, stews, and chilis! Yes, you can prep efficiently, skip the stovetop simmer and frequent stirring, and have a fantastic dinner with simple slow cooker recipes that don’t require a ton of kitchen time before or after cooking. This collection of recipes need only 20 minutes or less of hands-on work, so you’re free to let the appliance do the cooking and spend your time however you like until it’s time to eat. 5 Deliciously Simple Slow Cooker Recipes With Just Two Ingredients 01 of 14 Crockpot Pulled Pork Tacos Kan Kanbayashi With just 15 minutes of hands-on time followed by eight hours of cooking, these tender tacos feel like a labor of love, but are truly quite simple. Jarred salsa is the key to this flavorful pork, so choose your favorite type for top-notch tacos. A toppings bar also keeps assembly efficient! get the recipe 02 of 14 Slow-Cooker Chicken and Pasta Soup Romulo Yanes Nothing hits the spot quite like homemade chicken soup. This simple version requires just five minutes of hands on time, and starts with fresh chicken thighs for that legit from-scratch flavor. get the recipe 03 of 14 Slow-Cooker Soy-Braised Chicken Con Poulos Inspired by FIlipino chicken adobo, these braised chicken thighs slow-cook in vinegar, soy, and brown sugar for incredible flavor. Adding bok choy at the end brings an element of freshness, and served over rice, this is the ultimate comfort food. get the recipe 04 of 14 Slow-Cooker Chicken Mole Chili Antonis Achilleos Chocolate, raisins, cinnamon, and more spices all bring out the richness of this chicken cooked in mole. Served with sliced avocado, plus garnishes like radish and cilantro, this dish with just 15 minutes of prep time can be truly elegant. get the recipe 05 of 14 Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Soup The ultimate weeknight dinner, this soup collects a bunch of hearty pantry ingredients in the slow cooker—frozen corn, canned black beans, canned tomatoes—to stew all day for a satisfying and flavorful soup. Top with tortilla chips, cheese, and a wedge of lime. If this becomes a staple, play with the ingredients and try swapping out corn for canned hominy, or white beans for black. get the recipe 06 of 14 Slow-Cooker Chicken Congee Jennifer Causey This classic Chinese breakfast can be cooked overnight for a warm and savory morning treat, or can be served at any time of day. The rich, umami-forward porridge is full of chicken falling off the bone, and can be topped with a fried or poached egg. get the recipe 12 Crowd-Pleasing Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes 07 of 14 Slow-Cooker Coq Au Vin Caitlin Bensel Making a classic coq au vin—chicken braised in wine—can take all day, and this one cooks for over six hours with just some quick prep. The biggest time commitment is crisping the bacon and chicken before slow cooking, but that just fills the house with excellent smells to linger until dinnertime. get the recipe 08 of 14 Slow-Cooker Spinach Lasagna José Picayo If you’ve never baked a lasagna in your slow cooker, now’s the time! This vegetarian recipe requires just 15 minutes of hands-on work—layering spinach, cheese, pasta, and sauce—and cooks in four hours. get the recipe 09 of 14 Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala Roland Bello This Indian stewed chicken can cook on high for three to four hours, or low for seven to eight to time your meal accordingly. It’s rich, full of tangy sauce, and can be enjoyed with rice, naan, or both. get the recipe 10 of 14 Slow-Cooker Deep-Dish Pizza Victor Protasio This pizza proves that pretty much anything can be made in the slow cooker! Stretch pre-made pizza dough over the bottom, and layer with sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings. Just go ahead and delete your pizza delivery app, this is your new go-to. get the recipe 11 of 14 Slow-Cooker Spaghetti Squash Ragù Caitlin Bensel This meat sauce simmers for a sophisticated meal, served with slow-cooked spaghetti squash for an extra serving of veggies. Cooking the halves of the squash over the sauce is efficient, and makes for easy serving and cleanup. get the recipe 12 of 14 Slow-Cooker Pork Ditalini Stew Gentl & Hyers This elegant stew uses pork shoulder to create a silky, meaty experience that’s worth inviting company over for. The small pasta makes the dish a full meal, no sides necessary. get the recipe 5 Cakes You Can Make in a Slow Cooker That Require Very Little Effort 13 of 14 Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili With Sweet Potatoes Con Poulos This plant-based chili is full of sweet potatoes, peppers, and two types of beans, and is the perfect steamy bowl for the end of a cold day. It can also be a great topper for baked potatoes or nachos. get the recipe 14 of 14 Slow-Cooker Puttanesca With Roasted Broccolini Jennifer Causey A restaurant-worthy pasta dish with less than 20 minutes of prep? This tangy sauce is it, plus fresh pappardelle only takes a few minutes to cook, so you can go straight from the slow cooker to the table faster than you can say buon appetito. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit