28 Easy Crockpot Recipes for Cozy Fall Nights

These easy crockpot recipes turn a cool fall evening into dinner that is ready when you walk in the door. They are easy crockpot meals built from soups, chilis, casseroles and roasts, the kind of slow cooker comfort food that fills the table with very little work.

Most of them fit a 6-quart slow cooker, and the smaller ones work in a 4-quart. Each one is a full recipe card with real amounts, so you can cook it without opening another site. Pick one from the table, then scroll to its card. Want more protein-heavy ideas next? See our 25 lazy high-protein crockpot recipes.

Choose a cut that survives the hours, keep the lid closed, and add dairy and noodles only near the end.

Quick answer

Want fall crockpot recipes easy enough for a first try? Make the creamy chicken and wild rice soup (1) or the honey garlic chicken thighs (20). Both use chicken thighs, which stay juicy through a long cook, and neither needs more than a few minutes of work.

Pick the right easy crockpot meal in one minute

Preview	Idea	Best for	Hands-on time	Avoid if	Get it
	1. Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup	A first soup that feeds the whole table	10 min · low 7-8 h / high 3-4 h	You cannot have dairy near the pot	Jump to recipe
	2. Zuppa Toscana Soup	An Olive Garden-style soup night	25 min · low 5-6 h / high 3-4 h	You do not eat pork	Jump to recipe
	3. Loaded Baked Potato Soup	A cheesy bowl for cold nights	10 min · low 7-8 h / high 4+ h	You want a thin, brothy soup	Jump to recipe
	4. Slow Cooker Beef Chili	A big pot for a game day or a crowd	15 min · low 7-8 h / high 4+ h	You like thick chili with no beans	Jump to recipe
	5. White Chicken Chili	A lighter chili that is ready with almost no prep	5 min · low 6-7 h / high 3-4+ h	You want a red, tomato-based chili	Jump to recipe
	6. Crock Pot Lasagna Soup	Lasagna flavor with no layering	15 min · low 6-8 h / high 3-4 h + 30-45 min noodles	You need a gluten-free dinner	Jump to recipe
	7. Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore	A hands-off Italian chicken dinner	15 min · low 6-7 h / high 3-4 h	You do not like olives	Jump to recipe
	8. Crock Pot Beef Stew with Hearty Vegetables	A slightly sweet stew that fills a cold night	30 min · low 7-8 h / high 4+ h	You skip soda in cooking	Jump to recipe
	9. Vegetable and Lentil Stew with Ham	A fiber-rich stew that uses leftover ham	20 min · low 7-8 h / high 3-4 h	You want a meatless dinner (this one has ham)	Jump to recipe
	10. Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew	A dark, malty stew for a weekend	20 min · low 7-8 h / high 4-5 h	You cook without alcohol	Jump to recipe
	11. Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole with Chicken	A holiday side that becomes a main	10 min · low 2.5-3 h	You need it to be crisp throughout	Jump to recipe
	12. Crock Pot Chicken Divan with Broccoli	A creamy casserole with a curry kick	15 min · low 4+ h / high 2+ h + 30 min	You do not eat mayonnaise	Jump to recipe
	13. Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie	A hands-off dinner with mashed potato on top	25 min · low 3-4 h	You want a crisp potato crust	Jump to recipe
	14. Chicken Pot Pie Casserole	A deconstructed pot pie with biscuits	10 min · low 6+ h / high 3-4 h	You want a flaky pastry crust	Jump to recipe
	15. Crock Pot Tuscan Chicken	A date-night dinner with a creamy sauce	5 min · low 6-8 h (thighs) / high 3-4 h	You have lean chicken breasts only	Jump to recipe
	16. Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole	A kid-friendly beef and cheese dinner	15 min · low 4-5 h / high 2-3 h	You want the tots crisp (they steam)	Jump to recipe
	17. Chicken and Stuffing Casserole	A Thanksgiving-style dinner any night	10 min · low 6 h / high 3-4 h	You want it crisp on top	Jump to recipe
	18. Pot Roast with Gravy and Veggies	The Sunday dinner classic	10 min · low 8-10 h / high 4-5 h	You have a lean cut like round	Jump to recipe
	19. BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches	Game day or a weeknight crowd	15 min · low 8+ h / high 5-6 h	You want a smoky bark	Jump to recipe
	20. Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs	A five-minute dinner over rice	5 min · low 4-6 h / high 2-4 h	You do not eat soy	Jump to recipe
	21. Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy	A diner classic over mashed potatoes	10 min · low 3-5 h	You want a steak, not a patty	Jump to recipe
	22. Braised Short Ribs with Red Wine Sauce	A dinner-party main that cooks itself	20 min · low 7-8 h	You want a weeknight dinner	Jump to recipe
	23. Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs	A party appetizer or a dinner over noodles	5 min · low 6-8 h / high 3-5 h	You want homemade meatballs	Jump to recipe
	24. Turkey Breast with Herb Gravy	Thanksgiving for a small table	15 min · low 6-7 h	You want crisp skin without a broiler	Jump to recipe
	25. Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese	A cheesy side or a kid dinner	15 min · low 2-2.5 h	You want a baked crust	Jump to recipe
	26. Crock Pot Creamed Corn	A holiday side that needs no stirring	15 min · low 3-4 h	You want fresh corn on the cob	Jump to recipe
	27. Crock Pot Cinnamon Apples	A side or a dessert over ice cream	10 min · low 4 h / high 2 h	You want crisp apples	Jump to recipe
	28. Crock Pot Butternut Squash Soup	A smooth soup you can freeze	10 min · low 6-7 h / high 4-5 h	You do not have a blender	Jump to recipe

For a first try, start with a thigh recipe such as 1, 7 or 20. Thighs forgive extra hours, while lean breasts and roasts need the shorter time on each card.

1. Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

This is the baseline soup of the page: thighs instead of breasts, so the meat stays juicy for the full 7 to 8 hours. Rice goes in raw and soaks up the broth, which is why the soup thickens on its own.

The catch is the dairy. Add the cream cheese, milk and half and half only in the last 30 minutes, or the soup can split. Serve it next to a loaf and a salad, or follow it with the crockpot soup recipes on this site.

2. Zuppa Toscana Soup

Zuppa Toscana is the comfort food soup for people who want something more filling than a brothy soup. Sausage and bacon do the seasoning work, so you need very little else.

Brown the sausage first, then drain it, or the soup turns greasy. Kale and cream go in last, which keeps the leaves green and the broth from curdling. It feeds eight, so it also sits on the list of cheap dinners for a family.

3. Loaded Baked Potato Soup

This soup works because the potatoes break down and thicken it for you. Mash them right in the pot and leave some chunks for texture.

The cream and cheese go in at the end, never at the start. A pot cooked for 8 hours with dairy can look grainy. If you want more potato ideas, see crockpot potatoes.

4. Slow Cooker Beef Chili

This is the classic beef chili of the page: ground beef, beans, tomatoes and a spice mix you can taste. It is the one to pick when you need a big pot that holds well for hours.

Brown and drain the beef before it goes in, or the pot turns greasy. For a different style of chili, compare it with Cincinnati chili over spaghetti or the longer chili recipe for the crockpot.

5. White Chicken Chili

White chicken chili is the lighter pick when beef chili feels too heavy. It is a pantry meal: beans, corn, green chiles and broth, plus a lb of chicken.

Shred the chicken and put it back before the cream cheese goes in, which keeps the meat moist. We have a whole page on crockpot white chicken chili if you want more versions.

6. Crock Pot Lasagna Soup

Lasagna soup gives you the layers in a spoon. It is the one to pick when the family wants pasta but you do not want a casserole dish to wash.

The noodles go in last, for the final 30 to 45 minutes, or they turn to mush. If pasta is your thing, the crockpot pasta recipes page has more, and the ground beef pasta version shows the same late-noodle trick.

7. Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken cacciatore is the hunter-style stew that the slow cooker makes almost foolproof. Bone-in thighs stay juicy for the full cook, which is why we pick them over breasts.

Serve it over pasta, polenta or rice. Add the olives or capers only at the end so the flavor stays bright. For a lighter week of dinners, see the healthy crockpot recipes.

8. Crock Pot Beef Stew with Hearty Vegetables

This stew gets its mild sweetness from root beer, which tenderizes the beef and rounds out the broth. It is the one to make when you want a stew that tastes rich without a long list of spices.

Chuck is the cut that survives 8 hours because it has the fat and connective tissue to melt into the broth. A lean cut turns dry, as the page on rump roast explains.

9. Vegetable and Lentil Stew with Ham

This is a ham stew, not a meatless one. Ham gives the lentils smoky salt, and a meaty ham bone does the same job if you have one left from a holiday dinner.

If you want a meat-free dinner, skip the ham and use a salty vegetable broth. For lighter week-night meals, see the healthy crockpot recipes.

10. Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew

Guinness gives this stew a roasted, slightly bitter edge that balances the sweetness of the carrots. The beer cooks down in the slow cooker, so the finished stew tastes malty, not boozy.

Sear the beef first. The brown crust is what makes the gravy dark. For a similar cut-and-time guide, see beef tips with stew meat vs sirloin.

11. Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole with Chicken

The classic Thanksgiving side gets chicken so it can stand as a dinner. This version cooks fast, only 2.5 to 3 hours on low, so it fits the end of a weekday.

Add the cooked chicken in the last 30 minutes so it stays tender. More casseroles for the oven live on our casserole recipes for dinner page.

12. Crock Pot Chicken Divan with Broccoli

Chicken divan is the retro casserole that the slow cooker handles well, because the sauce protects the chicken from drying out. The curry powder is the small touch that makes it taste different from a plain broccoli bake.

Broccoli goes in near the end if you use fresh, since it turns gray after hours. Frozen broccoli can go in earlier. Looking for a lighter side? Try the healthy crockpot recipes.

13. Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s pie is a casserole that benefits from the slow cooker because the filling thickens as it cooks. The mashed potatoes are added late so they stay fluffy and do not turn gray.

The pie is one of many ground beef comfort food recipes on the site. Use a potato ricer to get the mash smooth without gluey lumps.

14. Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

This casserole gives you the pot pie flavor with biscuits instead of pastry. The potato helps thicken the filling, and the frozen vegetables go in near the end so they keep their color.

Bake the biscuits separately so they stay crisp. For more easy dinners that cook while you work, see 25 lazy high-protein crockpot recipes.

15. Crock Pot Tuscan Chicken

Tuscan chicken has the nickname “Marry Me chicken” for good reason. The sauce is simple, and spinach and sun-dried tomatoes make it look like a restaurant dish.

The catch is time. Breasts are ready early, so check them at the shorter end of the range. Thighs can go the full 6 to 8 hours. For another cream-sauce dinner, see beef stroganoff in the crockpot.

16. Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole

This is the pick for picky eaters. The beef and cheese filling tastes like a cheeseburger, and the tots on top steam soft in the pot.

If you want them crisp, finish the tots under the broiler for a few minutes. Another beef dish with a cream sauce is beef stroganoff.

17. Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

Chicken and stuffing is the easiest way to get Thanksgiving flavor on a Tuesday. The stuffing steams on top of the chicken and soaks up the creamy sauce below.

Use a slow cooker that is not too big, because a half-full pot cooks too fast. This works well in a 6-quart cooker. Looking for more casserole ideas? Try the casserole recipes for dinner.

18. Pot Roast with Gravy and Veggies

A pot roast is the cut-and-time lesson of the page. A chuck roast has enough fat and connective tissue to stay moist for 8 hours, so it is the cut we pick.

Make the gravy from the drippings and the roast tastes like Sunday dinner. The same roast is the base for Mississippi pot roast and for roast beef crock pot recipes.

19. BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Pork shoulder is forgiving: it has so much fat that it cannot dry out in 8 hours. The only thing that goes wrong is lifting the lid too often.

The meat is done at 200°F, and that is when it shreds with almost no effort. For another sandwich on the same idea, see Italian beef sandwiches.

20. Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Honey garlic chicken is the fastest recipe on the page to assemble. Five ingredients go in the pot, and a spoonful of cornstarch turns the juices into a glaze.

Choose thighs. Breasts dry out with the long cook time, and thighs stay juicy. Serve with rice and broccoli. If you like pork instead, see the crockpot pork chops.

21. Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

Salisbury steak is a patty, not a steak. Ground beef mixed with panko and an egg yolk stays tender in gravy, so the dish is a good pick when you are worried about dry meat.

Brown the patties first, because the crust holds them together in the sauce. Our crockpot steak bites page shows another quick-cooking beef idea.

22. Braised Short Ribs with Red Wine Sauce

Short ribs are a rich cut that melts into tenderness after 7 hours. They give a restaurant-style dinner for very little hands-on work.

The catch is fat. Skim the sauce and reduce it on the stove, or the dish tastes greasy. Read about short ribs in the slow cooker to see how bone-in and boneless differ.

23. Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

Swedish meatballs are the lowest-effort recipe on the page. Frozen meatballs go straight into the pot, so there is nothing to roll, and the sauce does the work.

Sour cream and half and half go in at the end so the sauce stays smooth. This recipe also fits a small cooker, which is handy for easy meals for one or two. For homemade meatballs, see crockpot meatballs.

24. Turkey Breast with Herb Gravy

A turkey breast is the answer when a whole bird is too much. The slow cooker keeps the meat moist, but the skin comes out pale, so a short broil at the end gives it color.

Use a thermometer, because turkey breast goes from juicy to dry fast. For other holiday-style mains, see the Instant Pot recipes.

25. Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is the fastest recipe on the page, at about 2 hours, and the most watch-worthy. Macaroni cooks quickly in a slow cooker and can turn gummy.

Boil the macaroni for only 6 minutes first, then stir every 30 minutes. This is a side dish on the casserole recipes for dinner table too.

26. Crock Pot Creamed Corn

Creamed corn is the best Thanksgiving side to hand to the slow cooker, because it frees the stove. The cream cheese melts into the corn with no stirring.

Add the cheese last and do not overcook, or the corn gets watery. A topping of crumbled bacon adds crunch. For a starch side, see crockpot potatoes.

27. Crock Pot Cinnamon Apples

Cinnamon apples are the easy dessert that makes the house smell like fall. A cornstarch slurry thickens the juices into a syrup.

Use firm apples so they hold their shape. Soft ones turn into applesauce. Serve them next to the roast beef for a full dinner.

28. Crock Pot Butternut Squash Soup

This is the lightest soup on the page and the only one with no meat. Apple gives sweetness and a splash of cider vinegar at the end keeps it from tasting flat.

The squash is the thickener, so no flour is needed. Blend until smooth and freeze a few portions, which makes it one of the best easy meals for one to keep in the freezer.

What are easy crockpot recipes?

Easy crockpot recipes are dinners where raw or lightly browned ingredients go into the slow cooker in the morning and come out finished at night. They are the most popular easy meals for dinner on a busy week, because the pot does the work for 4 to 10 hours. The ones on this page are comfort food recipes: creamy soups, cheesy casseroles, pot roast and warm sides.

Not every comfort food dinner suits a slow cooker. Lean cuts dry out and noodles turn soft, so each card gives hours for both LOW and HIGH and says when to add the delicate parts. For more beef ideas, read ground beef comfort food recipes that do not all taste the same.

How do you choose easy fall crockpot meals?

• Which cut holds 8 hours: chicken thighs, chuck roast, pork shoulder and short ribs have fat and connective tissue, so they stay tender. Lean breast, round and sirloin need the short end of the range. This is the first thing to check for easy fall meals that cook while you are out.
• How much liquid: a slow cooker traps steam, so soups and stews need the full amount in the card, while roasts and chicken need only enough broth to cover the bottom.
• What to add at the end: cream, cheese, sour cream, noodles and fresh herbs go in during the last 10 to 30 minutes, or they split, go soft or lose their flavor.

How to Make Easy Crockpot Meals: the Base Method

Brown, layer and add the liquid

Brown the meat in a skillet when the card says so, then put the vegetables on the bottom and the meat on top. The crust adds flavor that the pot cannot make alone, as in this chuck roast method.

Keep the lid closed

Every time you lift the lid, steam and heat escape and the dinner takes longer. Leaner cuts need even more care, as the rump roast crock pot recipes show.

Add dairy, noodles and thickener at the end

Stir in cream cheese, milk and sour cream near the finish, cook pasta separately or in the last hour, and thicken with cornstarch mixed with cold water. The page on crockpot pasta recipes with ground beef explains the timing.

When fall crockpot recipes go wrong

• Dry meat: the cut was too lean or cooked too long. Slice it against the grain and moisten it with the cooking juices.
• Watery sauce: the lid trapped steam. Cook it uncovered on HIGH for 15 to 30 minutes or stir in cornstarch mixed with cold water.
• Mushy noodles or rice: they went in too early. Add pasta in the last hour or cook it separately.
• Split dairy: cream or sour cream was added at the start. Whisk it with a ladle of hot liquid and stir it in at the end, without boiling.
• Bland dinner: slow cooking mutes flavor. Finish with salt, a squeeze of lemon or a spoonful of vinegar, and fresh herbs.

How to Store and Freeze Crockpot Leftovers

Cool leftovers within 2 hours and keep them in the fridge for 3 to 4 days in a shallow, covered container. Soups, stews and pot roast with gravy freeze well for about 2 to 3 months, while creamy pasta and potato dishes can turn grainy, so freeze those only if you must. Reheat until steaming hot. For make-ahead ideas, see cheap dinners for a family.

Key takeaways

• Pick chicken thighs, chuck or pork shoulder when the pot will run for 8 hours.
• Check the hours on the card for your cooker, and use the shorter time for lean cuts.
• Keep the lid closed until the last hour.
• Add cream, cheese, sour cream and noodles at the end.
• Check poultry at 165°F and ground beef at 160°F before serving.
• Cool leftovers within 2 hours and freeze soups and stews, not creamy pasta.

When the free version isn’t enough

A recipe gives you the order of steps, but it cannot tell you whether your cooker runs hot or your roast is done. A probe or instant-read thermometer settles that in seconds, and a slow cooker liner makes cleanup quick. Both are used in the recipes above where they help most.

Common questions

What are the easiest crockpot recipes for beginners?

The creamy chicken and wild rice soup (1), the honey garlic chicken thighs (20) and the Swedish meatballs (23) are the easiest. They need few ingredients, little prep and almost no watching, which makes them easy meals for a first week with a slow cooker.

What are the best comfort food dinners for a slow cooker?

Pot roast (18), loaded baked potato soup (3), shepherd’s pie (13) and mac and cheese (25) are the classic comfort foods on this page. They give easy comfort food that tastes slow-cooked without hours at the stove.

How do you make chicken cacciatore in a crockpot?

Put chicken, peppers, onion, mushrooms and a tomato sauce in the pot and cook on LOW. The slow cooker chicken cacciatore (7) gives the amounts and hours, and it is ready when the chicken reads 165°F.

Can you make easy meals for one in a crockpot?

Yes. Halve a recipe such as the Swedish meatballs (23) and use a small 1.5 quart cooker, then freeze the extra portions. A half-full large pot cooks faster, so check it earlier.

How long do crockpot recipes take on LOW and HIGH?

Most dinners here take 4 to 8 hours on LOW, and the HIGH setting needs about half the time. Each card lists both, and roasts and ribs are the ones that need the longest.

How do you keep chicken from drying out in a slow cooker?

Use boneless thighs, keep the lid closed and stop at 165°F. Breasts need the shorter time on the card, because lean meat turns stringy when it cooks too long.

Can you cook frozen meat in a crockpot?

Thaw raw meat in the fridge first, because frozen meat stays too long in the unsafe temperature range. Pre-cooked frozen items, such as the meatballs in item 23, go in straight from the freezer.