The whole point of a Crock-Pot is to make cooking less stressful, right? Except the truth is, if a slow cooker recipe requires a crazy number of ingredients, then it's not all that much less stressful in the end. (This is especially true if those ingredients need to be sliced, diced, or otherwise heavily prepped.) Thankfully, there are plenty of Crock-Pot recipes that call for just five ingredients (or even three or four). Meal prep just got a whole lot easier!
From comfort classics to healthy soups, side dishes, breakfast, and even dessert, there are so many simple faves to choose from. And don't be fooled by the short lists of ingredients, either. None of these recipes are short on taste! It's amazing what a day of simmering on low heat can do to a handful of flavors. Not to mention, there's a good chance many of the necessary items for these recipes are already in many families' fridges and cupboards. Why slave over measuring cups and cutting boards and go on grocery scavenger hunts when minimalist cooking can be so delightfully delicious?
Of course, it should be noted that we're not counting water, salt, or pepper as "ingredients" here. It's pretty much a given that those three things will be in almost every recipe, ever. (Except maybe the pepper.) It should be noted, however, that these recipes are more than just effortless, they're economical, too. There's only so much money that can be spent on five ingredients, after all!
White Chicken Chili
There are zillions of chili varieties out there, but Crock-Pot white chicken chili from Gimme Some Oven is super kid-friendly (and healthy, too).
Kalua Pig
A Crock-Pot version of a Hawaiian favorite, Kalua Pig from Nom Nom Paleo is sure to become a regular family dinner.
Pineapple Salsa Chicken
Dinner doesn't get easier (or tastier) than Crock-Pot pineapple salsa chicken from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.
Italian Beef Sandwiches
Perfect for families with big appetites, hearty Crock-Pot Italian beef sandwiches from Iowa Girl Eats will keep everyone full for hours.
Oatmeal With Brown Sugar
Who needs the instant stuff when there's this tasty Crock-Pot recipe for brown sugar oatmeal from The Kitchn?
Creamed Corn
Ditch the canned variety for good with this tasty Crock-Pot creamed corn recipe from The Kitchn.
Broccoli Alfredo Chicken
So much fancier than it looks, this delicious Crock-Pot broccoli Alfredo chicken recipe from The Frugal Girls is the real deal.
Poached Salmon
Crock-Pot poached salmon from Epicurious is perfection, not to mention basically foolproof.
Lentil Curry
Prep a tasty Crock-Pot Lentil Curry recipe from IFoodReal in a hurry and reap the rewards later!
Roasted Vegetables
Make roasted vegetables from Chocolate Covered Katie in the slow cooker and never bother with the oven again!
Crock-Pot Ribs
These Crock-Pot ribs from Shockingly Delicious are a quite delicious and hearty weeknight meal idea!
Loaded Potato Soup
The absolute perfect dinner for rainy days? Crock-Pot loaded potato soup from Tablespoon!
Lemon Chicken
Crock-Pot lemon chicken from No. 2 Pencil is a light, fresh take on the classic dish.
Pot Roast
For a traditional Sunday dinner without all the fuss, slow cooker Pot Roast with Vegetables from A Mind "Full" Mom fits the bill!
Beans & Sausage
The white bean and sausage recipe from Deliciously Organic is a far cry from beans and franks! And it's so easy to throw in the Crock-Pot, even on a busy morning.
Pork Roast
Another Sunday dinner contender: Crock-Pot pork roast from Your Homebased Mom.
Green Beans
Even the most stubborn veggie hater will fall for the tasty Crock-Pot green beans recipe from The Crock-Pot Ladies.
Orange Chicken
No need to order take-out with the orange chicken recipe from Heidi's Home Cooking</em>; it's easy to make in the Crock-Pot!
Mashed Potatoes
For the ultimate crowd-pleasing side dish, Crock-Pot mashed potatoes from A Sweet Pea Chef won't disappoint!
Beef & Broccoli
Save some cash with this at-home Crock-Pot version of beef and broccoli from The Frugal Girls.
Mississippi Roast
Like pot roast but better (because of the ranch flavoring, of course), Crock-Pot Mississippi roast from Tip Hero will definitely have the whole family asking for seconds!
Meatballs and Ravioli
This meatballs and ravioli recipe from Slow Cooker Kitchen is the next best thing to the stuff Grandma used to make!
Beef Tips and Gravy
Also from Slow Cooker Kitchen, this beef tips and gravy recipe creates some serious comfort food.
Chicken Adobo
A take on a customary Filipino dish, Crock-Pot adobo chicken from Slow Cooker Kitchen is packed with flavor.
Sloppy Joes
Crock-Pot Sloppy Joes from The Frugal Girls are way better than anything found at a school cafeteria!
Black Forest Dump Cake
Time for dessert — specifically, this black forest dump cake from The Frugal Girls, which can be easily made in a Crock-Pot.
Pierogies
Kids tend to love pocket-type foods, so they'll gobble up Crock-Pot pierogies from It Is a Keeper in no time.
Ham, Green Beans and Potatoes
Anybody who doubts that a full meal can be made out of five ingredients will be proven wrong with this Crock-Pot ham, green beans, and potatoes recipe from Good + Simple!
Salsa Alfredo Tortellini
So many tastes, so few ingredients in this salsa Alfredo tortellini from 365 Days of Slow Cooking and Pressure Cooking!
Steak and Gravy
Gravy makes everything better, and this Crock-Pot steak and gravy from Family Favorite Recipes is no exception.
Cranberry Kielbasa Bites
A super fun finger food, these Cranberry kielbasa bites from The Frugal Girls are party perfect, and they're easily made in a Crock-Pot!
Pot Roast Dinner
More pot roast? Yes! Because this slow-cooker pot roast dinner from 365 Days of Slow Cooking and Pressure Cooking is a full-on weeknight meal.
Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken
This Crock-Pot brown sugar garlic chicken from Dinner Then Dessert sounds like an amazing combo of sweet and savory.
Cinnamon Applesauce
Sure, the jarred sauce is fine, but nothing tops homemade applesauce like this Crock-Pot recipe from What the Fork.
Caesar Chicken
Anybody who likes caesar salad will love this Crock-Pot caesar chicken from The Frugal Girls.
Japanese Cheesecake
Does life get better than this three-ingredient (!!!) Crock-Pot Japanese cheesecake from Kirbie's Cravings? Probably not!
Parsley Potatoes
Not the same old side dish, Crock-Pot parsley potatoes from Recipes That Crock would complement almost anything!
Pork Roast
Another take on pork roast from Recipes That Crock, this one involves cream of mushroom soup as one of its four ingredients.
Refried Beans
No soaking required to make Crock-Pot refried beans from Brooklyn Farm Girl. Yum!
Brisket and Onions
No one will ever guess this Crock-Pot brisket and onions recipe from The Kitchn is such a breeze to prepare!
