Fall and the start of winter means shorter days, cooler weather, staying indoors more, and the start of the comfort food eating season! There is nothing like the smell of something delicious in the slow cooker to warm a house and make everyone inside of it feel loved and cozy. This is the season for hearty and comforting foods and we all need that now more than ever, right?
No region is better known for comfort food than the South, so combining traditional and new Southern cooking with the ease of a Crock-Pot is just smart thinking, especially for those busy fall school days or working from home. Weâve gathered 20 recipes that are sure to make any kitchen smell amazing and any belly feel nice and full! Weâve even thrown in a vegetarian option and a gluten-free option, so there are choices almost any family will love!
Vegan Collard Greens
Collard greens are an iconic Southern side dish staple that can be made in the slow cooker and as a vegan and gluten-free option. Check out Vegan Runner Eats for a step-by-step guide to cleaning, prepping, and slow cooking this traditional favorite.
Mac and Cheese
Is there anything more comforting than macaroni and cheese? Unlikely! Weâre fans of the slow cooker version found at Dinner At the Zoo which has all the cheesy goodness any family will like. This can work as both a main course or a side dish.
Mississippi Pot Roast
Oooh, baby! Mississippi pot roast is so savory and flavorful. It couldnât be any easier to make and recipes like the one found on The Southern Lady Cooks only call for five ingredients in total! This would be amazing paired with some fresh cornbread.
Slow Cooker Carolina-Style Pulled Pork
No round up of Southern food would be complete without the mention of pulled pork! There are lots of regional variations on pulled pork, but this Carolina style version from Spicy Southern Kitchen is sure to please those who like a less sweet barbecue flavor. Love the coleslaw topping for extra flavor, too!
Peach Cobbler
Slow cookers arenât just for making dinner. This slow cooker peach cobbler recipe from Southern Living reminds us how easy it can be to make a warm and cozy dessert, too. And it doesnât get much more Southern than peach cobbler!
Franks & Beans
One of the best things about slow cooker meals is that they donât have to be fussy or fancy to be a hit. In fact, sometimes simpler is better, especially when it comes to feeding kids. Kids will love the franks and beans recipe from South Your Mouth and so will parents, especially those trying to stretch their food budget.
Slow Cooker Cheesy Grits
Southern style cheesy grits are so good â creamy, salty, savory, and so perfect as a side at dinner or as a meal themselves for breakfast. People whoâve never tried grits are missing out and should check out Simply Happy Foodie for an easy slow cooker way change that!
Red Beans & Rice
Red beans and rice is a classic Southern tradition and for good reason! A great bowl of red beans and rice will keep any tummy full and happy all night and is even better as leftovers the next day. The Food Network's recipe is perfect for the Crock-Pot and makes enough to more than feed a family
Slow Cooker Jambalaya
Jambalaya is a great choice for a cold fall or winter day. Itâs hearty and can be as spicy as the cook wants it to be! Slow cooker jambalaya, like the recipe found at Slow Cooker Gourmet, is great with some fresh crusty bread on the side to soak up all that flavor!
Beer-Braised Brisket
Texas is a big part of the South, and no list of Texas-inspired recipes would be complete without some brisket! Brisket can be a tough cut of meat, which is why the slow cooker is a great way to make it tender, especially it has beer added! The Kitchn has a drool-worthy recipe sure to make any beer loving carnivore happy!
Spicy-Sweet Ribs & Beans
Looking for a good âstick to the ribsâ kind of meal? Well, look no further than the ribs and beans recipe from My Recipes. Spicy, sweet, and savory, this one packs a major flavor punch and is easy on the wallet too!
Greens & Peas With Ham
Black-eyed peas and ham is traditionally a New Yearâs dish, but it is so good that there is no reason not to eat it year-round! Southern Living has a great slow cooker version that also includes greens for an even more robust meal.
Crock-Pot Gumbo
A staple of Cajun cuisine is gumbo, which can easily be made in a slow cooker. Moms with Crockpots has a great shrimp free option that can be fairly easily altered to be either gluten-free or low-carb friendly.
Banana Pudding
What happens when some ripe bananas and some sweetened condensed milk get added to a slow cooker? Magic, thatâs what! A Year of Slow Cooking has this ultra-easy recipe for banana pudding that is just begging to be served with whipped cream and some Nilla wafers or crumbled graham crackers
Slow Cooker Chili Cheese Corn
Chili. Cheese. Corn. Yes, please! This Lifeâs A Tomato recipe is pushing all the right buttons in the comfort food category. Cheesy, spicy, carb-y goodness that is the perfect side dish for fried chicken or a slab of ham. This also works as a main dish for the vegetarian crowd!
Chicken & Cornbread Dumplings
Chicken and dumplings isnât the easiest of slow cooker recipes, as it does require multiple steps and some careful timing. But this recipe from Southern Living makes the extra fuss seem well worth it for this classic Southern dish!
Cheesy Farmhouse Breakfast Casserole
Slow cookers arenât just for dinner! This cheesy breakfast casserole from Southern Discourse is a great example of how a slow cooker can help prep for a hearty morning meal, too. This casserole, which features both bacon and sausage, could also be a contender for the next breakfast-for-dinner night, too.
Slow Cooker Honey Jalapeno Cornbread
Almost any Southern style meal can be improved by adding a side of cornbread. Traditional cornbread is easy enough, but weâre loving this slow cooker upgrade from Le Crème de la Crumb, which features honey for sweetness and jalapeno for some heat.
Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Ham
Ham is a major staple of Southern cooking and is great for feeding a big family or for using leftovers in new recipes for the rest of the week. Ham is easy to cook in the slow cooker and can get an easy upgrade with the brown sugar ham recipe found at The Magical Slow Cooker. This is perfect for fans of salty and sweet.
Sausage & Rice Casserole
Southern food is often thought of as rich and even a little heavy, but it doesnât have to be! Sausage and rice casserole made with chicken sausage, like the recipe from Well Plated, is a great healthy option for fans of Southern food.
