One of the eternal truths of life as a parent is that even though dinner got made last night, it doesn't get anyone off the hook for making dinner again tonight. And tomorrow night. And the next night. And, well, it's pretty clear where we're going with this, right? Having to figure out what to feed a family for dinner seven nights a week is an unavoidable task and we're always looking for ideas that hit that sweet spot of tasty, easy, and family-friendly without being bland.
And now the humble slow cooker enters the chat! While a Crock-Pot is the known kitchen champion for soups and chili, it can be easy to forget how many other truly delicious dinner options can be made while plugged in on the kitchen counter. Especially during cold weather months it can be so delightful to come home to a kitchen that smells amazing and a dinner that is already 90% or more made, right?
So we've rounded up 16 non-soup delicious dinner ideas that can be made in the slow cooker and that are hearty and perfect for lunch leftovers the next day. This roundup includes tasty vegetarian options, super cheesy comfort foods, and some perhaps unexpected international ideas that will get anyone out of the usual chicken, veggie, and side routine!
Butter Chicken
Oooh, yum! Butter chicken is such a great choice for families looking for Indian flavors but who maybe want something a little lower on the spicy scale. The slow-cooker butter chicken recipe from Taste of Home requires a little stove work, but so worth it when paired with some naan bread and rice.
Philly Cheesesteaks
Who knew that the humble slow cooker could produce something as hearty and tasty as the main fixings for Philly cheesesteaks?! This recipe from Dining With Alice is perfect for a potluck or game day meal, just add some crusty bread and a cheese topping (provolone works well!) for a juicy sandwich that is a full meal.
Mexican Casserole
There is nothing quite as satisfying as a cheesy, hearty, spicy casserole on a cold day! We're loving this Crock-Pot Mexican casserole from Well Plated, especially because it includes some surprise ingredients for some added fiber and protein! Serve with some tortilla chips and expect everyone to go for a second helping!
Beef & Broccoli
Beef and broccoli is a standard at the Chinese takeout for a reason — it is delicious! This slow cooker version from Dining With Alice is a great way to make it at home. Serve this kid-friendly recipe over ramen or rice or add some chili oil or flakes for a little more heat!
Macaroni & Cheese
Who doesn’t love a nice bowl full of cheesy goodness at the end of a long day? Slow-cooker macaroni and cheese (like this ultra creamy version from Spend With Pennies) might not have the crispy top of oven-baked mac and cheese, but it is still perfect for a potluck or hearty family meal. We love adding in some canned diced green chilies for a little more flavor.
Pulled Pork
OK, to be totally honest, we’re not convinced that Martha Stewart ever actually cooks with a slow cooker, but the pulled pork recipe from her website looks amazing! Pulled pork is one of those great meal options because once it is done, it can be used for sandwiches or served with sides like mashed potatoes or rice. Leftovers are great as quesadillas the next day. Even Martha would have to agree that pulled pork quesadillas sound delicious.
African Peanut Sweet Potato Stew
Just because a meal is vegetarian doesn’t mean that it can’t be filling and hearty! A flavorful slow cooker option is African peanut stew like the recipe featured in Taste of Home, which uses peanut butter, sweet potatoes, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, and kale for a meal that is a great dinner and a yummy leftover lunch for the next day.
Thai Chicken
Thai food is known for being super flavorful and delicious. Sometimes slow cooking gets knocked for being a little on the bland side, but the slow-cooker Thai chicken recipe from Well Plated is a perfect example of the fact that we don't have to give up flavor when using the slow cooker. This recipe is full of veggies and is perfect to serve with brown rice, so it also has bonus points for nutrition as well.
Bacon & Ranch Chicken With Pasta
What could be more kid-friendly than pasta that has the flavors of bacon and ranch dressing? This Betty Crocker recipe might not win prizes for being some crazy avant garde foodie innovation. It probably doesn’t merit a photospread on Instagram. But, look, sometimes a simple meal with familiar flavors is pure comfort food in bowl.
Mushroom Barley Risotto
This hearty vegetarian option from Food Network is a little more fussy than some of the other recipes we’ve featured because it does require some stovetop cooking first, but overall it is a lot less work than most risotto recipes out there. This is perfect to serve with a crisp salad (feel free to use a bagged salad — we’re all about easy!) or some garlic bread.
Maple Bourbon Pot Roast
Pot roast can sound like a kind of dated 1950s sort of meal, and too many people have had the unfortunate experience of chewing their way through a dry and flavorless hunk of meat. Well, the maple bourbon pot roast recipe from Dining With Alice is the cure for the boring pot roast. With deep, rich flavors from maple syrup and bourbon this recipe is so good.
Tangy Spiced Brisket
Oh, brisket. Delicious, meaty, hearty brisket. Brisket can be a great choice for feeding a crowd (the tangy spiced brisket recipe from Smitten Kitchen feeds eight to 10 people) or for making multiple meals out of the leftovers. So savory and full of flavor and it goes with almost any side dish.
Asian Chicken Lettuce Cups
Asian-inspired chicken lettuce cups aren't the most obvious slow cooker idea, but leave it to The Pioneer Woman to make it happen! Lettuce cups are a great choice for having the combination of fresh crisp vegetables and savory flavors that can bring even the pickiest eaters to the table.
Spice Trade Beans & Bulgur
This spice trade beans and bulgur recipe from Taste of Home is another slow cooker recipe that can serve a vegetarian crowd but it could also be tweaked by the addition of some chicken thighs or ground turkey for those who feel it's not a meal without meat.
Sloppy Joe Sliders
Some nights are for being experimental in the kitchen and trying some fancy new recipe. Other nights, let's be honest, are for going for the tried and true. Slow-cooker sloppy Joe sliders (like this Food Network recipe) are kid-friendly and perfect for serving with some baby carrots and potato chips. Dinner is done, delicious, and easy!
Shrimp Boil
We're not afraid of a little controversy here, so we'll add this slow-cooker shrimp boil from the Food Network as an option. Non-seafood eaters will hate the idea of shrimp cooking in the kitchen for hours, but those who love this New England classic might be totally into this easy way to make a classic dish.
