17 Crockpot Recipes That Carry You Through Long Weeks

There are stretches of the year when the days blur together, and dinner just has to happen somehow. I rely on the slow cooker most during those weeks when energy is thin. These 17 recipes lean on steady ingredients, long gentle cooking, and flavors that hold up over leftovers. Each one keeps the table filled even when the calendar feels heavy.

Plate of mashed potatoes topped with chicken, mushrooms, and creamy gravy, garnished with chopped herbs. — Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Marsala. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken

Plate of glazed chicken with cranberries, green beans, and stuffing on a red and white checkered cloth. — Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken simmers chicken breasts in cranberry sauce with onion and spice. It cooks for about 4 hours on low. Ingredients include chicken, cranberry sauce, garlic, and thyme. Flavor is lightly sweet with a savory finish.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken

Slow Cooker Gingerbread Fudge

A plate of chocolate fudge squares stacked in a pyramid shape on a white surface. The fudge is topped with a sprinkle of coarse sea salt. — Slow Cooker Gingerbread Fudge. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Gingerbread Fudge melts chocolate, spices, and condensed milk into a spoonable dessert. It takes around 2 hours on low. Ingredients include white chocolate, condensed milk, ginger, and cinnamon. Taste is sweet with warm spice.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Gingerbread Fudge

Slow Cooker Osso Buco

A plate of cooked lamb chops sits on a bed of sliced, cooked carrots. The dish is garnished with chopped green onions. Utensils, a wooden spoon with spices, and a small bowl of more green onions are nearby on a burlap cloth surface. — Slow Cooker Osso Buco. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Osso Buco cooks veal shanks with tomato, wine, and herbs until tender. It runs about 6 hours on low. Ingredients include veal shanks, carrots, onion, and crushed tomatoes. Flavor is rich, savory, and deep.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Osso Buco

Slow Cooker Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

A black bowl filled with creamy pasta coated in a thick sauce, topped with a fresh basil leaf. A metal spoon rests inside the bowl. The background is a light-colored surface. — Slow Cooker Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken braises chicken in cream and chopped tomatoes. It takes roughly 4 hours. Ingredients include chicken breasts, sun dried tomatoes, heavy cream, and garlic. Taste is savory, slightly tangy, and smooth.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken

Plate of creamy chicken casserole topped with sliced almonds and green onions, served with crackers. — Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken simmers chicken with cream cheese and seasonings into a thick sauce. It cooks in about 4 hours. Ingredients include chicken, cream cheese, soup mix, and broth. Flavor is creamy, mild, and filling.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken

Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash

A dish filled with mashed sweet potatoes topped with chopped nuts, a pat of butter, and a sprig of thyme. The dish is placed on a wooden board, with a few thyme sprigs scattered around. — Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash cooks diced squash with butter and spice until soft. It takes around 3 hours on low. Ingredients include butternut squash, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Taste is lightly sweet and mellow.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash

Slow Cooker Kabocha Squash Soup

A bowl of creamy orange soup is placed on a black plate, garnished with a swirl of cream and a sprig of herb. A spoon rests inside the bowl. Small sprigs of thyme are scattered on the marble surface nearby. — Slow Cooker Kabocha Squash Soup. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Kabocha Squash Soup blends winter squash with broth into a thick soup. It cooks for about 4 hours. Ingredients include kabocha squash, onion, garlic, and nutmeg. Flavor is gently sweet and smooth.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Kabocha Squash Soup

Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders

Three BBQ chicken sliders stacked on a white plate, with a red checked cloth and a green glass nearby. — Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders shred turkey in barbecue sauce with cranberry. It takes roughly 3 hours on low. Ingredients include turkey breast, cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, and rolls. Taste is tangy, lightly sweet, and savory.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders

Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie

A spoonful of creamy chicken and stuffing casserole garnished with herbs. — Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

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Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie cooks diced turkey with vegetables in creamy gravy. It runs about 4 hours. Ingredients include turkey, peas, carrots, cream soup, and broth. Flavor is mild, savory, and familiar.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie

Slow Cooker Olive Garden Copycat Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Creamy soup with vegetables and herbs in a white bowl, next to a spoon and a striped towel. — Slow Cooker Olive Garden Copycat Chicken Gnocchi Soup. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Olive Garden Copycat Chicken Gnocchi Soup simmers chicken, gnocchi, and spinach in creamy broth. It cooks for about 4 hours. Ingredients include chicken breast, potato gnocchi, cream, and carrots. Taste is rich, mild, and filling.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Olive Garden Copycat Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

A ladle of beef stew with carrots, potatoes, and parsley in a rich brown sauce. — Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon braises beef cubes with wine, mushrooms, and carrots. It takes about 6 hours on low. Ingredients include beef chuck, red wine, pearl onions, and thyme. Flavor is savory, deep, and balanced.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara

A bowl of penne pasta topped with shredded meat and garnished with fresh basil leaves. A fork is placed in the bowl. Red tomatoes and additional fresh basil leaves are on the marble surface nearby. — Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara simmers chicken in jarred tomato sauce with herbs. It cooks for roughly 3 hours. Ingredients include chicken breasts, marinara sauce, garlic, and basil. Taste is clean, tomato forward, and familiar.
Get the Recipe: Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara

Slow Cooker Carrot Soup

A black bowl filled with creamy orange soup, garnished with herbs, pepper, and a drizzle of oil. A gold spoon rests inside the bowl. A textured brown cloth and a cup are in the background. — Slow Cooker Carrot Soup. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Carrot Soup blends carrots with onion and broth into a smooth soup. It takes about 4 hours. Ingredients include carrots, onion, garlic, and stock. Flavor is mild, lightly sweet, and clean.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Carrot Soup

Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon

A white bowl filled with a red kidney bean stew, including visible pieces of meat or vegetables, sits on a dark cloth napkin with a fork and spoon beside it. A small bunch of parsley is on the table nearby. — Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon cooks navy beans with brown sugar and smoky bacon. It runs around 5 hours on low. Ingredients include dried beans, bacon, molasses, and onion. Taste is sweet, smoky, and filling.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon

Slow Cooker Greek Chicken

A plate of shredded chicken is garnished with herbs, black olives, and sliced cherry tomatoes. Two lemon wedges and pieces of flatbread accompany the dish. A fork is resting on the edge of the plate. — Slow Cooker Greek Chicken. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Greek Chicken simmers chicken with lemon, oregano, and olives. It cooks for about 4 hours. Ingredients include chicken thighs, lemon juice, olives, and garlic. Flavor is bright, savory, and clean.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Greek Chicken

Slow Cooker Mushroom Broth

Two white bowls filled with a dark broth garnished with sliced green onions. Wooden spoons are placed beside each bowl. Green onion stalks are scattered on a light tiled surface. — Slow Cooker Mushroom Broth. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Mushroom Broth steeps dried and fresh mushrooms into a deep stock. It takes about 6 hours. Ingredients include mushrooms, onion, garlic, and herbs. Taste is earthy, clean, and savory.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mushroom Broth

Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Marsala

Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Marsala cooks chicken with mushrooms in creamy marsala sauce. It runs around 4 hours. Ingredients include chicken breasts, mushrooms, marsala wine, and cream. Flavor is mild, savory, and smooth.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Marsala