17 Slow Cooker Dinners From the 1970s That Still Work Today

Slow cookers became a household staple in the 1970s, turning simple ingredients into dinners that were hearty and reliable. These meals saved time in the kitchen while still giving families the comfort they wanted at the table. With 17 slow cooker dinners, you’ll see why these recipes stood the test of time. Each one brings back the ease and nostalgia of set-it-and-forget-it cooking that continues to fit modern life.

A wooden spoon rests in a pot of fish stew with a tomato-based sauce. Pieces of cooked fish are visible in the thick red sauce, along with slices of cooked peppers. — Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

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 uses beef shanks, vegetables, and broth cooked gently until the meat falls off the bone. The recipe takes hours in the pot, but only minutes to prepare at the start. Braised meat dishes like this were part of the 1970s move toward hearty slow cooker dinners that needed little attention. It’s the kind of dish that feels just as comforting today as it did decades ago.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Osso Buco

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 turns squash, broth, and seasonings into a creamy bowl of soup. It cooks for hours unattended and blends into a silky texture once finished. Soups like this recall the vegetable-focused slow cooker meals that were common in the 1970s, when families leaned on their Crock-Pots for everyday dinners. It still shows how a simple pot of soup can anchor a meal with ease.
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 cook turkey in a sweet and tangy sauce until it’s ready to shred. The meat is then piled onto bread for a hands-on dinner that takes little effort. Creative uses of turkey and chicken were common in the 1970s, especially with slow cookers making it easy to serve crowd-friendly meals. This recipe still carries the spirit of retro family dinners in a playful format.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders

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 layers chicken, bacon, cheese, and a buttery topping that cooks into a creamy casserole. It takes only a short time to prep before the slow cooker finishes the work. Casserole-style chicken recipes were staples of 1970s slow cooker dinners because they stretched to feed families easily. This dish echoes that practical approach with flavors that still feel familiar.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken

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 herbs and spices until it’s tender and ready to serve over rice or potatoes. The prep is minimal and the flavors develop as it cooks throughout the day. Chicken dishes were at the heart of many 1970s slow cooker dinners, with each family adding its own seasonings and style. This one reflects that tradition while staying easy to bring together.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Greek Chicken

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 combine beans, sweet sauce, and smoky bacon that cook low and slow until rich and hearty. The dish can be started early in the day and is ready by dinnertime without extra work. Baked beans were a go-to in 1970s kitchens because they stretched easily to feed a crowd. This version still captures that familiar spirit that made slow cooker dinners such a hit.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon

Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie

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

Slow cooker turkey pot pie layers turkey, vegetables, and creamy sauce under a topping that bakes up golden. It’s assembled with pantry staples and leftovers, making it a practical dinner option. Casserole-style meals like this were common in 1970s kitchens because they were filling and family-friendly. This dish still feels like the kind of meal you’d bring to the table after a long day.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie

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 takes a classic beef stew and makes it easy with set-it-and-forget-it cooking. Beef and vegetables simmer for hours in a rich sauce until tender and deeply flavored. Hearty stews like this reflect the slow cooker’s popularity in the 1970s, when convenience and comfort came together in one pot. It’s a dish that proves timeless flavors never go out of style.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

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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 a tomato sauce until tender and flavorful. It takes just a few minutes of prep before the slow cooker does the rest, making it a simple dinner option. Meals like this echo the kinds of pasta-inspired dishes that became popular when families first started using Crock-Pots in the 1970s. It’s the kind of recipe that feels like it could still sit at the center of any busy family table today.
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 combines carrots, broth, and seasonings for a simple and earthy bowl of soup. It simmers slowly until the flavors come together, ready to puree for a smooth finish. Vegetable soups were a big part of 1970s slow cooker cooking because they were affordable and easy to prepare. This recipe keeps that same straightforward character while still feeling fresh.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Carrot Soup

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Honey garlic chicken in a bowl served over rice. — Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Slow cooker honey garlic chicken brings chicken together with a sweet and savory sauce that thickens as it cooks. The recipe is easy to start and ready in a few hours with little effort. Dishes like this reflect how 1970s slow cooker dinners turned simple ingredients into flavorful meals for the whole family. It remains the kind of recipe that keeps people coming back to one-pot cooking.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Salisbury Steak In The Slow Cooker

White plate with salisbury steak on it and a mushroom on top of them. — Salisbury Steak In The Slow Cooker. Photo credit: Fitasamamabear.

Salisbury steak in the slow cooker forms seasoned beef patties that cook in a mushroom gravy until tender. It’s a classic set-it-and-forget-it dinner that comes together with little prep. Salisbury steak was a household name in the 1970s, making it a natural fit for slow cooker dinners of the time. This dish keeps that same nostalgic flavor alive for today’s tables.
Get the Recipe: Salisbury Steak In The Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers

A crock pot full of sausage, peppers, and marinara sauce. — Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

Slow cooker sausage and peppers lets sausage simmer in sauce with peppers and onions until everything is tender. It’s a hands-off recipe that can cook while you take care of other tasks. Sausage dishes like this were popular in 1970s slow cooker cooking because they were hearty and fed a crowd easily. It’s the kind of dinner that still feels right for weeknights or gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers

Italian Slow Cooker Pork Roast

A white bowl with slow cooker Italian pork roast, potatoes and carrots. — Italian Slow Cooker Pork Roast. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

Italian slow cooker pork roast seasons pork with herbs and lets it cook alongside potatoes and carrots until fall-apart tender. Prep takes only minutes, and the slow cooker does the rest throughout the day. Pork roasts were a cornerstone of 1970s slow cooker dinners because they were simple and filling. This recipe keeps that tradition alive with the same focus on ease and flavor.
Get the Recipe: Italian Slow Cooker Pork Roast

Slow Cooker Ham & Potato Chowder

A blue bowl of ham and potato soup. — Slow Cooker Ham & Potato Chowder. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Slow cooker ham and potato chowder brings together diced ham, potatoes, and a creamy base that cooks until everything is rich and hearty. It takes little hands-on work and simmers into a full dinner by evening. Chowders like this were regular features of 1970s slow cooker dinners, making use of leftovers in practical ways. This version shows that simple ingredients can still feel like a complete meal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Ham & Potato Chowder

Slow Cooker Swiss Pork Chops

Slow cooker Swiss pork chops cook pork with sauce and vegetables until the meat is tender and easy to cut. The recipe requires little effort and is ready after several hours in the pot. Pork chop dinners were part of the everyday cooking scene in the 1970s, and the slow cooker made them even easier to prepare. This dish feels like a direct connection to those retro weeknight meals.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Swiss Pork Chops

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 whole pieces of squash until tender with almost no effort. Just add the squash and let the slow cooker handle the work while you go about your day. While not a main dish, simple vegetable sides like this were often part of 1970s slow cooker dinners. It’s a reminder of how the era valued ease without giving up comfort on the plate.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash