Here's a no-nonsense approach to making a delicious smoked sausage gumbo with traditional ingredients. Gather your broth, spices, and veggies, and let the slow cooker work its...
Method: stovetop, crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Crock Pot Cooking
Don't overlook the slow cooker as being just as valuable a kitchen tool as your stove or oven. While it's long been recognized as an ideal way to cook roasts and stews, it can do so much more - and we'll show you how.
jump to the recipes
Pro Tip:
The crock pot should be filled 2/3rds full when cooking for best results. Scale recipes up or down to fit your size crock pot.
Crock Pot 101
A properly working crock pot uses as about as much electricity and resources as a light bulb - making it more economical than using your stove! Also, it won't heat up your kitchen in the summer months.
crock pot cooking time conversion chart
| Crockpot | ||
| Oven Or Stovetop | High Temp 300F | Low Temp 200F |
| 15-30 minutes | 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hours | 4 - 8 hours |
| 35-45 minutes | 3 - 4 hours | 6 - 10 hours |
| 50 minutes - 3 hours | 4 - 6 hours | 8 - 16 hours |
Cooking Times
Times listed with the recipes are guidelines - actual cooking times may vary based on the brand of crock pot, size, amount of liquid or food, how full your crock pot is, how dense the ingredients are, and the temperature of the foods when you add them.
Smoked Sausage Gumbo
Texas-Style Barbecued Chicken
Chicken legs are slow cooked in a spiced, smoky barbecue sauce. You can use other chicken pieces as well, just adjust the cooking time as needed if using white meat.
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Beef Sandwich Au Coke
This distinctive recipe calls for pot roast slow-cooked with a surprising mix of cola, ketchup, and onion soup mix. Once the meat is tender, it's shredded and served on warm...
Method: crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Burgundy Beef With Portobello Mushrooms and Pearl Onions
Made with portobello mushrooms, beef bottom round, olive oil, all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, allspice, Burgundy wine, Worcestershire...
Method: stovetop, crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Tomato Cabbage Soup
This hearty soup has more than just cabbage and tomatoes. It's also loaded up with green beans, carrots, celery, and onion with some spicy chili sauce for an added kick.
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
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Moist and Tender Turkey with Gravy
This recipe for moist and tender turkey with gravy takes the stress out of the meal, using a simple crock pot method that provides a perfectly cooked turkey every...
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: 2-5 hours
Meatballs With Sweet Orange Chipotle
Tender meatballs are served with a slow cooked sauce made with tomatoes, chipotle peppers, and orange zest.
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: 2-5 hours
Pork And Fettuccine Casserole
Made with spinach fettuccine, pork tenderloin, onions, butter, paprika, caraway seed, salt and pepper, tomatoes, red wine, sour cream
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: 2-5 hours
Chicken Cajun Smoked Sausage Stew
This is a serious Cajun stew. Smoked sausage and diced chicken join carrots, celery, and onions in a Cajun-spiked tomato broth that simmers away in the crockpot until...
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Jalapeno Chicken Chili
A simple, slow simmered chicken chili. The crock pot does a great job of melding the flavors. Adding salsa at the end gives it a spicy boost.
Method: crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Pulled Pork With Root Beer Barbecue Sauce
Root beer isn't just for floats anymore. This pulled pork recipe uses root beer twice: once to tenderize and again in a tangy sauce.
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Veal And Tomato Stew
Easiest veal ever. Just brown the meat in a pan before tossing it in the slow cooker with mushrooms, peppers, and tomatoes. Perfect with some wilted greens on the side.
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: 2-5 hours
Cheesy Chili
This slow cooked cheesy chili is perfect topped with cheddar cheese or served over crispy French fries or tortilla chips.
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours
Chicken Fajitas
The crock pot is a great way to make fajitas! No grill, no mess!
Method: crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Chocolate Fudge Sauce
This slow cooked fudge sauce is a rich and delicious dessert sauce that is perfect for topping ice cream, brownies, cake, or just eating with a spoon.
Method: crock pot
Time: 1-2 hours
Glazed Pears
Made with apricot preserves, cinnamon stick, pears, apple juice, vanilla extract, butter
Method: stovetop, crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Herby Meatballs
Simple, but tasty, meatballs made with a mixture of ground beef and ground sausage, minced onion, egg, and Italian seasoning and slow cooked in tomato soup to form a delicious gravy.
Method: crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Scotch Broth
Calling this "broth" feels misleading since it's a hearty soup made of lamb, barley, and vegetables.
Method: crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Steak And Potato Soup
A good soup is magical for turning a cheaper cut of meat into something scrumptious. This hearty meat-and-potatoes meal is always a hit.
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: 2-5 hours
Stuffed Pepper Soup
All your favorite ingredients from traditional stuffed bell peppers are mixed into one easy and delicious slow cooked soup.
Method: crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Turkey Tacos
Turkey tacos are a healthy version of traditional tacos, swapping out ground beef for lean turkey. Combined with beans, corn, tomatoes, salsa, and taco seasoning it creates a flavorful...
Method: stovetop, crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Cider Pork Stew
The apple cider not only adds flavor but helps tenderize the pork while it cooks.
Method: crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Easy Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes don't get much easier than this. Ready in as little as an hour but also can simmer all day if desired.
Method: crock pot
Time: 1-2 hours
Spanish Chicken With Garbanzo Beans And Olives
Made with chicken breast halves, garbanzo beans, white rice, onion, green bell pepper, tomatoes, water, garlic powder, saffron threads, pimiento stuffed...
Method: crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Pork Stew With Cornmeal Dumplings
Made with beer, quick-cooking tapioca, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, dried thyme, salt, ground nutmeg, black pepper, tomatoes
Method: stovetop, crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Rosemary And Red Pepper Chicken
Made with cornstarch, vermouth, onion, red bell pepper, garlic, dried rosemary, dried oregano, turkey Italian sausages, skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, black...
Method: crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Chicken Taco Soup
Boneless chicken is slow cooked in a flavorful Tex-Mex mixture of onions, chili beans, black beans. corn, tomato sauce, beer, green chiles and taco seasoning.
Method: crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Moroccan Lamb And Fruit Stew
This slow-cooked savory and sweet dish combines tender lamb with dried apricots and spices, creating a complex and satisfying taste that is sure to impress.
Method: stovetop, crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
All-Day Venison Stew
It's called "all day stew" for the cook time, but you'll be craving it all day as well. Stew of venison, carrots and potatoes slow-cooked in a brilliant red wine sauce.
Method: crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Stuffed Lamb Shoulder
Made with salt and freshly ground black pepper, carrots, lamb shoulder, bulk sausage, parsley, oregano or marjoram, garlic, onion, celery
Method: stovetop, crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Cheesy Lasagna Soup
It's about time somebody just went for it and made all-out lasagna soup. It's cheesy, meaty, and not overwhelmingly noodly thanks to mini mafalda pasta.
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Boneless Chicken Cacciatore
Weeknight dinners don't have to be a hassle. This crock pot chicken cacciatore keeps things easy with a quick prep and the promise of a rich, savory dish that pairs nicely...
Method: crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Cajun Chicken, Sausage & Rice
It's not Cajun if it doesn't start with peppers, celery, and onion! The holy Cajun vegetable trinity is here, alongside sausage, chicken, and rice for a yummy...
Method: crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Teriyaki Chicken
Made with vinegar, chicken breast tenders, onion, red or green bell pepper, soy sauce, brown sugar, ground ginger, garlic
Method: crock pot, oven
Time: over 5 hours
Short Rib Tomato Sauce
Meaty short ribs sauteed with garlic and onions, deglazed with red wine, and slow cooked with tomato and basil make a mouthwateringly savory sauce for some very lucky pasta.
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: 2-5 hours
Lemon Rosemary Bread
This crock pot baked bread has a light lemon and rosemary flavor. Delicious toasted or untoasted.
Method: crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Slow Cooked Vietnamese Pork
This sweet and savory dish with deep flavors from rich caramel, fish sauce, garlic and shallots cooks up to perfection in a slow cooker and goes beautifully with rice.
Method: stovetop, crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Mexican-Style Pork Stew
This wonderful Mexican-style stew is made with boneless pork ribs are slow cooked with onions, tomatoes, hominy, chili powder, and oregano.
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Hearty Chuck Wagon Soup
Made with ground beef, onion, carrots, celery, cabbage, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, beef bouillon or stock
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Shredded Pork Wraps
Pork is slow cooked in salsa, shredded, then piled into flour tortillas with lettuce and cheese.
Method: crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes in the crock pot? Yes! Wrapped in foil, the potatoes are slowly baked and create gentle steam resulting in tender and fluffy baked potatoes.
Method: crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Black Eyed Peas With Ham And Peppers
Made with salt and pepper, dried black-eyed peas, ham, tomatoes, green chiles, jalapeno pepper, chicken broth, celery
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Easter Ham
Not overly sweet, not overly salty, this crock pot ham recipe is ideal for Easter or any time. Bonus: clean up is a breeze!
Method: crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Jamaican-Style Pork Tenderloin
The Caribbean-influenced mixture of allspice, apple jelly, and hot sauce will keep you coming back for more of this slow-cooked tenderloin.
Method: crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Pineapple-Cranberry Pork Loin
Made with cloves, cranberry sauce, nutmeg, pork loin roast, salt, black pepper, crushed pineapple
Method: crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Apple Glazed Pork Roast
A bit of sweetness does wonders for a savory pork roast, and this recipe with warm apple flavor is just the ticket.
Method: oven, crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
BBQ Chicken For Sandwiches
Looking for a simple and delicious way to make BBQ chicken for sandwiches? Try this recipe for crock pot chicken, cooked in a savory and sweet BBQ sauce until it's tender and...
Method: crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Lowfat Turkey Sausage Stew
If you're looking for a hearty fall-flavored stew without all the extra fat, here it is. Apples and sauerkraut add some sweet and tangy flavors to this warming sausage stew....
Method: crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours
Coconut Chicken Curry
Made with black pepper, boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, vegetable oil, potatoes, onion, coconut milk, chicken broth, curry powder, hot pepper sauce, salt
Method: stovetop, crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Crock o' Breakfast
Wake up to a delicious breakfast with this overnight slow cooker recipe. The layered ingredients can be changed to suit your tastes (try sausage instead of ham, for instance).
Method: crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
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