25 Slow Cooker Recipes You Can Prep in 20 Minutes or Less

All of our best no-fuss slow cooker recipes that take 20 minutes or less to prep...because the whole point of having a slow cooker is to make life easier!

By
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia is the Community Manager for Simply Recipes and has contributed numerous articles focused on cooking on a budget, quick and easy meals, and kid-friendly foods.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
and
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara is a chef, culinary educator, and author of three cookbooks, The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, Tasting Ohio and The Fruit Forager's Companion. The latter won a 2019 IACP Cookbook Award.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated March 28, 2023
20 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

Let me paint a picture for you: It’s late at night, and you’ve decided to plan dinner for the next day. You know it’s going to be a busy one, so you decide a slow cooker is just what you need.

You start scrolling through Pinterest and find THE ONE. You know, that one recipe where you actually have all the ingredients on hand, it looks phenomenal, and you’re a million percent positive your whole family is going to love it. #jackpot

This collection of recipes will make your life easier because not only are they tasty, but they are ready to go in the slow cooker in 20 minutes or less. Most of these only take about 5-10 minutes of prep. These are the kinds of things that will bring a smile to your face!

  • Slow Cooker Taco Soup

    A bowl of crockpot Taco Soup topped with sour cream and chips
    Lisa Lin

    Prep time on this is about 10 minutes and that’s because you do want to brown the meat before it goes into the slow cooker. Browning the meat will give it a better texture and the soup a better flavor.

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  • Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

    How to Make Mac and Cheese in the Slow Cooker
    Nick Evans

    Hands-off is this recipe’s middle name. We’ve included a few tricks to avoid pasta that’s mushy and sauce that’s too watery.

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  • Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup

    Easy Chicken and Rice Soup in a bowl with bread and salad nearby. A slow cooker is behind the bowl.
    Alison Bickel

    With only 35 minutes of slow cooking time, this assemble-and-heat soup takes advantage of par-cooked wild rice and rotisserie chicken.

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  • Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

    Crockpot Beef Stroganoff served in a bowl
    Marta Rivera

    The prep time for this recipe is on the longer side (20 minutes) but only because you need to brown the meat before you put it in the slow cooker. It really adds a rich flavor that you’ll be dreaming about all day.

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    Continue to 5 of 25 below.

  • Slow Cooker Cider Pulled Pork

    Cider pulled pork on a sandwich bun
    Summer Miller

    What's more tempting than a pulled pork sandwich on a tender bun? This is a dinner worth coming home to. Grab a cole slaw kit and you've got a weeknight meal with hardly any work.

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  • Slow Cooker Pork Loin With Honey Balsamic Glaze

    Thick slices of Easy Pork Loin are shingled on a platter.
    Nick Evans

    An easy, sweet-and-sour sauce forms as this pork loin cooks. Try serving it over instant polenta.

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  • Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

    Easy Slow Cooker Shredded Chili Chicken Chili in the crockpot
    Emma Christensen

    The only prep work needed for this recipe is dicing the onion and the celery. Everything else is a matter of opening a few cans, measuring some spices, and stirring it all together!

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  • Slow Cooker Mexican Pulled Pork Tacos

    Slow Cooker Mexican Pulled Pork
    Elise Bauer

    Making a giant batch of this pulled pork will be a game changer. There are so many different ways to use it (think tamales, enchiladas, quesadillas, etc.) or you can freeze it for later.

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    Continue to 9 of 25 below.

  • Slow Cooker Jambalaya

    How to Make Jambalaya in the Slow Cooker
    Nick Evans

    Bold flavor made easy! We do cook rice in a separate pot, so you can ladle the jambalaya on top of the rice, or mix it all together at the very end. Either way, you’re going to want to savor the flavor!

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  • Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken

    Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken
    Elise Bauer

    The mantra for this dish is Spice is Nice! There are a lot of spices used to season the meat, but if you don’t have a couple of them, don’t stress about it! It’ll be okay! Serve over couscous or rice.

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  • Slow Cooker Chickpea Curry with Sweet Potatoes and Red Peppers

    Slow Cooker Chickpea Curry served in a bowl with spinach and rice
    Sabrina Modelle

    Meatless Monday never looked better. Not only does this dish pack some intense flavor, but it is all made in your slow cooker, so it has easy clean up too!

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  • Slow Cooker Chinese Pulled Pork

    Slow Cooker Chinese Pulled Pork
    Elise Bauer

    This is a fantastic way to spice up pulled pork. You could serve it on a Hawaiian dinner roll, in a dumpling, or even in lettuce cups for a low-carb option.

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    Continue to 13 of 25 below.

  • Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Chicken Wings

    Honey buffalo chicken wings cooked in a crock pot and served with blue cheese dressing
    Irvin Lin

    Want to know how easy these wings are to make? Simply toss them in a spicy rub and a hot honey sauce, which you do right in the slow cooker. It takes less than 10 minutes and after you turn your slow cooker on, you can forget about them until they’re ready.

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  • Slow Cooker Brats and Beer Cheese Dip

    Slow Cooker Brats and Beer Cheese Dip
    Marta Rivera

    This is essential for any game day whether it’s football, soccer, tennis, or maybe you’re having a Bachelorette marathon and need something to graze on for a few hours. Whatever the case, make sure you have this cheesy dip on hand!

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  • Slow Cooker Honey-Dijon Glazed Carrots

    Glazed Carrots in the Slow Cooker
    Marta Rivera

    This hands-off side dish frees up oven space so you don’t have to stress about trying to fit everything into the oven at the same time. If you’re serving a larger crowd, you can easily double the recipe without having to increase the cooking time.

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  • Slow Cooker Honey Chipotle Chicken Tacos

    Two Crockpot Chipotle Chicken Tacos on a plate with lime wedges
    Nick Evans

    Let’s taco ‘bout how much we love tacos! They are made on the regular at my house, and making them in the slow cooker simplifies my life in ways you can’t even imagine. I’m convinced these taste even better because of how easy they are to cook up.

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    Continue to 17 of 25 below.

  • Slow Cooker Turkey Stew with Mustard and Root Vegetables

    Slow Cooked Turkey With Mustard Sauce
    Elise Bauer

    I know what you’re thinking... Mustard? In a stew? YEP. Turkey has a bold flavor on its own, so it needs a bold flavor to accompany it, and mustard fits the bill. If you can’t find turkey, it’s perfectly okay to sub in chicken!

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  • Slow Cooker Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

    Meatballs in a slow cooker filled with tomato sauce with a spoon lifting a meatball out of the sauce.
    Alison Bickel

    Saucy meatballs with minimal work? Sign us up! Serve these over heated pre-cooked rice or your favorite pasta.

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  • Slow Cooker Cajun-Spiced Stuffed Peppers

    Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers
    Lisa Lin

    These are perfect for a day when you’ll be home for lunch and can start them cooking for dinner. The filling can also be prepared the night before and kept refrigerated. You could even stuff the peppers ahead of time so that all you have to do the next day is put them in the slow cooker.

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  • How to Make Granola in the Slow Cooker

    Slow Cooker Granola
    Garrett McCord

    Not only does this recipe make the world’s tastiest granola, but your house is going to smell amazing while it’s cooking. Our tip for making granola this way is to leave the lid to the slow cooker slightly ajar, allowing the moisture to escape! Crunchy granola for the win!

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    Continue to 21 of 25 below.

  • Slow Cooker Poached Salmon

    Crockpot poached salmon
    Alison Conklin

    It may seem odd to use a slow cooker for salmon because salmon actually cooks up really quickly. But here, we’re using the slow cooker less for its “slow cooking” function and more for its ability to provide steady, even heat—which is the perfect medium for cooking delicate fish like salmon.

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  • Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

    Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes Slow Cooker potatoes in a dish with butter and a napkin
    Lisa Lin

    Once you’ve made mashed potatoes in the slow cooker, you won’t be able to make them any other way. It is so easy and is the perfect side for so many dishes! I like to add in some minced garlic to the slow cooker for a nice and subtle garlic flavor.

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  • Slow Cooker Chicken Stock

    Homemade Chicken Stock
    Alison Bickle

    There's something so satisfying about making your own chicken stock, and doing it in the slow cooker is a total set-it-and-forget-it exercise. Use it in soups and risotto, sip it from a mug, freeze it for future use—the sky is the limit!

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  • Easy Green Chicken Chili

    Green Chicken Chili recipe made in the slow cooker
    Nick Evans

    While we originally made this chili on the stove top, we have included slow cooker directions as well. If you want more of a kick to your chili, add in a dash or two of hot sauce!

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    Continue to 25 of 25 below.

  • Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

    Crockpot Corned Beef - drizzling mustard on sliced corned beef
    Marta Rivera

    Why reserve this comfort food classic for St. Patrick's Day? The big bonus here are the future meals you can make with leftovers: Reuben sandwiches and corned beef hash.

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