You need just five ingredients (or fewer!) to slow-cook these tasty main dishes, sides and snacks.
Our Favorite 5-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Recipes
Updated on Apr. 21, 2024
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Potato Chowder
One of the ladies in our church quilting group brought this savory potato soup to a meeting, and everyone loved how the cream cheese and bacon made it so rich. It’s easy to assemble in the morning so it can simmer on its own all day. —Anna Mayer, Fort Branch, Indiana
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Slow-Cooked Smokies
I like to include these little smokies smothered in barbecue sauce on all my appetizer buffets since they're popular with both children and adults. —Sundra Hauck, Bogalusa, Louisiana
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Soy-Garlic Chicken
Because I’m a full-time mom and help my husband on our ranch, I’m always looking for simple yet hearty meals for the slow cooker. My family really likes this one. —Colleen Faber, Buffalo, Montana
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Onion Meat Loaf
My husband and I really enjoy this delicious meat loaf made with onion soup mix. You only need five ingredients to assemble this easy entree before popping it in the slow cooker. —Rhonda Cowden, Quincy, Illinois
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Shredded Buffalo Chicken
This easy shredded buffalo chicken recipe slow-cooks your favorite buffalo wing sauce with ranch dressing and chicken breasts. Make them as spicy (or not) as you like.
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Apple-Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Carrots seem so simple, but this recipe is something special. Sweet and buttery, it was a favorite my mother always used to serve around the holidays. —Darlis Wilfer, West Bend, Wisconsin
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Slow-Cooked Salsa
I love the fresh taste of homemade salsa, but as a working mother, I don’t have much time to make it. So I came up with this slow-cooked version that practically makes itself! —Toni Menard, Lompoc, California
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Party Appetizer Meatballs
These are a favorite at parties and gatherings. The recipe is easy, and the meatballs can be made well ahead of time and frozen until needed. I think what makes them taste so good is the sauce. —Nathalie Guest, Caledon, Ontario
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Saucy Raspberry Chicken
I first had this as a teenage babysitter, when the children’s mom prepared it for us to eat while she was out. The kids loved it, and so did I! Now I make it for my own kids.
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Mulled Grape Cider
I came up with this recipe one year when I tried to make grape jelly and ended up with 30 jars of delicious grape syrup instead. I simmered the syrup with spices to make a lovely autumn drink. —Sharon Harmon, Orange, Massachusetts
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Slow-Cooker Baked Potatoes
These slow-cooker baked potatoes are so easy—just add your favorite toppings. Save any extra potatoes to make baked potato soup the next day. —Teresa Emrick, Tipp City, Ohio
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Sweet and Spicy Pineapple Chicken Sandwiches
My kids often ask for chicken sloppy joes, and this version has a bonus of sweet pineapple. It is a perfect recipe to double for a potluck. Try topping the sandwiches with smoked Gouda cheese. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
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Root Beer Pulled Pork Nachos
I count on my slow cooker to do the honors when I have a house full of summer guests. Teenagers especially love DIY nachos. Try cola, ginger ale or lemon-lime soda if you’re not into root beer. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
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Slow-Cooked Mesquite Ribs
When we're missing the grill during winter, these tangy ribs give us that same smoky barbecue taste we love. They're so simple, and fall-off-the-bone delicious too! —Sue Evans, Marquette, Michigan
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Slow-Cooker Cheese Dip
I brought this slightly spicy cheese dip to a gathering with friends and it was a huge hit. The spicy pork sausage gives the dip plenty of zip! —Marion Bartone, Conneaut, Ohio
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Flavorful Pot Roast
On hectic days, this is so quick and easy to prep! Convenient packages of dressing and gravy combine to create a sauce worthy of a fall-apart roast. For a filling meal-in-one, serve with mashed potatoes and ladle the juices over top. —Arlene Butler, Ogden, Utah
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Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Our easy buffalo chicken sliders are made in a slow cooker with minimal ingredients. It's a perfect recipe for gatherings and game-day celebrations.
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Apple Butter
Homemade apple butter could not be easier to make—it just takes a little patience! The result is a sweet, aromatic and versatile condiment you will want to spread on everything this fall.
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Hamburger Soup
Hamburger soup is a humble soup made with vegetables and ground beef. The simple ingredients come together to create a hearty and robust soup that will satisfy your comfort food cravings without weighing you down.
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Crockpot Stuffing
This vegetarian Crockpot stuffing is a keeper. It has all the classic flavor, but it's cooked in a slow cooker for a moist, fluffy stuffing that leaves your oven free for other dishes.
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“Secret’s in the Sauce” BBQ Ribs
A sweet, rich sauce makes this BBQ ribs recipe so tender that the meat literally falls off the bones. And the aroma is wonderful. Yum! —Tanya Reid, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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Italian Mushrooms
Only four ingredients create a rich and flavorful side dish that goes well with beef and mashed potatoes. —Kim Reichert, Fargo, North Dakota
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Slow-Cooker Swiss Steak
Hearty, filling and totally hands-off, this easy slow-cooker Swiss steak recipe will satisfy the whole family.
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Creamy Corn
Out of all my corn recipes, this is my favorite. You need just a few ingredients and a slow cooker to make this delicious side dish. Because it cooks on its own, you'll have extra time to prepare the main course. —Judy McCarthy, Derby, Kansas
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Chili Verde
Our chili verde recipe features melt-in-your-mouth pork shoulder slow-cooked in a bright, richly flavored green chile sauce. Serve it over rice, with tortillas or by itself with a nice cold beer.
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Garlic-Apple Pork Roast
This is the meal I have become famous for, and it is so simple. The garlic and apple flavors really complement the pork. It's especially good with steamed fresh asparagus and roasted red potatoes. —Jennifer Loos, Washington Boro, Pennsylvania
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Minister's Delight
A friend gave me this recipe several years ago. She said a local minister's wife fixed it every Sunday, so she named it accordingly. —Mary Ann Potter, Blue Springs, Missouri
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How to Cook a Crockpot Ham
Overwhelmed by all the holiday recipes taking up your oven real estate? Here’s how to heat up a precooked ham in a slow cooker for a tender, flavorful feast.
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Creamed Corn with Cream Cheese
Creamed corn with cream cheese is a side dish recipe that goes with any meal and almost any occasion. Our five-ingredient recipe is made in the slow cooker for a mostly hands-off cooking experience.
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Italian Beef Hoagies
You'll need just five ingredients to feed a crowd these tender and tangy Italian beef sandwiches. On weekends, I start the roast the night before, so I can shred it in the morning. —Lori Piatt, Danville, Illinois
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Saucy Ranch Pork and Potatoes
Awhile back, my sister Elyse shared a tasty ranch pork roast recipe. I tweaked it so I could use what was already in my pantry, and this dish was born. —Kendra Adamson, Layton, Utah
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Slow-Cooker Pear Butter
This is a tasty spread for toast, muffins, biscuits or any of your favorite breads. It is easy to make and has a rich pear flavor with hints of cinnamon, star anise and lemon. —Geraldine Saucier, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Slow-Cooker Country-Style Ribs
These slow-cooker country-style ribs are delicious, saucy and fall-apart tender. Braised with your favorite sauce, they make a good centerpiece for a traditional barbecue spread.
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Creamy Hash Brown Potatoes
Convenient frozen hash browns are the secret behind the cheesy slow-cooker potatoes I cook up for potlucks and big group gatherings. —Julianne Henson, Streamwood, Illinois
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Slow-Cooker Green Beans
Green beans may seem like the simplest of side dishes, but these slow-cooker green beans with brown sugar and soy sauce just might become your star attraction.
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Crunchy Candy Clusters
These cereal and marshmallow clusters are so simple that I make them for the holidays each year, as my family looks forward to them. —Faye O'Bryan, Owensboro, Kentucky
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Carolina-Style Vinegar BBQ Chicken
I live in Georgia, but I appreciate the tangy, sweet and slightly spicy taste of Carolina vinegar chicken. I make my version in the slow cooker. After the tempting aroma fills the house, your family is sure to be at the dinner table on time! —Ramona Parris, Canton, Georgia
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Slow-Cooker Enchilada Casserole
Few meals are as easy and flavorful as a Crock-Pot enchilada casserole, where layers of seasoned beef, tortillas and cheese meld together over six to eight hours for a mouthwatering, aromatic one-pot dinner.
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Baked Ham with Pineapple
I first learned the technique for baked ham with pineapple for a themed dinner my husband and I hosted. Since it is widely known as the symbol of hospitality, pineapple was the star ingredient on our menu and on this lovely baked ham. —JoAnn Fox, Johnson City, Tennessee
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Slow-Cooked Cherry Pork Chops
I mixed and matched several recipes to come up with this one. I'm always happy to adapt recipes for my slow cooker. It's so easy to prepare a meal that way. —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas
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Sausage and Peppers Sandwich
These sausage and pepper sandwiches are sweet and savory and they're finished with a layer of molten provolone to make it even more decadent.
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Warm Feta Cheese Dip
We’re big on appetizers, so this dip is a mashup of our favorite tastes, like cream cheese, feta, basil and sweet peppers. Serve with bread or chips. —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin
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Applesauce Sweet Potatoes
During the holidays, using a slow cooker not only frees up oven space, but time, too! Sweet potatoes are a must on our family menu, and this no-fuss version will have everyone thinking you spent hours in the kitchen. —Pamela Allen, Marysville, Ohio
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Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork
Enjoy tender, juicy pulled pork with this easy slow-cooker recipe. Perfect for sandwiches or tacos, slow-cooker pulled pork combines tangy, sweet and spicy flavors for a mouthwatering meal.
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Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
With minimal effort, Crockpot mashed potatoes guarantee fluffy, bright, and creamy bites. This recipe takes it a step further by sprinkling in ranch seasoning for a boost in flavor.
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Slow Cooker Fruit Compote
I use canned goods and my slow cooker to whip up an old-fashioned treat that’s loaded with sweet fruits. It makes a cozy dessert or even a change-of-pace side dish for large parties. —Mary Ann Jonns, Midlothian, Illinois
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Slow-Cooked Potatoes with Spring Onions
I love the simplicity of this recipe, as well as its ease of preparation with my slow cooker. Everyone always enjoys roasted potatoes, even my pickiest child! If desired, top with shredded or crumbled cheese. —Theresa Gomez, Stuart, Florida
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Butterscotch Fruit Dip
If you like the sweetness of butterscotch chips, you'll enjoy this warm rum-flavored fruit dip. I serve it with apple and pear wedges. It holds up for up to two hours in the slow cooker. —Jeaune Hadl Van Meter, Lexington, Kentucky
