Easy and Comforting Slow Cooker Recipes for Fall - Save These Delicious Ideas for Stress-Free Batch Cooking
Slow Cooker Recipes for Fall and Winter
Slow cookers are a kitchen essential during the colder months, providing comforting and hearty meals with minimal effort. Here are some creative and easy slow cooker recipes perfect for fall and winter.
1. Crock Pot Beef Stew
A classic and hearty stew made with beef stew meat, baby potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, beef stock, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings like oregano and garlic. Simply toss all ingredients in the slow cooker and cook for 8+ hours.
2. Slow Cooker Chicken and Biscuits
This recipe features a whole chicken cooked with cream of mushroom soup, onion, frozen peas, and corn. After cooking, shredded chicken is mixed back with the vegetables in the slow cooker. Biscuits are prepared separately and baked, then served warm alongside the chicken mixture, making a cozy and satisfying meal.
3. Soothing Slow Cooker Soups
Fall and winter are perfect seasons for slow cooker soups such as Vietnamese pho with fresh herbs and warming spices, hearty Italian ribollita with beans and vegetables, or a delicate fennel broth. These can be prepped ahead and frozen for convenience, ideal for easing seasonal colds or busy nights.
4. Chicken Posole Stew
A filling stew made with chicken, hominy (dried corn), and various spices. It is versatile and warming, perfect for chilly nights.
5. Ground Turkey White Chili
A lighter chili made with ground turkey, which cooks overnight in the slow cooker. Top it with lime, avocado, and cheese for a cozy winter meal.
6. Slow Cooker Curried Chicken Noodle Soup
A twist on classic chicken noodle soup that incorporates curry powder and turmeric for warm, rich flavors.
These recipes emphasize ease ("set it and forget it"), wholesome ingredients, and comforting flavors ideal for the cooler seasons. They often use seasonal vegetables, warming spices, and can be batch-cooked or frozen for convenience.
For beginners in slow cooking, the Crock-Pot MyTime Slow Cooker is a great option as it automatically adjusts timings and temperatures based on the type of food and volume.
Slow cookers are also versatile for desserts, offering deliciously easy options such as Martha Stewart's cheesecake, English-style sponges, fruit cobblers, crumbles, and chocolate brownies. The golden sweet potato, red lentil, kale, and peanut butter dahl is a favorite fail-safe slow cooker recipe that pairs well with warm flatbreads and fluffy rice.
For adults, the slow cooker can be used to make a spiked hot chocolate by adding Kahlua or Bailey's Irish Cream. During holiday parties, slow cookers can be used to make mulled wine.
Remember, slow cookers require less liquid since very little evaporates during cooking, so it's important to follow a specific recipe and not add too much water or stock. Lentils are a great choice for slow cooker meals as they are hard to overcook.
Lastly, prepping slow-cooker-ready ingredients for future meals can be done by using zipper bags and freezing leftovers for later use. Leftovers of slow cooker meals can keep well throughout the week.
[1] Source: Martha Stewart's Crock Pot Beef Stew recipe [2] Source: Slow Cooker Chicken and Biscuits recipe [3] Source: Soothing Slow Cooker Soups [4] Source: Chicken Posole Stew, Ground Turkey White Chili, Slow Cooker Curried Chicken Noodle Soup recipes are not directly sourced but are commonly found in slow cooker cookbooks and online recipes.
- Interior design enthusiasts might appreciate the aesthetics of a modern slow cooker, which can be a stylish addition to any home-and-garden setting, complementing the food-and-drink preparation space.
- After a long day, one can unwind by whipping up a dessert in the slow cooker, such as a peanut butter dahl or a classic English-style sponge, perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth and indulging in some lifestyle relaxation.
- For those interested in cooking, slow cooker recipes offer a diverse range of dishes, from hearty beef stews to spicy white chili, each providing an opportunity to experiment with new food-and-drink combinations and expand culinary skills.
