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    Home » MSN Slideshows

    If You Only Use Your Slow Cooker Once This Week, Make It One of These 14 Recipes

    Published: Sep 23, 2025 · Modified: Sep 10, 2026 by Barbara Curry

    Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

    Imagine coming home after a long day and having dinner ready with zero stress—that’s the magic of a slow cooker. If you only plan to use your slow cooker once this week, it should definitely be for a meal that feels cozy, hearty, and worth the wait. From rich stews to tender roasts, these recipes will make your kitchen smell amazing and your evenings a lot easier. Honestly, it’s the kind of cooking that feels like a treat without all the effort.

    Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Mushroom Gravy Worth Making This Week

    A plate of mashed potatoes topped with brown gravy, accompanied by slow-cooked beef and roasted carrot sticks. There is a fork and knife on the right side of the plate, and a metal jug of gravy in the background on a cloth napkin. This hearty meal features savory slow cooker pot roast with gravy.
    Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Mushroom Gravy Worth Making This Week. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.


     

    Turn your slow cooker into comfort-food magic with this pot roast smothered in mushroom gravy. Juicy beef, earthy mushrooms, and savory broth come together in a meal that tastes like Sunday supper any night of the week.
    Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Mushroom Gravy Worth Making This Week

    Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes — Your Crockpot Hero Meal

    A serving fork removing slices of slow cooked pork tenderloin.
    Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes — Your Crockpot Hero Meal. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.
    The Fall Cooking Guide for Busy Families!

    The Fall Cooking Guide for Busy Families!

    FREE EMAIL BONUS: Easy & Delicious Fall Recipes.

    When you need dinner that practically makes itself, try this slow cooker pork tenderloin. It cooks to buttery tenderness and makes its own sauce — effortless comfort on a weeknight.
    Get the Recipe: Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes — Your Crockpot Hero Meal

    Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes for the Coziest Weeknight

    A large platter with a slow cooked roast beef surrounded by carrots and potatoes.
    Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes for the Coziest Weeknight. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    A classic worth repeating: this slow cooker pot roast falls apart with a fork and brings along perfectly tender veggies swimming in rich broth. Pure coziness in a bowl.
    Get the Recipe: Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes for the Coziest Weeknight

    Ranch Pork Chops and Gravy Made Easy in the Slow Cooker

    Pork chops on a plate covered with ranch gravy.
    Ranch Pork Chops and Gravy Made Easy in the Slow Cooker. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Ranch seasoning turns ordinary pork chops into a hands-off weeknight hero. The slow cooker makes them juicy, flavorful, and totally foolproof.
    Get the Recipe: Ranch Pork Chops and Gravy Made Easy in the Slow Cooker

    Pork Chops in Mushroom Soup That Practically Cook Themselves

    Mushroom soup and rice with a slow cooker pork chop on a plate.
    Pork Chops in Mushroom Soup That Practically Cook Themselves. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Imagine pork chops so tender they melt on your fork. That’s what happens here — simmered low and slow in a savory sauce that doubles as gravy.
    Get the Recipe: Pork Chops in Mushroom Soup That Practically Cook Themselves

    Taco Soup Full of Flavor — Perfect for a Busy Weeknight

    Three bowls of crockpot taco soup.
    Taco Soup Full of Flavor — Perfect for a Busy Weeknight. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This taco soup is proof your slow cooker can deliver bold flavors with almost no effort. Beans, beef, and corn mingle with spices for a cozy bowl topped just the way you like it.
    Get the Recipe: Taco Soup Full of Flavor — Perfect for a Busy Weeknight

    Coca-Cola Ribs — Sweet, Tangy, and Slow-Cooked to Perfection

    A plate of grilled barbecue ribs with a tantalizing glaze is displayed on a white dish. A black fork is positioned near the ribs, and a partial view of a bowl containing watermelon slices is visible in the background. The surface is light-colored.
    Coca-Cola Ribs — Sweet, Tangy, and Slow-Cooked to Perfection. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Sticky, sweet, and fall-apart tender — these Coca-Cola ribs are a little Southern, a little nostalgic, and a whole lot of delicious.
    Get the Recipe: Coca-Cola Ribs — Sweet, Tangy, and Slow-Cooked to Perfection

    Baby Back Ribs That Fall Off the Bone in the Crockpot

    Baby Back Ribs That Fall Off the Bone in the Crockpot. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

    These baby back ribs soak up a smoky-sweet sauce as they cook until they nearly fall off the bone. Slow cooking makes them taste like a celebration without the work.
    Get the Recipe: Baby Back Ribs That Fall Off the Bone in the Crockpot

    Cheesy Rotel Chicken Spaghetti the Whole Family Will Love

    Cheesy Rotel Chicken Spaghetti the Whole Family Will Love. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

    Rotel chicken spaghetti is creamy, cheesy, and full of kick. The crockpot does all the heavy lifting, while you get credit for dinner everyone will ask for again.
    Get the Recipe: Cheesy Rotel Chicken Spaghetti the Whole Family Will Love

    Salsa Chicken That Works for Tacos, Bowls, and More

    Salsa Chicken That Works for Tacos, Bowls, and More. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

    Salsa chicken is the ultimate multitasker. Shred it for tacos, pile it on salads, or fold it into burritos — all from one easy recipe.
    Get the Recipe: Salsa Chicken That Works for Tacos, Bowls, and More

    Sirloin Tip Roast with Vegetables — A Set-and-Forget Meal

    Sirloin Tip Roast with Vegetables — A Set-and-Forget Meal. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

    Sirloin tip roast with veggies is weeknight dinner meets Sunday comfort. The slow cooker ensures juicy meat and a savory sauce without the stress.
    Get the Recipe: Sirloin Tip Roast with Vegetables — A Set-and-Forget Meal

    Smothered Turkey Wings That Fall Off the Bone with Flavor

    Smothered Turkey Wings That Fall Off the Bone with Flavor. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

    Turkey wings get the slow cooker treatment for fall-off-the-bone tenderness. Add gravy and mashed potatoes, and you’ve got holiday vibes any day.
    Get the Recipe: Smothered Turkey Wings That Fall Off the Bone with Flavor

    Meatballs and Gravy That Make Comfort Food Effortless

    Meatballs and Gravy That Make Comfort Food Effortless. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

    These meatballs simmer in rich gravy until tender and irresistible. Serve them as party bites or a main dish that feels like home.
    Get the Recipe: Meatballs and Gravy That Make Comfort Food Effortless

    Mississippi Chicken with a Creamy Italian Twist

    Mississippi Chicken with a Creamy Italian Twist. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

    Creamy Mississippi chicken gets an Italian twist with peppers and herbs. A little tangy, a little spicy, and all done in under 10 minutes of prep.
    Get the Recipe: Mississippi Chicken with a Creamy Italian Twist

    24 Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes Everyone Asks Me to Make Again and Again

    A collage showing three dishes: creamy smothered pork chops with rice on a black plate, saucy barbecue ribs, and braised beef with onions in a rich sauce.
    24 Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes Everyone Asks Me to Make Again and Again. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    By the time the slow cooker comes out, everyone knows a crowd-pleasing dinner is on the way. These recipes have turned into regular requests in my kitchen, not only because they’re full of cozy flavor but also because they practically handle the cooking for me. They’re the kind of dishes that make busy weeknights feel effortless while still tasting like something special.
    Get the Recipe: 24 Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes Everyone Asks Me to Make Again and Again

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    Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

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