Slow cookers, also called crockpots, are one of the handiest tools to have in a whole foods kitchen. They allow you to eat delicious home cooked meals without having to actually cook – the appliance does all the work for you! Simply toss in your ingredients at the beginning of the day and when you arrive home later, all you need to do is grab plates, cutlery and a ladle.

Though you can create a variety of dishes in slow cookers – from cakes to condiments – we love using ours for comforting winter soups and stews.

Why Choose a Slow Cooker?

With the rise of the Instant Pot, a pressure cooker that gets dinner on the table in a fraction of the time, is it worth hanging onto your slow cooker? A couple of things to consider:

• If you already have a slow cooker, why not use it? We always like to make the most of the kitchen equipment we have before investing in new ones.
• With a slow cooker, you can open up the lid to stir, taste and season. With an Instant Pot, once it’s sealed you can’t change things up until the end of the cooking process.

Put your slow cooker to work by making one of these amazing slow cooker recipes!

25 Best Slow Cooker Recipes

Healthy Slow Cooker Chili

Healthy Slow Cooker Chili by All The Healthy Things

A classic that you can load up with all the toppings. Dairy-free cheese and guac anyone?

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Slow Cooker Tofu Butter Chicken

Slow Cooker Tofu Butter Chicken by Jessica In The Kitchen

Butter chicken gets a vegan makeover in this tofu slow cooker version. Delish.

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Slow Cooker Low Carb Gumbo

Slow Cooker Low Carb Gumbo by Fit Men Cook

Okra is one of those vegetables that sometimes doesn’t get enough love. Here, it gets the star treatment in a slow cooker dish that’s packed with seasonings.

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Slow Cooker Vegan Sweet and Sour Tempeh

Slow Cooker Vegan Sweet and Sour Tempeh by Healthy Slow Cooking

No collection of slow cooker recipes would be complete without a selection from one of the queens of slow cooking, Kathy Hester. She has literally written the book – several in fact – on vegan slow cooking, and this simple recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

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Minestrone Soup

Minestrone Soup by Pinch of Yum

A hearty soup flavoured with Italian herbs and vegetables. To make this gluten-free, use zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta.

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Asparagus, Spinach and Potato Soup

Slow Cooker Asparagus, Spinach and Potato Soup by Bowl of Delicious

This slow cooker vegetarian soup is brightened up with fresh dill and lemon. We’re in.

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Easy Slow Cooker Vegetable Korma

Easy Slow Cooker Vegetable Korma by Big Man’s World

A veggie-packed dish that is also vegan, gluten-free and Paleo. Save us a bowlful, or two.

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Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

Slow Cooker Carrot Butternut Soup by Peas and Crayons

A few basic ingredients comprise this simple soup that you can jazz up with a variety of spices and toppings.

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Slow Cooker Quinoa Vegetable Soup

Slow Cooker Quinoa Vegetable Soup by Eating Bird Food

A plant-based, gluten-free, protein-rich stew that is full of flavour and will fill you up.

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Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Slow Cooker Beef Stew by Bewitchin Kitchen (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

Randa actually made her own wine to use in this stew – but you can easily use storebought or bone broth instead.

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Chicken Chile Verde

Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Chile Verde by Ambitious Kitchen

A comforting, Paleo-friendly slow cooker chili that is full of good-for-you green stuff.

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Slow Cooker Oatmeal (Chinese Style)

Chinese Style Slow Cooker Oatmeal by Pickled Plum

Hands up if you like savory oameal (*raises hand). We love the tasty toppings in this recipe which include chili oil, mushrooms, goji berries and more.

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Crockpot Coconut Thai Chicken Curry

Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Curry by Shuangy’s Kitchen Sink

A beautiful and golden Thai yellow curry packed with veggies – and it’s Paleo and Whole 30 compliant, too.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Soup by Coconut Contentment

There is nothing better than chicken soup on a cold, wintry day – and this delicious one also happens to be jam-packed with vegetables.

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Apple Pie Steel Cut Oats

Vegan Slow Cooker Apple Pie Steel Cut Oats by The Full Helping

Pop this vegan recipe into your slow cooker overnight and wake up to a delicious breakfast that reminds you of dessert.

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Slow Cooker Chana Masala

Slow Cooker Chana Masala by Cook With Manali

A hearty and easy meal you can likely pull together using ingredients from your pantry.

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Slow Cooker Apple Cider

Slow Cooker Apple Cider by Spirited and Then Some

Mocktail, anyone? Your guests’ mouths will be watering when they get a whiff of this crockpot cocktail.

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Slow Cooker Coconut Lime Chicken Soup

Slow Cooker Coconut Lime Chicken Soup by Baked By Rachel

A gorgeous, elegant and simple Paleo soup that uses the powerful flavour combo of coconut and lime.

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Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes by Nutritious Eats

Give the oven a rest and use the slow cooker to make these sweet, mashed goodies.

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Campfire Stew

Campfire Stew by Recipes From a Pantry

Bring the cooked-over-a-campfire vibe indoors with this tasty pork-based stew.

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AIP/Paleo Chicken and Dumpling Soup

AIP Paleo Chicken and Dumpling Soup by Heal Me Delicious

Coconut and cassava dumplings are the crowning glory of this Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) chicken soup.

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3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup by Sondi Bruner (*ACN Head Program Coach)

A vegan split pea soup with only 3 ingredients: can it be true? Yes! And it’s delicious. Life just got waaaayyyy easier.

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Slow Cooker Baked Beans

Slow Cooker Baked Beans by Goodie Godmother

Baked beans made from scratch are the ultimate comfort food. This version is simple, and you can easily swap the brown sugar if you’d like for a natural sweetener.

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Slow Cooker Lemongrass Pork With Coconut Rice

Slow Cooker Lemongrass Pork With Coconut Rice by What To Cook Today

An incredibly aromatic crock pot dish that will make your home smell amazing as it cooks.

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Slow Cooker Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies

Slow Cooker Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies by Food Faith Fitness

Let’s finish off with a sweet treat, shall we? It’s faster to bake cookies in the oven, for sure, but we can’t resist these gluten-free and Paleo crockpot cookies.