23 Crockpot Dinners That Basically Make Themselves While You Work

The best crockpot dinner is the one you can get going before the day gets chaotic and mostly forget about until it’s time to eat. I love having dinner quietly cooking while I work, especially on those days when the last thing I want at 5 p.m. is another decision to make.

These recipes do the heavy lifting for you, turning a little morning prep into a comforting dinner waiting when the workday is finally over.

Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

I love dumping raw chicken and warm curry spices into my crockpot right before I leave for work. The pot slowly simmers everything into a smooth, savory sauce that fills the whole house with the most comforting smell when you walk back through the door.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

My mom always placed a thick chuck roast over carrots and potatoes before running her morning errands. The meat turns super soft and creates its own rich gravy while you work, giving you a full plate without any stove watching.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Slow Cooker Smothered Steak

On super busy days, knowing sliced beef is soaking in a rich brown gravy makes my whole afternoon easier. The steak gets so tender you can cut it with a simple plastic spoon, and the sauce thickens completely on its own while you handle your job.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Smothered Steak

Slow Cooker Wawa Inspired Chicken Corn Chowder

I make this thick corn chowder whenever I know I will be too tired to cook after a long shift. Sweet corn, chicken, and cream simmer together all day so you can just scoop a piping hot bowl the minute you drop your keys.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Wawa Inspired Chicken Corn Chowder

Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu

Starting these beef short ribs in the morning means my house smells amazing the second my kids walk in from school. The meat gets so soft after hours of low heat that it shreds apart with two simple forks for a fast pasta dinner.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu

Crockpot Sausage and Peppers

Sliced sweet peppers and Italian sausage links are my go-to team when I do not have time to stand over a frying pan. They cook down in a simple tomato sauce all afternoon, giving you a warm, hearty meal with almost zero effort.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Sausage and Peppers

Slow Cooker Lentil and Carrot Soup

I reach for brown lentils and chopped carrots whenever I want something healthy that cooks while I am away. The lentils soften into a thick, cozy broth while you run around town, leaving a hot pot waiting for you at night.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Lentil and Carrot Soup

Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Lentils, Turnips and Carrots

Tossing extra lentils and root vegetables in with beef chunks means you can skip buying canned soup forever. You just dump the ingredients in, head to work, and come home to a thick, home-cooked stew that feels like a big hug.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Lentils, Turnips and Carrots

Crockpot Cheesy Salsa Chicken

Stirring a jar of salsa and shredded cheese over chicken breasts takes me less than two minutes in the morning. The chicken cooks right in the tangy salsa, giving you juicy, flavorful meat for tacos or rice bowls after a long workday.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Cheesy Salsa Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Letting chicken, carrots, and broth simmer all day gives you that rich, old-fashioned soup flavor without standing over a stove. Just drop your egg noodles in right at the end so they stay firm, and dinner is ready to serve.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup

Wrapping individual cabbage rolls takes way too much time on a busy Tuesday, so I turn those same simple ingredients into soup instead. Quickly brown your meat, throw everything in the pot, and let it simmer into a warm meal while you work.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup

Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

Skip the pricey takeout fees by tossing sliced flank steak into a sweet garlic and soy sauce glaze before you leave the house. The sauce thickens as it cooks, turning the meat super soft and ready to spoon over simple steamed rice.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

Easy 5-Ingredient Crockpot Chicken and Rice

Staring at an empty fridge when you are tired is no fun, but you only need five basic items to make this dinner happen. It cooks itself into a warm, creamy chicken dish that takes all the stress out of feeding your family after work.
Get the Recipe: Easy 5-Ingredient Crockpot Chicken and Rice

Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala

You can skip the fancy restaurant trip by letting chicken breast, sliced mushrooms, and sweet wine simmer together quietly in your kitchen. The chicken turns super tender while you work, giving you an easy, elegant dinner to enjoy in your comfy clothes.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Heavy work weeks call for simple recipes, and mixing beef, mushrooms, and sour cream in the crockpot never fails me. The sour cream melts into a smooth, velvety sauce that coats every piece of meat, ready to pour over warm egg noodles.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Standing over a stove stirring onions for an hour is not how I want to spend my evening, so I let my slow cooker do the work. Sliced onions break down into a sweet, rich beef broth all day, so you just melt cheese over your bowl before eating.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Layering chicken, peas, and carrots in a creamy broth gives you all the cozy flavor of a baked pie without making pastry dough. Just top each warm bowl with a simple golden biscuit right before eating for a super easy weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken

Having a full meat and potato dinner ready the second you finish your work day is a huge win. The garlic parmesan cream sauce builds an amazing smell in your house all afternoon, and you only have one single pot to wipe down.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken

Crockpot Sausage and Potatoes

Dinner does not need to be complicated when ten minutes of prep time gets you through the whole day. Sliced smoked sausage, baby potatoes, and green beans soften together until every bite is savory, leaving you with almost zero dishes to wash.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Sausage and Potatoes

Cheesy Rotel Chicken Spaghetti (Slow Cooker)

Spending ten minutes chopping ingredients in the morning saves your whole evening when you have no energy left to cook. This budget-friendly dish turns chicken, tomatoes, and noodles into a rich, melted cheese bake that everyone loves.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Rotel Chicken Spaghetti (Slow Cooker)

Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti

You can skip boiling a separate pot of water tonight because the dry spaghetti cooks directly in the creamy cheese sauce inside the slow cooker. The noodles soak up all that rich flavor, saving you from scrubbing an extra messy colander.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti

Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Stirring pillowy potato gnocchi and fresh spinach into a warm, creamy chicken broth is my favorite trick for a lazy weeknight. It turns into a rich, velvety bowl that lets you curl up on the couch the second your workday ends.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs

If you love deep onion flavor but do not want to stand over a hot burner, let these meatballs simmer in the pot all day. The slow cook turns simple broth and onions into a thick, sweet gravy while you focus entirely on your job.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs

Busy day? Let the crockpot be the one doing the work for once.