I have learned not to trust my 5 p.m. self with big decisions. By the time I walk through the door, answer a few questions, and set my bag down, deciding what to make for dinner feels like one thing too many. The hardest part is rarely the cooking. It is having to figure it out when the day has already taken so much out of me.
That is why I keep coming back to these 23 make-ahead slow cooker recipes. The work happens earlier, when the day is still quiet and I have a few minutes to think ahead. By dinner, the slow cooker has already done most of the work, and 5 p.m. feels a little less rushed.
Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Marsala
Mushrooms slowly cook down with chicken in a rich Marsala sauce that gets deeper in flavor as the hours pass. Spoon it over mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered noodles to catch every bit of the sauce. It feels like a special dinner without making your evening harder.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Marsala
Delicious Slow Cooker Lemonade Chicken
The name always gets people curious, and the first bite explains why it works. The lemonade cooks into a sweet and tangy sauce, while fresh ginger keeps the flavor bright instead of too sweet. It's a simple way to change up chicken without adding more work to a busy evening.
Get the Recipe: Delicious Slow Cooker Lemonade Chicken
Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken
What really makes this recipe stand out is the sauce. Garlic becomes sweet as it cooks, and the Parmesan melts into a creamy mixture that's perfect over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes. I usually serve bread on the side because nobody wants to leave that sauce behind.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Slow Cooker Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
The creamy sauce is what makes this recipe stand out. Sun-dried tomatoes add a rich, slightly tangy flavor that goes well with pasta, rice, or even a thick slice of bread. Making it before lunch means dinner is already waiting when the day gets busy.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
A pot of chicken noodle soup always makes the house feel a little cozier. Chicken, carrots, and celery slowly build a rich broth, and the noodles go in near the end so they stay soft instead of mushy. It's the kind of dinner I'm always happy to have waiting after a long day.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara
Pasta night feels a lot easier when the sauce is already done. The chicken cooks in marinara until it's so tender you can break it apart with a fork, and every bite is full of tomato flavor. Boil some pasta, add a little Parmesan, and dinner is ready without the usual five o'clock rush.
Get the Recipe: Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara
Slow Cooker Olive Garden Copycat Chicken Gnocchi Soup
If you like the restaurant version, this one is worth making at home. Tender chicken, soft potato gnocchi, and a creamy broth cook together until every spoonful is warm and filling. It's the kind of dinner that is ready before anyone starts asking what's to eat.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Olive Garden Copycat Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
There is no need to rush this recipe because time does all the work. Beef, onions, carrots, and herbs slowly turn into a rich stew with tender meat and a flavorful broth. It's the kind of meal that makes an ordinary weeknight feel a little more relaxed.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
Slow Cooker Swamp Potatoes with Smoked Sausage
This is one of those recipes that proves simple ingredients can still make a really satisfying meal. The smoked sausage slowly flavors the potatoes as they cook, so every bite is hearty and full of smoky flavor. Since it's a complete meal on its own, you can scoop it into bowls and sit down to eat.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Swamp Potatoes with Smoked Sausage
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
There is a reason pot roast has been a family favorite for so many years. The beef slowly cooks with carrots and potatoes until everything is fork tender, and browning the meat first gives the broth even more flavor. By the time dinner rolls around, the whole meal is ready and waiting for you.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Basic Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken
I make this recipe whenever I want dinner to stretch into more than one meal. The chicken slowly cooks in Buffalo sauce until it's juicy enough to shred with a fork, and it works just as well in sandwiches as it does in wraps, salads, or baked potatoes. Having it ready ahead of time makes busy nights much easier.
Get the Recipe: Basic Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken
Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles with Mushrooms
Some dinners just make everyone happy, and this is one of them. Tender beef slowly cooks with mushrooms until the gravy is rich and full of flavor, then the noodles soak up every bit of that sauce. It's the kind of meal that lets you sit down and enjoy dinner instead of rushing to finish it.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles with Mushrooms
Slow Cooker Osso Buco
This is one of those meals that tastes like it took all day because it actually did. Beef, vegetables, and broth slowly cook together until everything is soft and full of rich flavor. When dinner comes around, all you need to do is scoop it into bowls and enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Osso Buco
Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
I don't make beef stroganoff because it's fancy or complicated. I make it because the beef turns fork tender, the mushroom sauce stays creamy, and everyone is happy to see buttered noodles on the table. It's an easy slow cooker dinner that never feels like a shortcut.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken
Bacon, cheddar, and a creamy sauce come together around tender chicken for a dinner that always feels comforting. The buttery cracker topping adds a little crunch right before serving. It's an easy way to put something hearty on the table without standing in the kitchen all evening.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken
Crock Pot Pork Roast with Potatoes and Carrots
Nothing beats opening the slow cooker and finding the whole meal finished. The pork becomes so tender it falls apart with a fork, while the potatoes and carrots soak up all the rich juices. This is one of those dinners that makes the evening feel much less rushed.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Pork Roast with Potatoes and Carrots
Slow Cooker Tex Mex Pulled Pork
Whenever I know the week will be packed, this is one of the first recipes I put on the menu. The pork cooks low and slow with citrus juice and Tex-Mex spices until it's tender enough to shred with two forks. Use it for tacos, burritos, or rice bowls, and you'll have dinner ready with almost no last-minute work.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Tex Mex Pulled Pork
Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Pork Chops
If you're tired of dry pork chops, this recipe is worth trying. The pork stays juicy while the garlic Parmesan sauce slowly turns into a rich gravy. By dinner time, everything is ready, and all you have to do is bring it to the table.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Pork Chops
Easy 5-Ingredient Crockpot Chicken and Rice
Some days I don't want to spend more than a few minutes getting dinner started. With only five simple ingredients, this recipe turns into creamy chicken and rice that fills everyone up. The slow cooker handles the rest while you get on with your day.
Get the Recipe: Easy 5-Ingredient Crockpot Chicken and Rice
Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti
I always come back to this recipe when I know the evening will be busy. The chicken, pasta, and creamy cheese sauce cook together in one pot, so every bite is rich and comforting. Dinner is ready when you are, and there are only a few dishes to wash afterward.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti
Crockpot Sausage and Peppers
Sausage and peppers are one of those dinners that never seem to get old. As they cook together, the peppers become soft and sweet while the sausage fills the whole pot with flavor. Serve everything in sandwich rolls or over rice for an easy meal that's already waiting at the end of the day.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Sausage and Peppers
Chipotle Barbacoa Copycat Recipe
If taco night needs a little change, this recipe is always a good place to start. Smoky chipotle peppers slowly flavor the beef until it falls apart with a fork, making it perfect for tacos, burritos, nachos, or rice bowls. The slow cooker does all the work, so dinner feels easy even on the busiest days.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Barbacoa Copycat Recipe
Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs
These meatballs spend hours soaking up all the flavor from the onion broth before getting covered with melted cheese. Serve them with mashed potatoes, noodles, or toasted bread to catch the extra sauce. You'll be glad dinner was already cooking while you were busy with everything else.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs
Give tomorrow's dinner a head start, and thank yourself when 5 p.m. rolls around.
