Crock-tober: 31 Crockpot Recipes

ByAnsley Beutler
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This October, I decided to put my crock pot to the test and make a crock pot meal every single day. Every recipe is made with wholesome ingredients. No blocks of cream cheese, no cans of cream-of-whatever soup.

Honestly, the crock pot started out as a lifesaver for my own family. Our schedules are hectic. Some days I’d have 20 minutes between school pick-ups and after-school activities, then walk in the door at 6pm with zero plan for dinner. So I started tossing something in the crock pot earlier in the day, or in that little window between pick-ups, and letting dinner basically cook itself. By the time the crew got home, dinner was 90% done!

And it turns out I wasn’t the only one who needed this. You all made these recipes for picky kids, for families with food allergies, and for a whole week of meal prep. Some of you even bought your first crock pot because of this series! The reviews you sent in were the best part of the whole month.

So here they are, all 31 Crock-tober recipes in one place. Save this one for the busy nights ahead!

Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken & Ramen Noodles
This crockpot teriyaki chicken slow cooks chicken thighs in a honey-sweetened teriyaki sauce, then the ramen noodles, broccoli, and bell pepper cook right in the pot at the end. It's a sweet and savory one-pot dinner!
Recipe
Chicken, noodles, broccoli, and red bell peppers in a slow cooker, mixed with sauce and garnished with chopped green onions. Metal tongs rest on the noodles, ready for serving.
Crockpot Lasagna Soup
Crockpot lasagna soup that tastes like lasagna in a bowl. Browned ground beef, marinara, noodles, parmesan, and a big dollop of ricotta on top.
Recipe
Lasagna soup in a patterned bowl topped with three dollops of ricotta cheese.
Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie Gnocchi (No Crust, Dairy-Free)
Crockpot chicken pot pie with gnocchi! No biscuits or dough needed. Slow-cooked chicken thighs, carrots, celery, and peas in a creamy sauce.
Recipe
Close-up of a creamy chicken and gnocchi stew with carrots, peas, and celery, cooked in a black pot. A serving spoon is partly visible on the right side of the image.
Shortcut Crockpot Birria Tacos with Enchilada Sauce
Birria tacos without the hassle! This shortcut version uses red enchilada sauce and chipotles in adobo to get that classic flavor without a blender needed. The beef cooks low and slow in the crockpot until it falls apart, then the corn tortillas crisp up in the birria oil with Oaxaca cheese and cilantro. Serve them with the warm broth for dipping.
Recipe
A close-up of several golden, crispy tacos filled with shredded meat, garnished with herbs, arranged on a white plate in sunlight.
Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken & Rice
Crockpot honey garlic chicken and rice that tastes like fried rice! Chicken slow cooks in a sticky and sweet honey garlic sauce, then frozen mixed vegetables and cooked rice are stirred in at the end. Yum!
Recipe
Slow cooker filled with chicken and vegetable fried rice topped with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
Crockpot Beef Broth Bowls
Crockpot beef broth bowls with crispy ground beef and rice in a coconut milk broth with garlic, fresh ginger, sriracha, and honey. It's dairy-free and gluten-free too!
Recipe
A bowl of ground meat and rice in a creamy sauce, topped with sliced cucumbers, green onions, and cilantro.
Crockpot Marinara Meatballs and Orzo
Crockpot meatballs and orzo that tastes like adult SpaghettiOs. Frozen meatballs cook in marinara all day, then orzo and kale go in for the last 20 minutes for an easy weeknight meal!
Recipe
Creamy tomato orzo with meatballs and greens in a slow cooker, with a wooden spoon resting in the dish.
Crockpot Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole with Rice
Chicken breast, black beans, and corn slow cooked in green enchilada sauce, then tossed with rice and cheese until it turns into a casserole!
Recipe
A bowl of chicken and rice soup topped with diced avocado, crushed tortilla chips, cilantro, and a dollop of sour cream.
Creamy Crockpot Sausage Tortellini
Crockpot sausage tortellini with Italian sausage, diced tomatoes, and coconut milk instead of heavy cream. The tortellini cooks right in the sauce at the end.
Recipe
A bowl of tortellini with sausage and tomato sauce, topped with grated cheese and herbs, next to a wedge of parmesan.
Crockpot Baby Back Ribs with Apple Cider
Crockpot baby back ribs slow cooked in apple cider with a sweet savory rub, then broiled with BBQ sauce. Fall-off-the-bone tender and hands-off all day.
Recipe
A rack of ribs coated in thick, orange barbecue sauce on a foil-lined tray.
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Crockpot buffalo chicken stuffed sweet potatoes made creamy with greek yogurt, piled on roasted sweet potato halves with ranch and green onions.
Recipe
A baked sweet potato topped with creamy shredded chicken and chopped green onions on a patterned plate.
Crockpot Peanut Butter Noodles with Chicken
Crockpot peanut butter noodles that taste like takeout lo mein. Chicken slow cooks in a peanut sauce, then gets tossed with soba and edamame.
Recipe
Slow cooker pasta with chicken, edamame, and red bell peppers in a creamy sauce.
Crispy Crockpot Carnitas
Crockpot carnitas made with pork shoulder, oranges, garlic, and cinnamon, slow cooked until tender, then broiled crispy for easy tacos or quesadillas!
Recipe
A baking sheet filled with shredded pulled pork.
Crockpot Tuscan Meatballs & Gnocchi
Crockpot Tuscan meatballs with gnocchi, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and parmesan in a creamy sauce. 5 minutes of prep, then go about your day!
Recipe
A scalloped bowl filled with gnocchi and meatballs, garnished with grated cheese.
Crockpot Jambalaya with Chicken, Kielbasa & Shrimp
Crockpot jambalaya with chicken thighs, kielbasa and shrimp in a homemade creole seasoning. A saucy, dump-and-go dinner that’s naturally gluten-free.
Recipe
A slow cooker filled with shrimp and sliced sausage jambalaya with rice, tomatoes, and vegetables.
Crockpot Taco Chili
Crockpot taco chili is a dump-and-go dinner! Brown the ground beef, add canned beans, corn, rotel, and taco seasoning, then stir in greek yogurt.
Recipe
A bowl of chili topped with avocado chunks, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, and a dollop of sour cream.
Crockpot Steak and Potatoes with Mushrooms & Red Wine
Crockpot steak and potatoes with tender steak, baby potatoes, mushrooms, and red wine in a thick gravy. Sear, dump, and walk away.
Recipe
A bowl of beef stew with chunks of meat, mushrooms, and whole baby potatoes in a dark broth.
Japanese-Inspired Crockpot BBQ Beef
Crockpot Japanese BBQ beef with a 5-minute homemade sauce (no bottled stuff). It has the classic crispy edges and is perfect served over rice with a cold cucumber salad.
Recipe
A plate featuring shredded dark meat, a scoop of white rice, and sliced cucumbers, all garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
Crockpot Cheeseburger Pasta
Crockpot cheeseburger pasta for busy weeknights! The beef and sauce cook for hours, then pasta and cheese go in for the last 15–30 minutes.
Recipe
A bowl of creamy pasta with ground meat, topped with shredded cheddar cheese and chopped green onions.
Crockpot Moroccan Chicken and Rice
Crockpot Moroccan chicken and rice with spiced chicken thighs, saffron, golden raisins, and pomegranate. A shortcut weeknight dinner, naturally gluten-free.
Recipe
Slow cooker chicken and rice topped with pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and fresh herbs.
Crockpot Lasagna Soup
Crockpot lasagna soup that tastes like lasagna in a bowl. Browned ground beef, marinara, noodles, parmesan, and a big dollop of ricotta on top.
Recipe
Lasagna soup in a patterned bowl topped with three dollops of ricotta cheese.
Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatballs
Crockpot honey garlic meatballs made with frozen meatballs, honey, fresh garlic, and coconut aminos. A dump-and-go slow cooker dinner served over rice.
Recipe
Meatballs in a dark glaze topped with sesame seeds and green onions, served over a bed of white rice in a patterned bowl.
Crockpot Sausage Orzo with Burst Tomatoes & Goat Cheese
Crockpot sausage orzo for busy weeknights! Dump chicken sausage, and veggies in the slow cooker, add orzo and goat cheese at the end, and stir. Yum!
Recipe
Creamy pasta with sliced sausage and herbs in a patterned bowl, with a fork resting on the side.
Crockpot Sweet Potato Chili with Ground Turkey
Crockpot sweet potato chili made with ground turkey, sweet potatoes, and two kinds of beans. Brown the turkey, dump everything in, and dinner’s done. Gluten free and dairy free!
Recipe
A slow cooker filled with a stew of cubed squash, black beans, and ground meat in a tomato-based broth, with a serving spoon resting inside.
Crockpot Beef and Broccoli Noodles
Crockpot beef and broccoli with skirt steak and ramen noodles cooked right in the slow cooker. It’s a sweet-savory, gluten-free weeknight dinner for 6–8.
Recipe
A bowl of beef and broccoli stir-fry with noodles, topped with sesame seeds and green onions.
Crockpot Greek Meatballs and Couscous with Feta
Crockpot Greek meatballs with pearl couscous that cooks right in the slow cooker. Frozen chicken meatballs, garlic broth, red peppers, and melty feta on top.
Recipe
A bowl of pearl couscous mixed with red bell peppers, topped with Greek meatballs and crumbled feta cheese, with a silver spoon resting in the bowl.
Crockpot Sloppy Joe Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Sloppy joe stuffed sweet potatoes are a crockpot dinner of thick, nostalgic ground beef sloppy joes over roasted sweet potato halves.
Recipe
A baked sweet potato topped with a savory ground meat and tomato sauce on a patterned plate.
Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken
Crockpot Hawaiian chicken is a dump-and-go dinner with pineapple, ginger, honey, and chicken thighs simmer in saucy, tropical rice bowl.
Recipe
A bowl of chicken and pineapple stir-fry served with a scoop of white rice, garnished with green onions.
Crockpot Beef Ragu Tagliatelle
Crockpot beef ragu for a weeknight! Shredded chuck roast in a red wine tomato sauce, tossed with tagliatelle and parmesan.
Recipe
A fork twirls a portion of beef ragu tagliatelle topped with grated cheese in a decorative bowl.
Crockpot Zuppa Toscana
Crockpot zuppa toscana is a dump-and-go dinner everyone will love. Italian sausage, potatoes, kale, and broth simmer low and slow, with milk & cheese stirred in at the end.
Recipe
A bowl of creamy potato and sausage soup in a decorative patterned bowl with a metal spoon.
Crockpot Apple Cider Short Ribs with Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Crockpot short ribs that taste like fall! Short ribs cook low and slow all day in an apple cider marinade. Paired with mashed sweet potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts for a meal suited for a special occasion!
Recipe
A slow cooker sits behind a plate featuring a braised short rib, mashed orange vegetables, and roasted Brussels sprouts.

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