August may still be burning bright, but the days are getting shorter and cooler weather is finally on the horizon. I, for one, can't wait for fall to arrive and I'm dreaming of cosier, slow cooker ideas.
Every September, I find myself reaching into the back of my cupboard to pull out the best slow cookers. There’s something so satisfying about a meal that slowly simmers while I go about my day, promising warmth and comfort by dinner time with no effort at all.
Whether it’s a cozy comfort food classic, like a bubbling beef lasagna, or a slowly-spiced cocktail to enliven fall evenings, these slow cooker ideas are deliciously easy. I hope they inspire you to get creative with yours, too.
1. Soothing soups
I always end up making litres of soup in fall and winter, since my immune system really struggles in the colder months. The slow cooker is a great way to take the weight off my feet and rest up while the appliance does the cooking for me.
A Vietnamese phô, simmered with fresh herbs and warming spices, is my personal remedy for seasonal colds. Or, Italian-style soups make some of the best slow cooker ideas: from hearty tomato ribollita with chunky beans and hunks of crusty bread, to this light fennel broth recipe that is delicate and soothing.
To make life even easier, you can pre-prep and freeze your ingredients in sliding zip lock bags, like these from Amazon, so they're ready to add to the slow cooker whenever illness (or a busy week) strikes. Defrost them first for the best results.
2. Deliciously easy desserts
My aunt is famous for making Martha Stewart's cheesecake in the slow cooker, which results in the most melt-in-the-mouth, moreish texture. You can also make soft English-style sponges, fruit cobblers and crumbles, and indulgent chocolate brownies in the slow cooker.
I also recently discovered that a slow cooker is great for making fudge; it provides gentle, even heat that helps melt the ingredients smoothly without scorching, which can easily happen with the stovetop method. The best slow cooker ideas are minimal stress with maximum joy.
3. Hot drinks & cocktails
My mom has the best slow cooker ideas. At Christmas, she uses her CrockPot to make mulled wine and keep it warm to serve guests at holiday parties. It has taken me years to expand my imagination and start using my slow cooker for other warm drinks.
Last fall, I tried a hot cider, infused with cinnamon sticks and lemon slices. I have a Hotel Chocolat Velvetizer for perfect French-style cocoa, but if you need to make a huge batch of hot chocolate, try it in the slow cooker. For adults, add a dash of Kahlua or Bailey's Irish Cream for a spiked hot chocolate with extra warmth.
4. Curries & dahls
It's hard to overcook lentils, which makes them great for fail-safe slow cooker ideas. One of my favorite recipes is a golden sweet potato, red lentil, kale, and peanut butter dahl. Velvety and fragrant, it pairs beautifully with warm flatbreads and a fluffy rice recipe. The leftovers keep well throughout the week, too.
Simply add your dahl ingredients to the slow cooker and set it to high for a meal ready in about three hours, or choose low to cook all day until the lentils and vegetables are tender. Just a quick tip: slow cooker meals require less liquid since very little evaporates during cooking, so do follow a specific recipe and don't add too much water or stock.
5. Mexican-style crowd pleasers
Bring a little warmth into the kitchen with some Mexican-inspired slow cooker ideas. Think: spicy chilli con carne, slow-cooker chicken fajitas or a no-stir molé sauce. You can even make a large batch of queso in your slow cooker and keep it warm and ready for dipping. I recently tried Camila McConaughey's smokey black bean chorizo dip after our Celebrity Style editor spotted her making it in a CrockPot on Instagram. I can confirm: it's a crowd-pleaser, too.
6. Comfort food classics
When the weather cools down, I crave food that’s familiar and nourishing. A rich beef stew, brimming with root vegetables and a splash of red wine. A tender pot roast, cooked low and slow until it falls apart. I also love a hearty pasta recipe, whether that's a bubbling lasagna or mac and cheese (a childhood favorite).
If you're cooking a meat dish, I highly recommend browning it in a pan first before slow-cooking, The golden caramelization goes a long way to boost the overall flavor of the dish. For veggies, add firmer root vegetables like carrots and potatoes at the start of slow-cooking, and toss in softer ones (like peas or green beans) in the last hour, so they don’t end up mushy.
Everything you need for slow cooker success
If you're new to slow cooking, this removes the guesswork. The very clever Crock-Pot MyTime Slow Cooker can select the type of food you're cooking (meat, poultry, soup, veggies) and the volume (under or over 2 pounds, for example) for automatically adjusted timings and temperatures.
Read more in our guide to the best slow cookers
Is there anything Martha Stewart can’t do? This cookbook is full of elevated slow cooker recipes, complete with beautiful photography and clear instructions. My aunt got the idea to make her cheesecake in a slow cooker from here – because of course, Martha did it first.
To prep slow-cooker-ready ingredients for the days when you crave a low-effort meal, you need zipper bags. They are also great for freezing the leftovers of a big batch of your spicy chilli con carne and storing it away for a rainy day. My chest freezer is packed with this kind of thing.
I hope these slow cooker ideas bring warmth, flavor, and comfort to your fall recipe rotation; whether you’re new to slow cooking or looking to shake up your weeknight meals with fresh ideas.
If you’re craving more low-effort-yet-delicious inspiration, I specifically created these easy air fryer recipes for when I'm short on time and energy. There's even a crispy chickpea recipe over there that makes the perfect crunchy topping for your slow cooker soups and stews.
