Beat the blustery chill of the season with our collection of great winter slow cooker recipes. Each hearty dish helps you tap into the cozy side of the season. Our slow cooker winter soups and stews plus other entrées will keep everyone warm all winter.
Indian Chicken Stew
Blaine Moats
Here’s one of our favorite winter chicken slow cooker recipes. Curry adds a wonderful warmth that helps chase the chill away, while garbanzo beans bring nutritious fiber to the meal (remember to rinse beans first to eliminate extra sodium).
Beef and Black Bean Chili
Karla Conrad
What’s better than slow cooker soup recipes? Slow cooker chili recipes, of course! A dash of cocoa powder, cumin, and hot chili powder add rich, complex flavor to this south-of-the-border chili. Balance this dish’s spice with a dollop of sour cream.
Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie
Andy Lyons
You already know that chicken pot pie tops the list of great winter meals, but did you know that it’s one of the best slow cooker meals for winter, too? Indeed—you can serve your family a piping bowl of the comforting classic straight from the crock. Refrigerated piecrust serves as a delightfully flaky (and super-easy) topper for this easy dish.
Spicy Turkey Lasagna
Andy Lyons
Layer upon layer of spiced ground turkey, creamy ricotta cheese, and chunky pasta sauce combine in one of our easiest and best slow cooker meals for winter. Turkey (instead of beef) and frozen spinach help keep the recipe lower in fat and calories and higher in nutrients than classic lasagna. Plus, it takes only 20 minutes of prep time.
Italian-Style Meat Loaf
Jacob Fox
For individuals watching fat and calorie intake, it can be challenging to snag great winter recipes for the slow cooker that are both filling and healthy. We are here to help! Lean meats and low-sodium ingredients help keep this Mediterranean-inspired meat loaf in line with your aim to eat well.
Mediterranean Kale & Cannellini Stew with Farro
Blaine Moats
This is the perfect winter vegetable soup for slow cooker fans on meatless Mondays. It combines fiber-rich beans and vitamin-rich kale with carrots, celery, onions, and some seasonings for an easy one-pot meal. Farro imparts a delightfully chewy and nutty texture while adding whole grains to your diet.
Peppermint Pretzel Candies
Blaine Moats
There is just something about peppermint that feels like winter. Seasonal peppermint mochas and Christmas candy canes are probably part of the reason. Use up leftover candy canes or peppermint candies to top this slow cooker dessert recipe. It makes enough to serve everyone at your holiday party.
Coq au Vin
Blaine Moats
How about slow cooker winter meals with a French twist? Many classic French stews and braises translate well to the slow cooker thanks to similar moist-heat cooking. Try this easy recipe for wine-stewed chicken to taste what we mean!
Vegetable Casserole
Andy Lyons
Two kinds of beans and a rainbow of vegetables simmer with garlic and basil pesto to create one of our best winter vegetarian slow cooker recipes ever! Adding the spinach and radicchio (which is at its prime in the winter) just before serving helps bring last-minute freshness to the dish.
Cider-Poached Pears
Jacob Fox
Pears are at their peak in late fall. Put them to good use in this easy slow cooker dessert. The key is to use ripe yet firm pears and leave the stem intact as you peel them. Serve the cooked pears with vanilla yogurt and chopped pistachios.
Slow Cooker Taco Meat Loaf
Andy Lyons
When you cook meatloaf in the slow cooker, it stays extra moist and juicy. Adding crushed tortilla chips to the meat mixture helps bring the taco flavor. Make a fresh salsa while the meatloaf cooks to top it.
Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Jason Donnelly
Our secret to the best mashed sweet potatoes? Buttermilk! It adds creaminess and tang to the potatoes and also helps balance the sweetness. For texture, top the finished dish with toasted pecans.
Slow Cooker Old-Fashioned Beef Stew
This easy beef stew recipe calls for just six ingredients and 15 minutes of prep. Shortcuts like condensed potato soup and onion soup mix amp up the flavor with very little effort.
Slow Cooker Cajun Mac and Cheese
Jason Donnelly
Spice up your next bowl of mac and cheese with Cajun seasoning and hot sauce. Adding sliced andouille sausage brings the recipe into main dish territory. Round things out and temper the spice with sweet bell pepper and smoked gouda cheese.
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Latte
We look forward to pumpkin spice latte season every year. Make this big-batch recipe at home and you won’t have to step foot inside a coffee shop. This recipe makes 8 drinks that are sweetened with maple syrup rather than sugar.
Slow Cooker Sausage and Chicken Cassoulet
Kelsey Hansen
This heart white bean and sausage stew is our take on the classic French dish. We’re topping each bowl with slow cooker chicken confit and fresh parsley and cracked black pepper.
Holiday Slow Cooker Ribollita
Jason Donnelly
Ribollita is an Italian bread soup. This recipe looks impressive but is actually very easy to prepare. As one BHG home cook shares, “This is absolutely delicious. I took the easy route and used two cans of cannellini beans and did the whole thing on the stovetop. Instead of water with bouillon, I used both chicken broth and vegetable broth. Also added salt & pepper. Total time was about 1.5 hours although I could have completed it within the hour.”
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Farrotto
Jacob Fox
If you’ve got an extra can of pumpkin puree in the pantry, you’re well on your way to one of our favorite winter slow cooker recipes. Add it to the slower cooker along with hearty farro, chicken broth, frozen peas, and Parmesan cheese.
Slow Cooker Apple Dump Cake
Jake Sternquist
You can have this slow cooker dessert prepped in just 10 minutes. Pantry shortcuts like canned pie filling, cake mix, and pre-chopped pecans help speed up the assembly. The finished apple cake is best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Mississippi Pot Roast
Kelsey Hansen
This Mississippi pot roast recipe has earned rave reviews. As one BHG home cook writes, “Wow. This was incredible! I’ve made a lot of pot roast recipes over the years and this has easily become a new favorite! I appreciated that it only required 5 ingredients and came together so easily in the crockpot.”
Cabbage Roll Soup
Carson Downing
If you love the flavor of cabbage rolls, but don’t want to go through the effort of assembling a panful, try making this shortcut soup. Our secret to the flavorful broth? A cup of spicy bottled tomato juice.
Mississippi Chicken
Kelsey Hansen
Prep this winter slow cooker recipe on Sunday, and you’ll have easy lunches all week long. Serve the saucy chicken over mashed potatoes, pasta, or your favorite grain. It’s also delicious as a filling for tacos or enchiladas.
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Butter
Jason Donnelly
There’s no need to prep a fresh pumpkin for this winter slow cooker recipe. Instead, add three cans of pumpkin along with maple syrup, apple juice, and sweet spices. The result is a creamy pumpkin butter that’s delicious on everything from toast to oatmeal.
Slow Cooker Brisket and Potatoes
Andy Lyons
Serve up this Sunday roast recipe, and prepare for one of the most delicious dinners you’ve had. We love how everything slow cooks together. Have leftovers? We’re also sharing our favorite ways to use them.
Slow-Cooked Beef and Veggies
Jacob Fox
This twist on pot roast is one of our go-to winter dinners. A 1/4 cup of lemon juice is our secret to brightening up the whole dish. Serve the finished slow cooker stew with crusty bread and a fresh green salad.