What is your Go-To Crockpot Recipe?

Dinner preparing itself while you're on the go- we're here for it! Coming home to wonderful smells and a kitchen that is already cleaned up, but has a meal ready - yes! Crockpot recipes that are crowd favorites and make for easier weeknights, less clean up and great leftovers- we're spilling some tried and true options.

As 6 moms of 18 kids, we share our go-to crockpot winners - from chili to pulled pork, chicken curry to an amazing soup and shredded buffalo chicken. Plus, we share tips on how to make the crockpot work harder for you - be sure to check out how we have used these recipes for easy entertaining or how we've repurposed a protein for multiple meal ideas (not a reheated leftover - although we're here for that too!).

Kim, Home Connoisseur from @Reverie.and.Root & Founder of Spilling Goodness

We love a good crock pot meal! While we have a short list of favorites, we have two go-to recipes that are always crowd pleasers. And, I often make them together for a gathering - they never disappoint. One is pulled pork and the other is shredded buffalo chicken. (The pulled pork recipe is from Rebecca - she made it for our family when we had a newborn and it was adopted as a favorite! Se her link below for the recipe.) While they are both great for any weeknight dinner, they also make the best "slider bar." By setting out slider buns with cheese and sauce options, you can feed a crowd with little effort during the actual get-together.

First, pulled pork - this can be made lighter with a pork tenderloin, but then shorten the cooking time considerably. This is fantastic with barbecue sauce, corn bread, cole slaw, all the comfort fixings. My kids love this on slider buns for cute mini sandwiches. It is also great for left overs - think pork nachos!

Next, shredded buffalo chicken - this is my favorite. While there are countless ways to enjoy it (rice bowl, wrap, slider, etc.) the best way (in my opinion) is on a sweet potato. And, this recipe is great for leftovers. I will sometimes make a batch on Sunday, just to eat it for lunch all week.

Jen, Bespoke Travel Designer from @GlobalonDemandTravel

Making chili is one of my favorite easy comfort meals, especially when fall rolls around. It’s the only recipe I still use from an old cookbook—the rest of the book could probably go, but I keep it just for this one. I toss everything into the crockpot in the morning, and by dinnertime the whole house smells amazing. It’s warm, hearty, and takes almost no effort, which is exactly what I want on a busy day.

The leftovers are just as good, if not better. The next day, we usually scoop it up with tortilla chips for lunch, and it totally hits the spot. It’s one of those meals that works whether it’s just us or we have a few extra people around. Easy, filling, and always a crowd favorite.

Rebecca, Woman's Leadership Coach from @PleasantlyAggressive

I thought my family liked most of my crockpot recipes until my 16-year-old sent me a viral TikTok about the disappointment of coming home from school or practice to crock-pot meals. It was mostly a joke, and he admitted he actually likes most of the recipes I make. Like many busy families, we need something that can last all week, but also, like many families, not everyone loves leftovers. So, I found something that can make a lot, but be reused in different ways.

Slow-cooking a pork butt (also known as a pork shoulder) creates multiple meals and is usually enough to freeze for later use. I love that I frequently find pork butt on sale, making it a really affordable option (I’m feeding two teenage boys!). We’ll make pulled pork sandwiches, pork grilled cheese, and pork taco bowls in one week. Everyone will like at least one of these!

I have honed my use of the crockpot for cooking, but I more commonly use it to keep meals warm while we’re coming and going on a busy day. I try to cook something on the weekend when I have more time, and then use the crockpot to have recipes like soups, sloppy joes, and meatballs ready when we are.

Ashley, Millennial Mom Nutrition Coach from @AshleyBreaksTheCycle

I don't have one specific “signature” crockpot recipe, but my longtime go-to is TurboFire Chili. It’s an old recipe I’ve had forever, but it’s still the easiest, most nourishing thing to throw together. It’s loaded with protein, fiber, and flavor which is everything you need in a one-pot meal.

I usually double the batch because it disappears fast in our house. We serve it with crunchy tortilla chips, a dollop of plain Greek yogurt, a sprinkle of shredded cheese, and a handful of fresh cilantro. It’s hearty, balanced, and perfect for busy nights when everyone needs something filling after sports or school.

Another favorite is a good chicken curry. I love how the warm spices fill the house while it cooks, making everything smell amazing. It’s rich and comforting, but you can lighten it up easily if you want. Plus, it’s the ultimate meal for a cloudy, rainy day when you need something cozy and satisfying.

Both recipes prove that a crockpot can be the MVP of family meals. Easy, nourishing, and ready to welcome you home!

Emilee, Book Aficionado from @The BookClubCart

My favorite thing about a crockpot is making the cooking mess earlier in the day. What is better than coming home to dinner made and the kitchen already clean?

I prefer soups, especially heartier ones, made in a crockpot. My favorite go-to is not that exciting, but I crave it and it’s made so quickly. It is Chicken Sweet Potato with Kale Soup. I found this recipe years ago on real food-whole life website. The soup is so filling and I feel so good after eating it.

The recipe calls for 2 sweet potatoes diced, 1 bunch kale, 1 lb chicken breast, 64oz chicken broth (I always use bone broth), salt, Italian seasoning and minced garlic cloves. That’s it! All of that goes in the crockpot for 6-7 hours. Shred the chicken and serve with a side of sourdough. Lots of protein and all clean ingredients.

A few other favorites are chili, pulled pork, meatball subs. However, I am more interested in what everyone is making in theirs! With crockpot season upon us, let’s share recipes!

Ali, Book Aficionado from @The BookClubCart

Even though we own a crockpot, it doesn’t get much use in our kitchen; we’ve only tried it once! My husband loves to cook, and for our family, texture plays a big role in how much we enjoy a meal. Slow cookers tend to make everything a little too soft for our taste, so we usually stick to other cooking methods that give us the flavors and textures we love. That said, I still enjoy seeing all the creative crockpot recipes people share; it's fun to get inspired, even if we don't cook that way ourselves!

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