Crock Pot Recipes for Chilly Days & Busy Nights

The time between Halloween and Hanukkah must be one of the busiest seasons of the year. If you’re already skipping lunch as you race between family and work commitments, we reckon some quick-prep Crock Pot recipes could help. These easy-to-concoct slow cooker recipes will work great for lunch with plenty of leftovers for the moment the kids are home, hollering they’re hungry. Keep reading to see them all.

photo: Weelicious

Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken

Cook up some tropical flavors to get you through the holidays with this sweet and sour chicken dish. Soy, honey and ginger are just some of the ingredients that go into creating a meal that keeps its flavor and works great for lunch and dinner. Head to Weelicious for the recipe.

photo: The View From Great Island

Pickle and Brat Soup

If your family has a taste for tarter flavors like pickles, this one's for you! It's an easy crock pot soup that blends pickles and dill with smokey brats that could easily be substituted for sausage, ham, or hot dogs. The View From Great Island has the recipe and tips on how to tweak the flavor.

photo: Erin Clarke at Well Plated

Crock Pot Beef Stew

This recipe promises lots of flavor and plenty of comfort. The list of ingredients might be long, but with ten minutes of prep in the morning and six to eight hours of slow cooking, you'll come home at the end of the day to a one-pot meal that's almost as good as a hug! Get the recipe from Erin Clarke at Well Plated along with tips and tricks for the best flavor.

photo: Dinner At The Zoo

Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

For an Asian-inspired dish of breaded orange chicken that beats the take-out version, head to Dinner At The Zoo. The recipe does have an extra step of breading and browning the chicken before putting it in the crock pot, but for a little extra effort, the taste is absolutely worth it.

photo: Pinch of Yum

Easy Crock Pot Carnitas

Here's a Crock Pot carnitas recipe that works on so many levels—it's super easy, can be prepped ahead of time, feeds a crowd, feels festive and works as leftovers—and it's delicious. Check out Pinch of Yum for the recipe, and you are all set for delicious, fall-apart pork to pack into your tacos.

photo: Cooking Classy

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

It's hard to resist a chicken tortilla soup topped with cheese, avocado and sour cream. This recipe from Cooking Classy is super easy to prep, full of flavor and is sure to become a family staple.

photo: Show Me The Yummy

Tomato Tortellini Soup

It's always good to have tomato soup on hand and this one from Show Me The Yummy is loaded with cheesy pasta, making it a real crowd pleaser. Just throw the ingredients into your slow cooker, and let it simmer all day before adding the pasta towards the end of the cook time. Delicious!

photo: My Fussy Eater

Slow Cooked Lamb Curry

This lamb curry is filling, warming and aromatic. The recipe from My Fussy Eater uses lamb shoulder which is a more affordable cut and becomes deliciously tender with slow cooking. If you're looking for a lunch or dinnertime pick-me-up that feeds a crowd and is super easy to prep, this is it.

photo: Healthy Slow Cooking

White Bean Veggie Soup

Creamy cannellini beans work their magic in this veggie Crock Pot soup. The recipe uses pantry staples and a few fresh veggies to create a warming soup for cold days. Head to Healthy Slow Cooking for the how-to.

photo: Plated Cravings

Crock Pot Chicken Chili

A creamy chicken chili is both comforting and nutritious. While this recipe from Plated Cravings is designed for an Instant Pot, the adjustments for a Crock Pot couldn't be easier—just add all the ingredients except the cream cheese and let the crock pot do the work. Perfect for both lunch or dinner.

—Emily Myers

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