With busy fall in full swing, the slow cooker and Instant Pot are our favorite tools for getting an easy but satisfying dinner on the table. Get dinner going in your slow cooker before you leave the house in the morning, or use the Instant Pot to achieve slow-cooked results in a fraction of the time. The kitchen will smell amazing and you’ll barely lift a finger. Here, a dozen of our go-to recipes for busy weeknights.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Pumpkin Curry
This curry recipe from The Modern Proper highlights rich ingredients perfectly suited for the fall, like creamy coconut milk and seasonal favorite pumpkin. Packed with fresh crunchy vegetables and lean chicken breast, this set-it-and-forget-it meal is as healthy as it is hearty.
Slow-Cooker Mongolian Beef
Try your hand at a take-out favorite with this Mongolian beef recipe from The Recipe Critic. Super easy to make, it will give you tender, flavorful beef every time.
Crock-Pot Creamy Garlic Pork Chops with Mushrooms and Potatoes
These pork chops are the perfect comfort food to make during the winter months. This dish from Eatwell 101 is smothered in a creamy garlicky sauce that really brings the meal together. Here’s a hearty (and budget-friendly) meal to warm your belly and soul!
Instant Pot Ribs
Did you know that you can make delicious, fall-off-the-bone ribs in a slow cooker? You won’t miss your grill with this recipe from Well Plated by Erin that locks in moisture and guarantees these ribs will turn out perfectly every time! Just top with homemade BBQ sauce and serve up.
Healthy Instant Pot Greek Chicken
Get all the flavors and juicy, tender qualities of an oven-roasted chicken without the oven in this recipe from MyFitnessPal. A generous dose of fresh herbs, lemon zest, and garlic are tucked under the chicken skin to infuse the meat and get the skin extra crispy! Plus, the Instant Pot method yields a flavorful pan sauce that you can spoon over the top.
Fat Flush Soup 3.0
Packed with dark greens, tomatoes, and beans, this Goodtaste original is a vibrant vegetarian soup that comes together in your slow cooker. Throw everything in the pot before you head out the door and dinner will be waiting for you when you get home.
Instant Pot Beef Ragu
Pasta night is about to get a whole lot easier with this easy and fast ragu from The Modern Proper. The Instant Pot quickly and effectively cooks the beef until it’s fall-apart tender and becomes one with the tomatoes, carrots, and fresh herbs in the sauce. It’s great over noodles, zoodles, spaghetti squash, or polenta!
20-Minute Instant Pot Salmon and Rice Bowl
Make your whole dinner in just 20-minutes with this foolproof all-in-one meal from Food Network. As your rice and salmon steam away in the Instant Pot, you can make a quick and crunchy side salad to pile on the flaky fish.
Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork
This Goodtaste original recipe is perfect for any busy night that calls for a warm, tasty meal. Pork shoulder is tossed in a mix of rich spices and then cooked gently in a slow cooker, which means no oven or stovetop required. By using cola as the braising liquid, the soda both tenderizes the meat and flavors it with natural sugars. We’re using the pulled pork in tacos here, but you could also toss it with BBQ sauce and pile it on toasted buns or use it as a filling for enchiladas.
Slow-Cooker Black Bean Enchiladas
To quote Kitchn, “This dish might not win any beauty contests, but it’s seriously good.” These slow-cooker enchiladas are a great use for any odds and ends you might have in your fridge, using FAR fewer dishes than your traditional recipe.
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Learn how to cook your sauce, meatballs, and pasta in one pot with this recipe from our test kitchen. The meatballs simmer away in an easy tomato sauce with butter that gives the tomatoes a velvety richness, and the quartered onion infuses incredible flavor while the sauce cooks.
Slow-Cooker Breakfast Casserole
Whether you’re craving breakfast for dinner or want a filling breakfast for your busy morning, this slow-cooker egg casserole from Mom on Timeout is worth making. The eggs cook slowly with the cheese, potatoes, and veggies and become tender and creamy.
Donnie Smith says
Love the slow cooker recipes. I’ll add them to my recipes.
Here’s one for you that is so easy with 4 ingredients it should be illegal how good it is. My family asks for this at least once a month.
https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/easy-crock-pot-pork-chops/
I substitute thick center cut pork chops for the thin cut and the HEB Cream of Jalapeno for the cream of mushroom.
Give it a try. I think you’ll find it it a winner.