Recipe Roundup: Slow Cooker Favorites

Preparing comforting fall favorites is easy when you let a slow cooker do the work. Try these hearty dishes, from braises and stews to pastas and tacos — they’re deceptively simple and supremely satisfying.

 

Slow-Cooker Vegetable and Pumpkin Lasagna When it comes to serving a crowd, there’s nothing like lasagna. This festive fall version is a snap to prepare, thanks to our pumpkin pasta sauce. Round out the meal with a tossed green salad and crusty bread.

Braised Salmon with Green Beans Nutritious salmon becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender after a short braise in a slow cooker. The haricots verts—slender green beans—are cooked just until tender and then tossed with shallot and fresh tarragon, offering a bright counterpoint to the fish.

Slow-Cooker Provençal Chicken Enhance the flavor of this dish — featuring chicken braised in a white wine sauce — by topping each portion with fig and olive tapenade. Fresh baby arugula adds a pretty and peppery finish.

Balsamic-Braised Sausages with Grapes and Watercress Browning and slow cooking sausages transforms them, making them surprisingly tender. The fresh, robust flavors of the salad — tart-sweet grapes and peppery watercress — make a wonderful accompaniment.

Short Rib Tacos Avocado-tomatillo salsa brightens the flavors of these hearty beef tacos, which are delicious tucked into warm corn tortillas. Gather friends and family, and set up a self-serve taco bar with all your favorite toppings.

Tuna with Herbed White Beans Tuna and white beans are a classic combination, but this version takes the dish to a whole new level. The tender braised fish and creamy beans mix with the sparkling flavors of vinaigrette, fresh herbs and lemon zest.

Spicy Red Bean & Chorizo Stew This spicy stew is great served over steamed white rice to soak up all the seasonings. Top with a fresh, crunchy, tangy jicama salad for more contrast of flavors and textures.

Braised Chicken Pappardelle Tender braised chicken tossed with a tarragon-cream sauce and ribbons of pappardelle makes for a soul-warming meal. The addition of lemon zest and fresh herbs imparts a welcome burst of flavor.

Braised Beef with Autumn Vegetables This hearty stew has everything we crave in the cold weather months: tender beef, sweet carrots and pumpkin, and plenty of warm spices.

Asian-Style Pork with Noodles This sophisticated version of chow mein has been reinvented as a spicy noodle salad. Serve at room temperature, along with sliced cucumbers tossed with a dressing of rice vinegar, Asian sesame oil and sugar.

Slow-Cooker Coq au Vin Here, the traditional dish of Burgundy is prepared in a slow-cooker that allows you to brown the chicken and then cook it slowly in the same vessel until the meat is exceptionally tender. Serve with a scoop of mashed potatoes and a glass of dry Pinot Noir.

Garlicky Pork Shoulder with Greens Pork shoulder is a beautifully marbled cut that emerges fork-tender after long cooking at low temperatures. Seasoned with woodsy rosemary and pungent garlic, this is a boldly flavored, satisfying stew.

Slow-Cooker Curried Chicken Salad Both curry powder and crisp apples are classic partners for chicken, and here they are combined in a fresh, light salad tossed with a creamy dressing, perfect for a light dinner or lunch.

Pork with Spicy Squash This colorful dish dresses up winter squash with bright Asian flavors and combines it with tender shredded pork. The result: a bright but filling dinner that’s sure to please a crowd.

Braised Lamb Shanks with Sweet Peppers Braised lamb shanks make an impressive meal. The topping of quickly sautéed peppers and crumbled feta adds tangy, fresh flavor and color to each serving. Accompany with orzo tossed with olive oil, finely chopped tomato and minced fresh parsley.

Chicken with Lemon and Green Olives In this simple dish, chicken drumsticks become luscious and tasty in the slow cooker. Serving them with a piquant lemon and olive relish helps to cut the richness of the meat. Accompany with creamy mashed potatoes or a savory herbed rice pilaf for soaking up the flavorful juices.

 

See more slow cooker favorites here.