Recipe Roundup: Slow Cooker Meals

The holidays are here, and that means we’re all busy. A slow cooker is our secret to eating well without spending hours in the kitchen — just add your ingredients to the machine in the morning, and you’ll have a hearty, tender, flavorful meal once you’re back home and you’ve tackled your to-do list. Here are some of our favorite slow cooker dinners (tip: make extra for leftovers — these are even better the next day)!

 

Winter Vegetable Stew This classic cool-weather dish sparkles with color and appealing flavors from winter squash and parsnips. Pair with a green salad and crusty country bread to round out the meal.

Vegetarian Curry with Butternut Squash, Eggplant and Chickpeas Seasonal vegetables shine in this meatless curry, featuring warm spices and creamy coconut milk. Serve over steamed rice and if you’d like, top with a spoonful of yogurt.

Simple Fish Bouillabaisse Here’s a quick and easy version of bouillabaisse, the famed fish soup of Marseilles, crowned with fresh herbs, orange zest and crunchy crostini.

Tuna with Herbed White Beans Tuna and white beans are a classic combination, but this flavorful 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.

Slow-Cooker Coq au Vin Here, this traditional dish from Burgundy is prepared in a Cuisinart multicooker, which lets you to brown the chicken and cook it slowly in the same vessel until the meat is perfectly tender. To prepare it in a standard slow cooker, just brown the meat in a separate pan on the stovetop before adding it to the machine.

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

Slow-Cooker Lasagna Yes, you can make lasagna in a slow cooker! Our recipe calls for just a handful of ingredients, and it’s a great way to feed a big crowd.

Pumpkin-Braised Pork with Greens Our pumpkin braising sauce makes this dish a breeze to prepare. Serve the tender pork over buttered egg noodles or creamy polenta.

Garlicky Pork Shoulder with Greens Seasoned with woodsy rosemary and pungent garlic, this is a boldly flavored, satisfying stew that’s perfect for a cozy night.

Braised Lamb Shanks with Sweet Peppers Braised lamb shanks make a show-stopping presentation. Quickly sautéed peppers and crumbled feta add tangy, fresh flavor and color to this dish; accompany with orzo tossed with olive oil, finely chopped tomato and minced fresh parsley.

Braised Beef with Arugula and Grapefruit Salad In this fresh take on braised beef, the meat is slow cooked with apple juice until very tender. Then the dish is garnished with an arugula, avocado and grapefruit salad just before serving for a light and refreshing accompaniment.

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 wintry spices.