Slow Cooking Made Simple

Your slow cooker can be a lifesaver during the busy holiday season, when parties and out-of-town guests abound. Let the machine do the work while you focus on holiday shopping — and sit down to a delicious, savory dinner at the end of your busy weekdays.

Many slow cooker recipes call for a laundry list of ingredients, increasing valuable prep time. Instead, try one of the simplified recipes below, requiring 10 ingredients or less — many of which you may already  have in your pantry.

Chicken Adobo Soy sauce and rice wine vinegar flavor this Phillipine chicken dish, which takes almost no time to get started. If you prefer, try the recipe with beef or pork instead.

Seared Tuna with White Beans A slow cooker is ideal for cooking beans, which require many hours of gentle simmering. This recipe yields enough for this meal as well as for two “bonus” recipes; see related recipes in the left-hand column.

Chili Verde This Chili Verde recipe is versatile, so make enough for leftovers. Enjoy it one night over steamed rice, and use it has a filling for tacos or burritos the following night.

Ale-Braised Short Ribs Hearty and slightly sweet butternut squash stars in this flavorful winter dish, along with tender beef short ribs.

Bowl of Red Chili This authentic Texas chili is flavored with dried red chilies and plenty of ground beef — but no beans. It’s a great option to freeze and save for busy nights.