25 Satisfying Slow Cooker Dinners For Fall

Christine Gallary

updated Oct 6, 2023

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Credit: Ghazalle Badiozamani

With shorter days and crisper temperatures heading our way, having a warm, home-cooked dinner waiting for us when we walk in the door is such a comfort. With the help of a slow cooker, the prep and cooking don’t have to happen at the last minute, which frees you up to focus on other important tasks, like mixing the perfect autumn cocktail.

From comforting soups to hearty braises, there’s plenty to choose from with these 25 recipes. As a bonus, these recipes also make plenty of leftovers — perfect for lunch the next day.

Slow Cooker Dinners For Fall

1 / 25

Slow Cooker Coconut Lentil Curry

This slow cooker coconut lentil curry is seasoned with garam masala & turmeric, laced with tomatoes, & finished with coconut milk for a touch of richness.

2 / 25

Curried Vegetable and Chickpea Stew

Plenty of vegetables and chickpeas are loaded into this stew, all cooked together in a rich curry-coconut sauce.

3 / 25

Slow Cooker Vegan Pumpkin Curry

Grab an extra pumpkin from the pumpkin patch or grocery store in this homage to fall ingredients. Serve with plenty of rice to soak up all the sauce.

4 / 25

Slow-Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowls

These chicken burrito bowls only require five minutes of hands-on prep time — the rest of the work is done by your slow cooker.

5 / 25

Slow-Cooked Bolognese Sauce

A recipe for Italian Bolognese sauce that can be made in the slow cooker or on the stove.

6 / 25

Slow Cooker Brisket and Onions

The classic flavors of brisket you crave with the ease of the slow cooker. This recipe produces the most crowd-pleasing, tender pot of brisket you've made.

7 / 25

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

This is a hearty slow cooker chicken stew with white beans, Southwest spices like cumin and coriander, and a few cans of fire-roasted green chilis.

8 / 25

Slow-Cooker Sausage and Spinach Lasagna

Yes, a cheesy lasagna can be made in a slow cooker! This version has loads of spinach and sausage for the ultimate comfort-food dinner.

9 / 25

Slow-Cooker Chicken in Milk

Our favorite chicken recipe ever can now also be made in the slow cooker! Milk may seem like a strange ingredient, but it turns into an amazing sauce as it braises the chicken.

10 / 25

Slow-Cooker Black Bean Enchiladas

An easy recipe for slow cooker enchiladas with black beans and cheese. Vegetarian.

11 / 25

Slow-Cooker Korean Short Ribs

Once these short ribs are quickly browned with the aid of the broiler, they’re slow-cooked in a savory sauce until super-tender. Serve with a side of rice or load into lettuce leaves with pickled vegetables for a fun lettuce wrap.

12 / 25

Slow-Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole

This easy recipe for tuna noodle casserole is made from scratch in the slow cooker or the Crock-Pot.

13 / 25

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Spicy, savory, and tender pork shoulder.

14 / 25

Slow-Cooker Celery Soup with Bacon

A humble bunch of celery can turn into a rich, creamy soup with the addition of some bacon, potatoes, and broth. Serve with some crusty bread for a warm and comforting dinner.

15 / 25

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup

A warm bowl of chicken enchilada soup, made in the slow cooker, tastes like you're eating an enchilada with a spoon.

16 / 25

Slow Cooker Coconut and Green Curry Pork

This simple Thai curry stew has bold flavors and can feed a hungry crowd. While it’s great over rice, try with it with store-bought naan for sopping up all the yummy sauce.

17 / 25

Mac and Cheese in the Slow Cooker

This slow cooker mac and cheese is so easy! With dry pasta, milk, and cheese, you'll be enjoying warm macaroni and cheese in just a few hours.

18 / 25

Meatballs in the Slow Cooker

Meatballs in the slow cooker are a gorgeous thing. They’re gently simmered, so the meatballs stay tender while the sauce becomes luscious and rich. Whether they’re being served over spaghetti for a weeknight dinner or piled onto a meatball sub at a Saturday potluck, these slow-cooker meatballs are going to be a hit — guaranteed.

19 / 25

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

Spooned over some steamed rice, this easy slow cooker tikka masala is about to make your busy days very happy indeed.

20 / 25

Slow-Cooker Beef and Barley Stew with Mushrooms

When you get a craving — especially if it’s for beef and barley stew when snow clouds are building outside — it’s best to just give in and make it. Stew is more of a technique than a recipe, so gather your ingredients and jump right into the kitchen. By late afternoon, you’ll have one mouthwatering pot of stew.

21 / 25

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken soup is one of my favorite things to make in the slow cooker. As long as you use dark meat, the chicken never overcooks during the long cooking time, and making a big batch means that you can have it for dinner and stock the freezer at the same time. This Tex-Mex version has fire-roasted tomatoes, carrots, and black beans in a lightly spiced broth, and hits all the notes when you need a bright-yet-warming meal.

22 / 25

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken and Broccoli Bowls

The superstar slow cooker strikes again with this tasty combination of brown rice, white beans, chicken, and broccoli florets.

23 / 25

Slow-Cooker Vegan Lentil Chili

The easiest slow cooker chili you'll ever make, thanks to the power of lentils. Dump everything in the slow cooker, walk away, then eat it up.

24 / 25

Slow Cooker Veggie Pot Pie

This easy, deconstructed veggie pot pie is made in the slow cooker, so you can come home to healthy comfort food even on a busy weekday.

25 / 25

Slow Cooker Hearty Chicken Minestrone

The New Year brings different traditions for different folks. Some make black-eyed peas, others make firm resolutions. I make chicken stock. There’s something wonderfully industrious about making homemade stock, and this year on New Year’s Day, that’s where I found myself.

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