We kicked off Slow Cooker Week last winter, but honestly, our favorite comfort food kitchen appliance shines all year long. To see why we love it so much, check out the best Crock-Pot recipes, tips, and tricks below.
Plus, the best slow cookers to buy and intel on how to care for your Crock-Pot (and Instant Pot too).
Jump to specific areas of interest via the links below, or keep scrolling to see everything:
- Slow Cooker Tips, Tricks & Trivia
- The Best Slow Cookers to Buy
- Essential Slow Cooker Accessories
- Stand-Out Slow Cooker Recipes
- Instant Pot Intel
- Instant Pot Recipes
Slow Cooker Tips, Tricks & Trivia
Chowhound
Sure, it seems simple, but there are ways to optimize your slow cooker’s performance—and some things you should never do with a Crock-Pot.
- How to Use a Crock-Pot: 13 Tips for Slow Cooking Like a Pro
- What Is the Difference Between a Crock-Pot and an Instant Pot?
- Can You Make Scrambled Eggs in a Slow Cooker?
- How Long Can You Leave Food in the Slow Cooker? — new!
- 12 Things You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
- Time & Temp Guidelines for Everything You Can Make in a Slow Cooker — new!
- How to Clean Your Slow Cooker
- 9 Creative Ways to Use Your Crock-Pot That Aren’t Food-Related
- Crock-Pot and Dutch Oven Pros and Cons: Which One Is Better?
The Best Slow Cookers to Buy
Williams Sonoma
Whether you’re looking for something basic, high-tech, or just pretty enough to sit out on the counter all year, we’ve got you covered—and we’ve used hard data (ratings, reviews, and detailed specs) as well as more philosophical criteria.
- The 10 Best Slow Cookers for 2020
- 11 Sleek Slow Cookers That You’ll be Glad to Keep on the Counter
- The Best Slow Cookers with Super High-Tech Features
Essential Slow Cooker Accessories
Amazon
Make the utmost of your slow cooker with the right accessories, including cookbooks and simmer sauces.
- 10 Slow Cooker Cookbooks You Need Right Now
- Essential Accessories to Make Your Slow Cooker Even Better
- The Best Slow Cooker Sauces to Buy
Stand-Out Slow Cooker Recipes
StockFood / Getty Images
Slow cookers are perfect for comfort food like big batches of hearty meats and stews, but they’re good for a lot more than that, from summer dishes (when it’s too hot to turn on the oven) to desserts!
- Our 11 Favorite Crock-Pot Chicken Recipes
- 10 Crock-Pot Pork Recipes to Rely On
- The Very Best Slow Cooker Beef Recipes
- 21 Easy Family Meals from the Slow Cooker
- 9 Easy Slow Cooker Pasta Sauces to Last You All Week
- 21 Easy, Cozy Soups and Stews You’d Never Guess Came Out of the Slow Cooker
- 10 Easy Slow Cooker Jams, Preserves, and Condiments
- 12 Budget-Friendly Slow Cooker Meals for a Crowd
- A Spicy Chicken Taco Menu for Slow Cooker Sunday
- How to Make Easy Crock-Pot Chicken Stock Overnight
- 15 Great Reasons to Plug in the Slow Cooker This Summer
- 9 Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes to Welcome Spring
- 9 Rice Recipes for the Slow Cooker
- 12 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes Perfect for Any Weeknight Dinner
- 12 Appetizers You Won’t Believe Came Out of the Crock-Pot
- Unconventional Dishes You Can Make in Your Crock-Pot
- How to Cook with Pot in a Crock-Pot (So Meta)
- 9 Side Dishes You Can Make in Your Slow Cooker
- Cozy Crock-Pot Cocktails to See You Through Winter
- The Best Slow Cooker BBQ Sauce Recipes to Slather on Everything
- 15 Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Side Dish Recipes
- An Easy Recipe for Greek Stuffed Grape Leaves Made in the Slow Cooker
- Make This Spicy Pulled Pork for Slow Cooker Sunday
- How to Make Slow Cooker Carnitas that Rival Chipotle’s
- The Best Crock-Pot Hot Wings for Every Occasion
- Make This Easy Crock-Pot Party Mix to Please a Crowd
- How to Make Slow Cooker Apple Butter
- How to Cook a Whole Bunch of Hot Dogs in a Crock-Pot
- Crazy Easy Crock-Pot Dessert Recipes
- 9 Amazing Chocolate Desserts You Can Make in the Slow Cooker
Instant Pot Intel
CNET
Yes, your Instant Pot is primarily a pressure cooker, but it functions as a slow cooker too. Here’s what you need to know about using it as one, and cleaning it up afterward—plus, a few other tips and tricks.
- Yes, an Instant Pot Is Worth Getting
- What to Do with Your New Instant Pot
- 7 Instant Pot Meal Prep Tips to Streamline Your Week
- Turn Your Instant Pot Into an Air Fryer with This Game-Changing Lid
- How to Use Your Instant Pot as a Slow Cooker
- The Best Instant Pot Accessories for Healthy Eating
- Instant Pot Cookbooks to Make the Most Out of Your Pressure Cooker
- How to Clean Every Part of Your Instant Pot So It’s Like New
Instant Pot Recipes
Instant Pot/Walmart
Much as we love slow cooking, sometimes it’s just not an option—and those times, we’re glad we have the Instant Pot. Here are some of our favorite quick Instant Pot recipes, because sometimes you just can’t wait for hours. Your slow cooker will understand.
- How Your Instant Pot Will Help You Crush the Whole30 Challenge
- Quick and Easy Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes
- These Instant Pot Recipes Are Perfect for Kids’ Lunch
- 15 Quick and Easy Meals You Can Make in Instant Pot on a Weeknight
- 10 Things You Need to Try in Your Instant Pot
- How to Throw an Instant Pot Dinner Party
- 9 Instant Pot Chicken Recipes to Add to Your Rotation
- Make This Vegan Instant Pot Chili While It’s Still Chilly Outside
- Under-the-Radar Instant Pot Ideas You Never Saw Coming
