6 Crockpot Recipes Full Meal Ideas for Easy Weeknights

A slow cooker is most helpful when dinner does not need two extra saucepans. These meals include a protein, a vegetable and a filling starch inside the same pot.

Different ingredients need different time in the heat. The starchy base goes in first, while pasta or softer vegetables join only when the rest is nearly cooked.

1. Chicken Sweet Potato and Kale Curry

Serves 4 | 6 qt | Low 5–6 hrs | Prep 15 min

Sweet potato makes this mild chicken curry a complete meal. Kale keeps it green without needing a side salad.

Layer 1½ lb cubed sweet potato and 1 diced onion below 1½ lb thawed boneless chicken thighs with 14 oz coconut milk, ½ cup broth and 2 tbsp mild curry paste. Cook on LOW for 5–6 hours until chicken reaches 165°F and the potato is soft, adding 2 cups kale for the last 15 minutes.

Use large sweet potato cubes so they do not dissolve. Stir the sauce gently after adding the kale.

2. Beef Barley Carrot Stew

Serves 4 | 6 qt | Low 8–9 hrs | Prep 20 min

Barley replaces the need for bread or potatoes in a beef stew. The carrots become tender in the tomato-rich broth.

Put 1½ lb thawed cubed beef chuck, ¾ cup rinsed pearled barley, 3 sliced carrots, 1 diced onion, 14 oz crushed tomatoes and 4 cups beef broth in the cooker. Cover on LOW for 8–9 hours until beef and barley are tender, adding hot water if the grains absorb too much liquid.

Pearled barley works better here than whole hulled barley. Keep an eye on thickness during the last hour.

3. Sausage Cannellini and Potato Minestrone

Serves 4 | 6 qt | Low 5–6 hrs | Prep 15 min

This tomato soup is hearty enough to be dinner on its own. Beans and potatoes make the small amount of sausage go further.

Layer 1 lb diced potatoes, 2 carrots and 1 chopped onion with 12 oz sliced fully cooked chicken sausage, two drained 15 oz cans cannellini beans, 28 oz diced tomatoes and 3 cups broth. Cook covered on LOW for 5–6 hours until the potatoes soften and sausage is heated through.

Choose fully cooked sausage because the recipe relies on warming it. A dash of vinegar at the table brightens the broth.

4. Turkey Meatball Spinach Tortellini Soup

Serves 4 | 6 qt | Low 4–5 plus High 20–30 min hrs | Prep 12 min

Tortellini makes this meatball soup substantial without an extra pot. Spinach adds green color at the finish.

Add 1½ lb fully cooked refrigerated turkey meatballs, 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 3 cups broth, 1 diced onion and 1 tsp basil to the cooker. Cover on LOW for 4–5 hours until the onion softens and meatballs reheat to 165°F, then switch to HIGH and add 10 oz refrigerated tortellini for 20–30 minutes and 2 cups spinach for the final 5 minutes.

Check the tortellini package because fresh pasta can soften quickly. Do not add it at the beginning or it will become mushy.

5. Moroccan Chicken With Potatoes and Peas

Serves 4 | 6 qt | Low 5–6 hrs | Prep 15 min

Cumin and cinnamon give this chicken-and-potatoes supper a warm savory aroma. Peas add brightness without requiring another pan.

Put 1½ lb diced potatoes and 2 sliced carrots under 1½ lb thawed boneless chicken thighs with 14 oz diced tomatoes, ¾ cup broth, 1 tsp cumin and ¼ tsp cinnamon. Cook on LOW for 5–6 hours until chicken reaches 165°F and potatoes soften, adding 1½ cups frozen peas for the final 15 minutes.

Keep cinnamon measured so the dish remains savory. Serve with the tomato broth spooned over the potatoes.

6. Pork Shoulder With Lentils and Root Vegetables

Serves 4 | 7 qt | Low 8–9 hrs | Prep 20 min

Lentils make a long-cooked pork shoulder dinner filling without a separate starch. Parsnips and carrots give the broth a mellow sweetness.

Layer 1 cup rinsed brown lentils, 2 diced parsnips, 3 sliced carrots and 1 diced onion beneath 2½ lb thawed boneless pork shoulder with 4 cups broth and 1 tsp rosemary. Cover on LOW for 8–9 hours until pork shreds and lentils are fully tender, adding hot water if needed.

Brown lentils hold together better than red ones during a long cook. Shred the pork into the lentils just before serving.

Follow the timing for potatoes, grains and pasta instead of adding everything at once. Keep the pot within its recommended fill level and check poultry for 165°F before serving.

FAQs

Are these complete dinners?

Yes, each has a protein source, vegetables and a filling potato, grain or pasta component cooked in the same cooker.

Should pasta go in at the beginning?

No, add ordinary dry pasta near the end and check it frequently.

Why is brown rice not included in every pot?

Rice cooking times vary considerably across slow cookers, so the recipes use more predictable grains and potatoes.

Can I double these recipes?

Only if the extra food fits within your cooker’s safe fill range.