15 Slow-Cooker Recipes To Warm You From The Inside Out

Nothing quite warms the soul like a home-cooked meal. What's even better than that is a home-cooked meal that essentially cooks itself while you are off at work, running errands, or enjoying the crisp fall weather outside. Yes — we are talking about your slow-cooker.  We have 15 slow-cooker recipes that are guaranteed to warm you from the inside out.

This is the easiest beef stew ever because you just toss everything straight into the slow-cooker. You can definitely sauté the garlic and onions beforehand, but they'll flavor the stew regardless. You can also sear the meat before cooking, but that doesn't hold the juice in, as the common cooking myth would have you believe. — Julie Ruggirello

For the Easiest Slow-Cooker Beef Stew recipe, click here.

You may be surprised by a ham recipe for your slow-cooker, but this simple recipe is perfect for  dinner or a holiday party.

For the Slow-Cooker Brown Sugar and Honey Ham recipe, click here.

As the weather cools down, there is nothing like coming home to an apartment filled with the aroma of meat that has been slow-cooking all day. These carnitas made my kitchen smell amazing, and they were delicious and easy to make, too. — Carly Goldsmith

For the Slow-Cooker Carnitas Tacos recipe, click here.

I like to keep the cut of the vegetables large so that they retain some toothsomeness. While not exactly soup, the hot, steaming broth, large cut of tender chicken, aromatic vegetables, and boiled chive dumplings served in a shallow bowl equal a warming, hearty meal. — Valaer Murray

For the Slow-Cooker Chicken and Dumplings recipe, click here.

Fact: Anything with Nutella is awesome. Need I say more? This cake is decadent, delicious, and perfect with vanilla ice cream. Or better yet, with coconut ice cream. That would be awesome. Five stars — double it, if you're having company. — Karen Petersen

For the Slow-Cooker Coconut-Nutella Pudding Cake recipe, click here.

Bring these meatballs to your next fall potluck or serve them on a cold winter night for an easy after-work dinner. 

For the Slow-Cooker Cranberry Citrus Meatballs recipe, click here.

This is adapted from a Bundt cake that my mom makes that I just love. It worked just fine in the slow cooker (6 quarts is ideal) and was gobbled up. If you want to cook it in a Bundt pan, bake at 325 degrees for 1 ½ hours. — Karen Peterson

For the Slow-Cooker Cranberry-Orange Cake recipe, click here.

There is nothing more satisfying than a melt-in-your-mouth sandwich. This shredded beef French dip is savory and succulent after stewing in the slow cooker all day! —Lauren Gordon

For the Slow-Cooker French Dip Sandwich recipe, click here.

There's no question that steel-cut oats are superior in flavor to instant oatmeal, but the extended cooking time, obligatory stirring, and sticky pot to clean can put off even the most loyal oatmeal enthusiast. Using a slow cooker eliminates the stove-top surveillance and mess. Plus, the oatmeal can be kept warm for late risers. — Everything Vegan

For the Slow-Cooker Irish Oatmeal recipe, click here.

This twist on a classic chicken noodle soup uses rice and will warm you right up on a cold fall night.

For the Slow-Cooker Lemon Chicken and Rice Soup recipe, click here.

A basic slow-cooker vegetarian soup recipe made with brown lentils, tomatoes, celery, and onion for comfort food goodness. — Hunt's Tomatoes

For the Slow-Cooker Lentil Soup recipe, click here.

Dinner is ready for cooking in 10 minutes! Enjoy these mouth-watering pork chops with mustard-thyme gravy slow-cooked to perfection. — Pillsbury

For the Slow-Cooker Pork Chops with Mustard Thyme Gravy recipe, click here.

If you like your tortilla soup without crunchy tortilla chips than this is the perfect recipe for you. You have all the delicious flavor of the soup sans tortillas. — Food Fash

For the Slow-Cooker Sort of Tortilla Soup recipe, click here.

We're not monkeying around — you actually make this monkey bread in your slow cooker! — Pillsbury

For the Slow-Cooker Turtle Monkey Bread recipe, click here.

This healthier, chicken version of a classic chili is the perfect comfort food for cold nights.

For the Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili recipe, click here.