14 Slow Cooker Recipes That Aren’t Soup or Stew

Simple dishes you can set and forget.

There came a point in parenthood when I had to face the facts: My kids do not like soup. Now, that doesn’t mean I never serve it, but I do temper my expectations of how it will be received. My high schooler is especially soup-adverse, and being that he is also the hungriest, I’m putting my love of soup on the back burner and choosing to make other types of warming dishes.

For that, I use my slow cooker. I leisurely prepare the ingredients mid-morning and have it slow cooking before lunch. There’s something so wonderful about walking in the door to a cozy, flavorful dinner as well as a clean kitchen.

Give yourself the gift of a warm meal and let the slow cooker do the work. Below are hearty, warming dinners that aren’t soup or stew.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

You’ll be dreaming about these thick egg noodles swimming in a hearty, beef and mushroom sauce after the first bite. Serve with a crunchy salad.

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Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Chicken Wings

Sticky sweet and spicy buffalo wings are juicier and easier to make in a slow cooker. If you want crispy wings put them under the broiler for a couple minutes.

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Slow Cooker Cider Pulled Pork

The slow cooker keeps pork shoulder from drying out and the BBQ sauce is made using the braising liquid. Flavorful and efficient.

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Slow Cooker Cajun-Spiced Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers get a spicy upgrade in this easy slow cooker recipe. The filling isn't precooked before stuffing in the peppers, which saves you time.

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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork With 5-Spice

Chinese 5-Spice powder, ginger, honey, and soy sauce imparts pork shoulder with an earthly, irresistible flavor. Serve the shredded pork over rice, in a Hawaiian roll, or my personal favorite, tucked in bao.

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Slow Cooker Honey Chipotle Chicken Tacos

You’ll always keep a can of chipotle peppers in the pantry after making this flavorful taco filling. Serve with a classic margarita.

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Slow Cooker Bourbon Short Ribs with Cheesy Grits

Beef short ribs need time to tenderize, making them an excellent choice for cooking in a slow cooker. You can use boneless short ribs or country ribs if bone-in short ribs aren’t available.

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Cheesy Slow Cooker Sausage Balls

These cheesy marinara-coated sausage meatballs are the easiest meatballs I’ve ever made. It helps to have a bowl of water nearby to keep your hands damp while rolling the sticky mixture.

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Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

I make this shredded taco meat often and am never disappointed. If I'm out of canned pineapple, I use orange juice.

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Slow Cooker Chickpea Curry with Sweet Potatoes and Red Peppers

I’m swooning over this easy, vegan curry. You can substitute three cans of chickpeas in place of dried ones and reduce the cooking time by an hour.

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Slow Cooker Pork Loin with Balsamic Honey Glaze

A "quick" slow cooker recipe comes in handy when you don’t have time in the morning. This takes about two hours and is finished with a balsamic glaze for extra flavor.

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Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Casserole

I never tire of chicken and rice. This is a great recipe for a multi-cooker that can sauté and slow cook all in one machine.

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Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

Here’s a family-favorite vegetarian slow cooker meal that’s so creamy you won’t want to go back to the stovetop version. Serve with steamed broccoli.

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Slow Cooker Chicken With Moroccan Spices

It's rare to find a recipe that works for both a busy weeknight and to serve for a special occasion. This one does both. Boneless chicken thighs are coated in warming spices and brightened with green olives and raisins.

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Read the original article on Simply Recipes.