Our Best Slow Cooker Recipes and Tips on How to Use Yours

Serve this shredded chicken over nacho chips and rice, layer it on homemade pizza, or use it as a filling in a DIY bar. The leftovers freeze well so feel free to double the recipe, if desired.

When cooking chicken, use thighs in place of breasts whenever possible. There is a little extra fat in the thighs, which will help to keep the meat from drying out. Beef is more forgiving as it naturally contains more fat. Inexpensive, tougher cuts do well in a slow cooker so choose stewing beef over sirloin if possible.

A classic meal done simply, this pot roast is perfect for Sunday dinner...or Tuesday dinner...or Friday dinner.

Add tender veggies (mushrooms, peas, etc.) during the last hour of cooking to avoid having them turn to mush.

This quick cooking, protein-packed stew is nourishing and warming for the coming cool months. Serve with thick slices of crusty bread and a simple side salad for a vegetarian meal the whole family is sure to enjoy.

A general rule of thumb is that ‘low heat' is equivalent to 200°F and ‘high heat' is equivalent to 300°F. Food cooked on low heat takes twice as long as food that is cooked on high heat.

Browning the meat adds flavour to the final dish but it isn't a necessary step in this recipe. So simple, yet impressive, it's perfect for fall entertaining.

Place longer cooking ingredients (like meats and root vegetables) at the bottom of the slow cooker, and quicker cooking ingredients (like celery and broccoli) on the top where the heat is less direct.

These seasonal meatballs are sure to be a hit with your family (they're especially great for toddlers) and can be served on their own, over a bed of brown rice, or in a whole grain bun for a healthy update on the traditional sub-shop sandwich.

Nothing says fall quite like this pumpkin-infused chili served in a crusty bread bowl.

If you are consistently cooking your foods for shorter or longer times than the recipe specifies, adjust the timing based on your cooker. All slow cookers are made differently so be sure to familiarize yourself with the one you own.

Perfect for weekends, this dish combines two fall favourites—mac n' cheese and chili—into a comforting one-pot meal the whole family will love.

Impress your guests with this restaurant-style ragu that's hands-off and fuss-free. Good to Know: The pork ragu can be made up to two days in advance—perfect for a quick weekday dinner.

Browning meat and sauteing vegetables will add flavour to the final dish and is worth the additional prep time. Meat dredged in flour before browning will yield a thicker sauce in a slow cooker.

A classic for any season, these pulled pork sandwiches are a snap to put together thanks to the slowly simmered meat.

Wrap a few potatoes in foil and pop them in the slow cooker while you tend to other things. The result is perfectly baked potatoes that can be topped with an assortment of steamed veggies, cheeses, salsa or sour cream.

Liquids will not evaporate with this method of cooking. If using a standard recipe, reduce liquids by 20–25% if attempting to make the recipe in a slow cooker. To help reduce excess liquid, remove the lid for the last 30–60 minutes of cooking time, if desired.

Certain to become a family favourite, these tostadas are a fancied up version of tacos with less work thanks to the slow cooker. If you have vegetarians in the group, swap the pulled pork with pinto beans as the main protein.