26 (Really Good) Fall Recipes To Kick Off Slow Cooker Season

    Crock Pot season is finally upon us.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    If summer is all about pool-side meals and picnics, fall is Crock Pot season. We've been waiting all year to fire up some easy slow cooker recipes — and the time is finally here. Here's what to make this fall. 🍁

    1. Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

    Carlsbad Cravings / Via carlsbadcravings.com

    These fall-off-the-bone barbecue ribs are perfect for those mild, early fall days where you're still holding on to cook-out season. These tender ribs are made in the slow cooker instead of the grill to make things easy on yourself.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

    2. Slow Cooker Eggplant Lasagna

    Eating European / Via eatingeuropean.com

    This veggie-packed lasagna is a little bit lighter than the classic version, but it's still just as comforting. You'll want to use no-boil lasagna noodles that cook right in your slow cooker.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Eggplant Lasagna

    3. Slow Cooker Creamy Broccoli Mac 'n' Cheese

    Two bowls of mac 'n' cheese with tiny pieces of broccoli mixed in.
    Eat Good 4 Life / Via eatgood4life.com

    You've been waiting months for mac 'n' cheese weather, so why deny yourself this simple pleasure? Whip it up in the slow cooker with some broccoli florets.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamy Broccoli Mac 'n' Cheese

    4. Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

    Fit Foodie Finds / Via fitfoodiefinds.com

    Here's the game plan: Make a big batch of this comforting chicken noodle soup and store it in the freezer for future fall meals when you're feeling lazy and in need of some feel-good food.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

    5. Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef

    Number 2 Pencil / Via number-2-pencil.com

    The best thing about barbacoa beef is that you don't have to splurge on a fancy cut of meat. Boneless chuck roast cooks for hours until it's incredibly tender. Serve it in tortillas with your favorite taco toppings.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef

    6. Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Chowder

    Le Creme de la Crumb / Via lecremedelacrumb.com

    Easy and affordable, this chowder requires only a handful of basic ingredients like canned cream-style corn, small potatoes, chicken breasts, and chicken broth.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Chowder

    7. Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Pasta

    Slow Cooker Gourmet / Via slowcookergourmet.net

    The ultimate family-friendly recipe, everyone will go back for seconds of this seriously indulgent pasta.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Pasta

    8. Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

    The Recipe Rebel / Via thereciperebel.com

    Pro tip: Use a slow cooker liner to make clean-up a breeze. Serve these Swedish meatballs in gravy over egg noodles or creamy mashed potaotes.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

    9. Slow Cooker Vegetarian Tikka Masala

    Dishing Out Health / Via dishingouthealth.com

    Let's be honest, the best thing about this Indian-inspired dish is the rich and creamy masala sauce. This version is totally meatless, made with cauliflower florets, diced carrots, potatoes, and peas. Make sure to serve it with fluffy naan bread for dunking.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Vegetarian Tikka Masala

    10. Slow Cooker Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    The Diary of a Real Housewife / Via thediaryofarealhousewife.com

    Slow cooked in a mixture of garlic, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, chicken broth, and cashews, this shredded chicken is completely irresistible. Serve it in lettuce wraps, with noodles, or over a bed of rice.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    11. Slow Cooker Chicken and Chickpea Tagine

    Cooking Classy / Via cookingclassy.com

    This Moroccan-inspired recipe is loaded with spices like cayenne, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, and ginger, and it tastes amazing over basmati rice or couscous.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken and Chickpea Tagine

    12. Greek Beef Gyro Bowls

    Climbing Grier Mountain / Via climbinggriermountain.com

    These Greek-inspired bowls are so satisfying yet still light and refreshing, loaded with veggies and topped with tangy tzatziki sauce. The gyro is made from chuck roast that gets slow cooked with onions, oregano, beef stock, and garlic until it can be easily cut into thin slices.

    Recipe: Greek Beef Gyro Bowls

    13. Slow Cooker Banh Mi Rice Bowls

    A rice bowl topped with pork, thinly sliced radishes and carrots, cucumbers, jalapeño, and cilantro.
    How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com

    The pork for these Vietnamese-inspired bowls cooks for about six hours with soy sauce, brown sugar, jalapeño, and garlic until it's tender and super flavorful. Then, serve it over rice with your favorite veggie toppings.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Banh Mi Rice Bowls

    14. Slow Cooker Jambalaya

    The Recipe Critic / Via therecipecritic.com

    Andouille sausage and chicken breast slow cook in a mixture of diced tomato, chicken broth, and lots of spices. Add the shrimp and cook for a final 15 minutes before serving over rice.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Jambalaya

    The Food Charlatan / Via thefoodcharlatan.com

    A real dump dinner, the only work required is browning the sausage and chopping the veggies. Then toss everything into the slow cooker

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup With Sausage and Pesto

    Well Plated / Via wellplated.com

    Forget about all that stovetop stirring. Making risotto from scratch has never been easier, thanks to your Crock Pot. Sautéd shallots, squash, broth, and rice get cooked until thick and creamy.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Risotto With Butternut Squash

    17. Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

    A bowl of white rice topped with Mongolian chicken with shredded carrots and chopped scallions.
    The Recipe Critic / Via therecipecritic.com

    There's nothing fancy about this recipe. In fact, it calls for simple ingredients, many of which you probably already have on hand: meat, cornstarch, carrots, scallions, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and olive oil. Dump everything in the slow cooker and leave it alone for two hours. Serve over a big bowl of rice.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

    18. Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

    House of Nash Eats / Via houseofnasheats.com, House Of Nash Eats / Via houseofnasheats.com

    Make this decadent side dish now and throughout the whole season. The recipe calls for frozen corn, but you can use fresh while it's still in season. Don't forget the bacon!

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

    19. Slow Cooker Quinoa Enchilada Casserole

    Jessica In The Kitchen / Via jessicainthekitchen.com

    This meatless recipe is made with quinoa at the base, loaded with all your favorite Mexican flavors. If you eat dairy, swap the vegan mozzarella in the ingredient list for shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack. Top your bowl with a dollop of sour cream, a scoop of guacamole, and some cilantro.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Quinoa Enchilada Casserole

    20. Slow Cooker Three-Bean Chili

    Aberdeen's Kitchen / Via aberdeenskitchen.com

    Loaded with black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, corn, and diced tomatoes, this meatless recipe is still delightfully filling. Serve it with sour cream and shredded cheese on top.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Three-Bean Chili

    21. Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie

    Pip and Ebby / Via pipandebby.com

    When it comes to feel good food, chicken pot pie just might be king. This version couldn't be easier to make: Just place chicken breasts, veggies, herbs, chicken stock, and cream of chicken soup in the slow cooker. When you're about ready to eat, pop the pre-made biscuit dough in the oven.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie

    22. Slow Cooker Lentil Bolognese

    A plate of pasta with lentil Bolognese sauce and shredded Parmesan cheese.
    Pantifully Based Blog / Via plantifullybasedblog.com

    Whether you're trying to cut back on meat or you're just trying to add some diversity to your dinner rotation, this lentil Bolognese is a must-try. Tossed with pasta, it's chewy and savory just like your classic beef Bolognese.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Lentil Bolognese

    23. Slow Cooker Pork Lo Mein

    Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net

    Besides cooking the pasta on the stove-top, all the work for this recipe is done in the slow cooker, starting making the pork shoulder and ending with cooking the veggies in a medley of soy sauce, brown sugar, sambal oelek, oyster sauce, and sesame oil.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Lo Mein

    24. Slow Cooker Cinnamon Rolls

    Sally's Baking Addiction / Via sallysbakingaddiction.com

    Make 'em for breakfast, eat 'em again for dessert, and repeat the following day.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Cinnamon Rolls

    25. Slow Cooker Berry Cobbler

    The Recipe Rebel / Via thereciperebel.com

    Before you delve into apple and pumpkin dessert season, take advantage of berries, which are still in season through September.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Berry Cobbler

    26. Easiest Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

    Apple crumble on a plate with vanilla ice cream on the side.
    Wonder Mom Wannabe / Via wondermomwannabe.com

    Five ingredients are all you need for this seasonal dessert: Apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, yellow cake mix, and butter.

    Recipe: Easiest Slow Cooker Apple Crisp