5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes for Easy Homemade Dinners
There's not a lot to do to make these delicious meals, so they're perfect for busy weeknights.
Not sure what to serve for dinner tonight? With these easy 5-ingredient slow cooker recipes, you're only a handful of items away from a delicious, hearty dinner. Ideas include pot roast, penne, ribs, and wraps. These meals are the ultimate weeknight wins.
Related: The 10 Best Slow Cookers For One-Pot Meals, Soups, and Casseroles
Bean-and-Rice-Stuffed Peppers
Number of Ingredients: Five
So hearty and no meat. Fill peppers with chili beans, rice, cheese, and tomato sauce, then set your slow cooker for six hours. Voilà! All that's left for this easy slow cooker meal is to work up an appetite for the delicious 300-calorie recipe.
Related: Satisfying Stuffed Pepper Recipes
Spicy Spring Picnic Pork
Number of Ingredients: Five
A can of soda (yes, really!) is the secret addition to this 5-ingredient slow cooker recipe. Its sweetness is a nice counterpoint to the hot and spicy barbecue sauce. Combine them with savory shoulder roast and caramelized onions, and you can enjoy a picnic-perfect meal any day of the year.
Sausage and Bean Jambalaya
Number of Ingredients: Five
Here's a 5-ingredient slow cooker recipe that's as good straight from the pot as it is reheated the next day. The spice is right, thanks to fire-roasted tomatoes, sweet peppers, and smoky kielbasa. This jambalaya needs just four hours on low before the quintessential flavors of New Orleans will be yours to devour.
Related: Must-Try Mardi Gras Recipes
Five-Spice Chicken Wings
Number of Ingredients: Four
Don't just wing it and fall back on purchased fried chicken wings. It sounds surprising, but the plum sauce on these DIY juicy wings imparts a sweetness that contrasts nicely with the five-spice powder you stir in. This easy slow cooker recipe (actually only four ingredients!) is a winner on game day or every day.
Related: 13 Easy Hot Dip Recipes That Belong on Your Game-Day Menu
Beef and Carrot Ragu
Number of Ingredients: Five
Basil and roma tomatoes are the secrets to the fresh Italian flavor in this 5-ingredient slow cooker recipe. But the real stars of this easy meal are the short ribs that become extra tender as everything simmers together. The recipe tastes remarkably complex if you add the optional splash of red wine to the blend, too.
Sesame-Ginger Turkey Wraps
Number of Ingredients: Five
Why decide between Asian takeout and a classic American entrée when you can have both in a single dish? These healthy 200-calorie wrap sandwiches don't require a lot of prep, thanks to shortcut ingredients like purchased shredded veggies. The sesame-ginger sauce lends bold flavor to the turkey, and green onions add a bit of fresh onion flavor.
Related: How to Shred Any Vegetable In Your Kitchen
Cowboy Beef
Number of Ingredients: Five
Chipotle peppers and chili beans give this 5-ingredient slow cooker recipe an irresistible Old West makeover, while canned vegetables cut down on prep time. You'd never guess that this satisfying recipe is also healthy, coming in at less than 400 calories per serving.
Related: 17 Classic Beef Dishes Every Home Cook Should Know How to Make
Mexican Meatball Stew
Number of Ingredients: Five
Next time you're in the mood for south-of-the-border fare, think beyond enchiladas and quesadillas. With veggies, black beans, and lean turkey meatballs, this 5-ingredient slow cooker recipe proves easy dinners don't have to be bland or boring. Finish the stew on a fresh note with a sprig of fresh oregano.
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Number of Ingredients: Five
Make this Irish classic for St. Patrick's Day or anytime you're in the mood for the irresistible combo of corned beef and cabbage. Carrots, onions, and potatoes round out the stick-to-your-ribs line-up. This easy 5-ingredient slow cooker recipe simmers to tender perfection in five hours on high or 10 hours on low (so you can start it before you head to work).
Tangy Molasses Barbecue Ribs
Number of Ingredients: Five
Yes, you can dig into a saucy rack of ribs on a weeknight! This 5-ingredient slow cooker recipe calls for 15 minutes of prep time before your workday; it cooks for up to 10 hours while you go about your business. When it's time to roll up your sleeves and devour, broil for three minutes to get that just-like-slow-smoked-ribs texture.
Related: 10 Mouthwatering Slow Cooker Ribs Recipes
Turkey Shepherd's Pie
Number of Ingredients: Five
Traditionally made with lamb, shepherd's pie is also delicious when slow-cooked with turkey and frozen vegetables. Start with store-bought refrigerated mashed potatoes and frozen mixed vegetables. That way, the easy 5-ingredient slow cooker recipe is, well, easy as pie.
Related: Savory Pies Totally Appropriate to Eat for Dinner
Cajun-Seasoned Vegetarian Gumbo
Number of Ingredients: Five
Vegetarian recipes aren't boring! Case in point: With just a few ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time, you can stir up a batch of this bold, Southern-inspired gumbo. The Cajun vegetarian dish is especially delicious (and filling) when served over hot rice.
Easy Shredded Pork Tacos
Number of Ingredients: Four
Skip the purchased seasoning mix and simmer your way to irresistibly tender pork tacos with this slow cooker recipe with only four ingredients. Chicken broth and enchilada sauce add bold Mexican-inspired flavor to each bite. Not so fond of pork? Try the same sauce fixings with chicken thighs or breasts.
In-Your-Sleep Chili
Number of Ingredients: Five
This ground beef chili is a breeze to prepare—just brown beef, mix it with veggies, then add it to your slow cooker for a filling meal ready when you get home. If you have a little ingredient wiggle room in your menu, pair the dish with a side of buttery cornbread.
Pot Roast with Fruit and Chipotle Sauce
Number of Ingredients: Five
This is no ordinary pot roast recipe. Dried fruit and chipotle peppers give this fork-tender meal an appetizing sweet-spicy punch. After just one bite of the 5-ingredient slow cooker pot roast, it will be one of your go-to simple slow cooker meals.
Simple Peachy Barbecue Chicken
Number of Ingredients: Four
Think bold, saucy barbecue from your slow cooker is too good to be true? It's real, and the finished product of this 4-ingredient slow cooker recipe is irresistible proof. The barbecue sauce and apricot preserves infuse the chicken with smoky sweetness, and a dash of yellow mustard adds a hint of spice.
Related: Our Best Barbecue Chicken Recipes
Nacho Cheese Chicken Chowder
Number of Ingredients: Five
Craving comfort food? Cozy flavors and a thick texture make this cheesy chowder a good choice any night of the week. This easy 5-ingredient slow cooker recipe is like queso with a protein boost to keep you satisfied all night.
Taco Chili
Number of Ingredients: Five
Taco night, done light…on ingredients and prep time, that is. You'll adore this taco-inspired recipe because it only takes 20 minutes to prep. Your kids will eat it up because it's like having a bowlful of taco filling (optional sour cream and cheese toppers work in more of the kid-favorite ingredients).
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