21 Slow Cooker Sunday Dinners

Slow cooker Sunday dinners go in the pot in the morning and are ready by dinner with almost no attention, which makes them the easiest way to get a real meal on the table on a busy weekend.

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These are the slow cooker dinners from my kitchen, sorted by type. Most take fifteen minutes to load up and then run for six to eight hours while you do literally anything else.

Start it before you leave for errands and come home to dinner already done.

Slow Cooker Meat Mains

Set it in the morning, shred or slice it by dinner.

Slow Cooker Soups and Stews

A full dinner in one pot with almost no cleanup after.

Slow Cooker Sides and Extras

Free up the stovetop and oven for the main dish.

Tips for Better Slow Cooker Dinners

• Brown meat before it goes in the slow cooker when you have the time – it builds a layer of flavor a low, wet cook cannot create on its own.
• Do not lift the lid while it cooks – every peek lets out heat and can add twenty minutes to the total cook time.
• Trim excess fat off roasts and thighs first – fat does not render off in a slow cooker the way it does in a hot pan, so it stays greasy.
• Add dairy and delicate vegetables near the end – cream, cheese and quick cooking vegetables can break down or turn mushy over a full day of cooking.
• Thicken sauces at the very end – stir in a cornstarch slurry for the last fifteen minutes rather than at the start, since it can break down over long cooking.

Slow Cooker Dinner Questions

Can I put frozen meat straight into the slow cooker?

It is safer not to. Frozen meat spends too long at unsafe temperatures before the slow cooker heats through. Thaw meat in the fridge first, or use the sear and slow cook method on a stovetop safe insert.

Low or high setting, which should I use?

Low for six to eight hours gives the most tender result for tougher cuts like roasts and stew meat. High for three to four hours works for soups, chili and anything you started later in the day.

Why is my slow cooker dinner watery?

Meat and vegetables release liquid as they cook and there is nowhere for it to evaporate under a sealed lid. Use less added liquid than a stovetop version of the same recipe, or thicken it at the end.

Load one up Sunday morning before you start the rest of your day, and let it do the work while you get everything else done.

My Favorite Slow Cookers

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