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These 11 easy fall slow cooker recipes are inspired by cozy season flavors and made for busy weeknights when you want dinner waiting for you at the end of the day. Bring these out for any occasion, whether you’re feeding a hungry family, hosting friends for game day, or meal prepping for the week ahead. From hearty chilis to pot roast to pulled chicken sandwiches, these recipes will cover you from the first crisp night through the holidays.
’tis the season for fall slow cooker recipes
It is officially slow cooker season, and when they use cozy flavors like apple cider, pumpkin, warming spices, and slow-braised meats, you can count me in for any weeknight or weekend gathering.
This round-up is full of easy, crowd-pleasing fall slow cooker recipes that bring the party to life. We’ve gathered up queso chili, pumpkin turkey chili, garlic rosemary pot roast served over rice, apple cider chicken sliders, creamy white chicken chili, short rib ragu with tomatoes and pasta, pork tacos al pastor, and more. Something warming for every craving.
With 11 recipes to choose from, there’s something for every fall occasion from casual weeknight dinners to game day gatherings to Sunday family meals to any special occasion. Many can be prepped ahead in the morning (just a handful of minutes of prep and simple ingredients!) and ready by dinner, making each one a winner for busy fall schedules.
our favorite fall slow cooker recipes
Slow Cooker Queso Chili
Slow Cooker Queso Chili is creamy, cheesy, and oh-so perfect for dinner tonight. This chili is packed full of yummy Southwest flavors with corn, black beans, peppers, and savory beef in a rich, flavorful sauce.
Spicy BBQ Pulled Chicken Burger
Get ready to spice up your chicken game with our mouthwatering Spicy BBQ Pulled Chicken Burger recipe! Tender pulled chicken is cooked in a fiery barbecue sauce, piled high on a fluffy bun, and topped with crunchy coleslaw. This flavor-packed burger will satisfy your cravings for heat and bold flavors.
Shredded Beef Tacos
These Shredded Beef Tacos are juicy, meaty, and rich in flavor. Served with a thick and savory sauce, you’ll want to use the meat in not only tacos, but also burritos, enchiladas, and more! You can make it in the Instant Pot, crock pot, or on the stovetop, so it’ll become a weekly favorite with the first meaty bite.
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Turkey Chili
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Turkey Chili is THE fall comfort food you need to turn to this season. Full of pumpkin, warming spices, and ground turkey, this is a lightened up chili that you won’t be able to get enough of. It tastes like a bite of fall in every spoonful!
Slow Cooker Garlic Rosemary Pot Roast with Red Wine Sauce
Slow Cooker Garlic Rosemary Pot Roast with Red Wine Sauce is a comforting meal you will keep turning to again and again, throughout the fall and winter seasons. Chuck roast is slow cooked with onion, garlic, rosemary and spices until it is fall-apart-in-your-mouth tender. Top it all off with a rich red wine sauce and serve with rice, pasta, etc.
Slow Cooker Apple Cider Chicken Sliders
Slow Cooker Apple Cider Chicken Sliders are the ultimate fall tailgating slider to be adding to your menu for game day! The chicken gets all juicy and apple-infused while it’s cooked in the slow cooker, making it the ideal pairing for a crunchy, zesty apple cabbage slaw. Game day eats during these first months of fall don’t get much better than this.
Slow Cooker Creamy White Chicken Chili
Slow Cooker Creamy White Chicken Chili is a comforting, flavorful soup that you will want to warm up with every night. The combination of chicken, green chiles, and beans with cream cheese and heavy cream makes for a variety of textures with just the right amount of spice. Plus it’s all made in the slow cooker, so it’s the easiest recipe ever!
Red Wine Slow Cooker beef Ragu
Red Wine Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu is a bowl of comforting, warm and hearty pasta that sets just the right tone for the holiday season. With the weather getting chilly outside, there’s nothing like a rich and meaty meal to bring everyone around the dinner table.
easy Short Rib Ragu
Easy Short Rib Ragu is ready in just one hour and it’s so easy to make! With simple ingredients and tender beef, the rich and flavorful sauce is truly the perfect winter meal. Serve it on pasta, mashed potatoes, gnocchi, and more.
Spicy Taco Chili
This is the best, easy-to-make Spicy Taco Chili, giving you your taco fix in a bowl! Familiar taco seasoning flavors cook with beef and beans, making it a simple meal you will love to serve up all season long. Make it in the slow cooker/crockpot, instant pot, or on the stove!
Mulled Wine Beef Bourguignon
This Instant Pot Mulled Wine Beef Bourguignon is rich, cozy comfort with a holiday twist. It takes everything you love about classic beef bourguignon and layers in warming mulled wine spices, all while cutting the cook time way down thanks to the Instant Pot.
Slow Cooker Tacos Al Pastor
I don’t think I could live without tacos in my life for more than a couple of weeks. Initially my affinity for tacos started as another way to eat guacamole (not that I ever get tired of chips and guacamole). Now it has morphed into a love for all types of tacos, really anything I can
kitchen favorites
For pulling together fall slow cooker recipes, a few key pieces of equipment make everything easier. Here are my go-to tools.
A quality slow cooker is essential for these recipes. Look for a 6-quart programmable model with high, low, and warm settings. The programmable timer is a game changer because it automatically switches to warm when the cook time is up, so dinner isn’t overcooked if you’re running late.
A large cast iron skillet is a must for browning meat before it goes into the slow cooker. Searing adds huge flavor to pot roasts, ragus, and any slow-cooked meat.
A meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of doneness for pot roasts and larger cuts of meat. Look for an instant-read digital thermometer.
Silicone-tipped tongs are essential for handling meat, shredding, and serving from a hot slow cooker without scratching the ceramic insert.
A ladle with a deep bowl makes serving chili, ragu, and soups clean and easy without splashing.
An immersion blender is a game changer for chilis and soups when you want to thicken the base slightly without transferring hot liquid to a regular blender.
just one more thing…
Let’s talk sides! Here are some ideas that go great with the recipes in this round-up:
Cornbread: Warm, buttery cornbread is the perfect side for any of the chilis in this roundup. Or if you want something a little different, try these cornbread fritters.
Crusty Bread or Rolls: Perfect for sopping up sauce from pot roast, ragu, and beef bourguignon. Make homemade no knead overnight bread or cheddar stuffed parker house rolls.
Simple Green Salad: A crisp green salad with a bright vinaigrette adds freshness alongside all the rich, cozy slow-cooked meals.
Roasted Vegetables: Roast up your favorite veggies like peppers, sweet potatoes, broccoli, squash, or green beans. Even sauteed spinach and onions can really round out a dish.
Want something sweet at the end? Check out these easy 3-ingredient dessert recipes.
about meghan
Meghan Yager is the recipe developer, food photographer, and creative force behind Cake ‘n Knife, where everyday moments are celebrated with bold, flavor-forward recipes. From cozy cocktails to bold appetizers and indulgent desserts, her approachable style brings people together around food worth sharing. Meghan’s work has been featured by Good Housekeeping, Oprah Daily, Today, Woman’s Day, and The Huffington Post. She lives in Denver, where she brings big flavor and a little sass to every bite.
