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Let’s be honest. Even if you are living a simple life, you don’t always want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, right? Luckily there are some handy small appliances that can make it easy to make simple, delicious, healthy meals. One of my favorite tools is the slow cooker. The slow cooker has been replaced in popularity by the pressure cooker and air fryer. But this gem of a small appliance is still one of the best you can own for making simple dinners. And there are plenty of simple slow cooker recipes that can help make dinner easy!
I LOVE slow cooker recipes that allow you to throw in the ingredients, turn on the slow cooker and let it cook all day. They make the house smell amazing! And meat cooked in a slow cooker is so tender and juicy! So all of these recipes have prep times that should take you less than 15 minutes, giving you back some of your time to focus on other things!
I personally own two slow cookers. Because I’m single I find that I often cook in smaller batches and so I have a two-quart slow cooker that I use most of the time. I believe that it’s important to eat healthy made from scratch meals, even though I’m just cooking for myself. Of course, there are times when I do have to make larger recipes, usually for parties, and then I use a six-quart slow cooker.
Many of these are also gluten or grain free, for those who have dietary restrictions. Some have been designed for 2 people for those who are single or are cooking for two.
Quick prep slow cooker recipes
Grandma’s Homemade Chop Suey
This recipe was actually passed down from my maternal grandmother who used to cook it regularly in very large batches. I created a smaller batch recipe that is more accessible for most families, but still delicious! This recipe serves four people.
Beef Stroganoff Soup
This soup is simple but so tasty! And it is a perfect warming meal for cooler fall, winter, and spring dinners! This recipe serves four people.
Whole Chicken
I adore this recipe! I love to make whole chicken and use it for a few different meals. When I fix this simple recipe I typically fix a side dish to go with this the first night, and often will use the rest for homemade chicken salad or to fix the Southwestern Chicken Corn Chowder below. You can use this recipe for one meal for the whole family or use it for multiple meals when cooking for fewer people.
Southwestern Chicken Corn Chowder
This is the most popular soup recipe on my site and for good reason! It has such amazing flavor, but can easily be adapted for those who need a grain or dairy-free recipe. It is naturally gluten-free. And it was created to serve two people.
Sausage Gumbo
This is a classic, hearty gumbo that can be made with a little added heat, or kept mild for sensitive tongues. This recipe is naturally gluten-free and serves four people.
Chicken Parmesan
This is seriously one of the most simple recipes ever! It only uses three ingredients and will take you about 2 minutes to prepare. This is perfect for those days when you really don’t have a ton of prep time. Fix some pasta once it’s done and whip up a side salad and you have a healthy, filling, yummy meal! Although I created this recipe for one person, you can easily modify it for however many you need to feed.
Beef Stew
I love this basic stew recipe, especially when it’s cold outside. Make a batch of homemade muffins to go with it and enjoy! This recipe takes 10-15 minutes to prepare because of the vegetables that need to be cut. It serves four people.
Chicken Rice Soup
This is another classic soup recipe. I love to make this soup when I’m feeling a bit under the weather. I always use bone broth with this recipe which is healing for the tummy. This recipe serves 4 people.
Smoked Sausage and Potato Soup
I particularly love this soup when I’m not really in the mood for chicken or beef. This one takes 10-15 minutes to prepare because there are lots of great vegetables. It is both gluten and grain-free. This recipe has four servings.
Creamy Italian Chicken
This recipe has great Italian flavor with only 10 minutes for prep. This recipe has been created for two people.
