Our Best Winter Slow Cooker Recipes

We're upgrading beef and bean chili in a major way. Swap out ground beef with juicy lamb shoulder and stir in a full pound of sweet potatoes for the heartiest winter meal ever. If this slow cooker chili doesn't keep you warm on cold nights, nothing will.

Sweet and tender squash soaks up the spicy flavor of fire-roasted tomatoes when simmered with chili powder, green chiles, and beef chuck roast. Serve this hearty winter dinner recipe over hot cooked polenta or rice.

Slow cooker chicken is your new dinner savior. Combine the meat with a medley of fresh vegetables and savory white wine sauce in your slow cooker before piling the mixture onto hot cooked pasta.

Even if the weather outside is frightful, this spicy slow cooker curry will heat you right up. These steaming bowls of goodness get their protein from chickpeas, so even the vegetarians in your family can dig in to this dinner.

Homemade pizza doesn't have to be a time-consuming affair—just toss your dough in the slow cooker! You can experiment with different topping combos, but we love the subtle spice of chorizo, black beans, and peppers.

Mac and cheese is nice any time of the year, but coming home to a warm, comforting bowl of gooey noodles and cheese is especially welcome in winter. This dressed-up version is made all in your slow cooker, with the addition of chicken and barbecue sauce to make it extra hearty.

We know French toast usually means breakfast, but this rich treat just screams dessert. Finish off a wintry meal in style with a slice of warm, gooey, eggnog-soaked bread pudding.

Bring your favorite breakfast food to dinner, but instead of serving eggs with a side of bacon, ladle them into a bowl with our zesty cherry tomato marinara. Don't worry, you can still top each dish with crispy bacon or pancetta if bacon and eggs are a must.

Spelt is a variety of wheat that is high in protein. Use it to complement the lean turkey and cannellini beans that fill this satisfying slow cooker meal.

Winter wouldn't be complete without a warm helping of sweet acorn squash. Slow-cook the vegetable with raisins and apple pie spice, then serve with a sticky topping of honey, vanilla, and pecans. It's the perfect side for a winter dinner!

What's better than slow cooker soup recipes? Slow cooker chili recipes, of course! Bittersweet chocolate, a dash of cocoa powder, and chipotle peppers add rich, complex flavor to this south-of-the-border chili. Balance this dish's spice with a dollop of sour cream.

This isn't your usual slow cooker chicken recipe. Now you can serve your family a piping bowl of comfort with classic chicken pot pie straight from your slow cooker. Refrigerated piecrust serves as a crisp and crumbly topper for this easy dish.

For fork-tender meat with full-bodied flavor, simmer lamb with honey, lemon juice, rosemary, and garlic. This all-in-one slow cooker dinner recipe comes complete with a side of Yukon gold potatoes, red onion, and fresh green beans.

Layer upon layer of spiced ground turkey, gooey ricotta cheese, and chunky pasta sauce create this satisfying slow cooker lasagna. Frozen spinach helps keep the signature winter dinner recipe nutritious.

Bold Mexican flavor meets classic cold-weather ingredients in this blend of enchilada-sauced butternut squash and beans. Crumbly corn bread dumplings finish the slow cooker casserole with home-style flair.

This easy slow cooker recipe amplifies the saucy goodness of sloppy joes with a splash of porter beer. Roasted red peppers fill the slow cooker sliders that are perfect for game day or a weeknight dinner with family.

Why blow your daily calorie expenditure on a heavy cream-base soup when you can have our exciting (and healthy!) slow cooker corn chowder? The classic soup recipe features a base of reduced-sodium chicken broth, dry white wine, and milk so you can enjoy this slow cooker meal guilt-free.

Mix up Mom's classic meat loaf recipe with modern Mediterranean ingredients like feta cheese, balsamic vinegar, and Italian-style stewed tomatoes. A mixture of lean ground beef and lamb keeps this easy slow cooker recipe low in calories.

Shepherd's pie is the perfect catchall recipe for those seasonal leftovers. Swap ground beef for lean ground pork, and mix an array of root vegetables—rutabaga, carrots, and parsnips—into the dish's iconic potato mash for a snug slow cooker meal.

Give slow cooker meals a flavorful boost by combining ground chipotle pepper with coffee powder for a unique sweet-and-spicy roast rub. Brussels sprouts and parsnips bring added seasonal flavor to this slow cooker pot roast before settling on a bed of made-from-scratch creamy polenta.

Nothing is more comforting than slow cooker soup recipes, and this seasonal slow-cooked stew is no exception. Dried beans are the secret: By simmering black, pinto, and Great Northern beans separately from the pumpkin-kale base, the fiber-rich ingredients don't become overcooked or mushy.

We love making (and eating) them year-round, but we think slow cooker desserts are extra delicious in winter. Dried pears and pear nectar invoke delicate seasonal flavor in this sticky-sweet caramel cake. A gooey brown sugar syrup tops the moist slow cooker pudding cake.

Just like these sandwiches, our favorite easy slow cooker recipes always make a big batch. Sweet and savory, these full-flavor pork sliders can be made in mass if you have a full house to feed. Coleslaw and pickles give the scrumptious sandwiches a crunchy finish.

Chipotle peppers fire up this spicy sausage-pork taco, while red potatoes tone things down. Wrap in a warm tortilla shell and top with diced creamy avocado for a fiery slow cooker meal that's sure to impress your fiesta guests.

Nothing is more comforting than a slow cooker casserole on a freezing-cold night. Protein-packed tofu and cheesy noodles meet in this easy one-dish meal, and slow-cooked veggies give the family-friendly dinner a healthful spin.

Are you craving slow cooker chicken and slow cooker stew? Have both! Garam masala, a savory blend of spices popular in Indian cuisine, helps intensify this chicken-veggie stew. Add a spoonful of plain fat-free yogurt for a creamier consistency.

Brown sugar and a splash of Worcestershire sauce give this tender beef dish its savory-sweet flavor. Serve atop a layer of classic corn-and-pepper couscous for a Moroccan-inspired slow cooker meal.

Of all our slow cooker ideas, this recipe will definitely help get your family to eat their veggies. Brown sugar and cinnamon add sweetness to the warm glaze, while cumin and ginger give a bit of Asian zing to this slow cooker spiced pork.

Go Greek tonight with our tasty lamb shanks. Sprinkled with tender barley and cooked in a mouthwatering veggie-chicken broth, this winter slow cooker recipe is perfect for large family dinners.

Calling all Italian-food lovers! Eggplant, fresh mushrooms, and spicy sausage star in this saucy slow cooker pasta recipe. A hefty dose of garlic and an assortment of fresh herbs give this easy dish big-time flavor.

Don't leave slow cooker desserts out in the cold! Our fabulous pudding cake bakes beautifully in any slow cooker and gets even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. With simple prep, this cozy, fall-spiced dessert is the perfect end to a chilly day.

Whip together these easy Italian sandwiches on a busy weeknight. Top a slice of ciabatta bread with creamy pesto, slow cooker chicken, and tender zucchini and sweet peppers.

Turn this classic French dish of chicken stewed with wine into a super easy and delicious slow cooker chicken recipe. Serve the cold-weather entree with homemade mashed potatoes and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.