26 Spring Slow Cooker Recipes to Welcome the Warmer Weather

Slow-Cooked Pork Carnitas

This fresh spring slow cooker recipe is all about flavor. Boneless pork shoulder is rubbed with an eight-spice blend before slow cooking to juicy perfection. Keep the carb count low by enjoying the pork on lettuce rather than tortillas. Serve with fresh lime, cilantro, and the zippy tomato-avocado salsa.

Lemony Mussels With Cherry Tomatoes and Potatoes

Cooking mussels is easy when you use this spring slow cooker recipe. The little mussels get fantastic flavor after cooking with potatoes and cherry tomatoes all day. Finished with butter and lemon, you won't be able to get enough of this springtime meal. Serve with plenty of crusty bread for sopping up the delicious juices.

Slow-Cooked Moroccan Chicken

You're only eight ingredients away from this wow-worthy spring dinner. Juicy chicken thighs get a Moroccan-inspired kick with the help of curry powder and cinnamon. Dried plums (prunes) add sweetness and extra fiber to this spring slow cooker recipe.

Buy It: Crock-Pot 4-Quart Cook & Carry Slow Cooker ($50, Bed Bath & Beyond)

Gluten-Free Pho-Flavor Flank Steak Lettuce Wraps

Takeout, eat your heart out! Pho is a Vietnamese noodle bowl that's super trendy—probably because it's just so delicious. Here we've twisted the trend into slow cooker lettuce wraps filled with a crew of flavorful ingredients: pink radishes, pho-style flank steak, jalapeños, and sriracha.

Rosemary-Parmesan Bread With Garlic Butter

Get ready to utilize your herb garden for this spring slow cooker recipe to serve as a starter or side. Fresh rosemary is the star of this easy-to-make homemade loaf. The bread is baked in your slow cooker, then broiled in the oven for a crisp, golden crust.

Spicy Spring Picnic Pork

It's got spring and picnic in the title so you know this is going to be a winning recipe for the season. The four-ingredient dump dinner recipe utilizes a special secret ingredient (Dr. Pepper soda!) along with spicy barbecue sauce to achieve its signature flavor. Tote the delicious meat to the park and top the sandwiches with lettuce, pickles, and extra sauce.

Veggie Chili Verde With Seitan Crumbles and Lager

There's nothing quite like a bowl of chili on a cool day, but that doesn't mean you can't also enjoy it when the weather warms up. This spring vegetarian slow cooker recipe includes zucchini for a fresh seasonal addition. Seitan (wheat gluten) is the plant-based protein that gives the chili a surprisingly "beefy" texture.

Tinga Poblana

Imagine coming home to a slow cooker full of a meaty, pleasantly seasoned stew featuring savory chorizo, tender shredded pork, and hearty red potatoes. Sound amazing? Believe us—it is! Make every bite even more perfect by topping with creamy avocado and crumbly queso fresco.

Slow Cooker Taco Salad

Salad from a slow cooker? Why yes, absolutely! This delicious taco salad's beefy, spicy topper bubbles to tender perfection on your countertop. Toss it over crunchy greens and add chopped avocado, corn, and tomatoes for a bright springtime finish.

Buy It: Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Oval Manual Portable Slow Cooker ($65, Amazon)

Beef and Broccoli

Hard to believe this saucy, fork-tender beef dish is weeknight easy—but courtesy of your slow cooker, it is! Freshly grated ginger, hoisin sauce, and garlic contribute to the flavorful sauce in this fabulous Asian-inspired dinner just as good as takeout. Serve over rice noodles or hot cooked rice to complete the meal.

Simplified Paella

No need to go to a fancy restaurant or spend hours in the kitchen to enjoy a delicious paella for dinner. Our easy spring slow cooker recipe features a hearty blend of shrimp, sausage, and mussels. Throw in a few spices, white wine, and lemon juice, and you've got an impressive seafood dinner ready with little hands-on time. You can also try making this in your pressure cooker for a speedier dinner.

Buy It: Instant Pot Duo Plus 6 Quart 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker ($80, Amazon)

Italian-Style Slow Cooker Meat Loaf

Sorry, Grandma, there's a new meat loaf recipe we love. Featuring ground lamb, fresh garlic, and peppers, this dish is made easily in your slow cooker. Seasonal zucchini makes a surprise appearance in this springtime slow cooker recipe.

Greek Sloppy Joe Pitas

Feta cheese, lamb, olives, and cucumber transform this lunch favorite into a whole new dish. Slices of flatbread or pita pockets are perfect for holding this Mediterranean sandwich together.

Slow Cooker Corn Chowder

This hearty chowder is perfect for those almost-warm-weather nights. It's warm and filling, but still has fresh spring flavor, thanks to fresh veggies and thyme. If you happen to have fresh corn on the cob, use it here instead of frozen to really amp up the seasonal nature.

Fruited Pork Chops

Fruit pairs super well with pork chops and is going to be especially delicious on your spring dinner menu. Mixed dried fruit enhances the barbecue sauce base of this easy slow cooker recipe. Garnish with fresh thyme for an herbal finish to every bite.

Lentil- and Rice-Stuffed Peppers

Here's a spring slow cooker recipe for your next meatless Monday. Fill bell peppers with a delicious mix of lentils, brown rice, and veggies for a nutritious and easy make-ahead meal. If you prefer more-tender peppers, boil sweet pepper halves about three minutes, until they're crisp-tender, before stuffing.

Greek Chicken With Cucumber Salad

Lemon makes a splash in this bright Greek twist on a healthy spring slow cooker recipe. Featuring cool cucumber, fresh mint, and fat-free Greek yogurt, what's not to love? Top with fresh parsley and some lemon zest for a fancy finish.

Spicy Turkey Lasagna

Yes, you can make lasagna in your slow cooker! Our delicious, lightened-up spring slow cooker recipe features ground turkey for the meaty base. We amp up the spice factor with crushed red pepper flakes. And don't worry, there's still plenty of cheese involved.

Pesto Chicken Sandwiches

Vibrant green pesto celebrates all the herbal flavors that come with spring. Make your own pesto sauce using fresh herbs from the garden or use purchased to get this easy spring slow cooker meal together fast. Enjoy the delicious chicken-and-veggie mixture over thick slices of bread.

Slow Cooker Taco Meat Loaf

Get the best of both worlds by using tasty beef-and-pork meat loaf in your tacos. The loaf is jam-packed with tomatoes, corn, and crushed tortilla chips, making it a delicious taco filling. To make your meat loaf easy to remove, line the slow cooker with foil strips.

Buy It: Hamilton Beach Portable 6-Quart Set & Forget Digital Programmable Slow Cooker With Temperature Probe ($80, Amazon)

Coconut-Chicken Curry Stew

Chicken, sliced onion, and chopped carrots provide the savory curry base for this spicy spring slow cooker recipe. Simply toss the ingredients in your slow cooker and let the flavors meld for one seriously delicious stew. Serve with hot naan bread for dipping.

Balsamic Vinegar and Honey Pulled-Pork Sliders

Slather these sliders with homemade barbecue sauce flavored with honey, and balsamic vinegar. Layer with fresh coleslaw for bright taste in each bite. This spring slow cooker recipe makes enough for 20, so it'll be perfect for the family to enjoying time in the sun.

Mexican Miga Frittata With Chipotle Guacamole

Enjoy breakfast flavors at dinner with this Mexican-inspired frittata recipe made right in your slow cooker. Corn tortillas and eggs are seasoned with chili powder and salsa. Served with our smoky guacamole, it will become a go-to recipe for any meal of the day.

Slow-Cooked Beef Pozole

The longer pozole (a traditional soup popular in Mexican cuisine) cooks, the more delicious it gets. That's why this spring slow cooker recipe is going to be perfect to enjoy after a day outside in the sun. Serve your one-pot meal with queso fresco, cilantro, and lime wedges.

Stuffed Artichokes with Spicy Italian Sausage and Sweet Red Pepper

Artichokes are in-season March through May so it's the perfect time to make this spring slow cooker recipe. Here we stuff the fun green veggies with a spicy sausage mixture. The final result makes an impressive addition to your dinner plate.

Braised Chicken With Fennel and Cannellini Beans

Braising meat doesn't have to be done via stove top or oven. In this high-fiber spring slow cooker meal, chicken, fennel, and bell peppers simmer in a tomato-wine sauce. By cooking with cannellini beans, you'll add a bit of extra protein to your dish.