Slow-Cooker Recipes to Feed a Crowd

Updated: September 28, 2015
Plug in and let Old Faithful help out with feeding a crowd. These recipes are delightfully savory and yield 8 servings or more.
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Savory Goodness

Photo: Iain Bagwell

We unlocked the secrets to succulent meats, tender but toothsome beans, and brilliant, robust flavors. Mission accomplished: These are our best-ever slow cooker recipes.

First, our Classic Slow Cooker Beef Stew will surely delight.

A nutty dark beer adds richness and depth to the stew. Be careful not to choose a beer that's super-hoppy; it will taste too bitter. To get 2 pounds of trimmed meat, you'll probably need to purchase a 2 1/2-pound roast.

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Slow Cooker Turkey Mole

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Shred meat and return to sauce for ease of serving, or place drumsticks on a platter. Serve over rice or with corn tortillas. To prepare the dish stovetop, simmer in a Dutch oven 4 hours or until meat pulls away from the bones.

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Slow Cooker Sausage and Squash Lasagna

Photo: Iain Bagwell
We were surprised and delighted by how well lasagna cooks up in the slow cooker. Be sure to use traditional noodles, and place them in the cooker uncooked. We tried the recipe with specially formulated no-bake noodles, and they didn't work as well.

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Creamy White Bean Soup with Smoked Ham Hocks

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Creamy White Bean Soup with Smoked Ham Hocks

Creamy, starchy, and filling, this hearty, rustic soup is the epitome of comfort. And convenient: Beans go in dry—no need to soak.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Verde

Photo: Iain Bagwell
It's not hard to make your own salsa verde, with fresher flavor and much less sodium than jarred versions: Simply blacken tomatillos, chiles, and onions; then blend.

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Tangy Italian Beef Sandwiches

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Tangy Italian Beef Sandwiches

Here's an example where the slow cooker excels: The beef slowly braises until it prac­tically falls to shreds. We like the mixture on sandwiches, but it's also delicious over a baked potato and topped with sour cream.

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Slow-Cooked Ragù

Photo: Iain Bagwell
This meaty sauce is great ladled over any kind of pasta, and leftovers freeze well.

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Hearty Oats and Grains

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Hearty Oats and Grains

When you have a house full of guests who'd enjoy a wholesome, hearty breakfast at their own pace, the slow cooker can come to your rescue. Get it going first thing, and let folks serve themselves when they're ready to eat.

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Sweet and Tangy Short Ribs

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Sweet and Tangy Short Ribs

This saucy dish is worthy of a dinner party; just serve with a side of brown rice or rice noodles. Cola is the secret ingredient, yielding a luscious sauce with great body.

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Chicken and Chickpea Tagine

Photo: Iain Bagwell
Hearty canned chickpeas hold up beautifully in the slow cooker, where they're combined with fragrant spices and just a little stock. Since the chicken cooks on top of the chickpea mixture and is not submerged in liquid, it can cook longer without suffering texturally.

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Easy Beef Osso Buco

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr
View Recipe: Easy Beef Osso Buco

With just 30 minutes of preparation in the morning, this warm stew cooks in 8 hours while you are at work or running errands throughout the day and is ready to eat when you get home.

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Spicy Chicken Cacciatore

Photo: Randy Mayor
Serve this saucy dish over polenta or pasta. Transform leftovers into soup: Shred the chicken, and place in a pot with sauce. Add unsalted chicken stock, diced zucchini, and diced carrots; simmer until veggies are tender.

 

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Sweet and Tangy Slow Cooker Brisket

Photo: Randy Mayor
This brisket is a slow-cooked combination of vegetables, spices, and divine flat-cut brisket roast that is sure to please the whole family on a chilly night.

 

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