The crisp autumn air and changing leaves mean it’s time for comfort food. Nothing is cozier than coming home to the aroma of a home-cooked meal simmering in a slow cooker. Here are some of the best slow cooker recipes for fall to warm you up on a chilly day.
Beef stew is a classic fall dish. Cubed beef, potatoes, carrots and beef broth are seasoned with thyme and bay leaves. The long, slow cooking results in an incredibly tender and flavorful stew. Serve it with a crusty bread to soak up the rich broth.
For something a little lighter, turkey chili is perfect. Ground turkey, beans, corn and chili spices simmer together for a healthy, protein-packed meal. The chili tastes even better the next day, so make a big batch to enjoy as leftovers.
On a cool evening, there’s nothing quite like the comfort of mac and cheese. Elbow pasta and cheddar cheese are combined with evaporated milk and eggs for an ultra-creamy slow cooker mac and cheese. Stir in ham, broccoli or caramelized onions for extra flavor.
Hearty pot pies are meant for fall. Chicken, veggies and gravy bubble away in the slow cooker until the filling is thick and flavorful. Pour the mixture into pie crusts and bake until the crust is golden brown. Your house will smell amazing!
For dessert, apples, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and brown sugar perfume the house with their cozy aroma as they cook down into homemade applesauce. The slow cooking process intensifies the flavors of the apples. Enjoy the applesauce warm, chilled or topped with whipped cream, caramel or streusel.
Slow cooker pulled pork is fall barbecue at its best. A pork shoulder roast is rubbed with chili and cumin, then cooked in the slow cooker until the meat is so tender it can be pulled apart with two forks. Pile the pulled pork onto buns and top with your favorite barbecue sides like coleslaw, baked beans and cornbread.
Nothing says comfort like soup. Pumpkin soup, made from fresh pumpkin puree, vegetable broth, cream and warm spices is velvety, rich and perfect for a chilly autumn night. For heartier fare, lentil soup with sausage, veggies and broth is protein-packed and satisfying.
Fall foliage means it’s time for maple. Slow cooker maple-glazed carrots are simple yet indulgent. Carrots are cooked in butter and maple syrup until tender and coated in a glossy glaze. The natural sweetness of the carrots pairs perfectly with the maple.
Cranberry sauce isn’t just for Thanksgiving. Make a homemade batch in the slow cooker with fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, orange juice and warm spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves and nutmeg. The sauce is tart, sweet and infused with spice flavor as it simmers. Enjoy it as a condiment for meats like turkey, ham or duck.
Bread pudding is the ultimate in comfort food. Slow cooker bread pudding is made from day-old bread, eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla and spices. As it cooks, the bread absorbs the custard and becomes soft and spoonable. Top it with bourbon sauce, caramel or fresh fruit for an easy autumn dessert.