Top 20 Warm & Easy Weeknight Crockpot Meals for Sweater Weather Leave a comment

Fast, fuss-free recipes even picky kids will actually eat!

Hey busy mamas! 🍁 Fall is finally here—crisp mornings, cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice everything—and if your afternoons look anything like mine (hello school pickups, homework, dance class, and soccer practice!), then you know dinner can feel impossible.

But here’s my little secret to surviving chilly weeknights: my trusty crockpot! 🙌
Today I’m sharing 20 of my family’s favorite warm, hearty, ridiculously easy slow cooker meals that even my pickiest kiddo asks for again. Plus, I’m sprinkling in my top Amazon finds that make fall meal prep even quicker and way more fun. (Affiliate disclosure: I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you shop using my links — thank you for supporting our cozy little blog!)

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🍲 Top 20 Warm & Easy Weeknight Crockpot Meals

1. Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup – Like a warm hug after a cold day.
2. Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs – Sweet, sticky, and always kid-approved.
3. Slow Cooker Beef Stew – Tender beef + chunky veggies.
4. Pulled BBQ Chicken Sliders – Great for game nights!
5. Crockpot Chili – Mild enough for kids, with cheese on top.
6. Tuscan White Bean & Sausage Soup – Hearty, filling, freezer-friendly.
7. Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese – Creamy comfort in a bowl.
8. Teriyaki Chicken & Veggies – A takeout fake-out favorite.
9. Chicken Taco Soup – Top with crushed tortilla chips & avocado.
10. Pot Roast with Baby Potatoes & Carrots – Classic Sunday dinner, made on Tuesday.
11. Buffalo Chicken Dip – A must for movie night!
12. Sweet & Sour Meatballs – Serve over rice, noodles, or toothpicks.
13. Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers – Cheesy and filling.
14. Cheesy Broccoli & Rice Casserole – Veggie sneaky trick.
15. Lemon Garlic Chicken – Light, fresh, and still cozy.
16. Crockpot Lasagna – Layered, cheesy, effortless.
17. Maple Dijon Pork Tenderloin – Fancy-ish, but so easy.
18. Chicken & Dumplings – Pillowy biscuit dumplings, yes please!
19. Vegetable Minestrone Soup – Use up fall veggies.
20. Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal – For those chilly mornings.

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🍁 Amazon Favorites That Make Crockpot Cooking Even Easier

✨ 1. Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker
I picked this because it automatically switches to warm after cooking—no overcooked meals even when you’re running late. The locking lid makes it great for potlucks too!

✨ 2. McCormick Slow Cooker Seasoning Variety Pack
Total mom hack: dump in your protein + veggies + packet → done. The Chili, Beef Stew, and Pot Roast flavors taste homemade.

✨ 3. Glass Meal Prep Containers (BPA-Free, Oven Safe)
Perfect for portioning leftovers into lunches. I love that they don’t stain (looking at you, tomato sauce!).

✨ 4. Compact Electric Can Opener
One-handed magic on those busy mornings when you’re juggling a toddler on your hip.

✨ 5. Reusable Slow Cooker Liners (Silicone, Dishwasher Safe)
No more scrubbing baked-on sauce at 9 PM. Total game changer.

✨ 6. Spice Set with Cute Fall Labels
Keeps my pantry looking Instagram-worthy and makes it easier to grab what I need mid-recipe.

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Fast, fuss-free recipes even picky kids love!

Hey busy mamas! Fall is finally here—sweaters, falling leaves, and cozy food that makes your whole house smell amazing. 🍁✨
If your afternoons look anything like mine (school pickup, soccer practice, and homework meltdowns), you know the dinner struggle is real.

That’s why I’m sharing my 20 go-to warm, easy weeknight crockpot meals — each one kid-tested and approved. Plus, my favorite Amazon slow cooker tools that make life so much easier. (Affiliate disclosure: I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you shop using these links — thank you!)

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🍲 1. Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 1 cup uncooked wild rice blend
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• Salt, pepper

Recipe:
Add chicken, rice, veggies, and broth to crockpot. Cook on low 6–7 hours. Stir in cream before serving.

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🍯 2. Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp dried basil

Recipe:
Combine sauce ingredients; pour over chicken in crockpot. Cook low 6 hours. Serve with rice.

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🥕 3. Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef stew meat
• 4 cups beef broth
• 3 large carrots, sliced
• 4 potatoes, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp thyme, salt & pepper

Recipe:
Add all ingredients to crockpot. Cook low 8 hours until beef is tender.

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🍗 4. Pulled BBQ Chicken Sliders

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• Slider buns

Recipe:
Cook chicken & sauce in crockpot on low 6–7 hours. Shred, toss back in sauce, serve on buns.

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🌶️ 5. Crockpot Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef, browned
• 1 can kidney beans, drained
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 packet chili seasoning

Recipe:
Add all to crockpot. Cook low 6–8 hours. Top with cheese or sour cream.

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🥣 6. Tuscan White Bean & Sausage Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Italian sausage, browned
• 2 cans white beans, drained
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups kale or spinach
• 1 can diced tomatoes

Recipe:
Add all but greens; cook low 6 hours. Add greens before serving.

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🧀 7. Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

• 16 oz elbow pasta (uncooked)
• 4 cups shredded cheddar
• 2 cups milk
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 4 tbsp butter

Recipe:
Add all to crockpot. Cook low 2–3 hours, stir halfway.

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🍍 8. Teriyaki Chicken & Veggies

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 2 cups frozen stir fry veggies
• 3/4 cup teriyaki sauce

Recipe:
Cook chicken & sauce on low 6 hours. Shred, add veggies, cook 30 more minutes.

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🥑 9. Chicken Taco Soup

Ingredients:

• 3 chicken breasts
• 1 can corn
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 4 cups chicken broth

Recipe:
Add all to crockpot. Cook low 6–7 hours. Shred chicken before serving.

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🥕 10. Pot Roast with Baby Potatoes & Carrots

Ingredients:

• 3–4 lb chuck roast
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 lb baby potatoes
• 1 lb carrots, cut
• 1 packet onion soup mix

Recipe:
Add all to crockpot. Cook low 8–9 hours.

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🧡 11. Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shredded chicken
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/2 cup ranch

Recipe:
Mix all; cook on low 2–3 hours, stir. Serve with chips.

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🍡 12. Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Ingredients:

• 1 bag frozen meatballs
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 3/4 cup sweet & sour sauce

Recipe:
Add all to crockpot. Cook low 4–5 hours.

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🌶️ 13. Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients:

• 4–5 bell peppers, tops cut
• 1 lb ground beef, browned
• 1 cup rice, cooked
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 cup shredded cheese

Recipe:
Mix beef, rice, sauce. Stuff peppers. Cook low 6 hours.

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🥦 14. Cheesy Broccoli & Rice Casserole

Ingredients:

• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 cups cooked rice
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup milk

Recipe:
Mix all; cook low 3–4 hours.

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🍋 15. Lemon Garlic Chicken

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• Juice of 2 lemons
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup olive oil

Recipe:
Add all to crockpot. Cook low 6 hours.

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🍝 16. Crockpot Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 9 lasagna noodles, uncooked
• 1 lb ground beef, browned
• 3 cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups ricotta
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella

Recipe:
Layer sauce, noodles, cheese. Repeat. Cook low 4–6 hours.

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🍁 17. Maple Dijon Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients:

• 2 pork tenderloins
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• Salt, pepper

Recipe:
Mix sauce; pour over pork. Cook low 6–7 hours.

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🍞 18. Chicken & Dumplings

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup frozen peas & carrots
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can refrigerated biscuits, cut

Recipe:
Cook chicken, broth, soup on low 6 hours. Add biscuits 30 min before serving.

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🥕 19. Vegetable Minestrone Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 zucchini, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 4 cups veggie broth
• 1 cup pasta

Recipe:
Add all but pasta; cook low 6 hours. Add pasta last 30 min.

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🍎 20. Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (for morning)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups steel-cut oats
• 4 cups milk or water
• 2 apples, diced
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Recipe:
Cook overnight on low 7–8 hours.

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🍂 Tip: All these meals can be prepped in freezer bags ahead! Just dump & cook.

Why I’m Obsessed With My Crockpot (and Why You’ll Be Too!)

It’s basically mom superpowers in a pot: throw in a few simple ingredients before the day gets wild → come home to a house that smells like cozy comfort → dinner is ready before anyone can say “I’m starving!” The best part? Most of these recipes take less than 10 minutes to prep—so you can get it done while wrangling toddlers, tackling homework duty, or (hallelujah!) actually enjoying that hot cup of coffee.