5-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Recipes (2024)

The only thing better than coming home to a hot, hearty meal courtesy of your slow cooker, is coming home to one that took a ridiculously short amount of time to prep. And we mean short, as in just toss in five ingredients (plus some H2O and salt and pepper) and you're done.

Fire up the slow cooker with these15 scrumptious—so easy!—recipes.

Adapted from Fix-It and Forget-It: 5-Ingredient Favorites.Find delicious slow cooker meals with 5 ingredients or lesswhen you buy your copy today!

PREP TIME: 15 min
COOKING TIME: 9 hrs
SERVINGS: 8

2 c dry rolled oats
4 c water
1 large apple, peeled and chopped
1 c raisin
1 tsp cinnamon
1-2 Tbsp orange peel

1. COMBINEall ingredients in slow cooker.
2. COVERand cook on low 8-9 hours.
3. SERVEtopped with brown sugar, if you wish, and milk.

NUTRITION (per serving) 148 cal, 4 g pro, 31 g carb, 3.5 g fiber, 14 g sugars, 1.5 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 6 mg sodium

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PREP TIME: 15 min
COOKING TIME: 2 hrs
SERVINGS: 10

½ c mayonnaise
2 c (10 oz) Swiss cheese
½ lb thinly sliced corned beef, cut up
14 oz can sauerkraut, drained
1 loaf or package party rye bread

1. COMBINEall ingredients, except bread, in slow cooker.
2. COVERand cook on high 1-2 hours, or until heated through and cheese is melted.
3. SPREADon slices of rye bread. Serve hot.

NUTRITION(per serving) 311 cal, 15 g pro, 21 g carb, 3 g fiber, 2 g sugars, 19 g fat, 6.5 g sat fat, 872 mg sodium

PREP TIME: 15 min
COOKING TIME: 4 hrs
SERVINGS: 8

2½ qts water
1 ham hock, or pieces of cut up ham
2½ c of split peas, dried
1 medium onion, chopped
3 medium carrots, cut in small pieces
Salt and pepper to taste

1. BRINGwater to a boil in a saucepan on stovetop.
2. PLACEall other ingredients into slow cooker. Add boiling water and stir together well.
3. COVERand cook on high 4 hours, or until vegetables are tender.
4. IFyou've cooked a ham hock, remove it from soup and debone the meat. Stir cut-up chunks of meat back into soup before serving.

NUTRITION(per serving) 271 cal, 19 g pro, 41 g carb, 16.5 g fiber, 7 g sugars, 4 g fat, 1.5 g sat fat, 47 mg sodium

PREP TIME: 5 mins
COOKING TIME: 3 hrs
SERVINGS: 5

2 Tbsp butter, melted, depending upon how rich you’d like the dish to be
1½ c uncooked macaroni
1 qt milk
10 oz grated sharp cheddar cheese
½ tsp salt, depending upon your taste
¼ tsp pepper

1. STIR all ingredients together in slow cooker.
2. COVER and cook on low 3 hours.

NUTRITION(per serving) 463 cal, 23 g pro, 35 g carb, 1 g fiber, 11 g sugars, 25 g fat, 16.5 g sat fat, 725 mg sodium

PREP TIME: 20 min
COOKING TIME: 10 hrs
SERVINGS: 6

1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, quartered
3 potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks, about 2 cups
1 apple, chopped
2 Tbsp curry powder
14½ oz can low sodium chicken broth
1 medium onion, chopped, optional

1. PLACEall ingredients in slow cooker. Mix together gently.
2. COVERand cook on low 8-10 hours, or on high 5 hours, or until chicken is tender but not dry.
3. SERVEover cooked rice.

NUTRITION(per serving) 367 cal, 41 g pro, 40 g carb, 4 g fiber, 4 g sugars, 5 g fat, 1.5 g sat fat, 116 mg sodium

PREP TIME: 10 min
COOKING TIME: 3½ hrs
SERVINGS: 4

1 lb carrots, cut in 1" pieces
½ tsp salt
¼ c water
2 Tbsp butter
½ c light brown sugar, firmly packed
2 Tbsp chopped walnuts

1. PLACEcarrots in slow cooker. Sprinkle with salt.
2. POURwater in along side of cooker.
3. COVERand cook on high 2-3 hours, or until carrots are just tender. Drain.
4. STIRin butter. Sprinkle with sugar.
5. COVERand cook on high 30 minutes.
6. SPRINKLEwith nuts about 10 minutes before end of cooking time.

NUTRITTION(per serving) 226 cal, 2 g pro, 38 carb, 3.5 g fiber, 32 g sugars, 8.5 g fat, 4 g sat fat, 428 mg sodium

PREP TIME: 10 min
COOKING TIME: 10 hrs
SERVINGS: 12

12 3-lb boneless beef roast, cut in thirds
½ c water
4 oz can diced jalapeno peppers, drained
1 dry Italian salad dressing mix
12 crusty sandwich rolls

1. PLACE3 pieces of beef in slow cooker.
2. INa small bowl, combine water, jalapenos, and dry dressing mix. Pour over beef.
3. COVERand cook on low 8-10 hours, or until meat is tender but not dry.
4. REMOVEbeef and shred using 2 forks. Place shredded beef back in juices. Stir and serve on rolls.

NUTRITION(per serving) 255 cal, 31 g pro, 21 g carb, 3.5 g fiber, 3 g sugars, 5 g fat, 1.5 g sat fat, 598 mg sodium

PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOKING TIME: 4 hrs
SERVINGS: 8-10

2 Tbsp dried minced onion
1 medium clove garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
8-10 medium potatoes, sliced, or 30 oz bag frozen hash browns divided
8 oz package low-fat cream cheese, cubed, divided
½ c shredded cheddar cheese, optional

1. SPRAY slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
2. IN a small bowl, combine onion, garlic and salt.
3. LAYER about one-fourth of potatoes in slow cooker.
4. SPRINKLE one-fourth of onion-garlic mixture over potatoes.
5. SPOON about one-third of cream cheese cubes over top.
6. REPEAT layers, ending with seasoning.
7. IF using fresh potatoes, cook on high 3-4 hours, or until potatoes are tender. If using frozen hash browns, cook on high 2 hours, or on low 4-5 hours, or until potatoes are tender and cooked through.
8. STIR potatoes to spread out cream cheese. If you wish, you can mash potatoes at this point.
9. IF you like, sprinkle shredded cheese over top of sliced or mashed potatoes.
10. COVER and cook an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

NUTRITION (per serving) 180 cal, 6 g pro, 28 g carb, 2 g fiber, 2 g sugars, 5 g fat, 3.5 g sat fat, 370 mg sodium

PREP TIME: 10 min
COOKING TIME: 3 hrs
SERVINGS: 4

¼ c crumbled cooked bacon
¼ c crumbled feta cheese
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 14½ oz cans diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp dried basil

1. INa small bowl, mix bacon and cheese together lightly.
2. CUTa pocket in the thicker side of each chicken breast. Fill each with one-quarter of bacon and cheese misture. Pinch shut and secure with toothpicks.
3. PLACEchicken in slow cooker. Top with tomatoes and sprinkle with basil.
4. COVERand cook on high 1 ½ - 3 hours, or until chicken is tender but not dry or mushy.

NUTRITION (per serving) 183 cal, 18 g pro, 10 g carb, 1.5 g fiber, 7 g sugars, 7 g fat, 3 g sat fat, 769 mg sodium

PREP TIME: 20 min
COOKING TIME: 6 hrs
SERVINGS: 4

1 lb round steak, cut ¾-1" thick
14½ oz can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 yellow, 2 red, and 2 green bell peppers, sliced in strips
1 large onion, sliced

1. CUTmeat into 4 serving-size pieces. In a large nonstick skillet, brown meat on both sides. Transfer meat to slow cooker.
2. INa medium-sized bowl, stir together undrained tomatoes and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon over meat.
3. ARRANGEvegetables over top.
4. COVERand cook on low 5-6 hours, or until meat and vegetables are tender but not overcooked.

NUTRITION (per serving) 278 cal, 28 g pro, 19 g carb, 4.5 g fiber, 0.5 g sugars, 9.5 g fat, 3.5 g sat fat, 322 mg sodium

PREP TIME: 10 min
COOKING TIME: 3 hrs
SERVINGS: 4

½ c water
26 oz jar marinara sauce
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
9 oz package frozen spinach and cheese tortellini
16 oz package frozen broccoli florets

1. IN a bowl, mix water, pasta sauce, and seasoning together.
2. POUR one-third of sauce into button of slow cooker. Top with all tortellini.
3. POUR one-third of sauce over tortellini. Top with broccoli.
4. POUR remaining sauce over broccoli.
5. COOK on high 2 ½-3 hours, or until broccoli and pasta are tender but not mushy.

NUTRITION(per serving) 280 cal, 12 g pro, 41 g carb, 7 g fiber, 0 g sugars, 8 g fat, 3 g sat fat, 950 mg sodium

PREP TIME: 20 min
COOKING TIME: 6 hrs
SERVINGS: 6

4 lbs chicken, cut up
6 raw sweet potatoes, julienned
20 oz can pineapple chunks, in juice
14½ oz can chicken broth
2 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp cold water

1. PLACEcut-up chicken in slow cooker.
2. TOPwith sweet potatoes
3. POUR pineapples and juice over potatoes.
4. THEN,pour chicken broth all over ingredients.
5. COVERand cook on low 6 hours, or on high 3 hours, or until chicken and potatoes are tender but not dry or mushy.
6. JUSTbefore serving, mix cornstarch and cold water together until smooth. Turn cooker to high. Stir cornstarch paste into cooker and cook for a few minutes, until sauce thickens.
7. PLACE chicken and potatoes on a serving dish or platter. Top with sauce.

NUTRITION(per serving) 517 cal, 67 g pro, 40 g carb, 5 g fiber, 20 g sugars, 8.5 fat, 1.5 g sat fat, 732 mg sodium

PREP TIME: 10 min
COOKING TIME: 10 hrs
SERVINGS: 10

6 lb bone-in turkey breast
3 tsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 medium onion, quartered
4 garlic cloves, peeled
½ c water

1. RINSEturkey and pat dry with paper towels.
2. RUBoil over turkey. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place, meaty side up, in slow cooker.
3. PLACEonion and garlic around side of cooker.
4. COVER.Cook on low 9-10 hours, or until meat thermometer stuck in meaty part of breast reads 180.
5. REMOVEfrom slow cooker and let stand 10 minutes before slicing.
6. SERVEwith mashed potatoes, cranberry salad, and corn or green beans.

NUTRITION(per serving) 386 cal, 82 g pro, 1 g carb, 0 g fiber, 0.5 g sugar, 3.5 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 143 mg sodium

PREP TIME: 10 mins
COOKING TIME: 6 hrs
SERVINGS: 12

10½ can condensed chicken broth
18 oz jar apricot preserves
1 large onion, chopped
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 3½-4 lb boneless pork loin

1. MIXbroth, preserves, onion, and mustard in a bowl.
2. CUTroast to fit, if necessary, and place in cooker. Pour glaze over meat.
3. COVERand cook on low 4-6 hours, or on high 3 hours, or until tender.

NUTRITION(per serving) 298 cal, 33 g pro, 29 g carb, 0.5 g fiber, 19 g sugars, 5.5 g fat, 2 g sat fat, 314 mg sodium

PREP TIME: 15 min
COOKING TIME: 3 hrs
SERVINGS: 8

1 c dry all-purpose baking mix
1 c sugar, divided
3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, plus 1/3 cup, divided
½ c lowfat milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1⅔ cups hot water

1. SPRAY slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
2. IN a small bowl, mix together baking mix, one-half cup sugar, 3 tbsp cocoa powder, milk and vanilla. Spoon batter evenly into slow cooker.
3. IN a clean bowl, mix remaining one-half cup sugar, one-third cup cocoa pwder, and hot water together. Pour over batter in slow cooker. Do not stir.
4. COVER and cook on high 2-3 hours, or until toothpick inserted in center of cakey part comes out clean.

NUTRITION(per serving) 170 cal, 3 g pro, 40 g carb, 3 g fiber, 27 g sugars, 1.5 g fat, 0.5 g sat fat, 160 mg sodium

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