It’s no wonder why busy families are fans of slow cookers. With minimal effort, quick prep time and very little to clean up, you can create a variety of meals that everyone in your family will love!

• Classic Chicken Soup

This recipe from Food Network looks simple and delicious! They even categorize their recipes as easy and intermediate. Slow cooker chicken noodle soup is an easy, comforting meal you can throw together for any occasion.

• Pizza Pasta

This might be even easier than ordering pizza for dinner- it’s definitely more fun! Get the kids involved with the toppings for this pasta pizza. It doesn’t have to be pretty, it just has to taste good!

• Gooey Macaroni and Cheese

Just as easy as instant mac n’ cheese, but twice as tasty! The great news is, you can make this slow cooker macaroni and cheese as cheesy as you want by adding more or less shredded cheese. No more mystery cheese sauce!

• Chicken Burrito Bowls

You can go the Tex-Mex route with these fun and easy burrito bowls. With simple ingredients like chicken, black beans, rice, and a few spices you can create a fun meal that is sure to be a hit with everyone. The contents of this “bowl” can also be wrapped up in a tortilla and eaten true burrito style.

• Chicken and Dumplings

Slow cookers make homemade comfort food easy! When the food tastes this good, no one will ever be able to guess how easy it was. Try out this chicken and dumplings recipe for a cozy dinner together with the whole family. Luckily, there are plenty of servings, because someone in your family is bound to want more!

• Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal

This batch of overnight oatmeal can provide days of effortless breakfast. Everyone can top their bowl however they prefer, whether it’s with brown sugar, fruit, or nuts. Prepare the most important meal of the day the night before and wake up to perfectly cooked oatmeal!

• Brownie Cake

Who would have thought you can even make sweets in your slow cooker! These gooey brownies are a perfect sweet snack, and no one deserves a treat more than you! Take a big scoop and serve with ice cream.

Slow cookers obviously aren’t as quick as fast food or microwaved meals – ‘slow’ is in the name! Just because it isn’t fast, however, doesn’t mean it isn’t easy. This crafty mom has some extra tips for cutting down tons of prep time with slow cooker meals. She even shares some simple recipe ideas of her own! Break out the slow cooker, the possibilities are endless!

Photo Credit: By Yanping Soong from New York City, United States – Slow cooked stew tips, with daikon radish and browned onions, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46416080