20 Family Friendly Slow Cooker Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How many people does a large slow cooker feed? ›

Large 6.5L capacity will serve 6+ people. Low and high heat settings, plus keep warm function so that dinner is ready when you are. Dishwasher safe removable ceramic bowl and glass lid for easy cleaning.

homes of 1 or 2 will only need a slow cooker with a 1.5 to 3-litre capacity – enough for 1 or 2 servings. Families of 3 or 4 will benefit from slow cookers with a capacity of about 3 to 5-litres, while homes of 5 or more will probably need a larger capacity slow cooker.

If you take an extra 10 minutes to sauté the aromatics before scraping them into the slow-cooker, the finished dish will have deeper flavor and better texture. (And some new slow-cookers allow you to sauté right in the insert, so you don't have to wash a separate skillet.)

Don't overfill your slow cooker, or it may start leaking out the top, and the food won't cook so well. Half to two-thirds full is ideal – certainly no more than three-quarters.

Product 1: PERFECT FOR A LARGE GATHERING: The 10 quart slow cooker lets you cook enough food for a gathering of 12 or more people and fits a 10 lb. turkey or a 12 lb. roast.

For a family of three to five or a leftover-obsessed couple, a 5 to 6-quart slow cooker is the perfect size. It will fit almost all recipes, including typical roasts. If you've got a big family and plenty of storage room, go for the big 7 or 8-quart models.

To ensure proper cooking, it is important to fill your slow cooker with the appropriate amount of food. Aim for between half and two-thirds full. If the cooker is too full, the food may not cook evenly and could end up being undercooked. On the other hand, if the cooker is not full enough, the food may overcook.

The size of your crockpot can affect the outcome of your meal. If your crockpot is smaller than what we recommend, you may need to cook your meal a little longer. If it's larger than what we recommend you may need to shorten the cooking time.

The 4-quart capacity feeds 4+ people and is perfect for making family meals. Use the manual warm setting to keep food warm while you are serving, or for heating up leftovers.

Are you supposed to stir slow cooker meals? ›

Due to the nature of a slow cooker, there is no need to stir the food unless it specifically says to in your recipe. In fact, taking the lid off to stir food causes the slow cooker to lose a significant amount of heat, extending the cooking time required. Therefore, it is best not to remove the lid for stirring.

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

Can you put meat straight into a slow cooker? Meat can be added directly unseared and not browned. However, browning meat and caramelising the beef is a great way to add depth of flavour and improve the visual appearance of the final dish.

Slow cooker recipes have (obviously) long cook times, and it's the meat—not the carrots—that benefit from it. By placing the protein at the bottom (closest to the heating element), and vegetables at the top, you can keep your plant parts a little more toothsome, while ensuring your meat is fall-apart tender.

What size slow cooker do I need? Slow cookers range in capacity, from a compact 1.5 litres up to 7 litres. As a general guide, a 1.5 to 2.3-litre capacity is great for two people, a larger 4 to 4.5 litres will feed four, and 5.5 to 7 litres is ideal for four to six people.

Main bowl - 5.6 Litre capacity - ideal for up to 6 people. Smaller split bowl - 2.4L for ultimate cooking flexibility. 2 heat settings and keep warm function.

The 4.5-quart capacity feeds 5+ people, making it perfect for family meals, soups, chilis, stews, and more. When you're finished cooking and serving, the removable stoneware pot and lid are both dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. For moments, memories, and meals worth sharing, make it with The Crock-Pot® Brand!