10 Easy Slow Cooker Dinners With 5 Ingredients or Less

Just set it and forget it!

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published February 02, 2026
Theodora Kaloudis
Shredded pot roast on a plate with pepperoncini peppers fork to the side

Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

A comforting slow cooker meal is the perfect solution for those busy days when you need to get a low-effort dinner on the table. With a little planning in the morning or the night before, you can simply set it and forget it before getting on with your packed schedule. We’ve made it even easier with recipes that call for five ingredients or less, making your weeknight dinners a breeze without sacrificing flavor. This collection features comforting meals like Easy Pork Chili Verde, Mississippi Pot Roast, and Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos. So pick a recipe, grab your slow cooker, and get cooking!

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  • Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken

    Closeup of shredded barbecue chicken with serving utensils on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "Though the intention is definitely ease here, you can amp up the flavor of this dish by adding more herbs and spices when seasoning the chicken, such as paprika, cayenne pepper, dried oregano, or dried parsley. Add even more flavor by topping the chicken with a thinly sliced yellow or white onion." —Susan Bronson, Recipe Developer

  • Shortcut Sunday Sauce

    Plates of spaghetti with a tomatobased meat sauce presented for a meal

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    "The pork adds a richness to the sauce that my partner says reminds him of his mom’s—the highest compliment I could ever hope for." —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken

    Plate of glazed chicken pieces garnished with lemon slices and green onions

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    "Chicken breasts or thighs are coated in honey, Sriracha, olive oil, and a squeeze of lime. It all gets added to the slow cooker with a little minced garlic, salt, and pepper for an oven-free meal as delicious as it is easy." —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • Slow Cooker Glazed Cocktail Meatballs

    A slow cooker filled with meatballs in a sauce with a spoon for serving

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    "If we’re eating the glazed meatballs at home as a meal, I will serve them with some garlic mashed potatoes, and bright and fresh green beans."—Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 10 below

  • Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

    Plate of chicken tacos garnished with jalapeños, onions, and greens, served with lime wedges and salsa on the side

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "The secret to the best tacos is using a mix of chicken thighs and breasts so that the meat stays tender. It’s also important to use a really good salsa, preferably one on the thicker side. My favorite is Frontera’s Double Roasted Tomato Salsa, which is packed with flavor and thick with obvious pieces of tomato, onion, and cilantro." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Pork Chili Verde

    A bowl of pork chile verde garnished with sour cream cilantro and jalapenos accompanied by lime wedges and shredded cheese in bowls

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "Chile Verde only gets better with time, making it a top-tier next-day lunch. Let any leftovers cool to room temperature, then pack them into airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 4 days." —Anne Wolf, Recipe Developer

  • Slow Cooker Butternut Squash and Sausage Soup

    A bowl of butternut squash and sausage soup with a spoon

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    "This four-ingredient slow cooker butternut squash soup is simple yet hearty, thanks to the addition of Italian sausage and a swirl of heavy cream. (I don't count salt and pepper or the optional toppings in the number of ingredients.) It’s as easy as it is delicious, with most of the work done by the slow cooker." —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • Mississippi Pot Roast

    Shredded pot roast on a plate with pepperoncini peppers fork to the side

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    "My favorite way to serve Mississippi Pot Roast is on top of garlic mashed potatoes. To keep this recipe as simple as possible, I recommend Bob Evans microwaveable mashed potatoes in the Original or Garlic flavor. This roast also tastes great over white or brown rice." —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 9 of 10 below

  • 2-Ingredient Country-Style Pork Ribs

    Saucy ribs and a small glass bowl with a spoon and barbecue sauce on a baking sheet pan

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    “You can make country-style pork ribs in a slow cooker instead of the oven if you prefer. Simply salt and pepper the ribs, add them to the cooker with three tablespoons of water, then cook on low for four hours.” —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • Mississippi Chicken

    Angled view of a blue platter and a serving spoon with shredded chicken and pepperoncini

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "Mississippi chicken is one of my favorites. Consisting of tender chicken breasts, pepperoncini, and ranch dressing seasoning, it could not be easier to make in the slow cooker or the oven. It's deliciously salty, savory, and briny, perfect for spooning over rice or noodles for a satisfying dinner." —Liz Mervosh, Recipe Developer

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