20 Hearty Crockpot Dinner Recipes for Cozy Nights

There's nothing quite like coming home on a chilly evening to the aroma of a delicious meal slowly cooking in the crockpot. The warmth, the flavors, and the sheer convenience make crockpot dinners a staple in my household, especially during the colder months.

With the right recipes, your crockpot can create meals that are not only savory and filling but also incredibly easy to prepare. Today, I've curated a list of "20 Hearty Crockpot Dinner Recipes for Cozy Nights.” These recipes are tried and true, perfect for those nights when I crave comfort food without the fuss. So, grab your crockpot and let's dive into these tasty, fuss-free meals!

1. Classic Beef Stew

There's nothing more comforting than a bowl of beef stew.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb beef stew meat
• 3 cups beef broth
• 4 carrots, chopped
• 4 potatoes, chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the beef, carrots, potatoes, onion, and celery in the crockpot.
2. Add beef broth, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
3. Cook on low for 7-8 hours, or until the beef and vegetables are tender.

2. Chicken and Dumplings

A southern classic that's perfect for a cozy night in.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken, broth, water, carrots, celery, and onion in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 5-6 hours until chicken is cooked through.
3. Mix flour, milk, butter, salt, and pepper to make the dumplings.
4. Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling mixture into the crockpot and cook on high for another hour.

3. Pulled Pork Sandwiches

These pulled pork sandwiches are a hit at any gathering.

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs pork shoulder
• 1 bottle barbecue sauce
• 1 onion, sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Buns for serving

Instructions:

1. Place the pork shoulder, barbecue sauce, and onion in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 8 hours or until the meat is tender.
3. Shred the pork and serve on buns.

4. Vegetarian Chili

A hearty chili that's perfect for meatless Mondays.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can corn, drained
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 packet chili seasoning

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 6-7 hours.

5. Lasagna

Yes, you can make lasagna in a crockpot!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 jar marinara sauce
• 9 lasagna noodles, uncooked
• 3 cups ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain the excess fat.
2. Mix ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
3. In the crockpot, layer marinara sauce, lasagna noodles, ricotta mixture, and ground beef.
4. Repeat layers and top with mozzarella cheese.
5. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.

6. Chicken Fajitas

Easy to make and delicious, these chicken fajitas are fantastic.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 packet fajita seasoning
• Tortillas for serving

Instructions:

1. Place chicken, bell pepper, onion, and fajita seasoning in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 6 hours.
3. Shred chicken and serve with warmed tortillas.

7. Sweet and Sour Meatballs

A delightful twist that works as dinner or an appetizer.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs frozen meatballs
• 1 can pineapple chunks, drained
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 cup sweet and sour sauce

Instructions:

1. Combine meatballs, pineapple, barbecue sauce, and sweet and sour sauce in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.

8. Potato Soup

Creamy and filling, this soup is a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients:

• 6 large potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place potatoes, onion, and chicken broth in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 6 hours.
3. Blend the soup until smooth, then stir in cream and cheese.

9. Teriyaki Chicken

Sticky, sweet, and savory, teriyaki chicken is always a winner.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp ginger
• Rice for serving

Instructions:

1. Place chicken, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
3. Serve over rice.

10. Beef Stroganoff

A rich and creamy classic that’s perfect for cooler nights.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb beef stew meat
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 cups egg noodles, cooked
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place beef, mushroom soup, sour cream, and onion in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 7-8 hours.
3. Serve over cooked egg noodles.

11. BBQ Chicken

Simple and full of flavor. Great for sandwiches or by itself.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 bottle barbecue sauce
• 1 onion, sliced

Instructions:

1. Put chicken, barbecue sauce, and onion in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 6 hours.
3. Shred and serve as desired.

12. Vegetable Curry

This veggie-packed curry is full of flavor and spice.

Ingredients:

• 1 can coconut milk
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cups cauliflower florets
• 2 cups sliced carrots
• 2 tbsp curry powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 6 hours.
3. Serve over rice or with naan.

13. Stuffed Peppers

Bell peppers stuffed with a savory blend of beef and rice.

Ingredients:

• 4 bell peppers, tops cut off and seeds removed
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Mix ground beef, rice, diced tomatoes, salt, and pepper.
2. Stuff mixture into bell peppers.
3. Place peppers in the crockpot and top with cheese.
4. Cook on low for 5-6 hours.

14. Lentil Soup

Nutritious and hearty, this soup is perfect for cold nights.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups lentils, rinsed
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 7-8 hours.

15. Chicken Alfredo

Creamy alfredo sauce with tender chicken over pasta.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 jar alfredo sauce
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1lb pasta, cooked
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place chicken, alfredo sauce, and cream in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
3. Stir in Parmesan cheese and cooked pasta.

16. Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Comfort food at its finest, stuffed cabbage rolls are deliciously filling.

Ingredients:

• 1 head cabbage, leaves separated
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Mix ground beef, rice, onion, salt, and pepper.
2. Spoon mixture into cabbage leaves and roll up.
3. Place rolls in the crockpot and cover with tomato sauce.
4. Cook on low for 6-7 hours.

17. Moroccan Chickpea Stew

A fragrant and hearty vegetable stew.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 6-7 hours.

18. Sausage and Peppers

An easy and flavorful dish that pairs well with pasta or in a sandwich.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 3 bell peppers, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 cup marinara sauce

Instructions:

1. Place sausage, bell peppers, onion, and marinara sauce in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 6 hours.

19. Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

A great way to use leftover turkey, perfect for after Thanksgiving.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked turkey, shredded
• 1 cup wild rice
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine turkey, wild rice, onion, carrots, celery, and chicken broth in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 5-6 hours.
3. Stir in heavy cream before serving.

20. Beef and Broccoli

A tasty, homemade take on a popular Chinese dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb flank steak, thinly sliced
• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup beef broth

Instructions:

1. Place steak, broccoli, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and beef broth in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
3. Serve over rice.

Conclusion

Cozy nights call for hearty, flavorful meals that warm the soul. These 20 crockpot recipes make it easy to enjoy comforting dishes with minimal effort. From soups to stews and everything in between, they’ll quickly become your go-to favorites for those chilly evenings. Happy crockpot cooking!