Not sure what to make with your new slow cooker? We’ve got you covered with these simple, beginner-friendly slow cooker and crockpot recipes. From hearty dinners to crowd-friendly dips, these recipes will help you fall in love with your new appliance. So next time you want a delicious meal that feels effortless, try our Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili or our Barbeque Pulled Chicken and break in your slow cooker the right way.

Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This hearty sweet potato and black bean chili has a delightful balance of sweet and spicy flavors. Swap out regular chili powder for chipotle and ancho chile powder, or try using reduced-sodium taco or fajita seasoning for a unique twist.

Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

This vegetable soup fills you up, keeps you satisfied and is an easy way to eat more vegetables.

Barbecue Pulled Chicken

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Joshua Hoggle

This BBQ pulled chicken recipe is a reinterpretation of pulled pork that slow-cooks chicken in lots of tangy tomato sauce. Have sliced jalapeños, sliced red onions and some sour cream on hand to top this barbecue pulled chicken, which makes a hearty main course. You can turn it into an unbelievable sandwich or serve it on mashed potatoes or even whole-grain spaghetti. Serve with shredded napa cabbage tossed with low-fat mayonnaise, cider vinegar, celery seed and honey to taste.

White Chicken Chili

A bowl of this healthy white chicken chili packs a whopping 22 grams of protein in each serving and is appropriate for a diabetes-friendly diet. Consider topping this white chili with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to reduce calorie and fat content while still getting a creamy texture.

Slow-Cooker Oatmeal

Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Food Stylist: Breanna Ghazali

Here’s an easy way to serve a crowd a hearty breakfast. You can assemble it in the slow cooker in the evening and wake up to a bowl of hot, nourishing oatmeal. The slow cooker eliminates the need for constant stirring and ensures an exceptionally creamy consistency.

Slow-Cooker Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Dera Burreson

Skip the roasting in this butternut squash soup recipe and let your slow cooker do the work instead. Just load up all the ingredients into the crock pot, set it and forget it for an easy, healthy dinner or packable lunches.

Slow-Cooker Chicken & Orzo with Tomatoes & Olives

Perk up basic chicken breast and whole-wheat orzo with the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean, like lemon and olives. This load-and-go recipe makes a complete and satisfying meal; just add a green salad.

Hearty Vegetable Beef Stew

The slow cooker makes this veggie-packed beef stew super-easy and extra-savory.

Slow-Cooker Vegan Chili

Grab your crock pot for this hearty and easy vegan chili, which is chock-full of great-tasting and good-for-you ingredients, including pinto and black beans, red pepper, tomatoes and butternut squash. Once a little chopping is done, all you have to do is dump the ingredients in the slow cooker, making this colorful veggie chili the perfect weeknight dinner. A garnish of fresh avocado and chopped cilantro is a nice touch.

Slow-Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip

This creamy, crowd-pleasing dip comes together with ease in your crock pot. Leave it in the slow cooker all party long to keep it warm for serving with perfect, melty cheese in every bite.

Slow-Cooker Potato Soup

This easy slow-cooker potato soup has all the good stuff you love on a potato, including bacon, cheese and scallions. Serve this loaded baked potato soup with a salad for an easy dinner—just 15 minutes of active prep time!—whenever you’re in need of some serious comfort food. It would also be fun fare for a casual party. Serve it straight out of the slow cooker and set out bowls of toppings so everyone can assemble their own. You can easily make the soup vegetarian by using vegetable broth and skipping the bacon.

Slow-Cooked Sweet and Sour Cabbage

The combination of cloves, cabbage and cider vinegar gives this slow-cooker cabbage recipe its sweet-and-sour flavor. Don’t skip the apples-the hit of natural sweetness is worth the time it takes to core and chop them.

Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip

This healthy copycat recipe for classic Buffalo dip cooks in your slow cooker for an easy, hands-off appetizer you can keep warm for the whole game, party or any casual gathering. Serve with carrot sticks, celery sticks and tortilla chips for dipping.