Say Goodbye to Stressful Weeknights with 12 Easy Freezer Crockpot Recipes

Nothing is better on those cold winter nights than coming home to the smell of dinner cooking. After a long day, who wants to spend time prepping and cooking a meal? You’re tired, and all you want to do is put your feet up and relax.

Enter the crockpot, the king of the kitchen. It’s your set-and-forget friend who never lets you down. You don’t need to worry about how much you cook, as whatever you don’t eat can be frozen for another day.

There isn’t much you can’t cook in a crockpot. From pot roast to curry, it’s one of the most versatile pieces of equipment in your kitchen. These 12 simple recipes will make your weeknights easier, leaving you to kick off your shoes and unwind.

Beef Stroganoff

Beef stroganoff is the ultimate comfort food. It's rich, creamy, and packed with tender strips of beef that practically melt in your mouth. This dish comes from classic Russian cuisine but has become a family favorite in American kitchens.

Egg noodles or mashed potatoes are the perfect accompaniment. To save time, prepare and freeze the beef and mushroom mixture in a freezer bag. On cooking day, defrost, dump it in the crockpot, and let the magic happen.

Get the Recipe: Beef Stroganoff

Sweet and Sour BBQ Meatballs

The tangy and sweet flavors of sweet and sour BBQ meatballs are always a crowd-pleaser. Serve them over rice, with mashed potatoes, or on toothpicks for a fun snack. Versions of meatballs appear in various cultures, from Italy’s famous polpette to Swedish köttbullar and Middle Eastern kofta.

Try spicing things up by adding a dash of crushed red pepper or using a smoky BBQ sauce to give the dish a unique twist.

Get the Recipe: Sweet and Sour BBQ Meatballs

Chicken Enchilada Soup

On those chilly nights when you crave something warm and hearty, chicken enchilada soup hits the spot. Enchiladas date back to the Aztecs, who wrapped tortillas around fillings as early as the 1500s. This dish combines the flavors of a classic enchilada in a rich, comforting soup perfect for slow cooking.

Skip the pre-cooked chicken and use raw chicken breasts straight in the crockpot. They become tender enough to shred with a fork as they cook, saving you time and an extra cooking step.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Enchilada Soup

Cajun Pot Roast

A Cajun pot roast brings the spice of the South straight to your dinner table, transforming a simple roast into a melt-in-your-mouth feast. The magic of this dish lies in its seasoning. With cayenne pepper, garlic, and paprika, each bite bursts with flavor.

Cajun cuisine originated in Louisiana influenced by the French-speaking Acadians who settled there in the 18th century.

Get the Recipe: Cajun Pot Roast

Moroccan Braised Beef

Moroccan cuisine is known for its use of warming spices and slow-cooking methods. This dish draws inspiration from tagine, a traditional North African stew that combines meat, vegetables, and spices like cinnamon, cumin, and coriander. Tagines cook slowly to allow the flavors to blend.

The beef becomes tender, while the spices create a thick, aromatic sauce. The best way to serve it is with warm, crusty bread. Perfect for when you want something a little different but still comforting.

Mix your spices beforehand and keep them in a small container to save time. When it’s time to cook, you can quickly toss everything into the crockpot without measuring individual spices.

Get the Recipe: Moroccan Braised Beef

Thai Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Thai chicken and wild rice soup is a twist on traditional chicken soup. It blends coconut milk and Thai curry spices with wild rice, making it more filling than a typical broth-based soup. This dish draws inspiration from Thai cuisine, famous for its balance of sweet, salty, spicy, and sour flavors.

For convenience, use a pre-cooked sachet of wild rice. This cuts down on cooking time and lets the flavors meld together without worrying about the rice overcooking.

Get the Recipe: Thai Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Taco Soup

Taco soup is one of my winter favorites. It combines seasoned ground beef, beans, corn, and chili powder. Its everything we love about tacos — bold spices, ground beef, and toppings galore — into one pot.

Add sour cream, shredded cheese, avocado, or tortilla chips to make it your own. To save time, use a taco seasoning packet. It’s simple and great for feeding a crowd.

Get the Recipe: Taco Soup

Vegetarian Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry

Perfect for meatless Mondays or when you want something filling but light, this curry is packed with flavor and texture, thanks to the squash, lentils, and coconut milk. It’s a wholesome, plant-based meal that feels indulgent but is full of nutrients. It takes inspiration from Indian cuisine, where lentils (dal) are staples.

Buy pre-cut butternut squash to save on chopping time. Also, canned lentils can reduce cook time if you're in a hurry.

Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry

Honey Pulled Pork

Pulled pork originates from the South, particularly in North Carolina and Tennessee, where slow-cooked pork is often on the menu.

This dish is ideal for hands-off cooking, as the crockpot does all the work while you enjoy the rich aromas wafting through your kitchen. The pork is tender and juicy and coated in a sticky honey-based barbecue sauce that’s perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or over a simple bed of rice.

The long, slow cooking time ensures that the pork becomes fall-apart tender and absorbs all the flavors. Sear the pork on all sides before placing it in the crockpot to enhance the flavor. This step adds a caramelized layer that locks in the juices and gives the final dish a richer taste.

Get the Recipe: Honey Pulled Pork

Balsamic Shredded Beef

Anything with balsamic vinegar is a winner in my kitchen, as it gives everything so much flavor. Balsamic vinegar from Modena, Italy, has been used for centuries to add a unique balance of sweetness and acidity to meats and sauces. The beef becomes incredibly tender as it cooks, soaking up the flavors of garlic, herbs, and balsamic.

It’s simple to make, and the leftovers are just as good, if not better. Perfect for a no-fuss, hands-off dinner. For added depth of flavor, toss in a couple of bay leaves or fresh rosemary sprigs before cooking.

Get the Recipe: Balsamic Shredded Beef

Vegetarian Quinoa Sweet Potato Stew

I prefer sweet potatoes to the standard variety, so this dish often appears on my menu planner. It’s hearty, nutritious, and loaded with fiber and protein. There is no need to cook the quinoa separately; just toss it straight into the crockpot with the sweet potatoes and beans.

For even more convenience, use frozen diced sweet potatoes and canned black beans to reduce chopping and prep time.

Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Quinoa Sweet Potato Stew

Lentil Soup

With the crockpot doing all the heavy lifting, it’s a simple way to prepare a warm, satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen. For thousands of years, people have relied on lentils for their affordability, nutritional value, and ability to absorb flavors. Combined with a medley of vegetables and spices, it’s a budget-friendly meal that’s light on meal prep and heavy on goodness.

There’s no need to soak the lentils beforehand; toss them straight into the crockpot with your broth and veggies. Opt for pre-chopped vegetables or a frozen vegetable mix to save even more time.

Get the Recipe: Lentil Soup