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A round-up of our favorite recipes for the Instant Pot and slow cooker (or the oven if you prefer). Perfect for busy weeknights or make-ahead entertaining!
Both the Instant Pot and slow cooker can be such wonderful kitchen tools. We love the way you can prep a meal, walk away, and then come back to it fully cooked. They're perfect for tougher cuts of meat, transforming them to tender and mouthwatering meals.
It's time! Pull out your instant pot or slow cooker and by dinner time your house will be filled with delicious aromas! No one has to know these little kitchen workhorses did most of the heavy lifting!
An easy crowd-pleaser, this Instant Pot (or oven) Black Bean Beef Tortilla Soup is loaded with healthy veggies and lots of delicious south-of-the-border flavor!
This easy slow cooker (or instant pot) Brown Sugar Balsamic Pulled Pork is healthier than most, takes minutes to put together and is a delicious crowd pleaser!
This Instant Pot (or oven) Italian Vegetable Beef Soup is bursting with vibrant Italian flavor, tender beef and an array of fresh veggies!
This fabulous Instant Pot (or oven) Pasta and Beef Soup is a throw-it-all in-the-pot soup that’s loaded with tender chunks of beef and lots of healthy veggies!
With less than 30 minutes of hands-on time, this delicious Slow Cooker Indian Butter Chicken is elegant enough for a dinner party and easy enough for weeknight dinners!
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Drawing on the flavor of classic Buffalo chicken wings, this chili is super easy, and loaded with delicious flavor!
Slow Cooker Black Bean and Chicken Sausage Tortilla Soup- This wonderful soup is an easy, fun and super delicious recipe! Perfect for slow cookers; it’ll guarantee smiles all around the table when you serve it!
A classic Italian soup, this delicious Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli Soup takes about 45 minutes to prep, then the slow cooker does the magic!
Slow Cooker Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup This slow cooker soup is perfect for those days that you want a delicious dinner ready with minimal effort.
The easiest mashed potatoes ever, with no last-minute fussing! These Slow Cooker Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes are super delicious and can be made a few days in advance.
Vickie says
Simply divine--- the flavors really sing! It is a great instant pot recipe, so simple and well worth the time to assemble all the ingredients. I made a batch last night and my husband couldn't get over how good it was. I've always made Chicken Tortilla soup, so this was nice for a change. It turned out nice and thick, just the way I like it...more like a stew or chili. By the way...I thinly sliced the remainder of the corn tortillas from the 12 count package I bought, and crisped them up in the oven to serve over the soup! The crunch of the tortilla strips on top are a must. I am looking forward to making more of your abundant recipes!
God Bless!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks for sharing your results, Vickie! I'm pretty sure you're talking about the Black Bean Beef Tortilla Soup. I'm so happy you both enjoyed it. I know the crunch tortillas on top were delicious!
Linda Demler Nunes says
Hi Chris, My husband found your site a few months back and thought that I would enjoy it. Well, I have been happily enjoying it everyday since and have made my share of these delicious treats and entree’s to the delight of my husband. Thank you and your wife so much for this blog. It has kept me busy fantasizing about ‘new-to-me’ ideas for ‘non-bla’ meals during these pandemic months. We have also been shut in with all of the fires that are happening here in California so cooking and finding a New recipe to Cook each day has become a real joy. Would love to get your input on cooking meals for 2 sometime other than cutting recipes in half.
Thank you both again. L
Chris Scheuer says
That's so awesome, Linda! I love that our site has encouraged you in these difficult days. I hope and pray those fires can be put out soon!
Regarding your question, growing up in a family with 6 kids, I'm not great at cooking for two. But I do love freezing extra food so I can pull it out on busy days and also really enjoy sharing extras with neighbors.
Tammy says
What would you replace the red wine with in the pasta fagioli soup? Would it just be more beef broth? Thank you! Your recipes are deeelicious!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks, Tammy! Yes, just use a little more beef broth!
Danielle says
I just found your recipes, they look amazing! First I will try the slow Cooker Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup, I make a mean chicken or turkey soup but adding lemon juice and cooked in slow cooker, can't wait. All your recipes look good to make. Looking forward to trying them 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much, Danielle and welcome to The Café! I hope you enjoy all the recipes you try! ❤️ Chris
carolyn prince says
Danielle,
Her recipes not only look good, but they taste good. I started with the easy scones and have made many other things from there. I have loved them all. Happy cooking to you, you can't go wrong on this site.
Chris Scheuer says
Thank you, Carolyn 💕🥰💕
Julie says
I made the beef and vegetable soup and the buffalo chili and both were delicious! I really enjoy your blog and look forward always to your new recipes! Thank you
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much, Julie. We really appreciate you taking the time to comment 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
Slow cooker recipes are at the top of my list during the fall and winter Chris! I think I've got to try out that buffalo chicken chili first! Delicious!
Fran Gillis says
If you have a Slow Cooker do you need an Instant Pot too?
How would you use an Instant Pot recipe for a Sloe Cooker?
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Fran, slow cookers and instant pots are totally different. Slow cooker, as the name implies cookies things at a low heat over a long period of time. An instant pot is a modern-day pressuer cooker and cooks things very quickly but maintains the moisture and produces very tender meat. There are pros and cons to each. You don't have to have either one but they're both very convenient. I usually try to post a conventional method of making a recipe along with my slow cooker and instant pot recipes.