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As winter lingers and chilly days persist, there’s nothing more comforting than a warm, hearty meal waiting for you at the end of the day. Slow cookers make it easy to create rich, flavorful dishes with minimal effort. Here are three delicious, comforting recipes perfect for late winter.
1. Classic Slow Cooker Beef Stew
This timeless beef stew is packed with tender chunks of meat, hearty vegetables, and a savory broth that warms you from the inside out.
Ingredients:
2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 tbsp flour
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
4 cups beef broth
1 cup red wine (optional)
3 carrots, sliced
3 potatoes, diced
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary
2 bay leaves
Instructions:
In a bowl, toss the beef with flour, salt, and pepper.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef on all sides, then transfer to the slow cooker.
Add all remaining ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours, until the beef is tender.
Remove bay leaves and serve hot with crusty bread.
2. Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
This creamy and hearty soup is packed with tender chicken, earthy wild rice, and aromatic vegetables—perfect for a cozy winter night.
Ingredients:
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup wild rice, rinsed
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1 cup heavy cream (or coconut milk for a dairy-free option)
3 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
Instructions:
Place chicken, wild rice, broth, water, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper into the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender.
Remove chicken, shred it, and return to the slow cooker.
In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the heavy cream, stirring until thickened.
Stir the cream mixture into the slow cooker and cook for another 10-15 minutes. Serve warm.
3. Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Root Vegetables
This fork-tender pot roast, slow-cooked with hearty root vegetables, is a classic winter favorite.
Ingredients:
3-4 lb beef chuck roast
1 tbsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
4 cups beef broth
½ cup red wine (optional)
3 large carrots, cut into chunks
3 potatoes, quartered
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary
2 bay leaves
Instructions:
Season the beef with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet and sear the beef on all sides. Transfer to the slow cooker.
Add all remaining ingredients to the slow cooker and stir.
Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours, until the beef is fall-apart tender.
Remove bay leaves. Shred the beef with two forks and serve with the vegetables.
