One of the most common questions that we are asked is what are the best slow cooker recipes for extra long work days. After answering this question numerous times I thought it was time to share it with all of you! For those who work a 10+ hour day or are gone from home all day we have some recipes and suggestions for you when it comes to slow cooker recipes that will still be good after sitting in the slow cooker for 10+ hours. Many slow cooker recipes state that they should be cooked for 6-8 hours. If you find yourself needing to turn your slow cooker on earlier than that window then these tips will come in handy for you.
The beauty of using the slow cooker is that you are able to dump your ingredients into the slow cooker before you leave in the morning and walk into a house that smells delicious with dinner minutes away from serving to the table. It is important when you are selecting recipes that will cook all day long that you choose recipes with ingredients that can handle being cooked for 10+ hours and it won't effect the overall quality. Meaning you don't want to come home to dry chicken or food that is overcooked and tasteless.
First of all I would suggest that you invest in a slow cooker that has a timer. Our favorite is this programmable cook and carry 6qt oval slow cooker.
Best Slow Cooker Recipes For Extra Long Work Days
Beans - These are great recipes because they are cooked slowly. When you use dry beans instead of canned beans you can really extend the length of cooking. When using dry beans be sure that you rinse and remove any loose pebbles prior to cooking. Not only will these be great recipes they are also great for your budget too! They are also a great source of fiber.
Slow Cooker Southwestern Chicken White Bean Soup
Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup
Roasts - This is the perfect all day long slow cooker recipe. In fact the longer the better with a roast in my opinion. This cut of meat does really well because it needs the slow cooker environment to make it tender and moist. 10+ hours on low is the way to go for a roast.
Stephanie's Crockpot Pot Roast Recipe
Crockpot Mississippi Pork Roast Recipe
3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
Shredded Chicken, Pork, Beef - Shredded meat works well in the slow cooker because with the all day cooking time you will find that the meat will start shredding on its own. Once you get home you can easily use two forks to shred the meat and enjoy it in your recipe. It is also a great way to stretch your budget too.
Shredded Chuck Roast and Noodles
Sauce - Cooking sauces on low melds the flavor profile and is great way to simmer them all day without concern of having to stir constantly over heat. Slow and low is the way to go for sauces.
Crockpot Meatballs and Tomato Sauce
Slow Cooker Beef and Cheese Pasta
Stews - These recipes are great because they are cooked slowly in a liquid. So the slow cooker is a great tool for a successful stew. Even if the time states less than 10 hours we find that you won't have an issue with the stew overcooking because stew meat in general is a tougher cut of meat. One tip is to cut your veggies into larger pieces to avoid them over cooking.
4 Ingredient Crockpot Beef Stew
Crockpot Chicken & Sweet Potato Stew
20 CROCKPOT RECIPES THAT TAKE 10+ HOURS TO COOK
Melissa is a soccer mom who has been married to her best friend for 21 years. She loves sharing recipes, travel reviews and tips that focus on helping busy families make memories.
MI Mama
Thank you for the list! I am gone 10+ hours and worth my daughter's practice schedule dinner becomes somewhat of a challenge. I just got the crockpot you recommend for Christmas. I cannot wait to break it out mjn of the box.and use it.
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
Yay! Glad to have helped! A slow cooker makes those long days manageable.