10 things to make in your slow cooker

Because I like it when dinner cooks itself...

I’ve been on an absolute tear with my slow cooker lately. Truly a lifesaver as I try to put healthy meals on the table while juggling the busyness of fall.

I’m sure many of you have this picture of me prepping fancy meals for my family each night with ease, but many of the reasons why I started this Substack and send you all recipes week after week is because it’s a struggle for me too. And, if it’s struggle for me (a nutritionist and trained chef who works from home), I know it’s a struggle for many of you as well.

Warmer months are a little easier because you can throw together cold meals—salads, grilled proteins + veggies, whatever’s quick. But as the evenings get dark and cooler, I crave hearty, warm dishes, that feel like they’ve been labored over for hours that I simply don’t have.

Enter the slow cooker. And not just any slow cooker, but my Magnifique slow cooker. I want to preface that this is not an ad. Just a genuine obsession (but trust I did get you all a discount code: MIA10). I cook with this thing almost nightly, gifted it to a dear friend for her 40th birthday, and was even rambling on about it at a cool cocktail party for a fashion brand (in Silverlake no less) earlier this week.

I’ve had plenty of slow cookers in my day, but I love this one for a few distinct reasons:

• It’s clay. Which means tender, fall-apart meats and a nontoxic cooking surface.

• It’s oblong. Most slow cookers are deep pots; this one is wider and shallower, so it cooks more evenly and can handle dishes like an apple crisp.

• It sautés and sears. I’ve never had a slow cooker than can sauté the way this does.

• It’s removable. You can take the pot from stovetop to oven to table.

• It looks nice. Aesthetics matter, friends.

So in honor of my current Magnifique obsession, here are 10 things to make in it. You can, of course, use any slow cooker, but if you’re in the market for one that’s truly beautiful and functional, this is the one.

This isn’t a full recipe drop. Consider it your slow-cooker inspiration list. Each of these is simple enough for a confident cook to make without much direction. But if you want full recipes, macros, and shopping lists, those live in my Sunday Meal Prep (this week’s includes the Chicken Tacos 👀). Upgrade your subscription for full recipe access:

1. Beef Chili
A cold-weather classic that freezes beautifully.
→ Ground beef, onion, tomato, beans, chili powder, smoked paprika.
Serve with: Greek yogurt, scallions, and roasted sweet potato fries.

2. Chicken Tikka Masala
Creamy, spiced, and deeply comforting. Tastes like takeout, but better.
→ Chicken breast or thighs, tomato sauce, garam masala, garlic, ginger, yellow onion, finish with yogurt or coconut milk.
Serve with: cauliflower rice or basmati and a side of greens.

3. Bolognese
Rich, slow-cooked tomato sauce that tastes like it’s been on the stove all day.
→ Ground beef or turkey, garlic, marinara, balsamic vinegar, parmesan.
Serve with: spaghetti squash, zoodles, or pasta and a salad.

4. Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Simple, juicy, and endlessly versatile. A family favorite! This one will be in our meal prep on Sunday.
→ Chicken, chopped tomatoes, chicken broth, taco seasoning, lime juice, cilantro.
Serve with: tortillas, black beans, cabbage slaw, avocado, or as taco bowls.

5. Braised Beef with Red Wine & Vegetables
Classic, tender and deeply flavorful. I made this for a dinner party recently and it was a hit (plus easy because it was already made).
→ Chuck roast, red wine, beef broth, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, herbs.
Serve with: mashed cauliflower, polenta, or roasted root vegetables.

6. Lentil Soup
Cozy, fiber-rich, and perfect for using up veggies.
→ Lentils, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, broth, lemon, greens.
Serve with: roast chicken, salad and a baguette

7. Tuscan White Beans with Kale & Lemon
Silky, savory, and full of plant-based protein.
→ Cannellini beans, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, parmesan rind, kale, lemon zest.
Serve with: grilled fish, crusty bread, or sautéed greens.

8. Sesame Ginger Pulled Pork
Savory, a little sweet, and totally fall-apart tender. A longtime slow-cooker favorite.
→ Pork shoulder, tamari, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and scallions.
Serve with: rice or cauliflower rice, shredded cabbage, and sesame seeds, or lettuce wraps and pickled carrots.

9. Apple Crisp
You house will smell amazing and bonus: this doubles as breakfast.
→ Apples, oats, almond flour, flax seed, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown nice syrup, butter or coconut oil.
Serve with: Greek yogurt or vanilla ice cream.

10. Meal Prep Shredded Chicken
The ultimate building block for busy weeks.
→ Chicken breasts or thighs, olive oil, salt, broth or salsa verde, shred and store.
Serve with: tacos, salads, grain bowls, or wraps.

There are way more than 10 things to make in a slow cooker—I’m thinking spiced apple cider for winter parties, maybe a banana bread oatmeal bake (need to test this), curries, soups and more. If you have favorites (or recipes you’d like me to test), drop them in the comments.

Thank you, as always, for being here.
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