But when those recipes take just three steps or less to make, dinner is even easier to prepare.

A combination of garam masala, curry powder and cumin adds to the complex flavor.

Slow-Cooker Three-Bean Chili Mac

Chili meets mac and cheese in this fix-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker dinner.

a recipe photo of the Slow-Cooker Cauliflower & Chickpea Tikka Masala

Photo:Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

Serve over a bed of brown rice or brown rice noodles to catch all the sauce.

Perfect for meal prep or family dinners, this stew comes together easily in the slow cooker.

Sour cream helps cut the heat, but you could also use plain strained yogurt.

a recipe photo of the Slow-Cooker Marry Me Chicken with Barley

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

Kielbasa adds protein and a deeply savory note to this dinner in a bowl.

Serve with rice or rice noodles.

Plus, cooking everything together low and slow infuses all the flavors together for complexity in every bite.

a recipe photo of the Slow-Cooker Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Pasta Bake

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

Look for fresh pineapple thats been peeled and cored already to make assembly even easier.

Serve with brown rice to sop up the sweet and savory sauce.

a recipe photo of the Slow-Cooker Three-Bean Chili Mac

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

Overhead photo of slow cooker Loaded Broccoli Soup with toppings.

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Overhead photo of two bowl of Slowcooker Spinach Artichoke Chicken Soup

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

a recipe photo of the Creamy Leek Soup

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

a recipe photo of the Crock Pot Make Chicken & Dumplings

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Slow Cooker Chicken, Bacon, and Potato Soup

Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Slow Cooker Thai Beef Curry in a bowl for serving

Victor Protasio

a recipe photo of the Kale Sausage Stew served in a bowl

Ali Redmond

Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili

Jason Donnelly

Load & Go Mushroom and Sausage Slow-Cooker Soup

Photographer / Brie Passano Styling / Annie Probst / Holly Raibikis

Black-Vinegar-Braised Beef

Leigh Beisch

Kale, Wild Rice & Chicken Stew

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