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Smaller Crock Pot Recipe Roundup

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Give that smaller crock pot some love with one of these 35 easy everyday recipes. All with easy to follow step by step photo instructions.

Collage of small crock pot recipes

Table of Contents

Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

Introduction

Welcome to my collection of recipes for smaller crock pots. While I'm aiming for the 3-4 quart crockpots, all my recipes can be adjusted in the recipe card for a different number of servings for other size crock pots.

Please enjoy this collection and pin the graphic at the bottom of the page for rapid access, I have provided a Jump Index to get you where you want to go on this long page.

Crock Pots

A crock pot will make your life easier, but in a smaller household, large six to seven-quart crock pots are just too big for common use. You only have so much freezer space.

The tiny 1-2 quart crock pots are not very useful. Even when cooking for one, the maximum amount you can make seems out of proportion to the work involved. A slightly bigger crock pot in the 3-4 quart range will be a more useful tool and offer a few leftovers so needed on smaller households.

A 3-4 quart crock pots are "just right" most of the time in a smaller household. Many are super cheap, but remember, you will have this for years so spend a few dollars more and get one you can keep and use. I have the one I use in The Cooking for Two Shop if you are interested.

Italian Recipes

I love Italian, and you can check out all the Italian recipes in the Italian Catagory, but there are the ones I specifically make in smaller crock pots. The first is one of my favorite recipes on the entire blog.

Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Fire up the crock pot for some of the best baked ziti you will ever eat. You may confuse it with great lasagna. With no precooking of the pasta, you will love this recipe.
Check Out This Recipe
baked ziti on a white plate
Crock Pot Pizza Casserole
Crock pot pizza casserole is a delicious and easy dinner recipe the whole family will love. Use your favorite pizza toppings with uncooked pasta and pantry ingredients to make crock pot pizza perfect for you.
Check Out This Recipe
crock pot pizza casserole in pot
Easy Chicken Baked Ziti in a Crock Pot
Super easy and extra tasty, this cheesy crock pot chicken baked ziti recipe uses raw chicken, dry pasta, and homemade marinara sauce. Dump it all in your crock pot, and it will all cook at the same time for a great family dinner.
Check Out This Recipe
chicken pasta on a gray plate
Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore
Classic Italian Chicken Cacciatore is a family-friendly, easy dinner recipe. Made in a crock pot, the chicken comes out moist, fall-apart tender, and packed with taste. Your home will have a wonderful aroma of tomatoes and peppers all day long.
Check Out This Recipe
Chicken Cacciatore on white plate

Tex Mex Recipes

The Tex-Mex section may be out of proportion to the others, mainly due to my love for Tex-Mex foods and tastes. Just because we are cooking for smaller households, we can still have great taste.

Here are the Tex Mex recipes I cook in a smaller crock pot, but you can see all the recipes in the Tex Mex Catagory.

Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole
The easiest Chicken Enchilada Casserole you will ever make. Full of tender chicken, homemade sauce, and lots of cheese. No rolling enchiladas or standing at the stove. Let your crock pot do the work for some great healthy Mexican tonight.
Check Out This Recipe
chicken enchilada casserole on blue plate
Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
With only three ingredients, a crock pot, and 5 minutes of prep, you can make delicious shredded chicken tacos or nachos. So simple, cheap, and healthy, you will repeat this recipe over and over.
Check Out This Recipe
Chichen taco meat on a chip
Easy Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
Delicious and tender crock pot chicken fajitas have all those great fajita flavors but none of the work—an easy recipe for an excellent Mexican dinner. Let the crock pot do the work and skip any marinading or sauteing.
Check Out This Recipe
made up Chicken Fajitas with cheese on gray plate
Crock Pot Mexican Shredded Beef
Homemade great shredded beef tacos, nachos or burritos with almost no work. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions.
Check Out This Recipe
shredded beef nacho
Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken Casserole - Tex Mex Style
This Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken Casserole is bursting with great Tex-Mex spices. It is too easy to be this good. Plus, it is lower in fat and calories, so it will fit many diet types.
Check Out This Recipe
cheesy southwest casserole on spoon
Crock Pot Fiesta Chicken
Feast chicken is a great combination of Mexican flavors with chicken, black beans, and corn. Make burritos, a taste Mexican bowl, or use it on nachos, salads, or rice. Only a few minutes of active work will get you a dinner to remember.
Check Out This Recipe
a fiesta chicken nacho over a plate

Chinese Recipes

Yes, Chinese food is great in a crock pot. Here are my specific smaller crock pot recipes but you will find all my Chinese recipes in the Chinese Catagory. Remember, all recipes card are easy to adjust the ingredients for the number of servings you want.

Crock Pot Cashew Chicken
An amazing slow cooker Chinese meal that is better than takeout! Tender breaded chicken in a sauce loaded with great flavor. And the cashews to top off this Chinese classic.
Check Out This Recipe
Image of Cashew Chicken on rice and a gray plate
Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Breast
Fire up the slow cooker, time for some take-out at home with this easy honey garlic chicken breast recipe. Healthy, great taste with a few pantry ingredients, and 10 minutes prep is all it takes. Everybody can use another easy crockpot chicken recipe.
Check Out This Recipe
honey garlic chicken and rice on plate
Crock Pot Chinese Boneless Ribs
Make Chinese takeout at home. Sticky, sweet, and tender Crock Pot Boneless Ribs will become your favorite easy home Chinese dish with just common pantry ingredients and your slow cooker.
Check Out This Recipe
Chiness boneless ribs on white plate

Chili Recipes

Chili is great in a crock pot. The first two are specifically for smaller crock pots and two of the best chilis you will ever make. The next two are very simple to cut in half. Check out all the great chili recipes in the Chili Catagory.

Easiest Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
The ultimate dump-and-go crock pot white chicken chili with salsa recipe only needs five ingredients. Only 10 minutes prep and shredded chicken, white beans, pepper jack cheese, and some salsa will get your new favorite chili. Scaled-down for a smaller crock pot or adjust the amount to your needs.
Check Out This Recipe
White Chicken Chili on a spoon over bowl
Healthy Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
Originally named "Low-Fat High-Taste" chicken chili by my wife, this healthy dinner has everything you want in great white bean chicken chili. It is dump-and-go easy with a wonderful mellow taste with just the right touch of heat.
Check Out This Recipe
Low Fat Crock Pot Chicken Chili on a spoon

All chili recipes are easy to cut in half, but these two are the most popular popular on the blog and are very simple to adjust down.

Crock Pot Chili
Super easy to make and one of the best homemade chilies you will ever have. This versatile chili is perfect in a smaller crock pot and can easily be adjusted to your taste and needs.
Check Out This Recipe
orange bowl with chili with cheese
Stew Meat Chili - Chili Con Carne
Super easy dump and go chunky stew meat chili. Also known as Chili Con Carne—think of it as almost Texas chili but with beans. Make is smaller chili con carne recipe in your crock pot or on the stovetop for an excellent chili bursting with flavor.
Check Out This Recipe
Stew Meat Chili in a spoon over a blue bowl

Soup Recipes

Like Chili recipes, soup is just great in a crock pot. These three are designed for the smaller crock pot. Check out all the great soups in the Soup Catagory. Remember, all recipes cards are easy to adjust the ingredients for the number of servings you want.

Crock Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
Rich and creamy crock pot broccoli cheese soup is super easy to make with frozen or fresh broccoli and only a few minutes of prep before going in your slow cooker. The perfect comfort food for a cold winter day.
Check Out This Recipe
Broccoli cheese soup in a spoon
Chicken Noodle Soup
This simple classic chicken noodle soup can be made in a crock pot or on the stovetop—get great homemade taste with this Betty Crocker inspired recipe. Bring on the cold weather; I'm ready now.
Check Out This Recipe
Ladle of chicken noodle soup over the crock pot
Crock Pot French Onion Soup
Classic French onion soup features beefy broth loaded with caramelized onions topped with crusty bread and melted cheese. Elegant comfort food made ridiculously easy with your slow cooker. Perfect for a small crock pot or double to make the family size.
Check Out This Recipe
French Onion in a bowl covered with browned cheese
Crock Pot Beef Barley Soup
This hearty beef barley soup recipe has chunks of tender beef and vegetable with plump and tender barley. This easy comfort food only needs a few minutes of preparation, and your slow cooker will do the rest.
Check Out This Recipe
ladel of beef barley soup over a full crock pot

Main Dishes/BBQ/Mac and Cheese

Here is a variety of there smaller crock pot recipes from a variety of categories. There is BBQ, Casseroles, Pork Chops, and Mac and Cheese

Smaller Crock Pot Honey Glazed Ham
Crock pot honey glazed ham recipe is one of the easiest recipes you will ever make—a great holiday main dish for a smaller household or as a second meat at the large feast.
Check Out This Recipe
slices of ham with pineapple on white plater
Crock Pot French Dip
An easy recipe for crock pot French dip sandwiches that are melt in your mouth tender and bursting with a wonderful flavor. Topped with cheese and dipped in au jus, it is a casual dining delight.
Check Out This Recipe
image of a French dip sandwich with dip on a gray plate.
Crock Pot Apple Pork Chops
Apple pork chops are the perfect fall meal and so easy in a crock pot. Just follow these simple step by step photo instructions.
Check Out This Recipe
apple pork chop on white plate
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
This is one of the easiest recipes ever—tasty BBQ chicken in under 4 hours. Great for family gatherings and parties or just when you want to be lazy for an easy family dinner.
Check Out This Recipe
a shredded BBQ chicken sandwich on a white plate
Easy Crock Pot Shredded Pork Tenderloin
Think of it as a smaller size crock pot version of pulled pork. Moist and tender, this shredded BBQ pork tenderloin is seasoned with a few spices and only takes a few hours in a crock pot. Super easy for even a beginner with these step-by-step photo instructions.
Check Out This Recipe
Shredded pork tenderloin on bun
Easy Crock Pot Pork Chops with Gravy
Fall apart tender pork chops smothered in green pepper and gravy. It makes your mouth water. Nothing is more comforting than pork chops with gravy—all without cans of soup or envelopes of chemicals.
 
Check Out This Recipe
pork chop on white plate with pepper and gravy
Creamy Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
A creamy, tasty mac and cheese recipe that is ultra-simple and this will become your favorite comfort food recipe. As easy as boiling water, it is a delicious alternative to the blue box. And good enough to make my "in-house mac and cheese expert" go back for seconds.
Check Out This Recipe
Macaroni and Cheese on fork
Uncooked Macaroni Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
Great taste, wonderful creamy texture in the easiest slow cooker mac and cheese you will ever see using uncooked pasta. No boiling for you. You can make this tonight.
Check Out This Recipe
Mac and Cheese on Spoon

Candy and Dessert Recipes

A great way to end the day, something sweet. We all love a great dessert and check out more dessert recipes in the Dessert Category.

The candy recipes are all gift giving worth for the holiday season. Check out more candy recipes in the Candy Category.

Crock Pot Fudge
Let's make some great fudge with this super-easy recipe. Have fun making fudge with your child or just by yourself. This crock pot fudge recipe is just what you need for the holidays.
Check Out This Recipe
image of a pile of pieces of fudge with nuts on a red plate
Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters
Super easy and delicious white chocolate almond clusters are the perfect gift for the holidays or for any special occasion. Simple with these step by step photo instruction for the perfect white chocolate candy.
Check Out This Recipe
white chocolate almond clusters on a white plate
Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Chocolate peanut clusters make the perfect holiday sweet treat. With just 5 minutes of preparation time, three ingredients, and your crock pot, your delicious chocolate peanut clusters make the perfect holiday gift, a cookie exchange, or a treat for the office Christmas party.
Check Out This Recipe
Chocolate Peanut Clusters on a red plate
Crock Pot Apple Cobbler
This super easy crock pot apple cobbler is the perfect dessert for a family dinner and only needs a few ingredients. This is a dump-and-go recipe that is done in your slow cooker in about two hours. Mouthwatering has never been so simple.
Check Out This Recipe
Apple Cobbler on a gray plate
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DrDan and The Puppies.

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