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    🏠Home » Small Crock Pots Recipes

    Smaller Crock Pot Recipe Roundup

    Feb 20, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · Leave a Comment

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

    Collage of small crock pot recipes

    Welcome to the collection of my best recipes for smaller crock pots—all will work in 3-4 quart, or larger crock pots and most can be adapted for smaller slow cookers(see next section.)

    I have provided a Jump Index to get you where you want to go on this long page. Please enjoy the recipes.

    Jump To:
    • Announcing the New Mini Crock Pot Category
    • About Crock Pot Size
    • Italian Recipes
    • Tex Mex Recipes
    • Chinese Recipes
    • Chili Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Main Dishes/BBQ/Mac and Cheese
    • Candy and Dessert Recipes
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Announcing the New Mini Crock Pot Category

    By popular request, I have created a subgroup of the Small Crock Pot recipe category that also works in 2-quart mini crock pots. They appear in both categories, and they either already worked in mini crock pots or have instructions for the needed adjustments in the post's text.

    Check it out now—The New Mini Crock Pot Recipes category.

    About Crock Pot Size

    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 everyday use. You only have so much freezer space. They are heavy and harder to store. So, let's talk crock pot size.

    • Micro crock pots of less than 2-quart are not very useful outside of sauce or dips.
    • 2-3 quart mini crock pots can work for more dishes and may be enough for a "cooking for one" household. But many will have temperature control and quality issues. Plus, by cutting down recipes this much, you will tend to waste a lot of ingredients, and you won't be saving if you throw out half-used ingredients.
    • A 3-4 quart crock pots are "just right" most of the time in a smaller household. Small enough for most people to handle and make recipes with some leftovers while not wasting many ingredients.

    Italian Recipes

    I love Italian, and you can check out all the Italian recipes in the Italian Category, 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
    This easy Crock Pot Baked Zit has delicious meat sauce, three kinds of cheese, and uses uncooked pasta. You can have the best Italian for dinner tonight.
    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.
    Check Out This Recipe
    chicken pasta on a gray plate
    Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore
    Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore is a healthy, hardy recipe with tender chicken, vegetables, and rich tomato sauce. This classic Italian dish is an easy dump-and-go weeknight dinner recipe.
    Check Out This Recipe
    chicken cacciatore on pasta and on white plate

    Tex Mex Recipes

    The Tex-Mex section may be disproportionate 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 Enchiladas
    Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas is one of the easiest recipes you will ever make with delicious homemade sauce, tender chicken, tortillas, and loaded with cheese.
    Check Out This Recipe
    crock pot chicken enchiladas on spoon
    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
    Easy Mexican Shredded Beef—Crock Pot or Oven
    Homemade shredded Mexican beef with deep flavor from the easy braising fluid. Cook this fork-tender beef in a crock pot or your oven. Perfect in a variety of Mexican dishes or on a salad.
    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 excellent in a crock pot. Here are my 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.

    Small Crock Pot Cashew Chicken
    An easy cashew chicken recipe for a small crock pot but easy to scale to a larger amounts. Packed with tender breaded chicken, cashews, and a wonderful sauce. Add some vegetables and serve over rice for a complete meal.
    Check Out This Recipe
    cashew chicken on with rice on 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 are two of the best chilis you will ever make. Check out all the great chili recipes in the Chili Category.

    Easiest Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
    Award-winning Crock Pot White Chicken Chili only needs five ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time. It's thick and creamy with tender chicken and mild spiciness.
    Check Out This Recipe
    White Chicken Chili on a spoon over bowl
    Small 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 small crock pot but can easily be adjusted to your taste and needs.
    Check Out This Recipe
    orange bowl with chili with cheese
    Healthy White Chicken Chili
    This Healthy White Chicken Chili is packed with tender chicken, beans, and a spicy broth. A full-flavor chili that fits low-calorie and low-fat diets.
    Check Out This Recipe
    chicken chili on a spoon
    Stew Meat Chili—Crock Pot or Stovetop
    An easy dump-and-go stew meat chili recipe with chunks of beef, beans, and chili peppers bursts with flavor. Think of it as almost Texas chili but with beans. This smaller chili recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for your needs.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Stew Meat Chili in a spoon over a blue bowl

    Soup Recipes

    Like Chili recipes, soup is just fantastic in a crock pot. These are designed for the smaller crock pot. Check out all the great soups in the Soup Category.

    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
    Old Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup in a Crock Pot
    This simple classic chicken noodle soup recipe can be made in a crock pot or on the stovetop—get a great homemade taste with this 1972 Betty Crocker-inspired recipe. Uses a smaller crock pot or make it truly "for two" by cutting the ingredients in half.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Ladle of chicken noodle soup over the crock pot
    Easy Crock Pot French Onion Soup—Long and Slow
    Classic French onion soup features beefy broth loaded with caramelized onions, then topped with crusty bread and melted cheese. With only 10 minutes of preparation, you let your crock pot handle the all-day long low and slow cooking.
    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 smaller crock pot recipes from various categories. There is BBQ, Casseroles, Pork Chops, and Mac and Cheese

    Smaller Crock Pot Honey Glazed Ham
    Crock Pot Honey Glazed Ham will enhance a smaller boneless ham with pineapple, honey, and spices to make a great holiday main dish.
    Check Out This Recipe
    slices of ham with pineapple on white plater
    Crock Pot French Dip with Au Jus
    Melt-in-your-mouth French dip sandwiches are a casual dinner classic. One of your favorite recipe dishes can now be easily made at home with pantry ingredients and a crock pot.
    Check Out This Recipe
    French dip sandwich with au jus
    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
    Easiest 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 small 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.
    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
    Crock Pot Mac and Cheese with Uncooked Pasta
    Crock Pot Mac and Cheese with Uncooked Pasta has excellent taste, creamy texture, and tender pasta in one of the easiest recipes you can make for dinner tonight—no boiling for you.
    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 using the gentle heat of your crock pot and only 4 ingredients. Have fun making fudge with your child or just by yourself. This chocolate fudge recipe is just what you need for the holidays.
    Check Out This Recipe
    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 are the best candy treat and are super easy to make at home in your crock pot. Lightly salted peanuts covered with sweet chocolate coating make the perfect gift, or keep them all for yourself—you can always make more with this smaller recipe.Only a few ingredients.
    Check Out This Recipe
    red plate full of chocolate peanut clusters
    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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    Thanks for stopping by.

    DrDan and The Puppies.

    More Small Crock Pot Recipes

    • crock pot chicken enchiladas on spoon
      Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas
    • baked ziti on a white plate
      Crock Pot Baked Ziti
    • chicken chili on a spoon
      Healthy White Chicken Chili
    • cashew chicken on with rice on a gray plate
      Small Crock Pot Cashew Chicken

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