27 Slow Cooker Recipes Already Cooking Before the Sunday NFL Games Begin

Sunday football is much easier to enjoy when dinner is already cooking before the first game begins. These 27 slow cooker recipes cover everything from tender roasts and saucy chicken to hearty soups, meatballs, and cheesy sides that can feed a hungry household. Some need a little preparation in the morning, while others cook long enough to have dinner ready for the later games. With the main cooking handled in the slow cooker, there is less time spent standing over the stove and more time to settle in for the game.

Slow Cooker Corned Beef with Cabbage

A tender brisket with plenty of vegetables makes Slow Cooker Corned Beef with Cabbage a substantial dinner for the later Sunday games. The recipe begins with a homemade brine of salt, brown sugar, garlic, and pickling spices that needs three to five days in the refrigerator. On game day, the beef cooks in broth before potatoes, carrots, and cabbage join it near the end. Slice the rested brisket and serve the vegetables alongside, with mustard available at the table.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Breast

The creamy mushroom sauce gives Slow Cooker Chicken Breast a more special finish than plain shredded chicken. Paprika-seasoned breast pieces cook with garlic, mushrooms, Marsala wine, and chicken broth before cream thickens the sauce. The recipe makes four servings and cooks in less than three hours, so it fits a later start on football Sunday. Spoon the chicken and sauce over mashed potatoes or rice when you want a sit-down dinner between games without standing over the stove all afternoon.
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Slow Cooker Mac n Cheese

A soft, cheesy scoop of Slow Cooker Mac n Cheese belongs beside wings, ribs, or pulled pork during a long football Sunday. Uncooked macaroni goes into the slow cooker with cheddar, mozzarella, milk, evaporated milk, butter, and paprika, so there is no separate pasta pot to manage. This eight-serving side takes just over three hours and needs a stir as it cooks. Spoon it into small bowls at halftime, or bring the cooker to the table for an easy side with dinner.
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Crockpot Marry Me Chicken

Rich cream sauce and tender chicken make Crockpot Marry Me Chicken a filling main dish without a long afternoon at the stove. Chicken breasts cook with broth, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, Parmesan, and a little red pepper. The recipe makes three servings in just over four hours, well suited to a smaller household watching the game at home. Cook pasta or rice near serving time and spoon the chicken and sauce over it, finishing with fresh basil.
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Mississippi Pot Roast

Buttery cooking juices and tangy peppers make Mississippi Pot Roast an easy centerpiece for a Sunday dinner after the early games. Chuck roast slowly cooks with ranch seasoning, gravy mix, pepperoncini peppers, their brine, and butter until the meat is tender. The recipe makes eight servings and takes roughly ten hours, so it is one to start early in the morning. Pull the roast into pieces and serve over mashed potatoes, keeping the seasoned juices to spoon over each plate.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

A savory tomato-and-cream sauce coats Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs while the main cooking happens away from the stove. Bone-in chicken thighs cook with onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and spinach, with heavy cream adding richness. The recipe makes six servings in a little over four hours. Serve the chicken with rice or crusty bread to make use of the sauce, especially when everyone wants a proper dinner after several hours of football snacks.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Tender beef and mushrooms give Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff a hearty finish that suits a chilly Sunday evening. Cubes of beef cook with onion, beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder; sour cream goes in toward the end. The recipe makes six servings in just over six hours. Boil the egg noodles separately while the sauce finishes, then spoon the beef mixture over them for a warm dinner without constant stirring.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken

Tangy peppers and buttery juices make Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken useful when you want one pot to cover the main dish. Chicken breasts simmer with ranch seasoning, au jus mix, pepperoncini peppers, pepperoncini juice, and butter until tender enough to shred. The recipe makes four servings in a little over four hours. Pile the chicken into sandwich rolls for an easy game-day plate, or spoon it over mashed potatoes once the last afternoon game is over.
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Pulled Pork Sliders

Soft buns topped with saucy pork make Pulled Pork Sliders a practical choice for guests moving between the couch and the snack table. Pork shoulder cooks in the slow cooker with barbecue sauce, beer, ketchup, and brown sugar before being shredded. A homemade dressing and coleslaw finish the sandwiches. The recipe makes 16 sliders in a little over six hours. Keep the buns and slaw separate until serving, then assemble a tray during a break in the game.
Get the Recipe: Pulled Pork Sliders

Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole

A layer of tater tots gives Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole its potato topping over a cheesy ground beef filling. Brown the beef first, then add it to the cooker with corn, onion, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, and cheddar before arranging the frozen tots above it. The recipe makes six servings in about five hours. Broil the finished casserole in a separate oven-safe dish if you want a crisp top, then scoop it into bowls for halftime.
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Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Creamy broth and mild green chiles make Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili a welcome alternative to the usual beef chili on football Sunday. Chicken cooks with white beans, corn, onion, broth, cumin, and oregano before cream cheese and cream enrich the pot. The recipe makes six servings in a little over four hours, leaving time to prepare toppings before dinner. Set out bowls with tortilla chips and sliced green onions, and let everyone fill a bowl between games.
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Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Citrusy, seasoned pork makes Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas a flexible filling for a football Sunday taco table. Pork shoulder cooks with cumin, oregano, chili powder, onion, garlic, orange juice, lime juice, and broth until it can be shredded. The recipe makes eight servings in a little over five hours, with a searing step before slow cooking. Put out warm tortillas, avocado, and sliced red onion so everyone can build a plate when the pork is ready.
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Slow Cooker Nacho Meatballs

A thick, cheesy sauce turns Slow Cooker Nacho Meatballs into a warm snack that can sit beside the other game-day dishes. Frozen meatballs simmer with tomatoes and green chiles, taco seasoning, Velveeta, and heavy cream until heated through. The recipe makes six servings in just over four hours. Scatter scallions over the top and offer toothpicks for snacking, or spoon the meatballs into bowls with tortilla chips when the game runs into dinnertime.
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Slow Cooker Rump Roast

The classic roast dinner comes together in Slow Cooker Rump Roast, with baby potatoes and carrots cooking alongside the beef. Rump roast slowly simmers with beef broth, onion, rosemary, and thyme until the meat is tender and the vegetables are ready to serve. The recipe makes six servings in just over five hours. Slice the roast and spoon some broth over the plate after the afternoon game, with no need to cook separate potatoes or carrots.
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Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken

A creamy ranch coating makes Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken a full dinner that needs little work once the ingredients are in the pot. Chicken breasts cook with baby potatoes, carrots, dry ranch seasoning, cream of chicken soup, and heavy cream. The recipe makes six servings and takes just over eight hours, so an early start works for the later Sunday games. Serve the chicken with its vegetables and spoon the sauce over everything when everyone is ready to eat.
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Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Rich brown gravy covers Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs after a long, gentle simmer with almost no meatball prep. Frozen meatballs cook with beef broth, gravy mix, onion soup mix, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce; cornstarch thickens the sauce at the end. The recipe makes six servings in a little over six hours. Spoon the meatballs over mashed potatoes for dinner, or set out small bowls and forks when the game-day crowd wants a more substantial snack.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

A pot of tender beef and vegetables makes Slow Cooker Beef Stew a satisfying dinner for the end of a long Sunday. Chuck roast, carrots, potatoes, and onion cook in beef broth with tomato paste, red wine, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme. The recipe makes eight servings in a little over eight hours, so it needs an early start. Serve the stew in deep bowls with bread on the side once the later game gets underway.
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Slow Cooker Ribs

Sticky barbecue sauce coats Slow Cooker Ribs as the meat becomes tender without a grill or smoker to tend. Baby back ribs get a rub of brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper before cooking with barbecue sauce. The recipe makes four servings in a little over four hours. Cut the ribs into smaller portions and bring them to the table with coleslaw and extra napkins when the afternoon game reaches halftime.
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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Sweet and savory juices give Slow Cooker Pulled Pork a different flavor from the barbecue-topped sliders earlier in the lineup. Pork loin cooks with brown sugar, mustard, soy sauce, bay leaves, and dark beer, then gets shredded in the cooker. The recipe makes 12 servings, and the sauce needs a little extra time uncovered to thicken after cooking. Pile the pork onto buns or set it out with tortillas for an easy Sunday dinner that guests can build themselves.
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Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup

Small meatballs and tender vegetables make Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup a lighter dinner choice after an afternoon of rich football snacks. Frozen beef or turkey meatballs cook in chicken broth with carrots, celery, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder, while small pasta and spinach are added toward the end. The recipe makes six servings in a little over five hours. Serve in bowls with toasted bread, adding the pasta at the directed stage so it does not get too soft.
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Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin

A glossy sweet-and-savory sauce gives Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin a more formal dinner feel without taking over the kitchen. Pork tenderloins cook with apple cider vinegar, honey, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic, ginger, and smoked paprika. The recipe makes six servings in a little over four hours, with a quick sear before the meat goes into the cooker. Slice the pork and spoon the sauce over rice or roasted vegetables when the final game winds down.
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Crockpot Turkey Breast

Sweet cranberry and citrus flavors set Crockpot Turkey Breast apart from the chicken and beef dishes on this Sunday menu. Boneless turkey breast slowly cooks with cranberry sauce, dry onion soup mix, and orange juice, making a savory main with a fruity finish. The recipe makes six servings in a little over six hours. Slice the turkey and serve with mashed potatoes or green beans for a sit-down dinner that takes less oven space than a traditional roast.
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Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Soft potatoes and mushrooms surround Slow Cooker Pot Roast, making it a complete beef dinner for a relaxed Sunday. Chuck roast cooks with onion, carrots, garlic, tomato paste, beef stock, red wine, thyme, and rosemary until tender. The recipe makes eight servings in a little over five hours. Spoon the vegetables onto plates with the beef and add some of the cooking liquid, saving you from making a separate gravy while the game is on.
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Slow Cooker Pork Chops

Tender chops in a creamy Parmesan sauce make Slow Cooker Pork Chops a good main dish when dinner should be simple but filling. Boneless pork chops cook with heavy cream, Parmesan, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, creating a sauce that is ready to serve with the meat. The recipe makes four servings in a little over four hours. Add a baked potato or steamed green beans near the end, then bring everything to the table after the afternoon kickoff.
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Slow Cooker Taco Meatloaf

A cheesy center and taco-seasoned beef give Slow Cooker Taco Meatloaf a different finish from an ordinary Sunday meatloaf. Ground beef mixes with green chiles, onion, taco seasoning, crushed nacho cheese chips, eggs, milk, and Monterey Jack, while taco sauce and Colby Jack go on top. The recipe makes six servings in a little over six hours. Cut thick slices for dinner and set out tomatoes, sour cream, or avocado so everyone can add their own toppings.
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Slow Cooker Potato Soup

A thick, creamy bowl of Slow Cooker Potato Soup makes an easy meal once the afternoon turns cool. Cubed potatoes simmer with broth, onion, and garlic, while milk, butter, flour, cheddar, and sour cream create the richer finish. The recipe makes six servings in just over three hours. Spoon the soup into bowls and add cooked bacon and green onions, with crusty bread on the side for anyone who wants more than a snack between games.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Slow Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast

Tangy pepperoncini and rich cooking juices make Slow Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast a substantial main dish for an evening game. Pork shoulder cooks slowly with ranch seasoning, au jus gravy mix, butter, pepperoncini, and a little brine until the meat is tender enough to pull apart. The recipe makes eight servings in just over eight hours, so start it early in the morning. Serve the pork over mashed potatoes or in rolls, keeping the seasoned juices for spooning on top.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast