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.
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.
Introduction
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.
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Italian Recipes For Smaller Crock Pots
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.
Fire up the crock pot for 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.
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An amazingly easy crock pot pizza casserole to please the entire family. Pizza night has never been so simple. Just follow the easy step by step photo instructions.
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Time for an ultra-simple crock pot chicken baked ziti. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions to have some great Italian comfort food bursting with tasty goodness.
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Another “dump and go” easy slow cooker recipe. A classic healthy Italian recipe that is low in fat. The chicken comes out moist, fall apart tender and packed with taste.
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Tex Mex Recipes for Smaller Crock Pots
The Tex-Mex section may be out of proportion to the others, mainly due to my addiction to 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.
This is the easiest Chicken Enchilada Casserole you will ever make. Just follow these step by step photo instructions. Plus it is healthy with 7 gr of fat and less than 300 calories per serving. Using fresh chicken and your own homemade sauce, you get some of the best Mexican you will ever enjoy.
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Make great crock pot chicken tacos or nachos with only a few minutes of work. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions.
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These ultra-easy crockpot chicken fajitas can be yours with four main ingredients plus a few spices. Everybody will want the recipe, and the family will love it.
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Great Tex-Mex taste served over quick Mexican rice. Almost like an easy Tex-Mex stew for a wonderful family meal.
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Homemade great shredded beef tacos, nachos or burritos with almost no work. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions.
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Great in tacos or anywhere you would use Mexican shredded chicken. A chicken taco salad. Chicken burritos or enchiladas just follow these easy step by step photo instructions.
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This may be too easy to be this good. Cheesy Southwest chicken casserole is crock pot easy and a great tasting everyday meal. We all need easy meals.
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Great Southwest taste with this crock pot chicken and black beans that you can use for burritos, nachos, or many other ways.
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Chinese Recipes for Smaller Crock Pots
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.
It’s “take-out at home” time. Cashew Chicken is one of the most popular Chinese dishes that everybody loves. Now you can make it at home with this easy crock pot recipe.
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Bursting with Asian type flavor, this low-fat crock pot recipe is a great start a low-fat diet. Easy to follow step by step photo instructions.
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These crock pot Chinese boneless pork ribs are tender and tasty for that simple casual dining meal. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions.
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Chili Recipes for Smaller Crock Pots
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.
This is the EASIEST crock pot white chicken chili recipe you will ever see. Dump, dump, dump, then cook for 4 hours. You are rewarded for your laziness with a great chili, and all your friends will demand the recipe.
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Great tasting healthy crock pot white chicken chili with only about 250 calories and 2 gram of fat per serving. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions. No pre-cooking the chicken here.
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All chili recipes are easy to cut in half, but these two are two that are extremely popular on the blog and are very simple to adjust down.
Who says everyday crock pot chili needs to be blah? A wonderful tasty red ground beef chili recipe made crock pot easy. A great hardy meal but good enough for that Superbowl party.
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Super easy dump and go chunky stew meat chili. This wonderfully tasty chili brings multiple levels of taste with the optional use of different types of chili peppers. Tender chunks of beef will make this chili a favorite.
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Soup Recipes for Smaller Crock Pots
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 card are easy to adjust the ingredients for the number of servings you want.
Classic chicken noodle soup made crock pot simple. Great homemade taste with these easy to step by step photo instructions. Bring on the cold weather; I’m ready now.
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Oh so simple and oh so good. Better than restaurant quality, this Crock Pot French Onion Soup is an elegant classic soup for everyday or special meals.
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Hearty beef barley soup with chunks of tender beef with some veggies and barley. A crock pot soup that you can start in the morning and eat in the evening. Make a pot today for that cold weather day.
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Main Dishes/BBQ/Mac and Cheese for Smaller Crock Pots
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
A great tasting moist honey glazed ham from your crock pot and you don’t need to eat ham for a week. This two-pound boneless ham is just the right size for the smaller household.
An easy recipe for crock pot French dip sandwiches that are melt in your mouth tender and bursting with wonderful taste. Easy to follow step by step photo instructions.
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Nothing goes better with pork than apples. These apple pork chops are super easy in a crock pot and are tasty enough to leave them asking for more.
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This is one of the easiest recipes ever. Great tasting BBQ chicken in just 3 hours. With family gatherings and holiday parties are coming, you will need a main dish if your hosting or a dish to take to the party. Scale to the size you need.
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Great moisture and taste in the easiest crock pot shredded port tenderloin EVER. While I love pulled pork, this will do anytime.
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The creamiest mac and cheese is now slow cooker simple. Good enough to make my in-house mac and cheese expert go back for seconds.
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Yes, uncooked pasta. Great taste, wonderful creamy texture in the easiest slow cooker mac and cheese you will ever see.
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Candy and Dessert Recipes for Smaller Crock Pots
A great way to end the day, something sweet. We all love a great dessert and check out more dessert recipes in the Sweets Catagory.
The candy recipes are all gift giving worth for the holiday season. Check out more candy recipes in the Candy Catagory.
Let’s make some great fudge that’s so easy even a child could do it. This crock pot fudge recipe is just what you need for the holidays.
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Great white chocolate almond clusters are an easy crock pot candy with these step by step photo instruction for the perfect white chocolate candy.
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Just 5 minutes, 4 ingredients and 2 hours in the crock pot will get you some of the best candy.
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This super easy crock pot apple cobbler with only a few ingredients is a great fall treat. Just follow these simple step by step photo instructions.
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Celebrate fall and apples with this ultra simple crock pot apple crisp. Easy to follow step by step photo instructions to get it right the first time, every time.
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Thanks for stopping by.
DrDan and The puppies.
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