I made 3 fall recipes in a Crock-Pot and they were easy and affordable to make

Erin McDowellNov 13, 2024, 01:38 IST

I made chicken-and-potato corn chowder, creamy garlic pork chops, and a classic beef stew in a slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I've made many recipes in a slow cooker before, from soups and stews to a week's worth of meals.
With the fall season in full swing, I decided to make three cozy, comforting meals in my Crock-Pot.

With the fall season in full swing, I decided to try making three fall-inspired recipes in my Crock-Pot.

I know firsthand that on a chilly work night, there's nothing better than having a warm meal already prepared so you can waltz into the kitchen to find your dinner is ready to eat.

For this week, I made three comforting, satisfying recipes that seemed perfect for fall: beef stew, chicken-and-potato corn chowder, and creamy garlic pork chops. Here's how I made them and how they turned out.

The first fall recipe I made was Martha Stewart's hearty beef stew.

The beef for the stew.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The first step is to toss your beef into the slow cooker and add the flour.

The beef chuck cubes in the slow cooker tossed with flour.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Next, add in all the other ingredients, including the tomatoes, peas, and carrots.

The beef chuck cubes in the slow cooker with the peas and carrots.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

This really is a set-and-forget-it slow-cooker meal.

The ingredients for the beef stew in the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The stew cooks for five hours on high, so if your slow cooker shuts off at the six-hour mark, as mine does, you'll need to set a timer.

The ingredients for the beef stew in the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

By the time dinner rolled around, I had a heavenly smelling kitchen and a pot of hearty stew waiting for me.

The finished beef stew in the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The meat was tender, while the potatoes made the dish more filling. I ended up saving the leftovers for another day.

The finished beef stew in a bowl.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The second recipe I made was a creamy chicken, potato, and corn chowder.

Chopped potatoes.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The recipe calls for red potatoes, halved or quartered depending on the size.

I cut up potatoes and placed them in the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I then sprinkled the potatoes with flour and gave the pot a stir.

Potatoes with flour in the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I then added in most of the other ingredients, including chicken broth, 2 1/2 cans of canned corn, thyme, dried basil, and onion powder.

The corn chowder in the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The chowder cooks on high for three hours, or until the potatoes are tender.

The corn chowder in the slow cooker with the lid on.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

While the chowder was cooking, I prepared the shredded chicken I would add towards the end.

Chicken breasts poaching in a pot on the stove.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Once the chowder was about 10 minutes away from being done, I added in the heavy cream, milk, shredded chicken, and shredded cheddar cheese.

The finished corn chowder with potatoes.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

While the chowder was finishing up, I fried some bacon to add on top.

Bacon strips in a black cast-iron pan.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I allowed the bacon to get super crispy.

Chopped bacon bits.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The finished corn chowder was a perfect cozy fall meal.

The finished corn chowder.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The final recipe I made was also the richest.

Diced potatoes in a slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

After placing chopped potatoes into the slow cooker, I sprinkled them with a bit of pepper.

Diced potatoes in a slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The next step is to make the creamy garlic sauce to pour over the entire thing.

Garlic sautéing in a pot.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The sauce calls for grated Parmesan cheese, heavy cream, cream cheese, and chicken broth.

The cheese sauce on the stove.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Next, I prepared my five boneless pork chops.

Pork chops on a paper towel.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I placed the pork chops in a hot cast-iron pan with a tablespoon of olive oil and seared them on both sides.

The pork chops searing in a cast-iron pan.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Next I added them to the slow cooker directly on top of the potatoes.

The pork chops and potatoes in the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I then chopped and sautéd my vegetables. This recipe calls for a sliced medium-size onion and two cups of sliced mushrooms.

Sautéed mushrooms and onions.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

This recipe definitely required more prep work and actual cooking than the other recipes I tried.

The slow cooker pork chops after adding in the mushrooms and onions.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

By this time, the sauce had thickened and was ready to be added to the slow cooker.