15 Easy 4-Quart Crockpot Recipes

A 4-quart crockpot is just the right size for making cozy meals without too many leftovers. It’s perfect for small families, couples, or meal prepping for the week. I love using mine to create flavorful, slow-cooked dishes with minimal effort. Just toss in the ingredients, set the timer, and let the crockpot do the work.

Slow cooking brings out deep, rich flavors and keeps meals warm until you’re ready to eat. If you’re looking for simple and delicious meals, these 4-quart crockpot recipes are just what you need.

1. Crockpot Chicken Alfredo

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 4 hours | Serve: 4-6

Crockpot Chicken Alfredo is a creamy and comforting dish that’s perfect for dinner. I love how easy it is to make this recipe. You just add chicken, alfredo sauce, and some seasonings to the crockpot and let it do all the work. The result is a tender chicken covered in a rich, creamy sauce that pairs perfectly with pasta. You can even toss in some spinach or mushrooms for extra flavor!

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless chicken breasts
• 1 jar (16 oz) alfredo sauce
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 cups uncooked pasta
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken breasts in the crockpot.
2. Pour the alfredo sauce and chicken broth over the chicken.
3. Sprinkle garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours.
5. Shred the chicken with two forks and stir in the uncooked pasta.
6. Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes until the pasta is cooked.
7. Serve hot with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top.

2. Beef Stew with Root Vegetables

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 8 hours | Serve: 6-8

Beef Stew with Root Vegetables is one of my go-to comfort foods during the colder months. It’s full of tender beef and hearty vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and parsnips. The slow cooking makes everything tender and flavorful. It’s a one-pot meal that’s easy to prepare and perfect for a busy day.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ pounds beef stew meat
• 4 cups beef broth
• 4 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 2 parsnips, peeled and sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the beef stew meat in the crockpot.
2. Add the broth, carrots, potatoes, parsnips, and onion.
3. Season with garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours until the beef is tender.
5. Stir before serving, and adjust seasoning if needed.

3. Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 6 hours | Serve: 4-6

Pulled Pork Sandwiches are a hit at any gathering! The slow cooking makes the pork incredibly tender and juicy. I love how you can just shred the meat and serve it on a bun with some coleslaw. It’s simple but so satisfying.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds pork shoulder
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the pork shoulder in the crockpot.
2. Mix the barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
3. Pour the sauce over the pork.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours until the pork is tender.
5. Shred the pork with two forks and mix it with the sauce.
6. Serve on buns with your favorite toppings.

4. Vegetarian Chili

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 6 hours | Serve: 6-8

Vegetarian Chili is a perfect meal for those who want something hearty without the meat. It’s packed with beans, tomatoes, and spices, making it full of flavor. I like to serve it with cornbread or over rice for a filling meal.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cans (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to the crockpot.
2. Stir to combine and season with chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours.
4. Stir before serving, and top with shredded cheese or sour cream if desired.

5. Chicken Tacos

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 4 hours | Serve: 4-6

Chicken Tacos are a quick and easy dinner option that’s always a crowd-pleaser. I love how the chicken becomes so flavorful and tender after slow cooking. You can serve it with your favorite taco toppings like lettuce, cheese, and salsa.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless chicken breasts
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken breasts in the crockpot.
2. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the chicken.
3. Pour the chicken broth and diced chilies over the top.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours until the chicken is tender.
5. Shred the chicken with two forks and serve in taco shells with your favorite toppings.

6. Crockpot Lasagna

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 4 hours | Serve: 6-8

Crockpot Lasagna is the perfect way to make this classic dish without heating up the kitchen. The layers of pasta, cheese, and tomato sauce come together beautifully, and the crockpot makes it all super easy. This is one of my favorite dishes to serve for a family dinner.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
• 1 cup water
• 9 lasagna noodles (uncooked)
• 16 oz ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain any excess fat.
2. Add the marinara sauce, water, basil, salt, and pepper to the beef. Stir to combine.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, and half of the parmesan cheese.
4. Layer the ingredients in the crockpot: start with sauce, then add noodles, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella. Repeat until all ingredients are used.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours, or until the noodles are tender.
6. Serve hot, topped with the remaining parmesan cheese.

7. Creamy Potato Soup

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 6 hours | Serve: 4-6

Creamy Potato Soup is the ultimate comfort food, especially when it’s cold outside. This recipe is super simple, and the slow cooker makes it extra creamy. I love how the potatoes get so soft and the soup becomes rich and velvety.

Ingredients:

• 4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:

1. Add the potatoes, onion, and chicken broth to the crockpot.
2. Season with garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours until the potatoes are tender.
4. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes a bit for a thicker consistency.
5. Stir in the heavy cream and cheddar cheese, then cook for another 30 minutes.
6. Serve hot, and garnish with extra cheese if desired.

8. BBQ Meatballs

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 4 hours | Serve: 4-6

BBQ Meatballs are a simple, flavorful dish that works as a main or an appetizer. These meatballs are tender and coated in a sweet, tangy barbecue sauce. I often make these for parties, but they’re great for a casual dinner as well.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ pounds ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups BBQ sauce

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, parmesan, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
2. Roll the mixture into meatballs and place them in the crockpot.
3. Pour the BBQ sauce over the meatballs.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
5. Serve hot, and enjoy with extra BBQ sauce if desired.

9. Stuffed Bell Peppers

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 4 hours | Serve: 4

Stuffed Bell Peppers are a wholesome meal that’s full of flavor. The bell peppers are filled with a savory mixture of rice, beef, and seasonings, then cooked to perfection in the crockpot. I love how they come out tender and delicious.

Ingredients:

• 4 bell peppers, tops cut off and seeds removed
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet, then drain any excess fat.
2. Stir in the cooked rice, diced tomatoes, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Stuff each bell pepper with the beef and rice mixture.
4. Place the stuffed peppers in the crockpot and cover.
5. Cook on LOW for 4 hours until the peppers are tender.
6. Top with mozzarella cheese and cook for an additional 15 minutes until melted.

10. Sweet and Sour Chicken

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 4 hours | Serve: 4-6

Sweet and Sour Chicken is a flavorful dish that’s both tangy and sweet. The chicken is coated in a delicious sauce that caramelizes as it cooks. I love serving this with steamed rice or noodles to soak up all the sauce.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup pineapple chunks, with juice
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped

Instructions:

1. Add the chicken, pineapple, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, bell pepper, and onion to the crockpot.
2. Stir to combine.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours.
4. Serve hot, and garnish with extra pineapple or green onions if desired.

11. Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 6 hours | Serve: 4-6

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole is a hearty, all-in-one meal that’s perfect for breakfast or brunch. This dish is packed with eggs, cheese, and sausage, making it both filling and flavorful. I love that you can prep it the night before and wake up to a hot, delicious breakfast!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled
• 6 large eggs
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 4 cups frozen hash browns
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Spray the crockpot with cooking spray.
2. Layer the bottom with frozen hash browns.
3. Add the crumbled sausage and shredded cheddar cheese on top.
4. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper.
5. Pour the egg mixture over the layers in the crockpot.
6. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or until the eggs are set.
7. Serve hot with extra cheese on top if desired.

12. Beef and Bean Burritos

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 5 hours | Serve: 4-6

Beef and Bean Burritos are a delicious and satisfying meal. The beef is slow-cooked with beans and spices, then wrapped in a tortilla with cheese. I love how easy this recipe is to make, and the burritos are perfect for lunch or dinner!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 6 large flour tortillas
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain any excess fat.
2. Add the taco seasoning, garlic powder, black beans, pinto beans, salsa, salt, and pepper to the beef. Stir to combine.
3. Pour the mixture into the crockpot and cover.
4. Cook on LOW for 5 hours, stirring halfway through.
5. Spoon the beef and bean mixture into flour tortillas, top with cheese, and roll them up.
6. Serve hot with sour cream or guacamole.

13. Chicken and Dumplings

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 6 hours | Serve: 4-6

Chicken and Dumplings is the ultimate comfort food, and making it in the crockpot makes it even easier. The chicken is so tender, and the dumplings are soft and fluffy. It’s the perfect dish for a cozy meal with family.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless chicken breasts
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 can (10 oz) cream of chicken soup
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
• 1 package biscuit dough (about 8 biscuits)

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken breasts in the crockpot.
2. Add the chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours until the chicken is cooked through.
4. Shred the chicken and stir in the frozen peas and carrots.
5. Drop the biscuit dough by spoonfuls onto the chicken mixture.
6. Cover and cook for an additional 1 hour, or until the dumplings are cooked through.
7. Serve hot and enjoy!

14. Cheesy Enchilada Casserole

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 4 hours | Serve: 6

Cheesy Enchilada Casserole is an easy and cheesy dish that combines all the best flavors of enchiladas, without all the rolling! Layers of tortilla, cheese, and seasoned meat make this casserole a family favorite. It’s a dish that’s quick to prepare and a big hit at dinner.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can (15 oz) red enchilada sauce
• 1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 10 corn tortillas, cut into strips
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup sour cream (optional)

Instructions:

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain any excess fat.
2. Add the taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, and green chilies to the beef. Stir to combine.
3. Layer the bottom of the crockpot with tortilla strips.
4. Add a layer of the beef mixture, followed by cheese. Repeat the layers.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours.
6. Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream if desired.

15. Pasta Primavera

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 4 hours | Serve: 4-6

Pasta Primavera is a colorful, veggie-packed dish that’s light yet filling. This crockpot version makes it easy to enjoy a healthy meal without too much effort. The pasta is cooked with fresh vegetables in a creamy sauce, and the flavors meld together beautifully.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound uncooked pasta (penne or rotini)
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Add the uncooked pasta, broccoli, bell pepper, zucchini, and diced tomatoes to the crockpot.
2. Sprinkle with garlic powder and Italian seasoning, and pour in the heavy cream.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours, stirring halfway through.
4. Stir in the parmesan cheese and cook for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese is melted.
5. Serve hot with extra parmesan if desired.

Conclusion

4-quart crockpot recipes are perfect for anyone looking to make tasty, comforting meals without spending hours in the kitchen. These recipes are simple, flexible, and great for busy days or cozy nights at home.

Give these recipes a try—they’re easy, convenient, and full of flavor! Don’t forget to share your cooking experience with us—we’d love to hear how it turned out! And for more tasty ideas, follow us on Pinterest.