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See the full story · 1 sourcesBeef stew is one of the best slow-cooker recipes for fall days. John Kernick/Williams Sonoma
A slow cooker or Crock-Pot can be a valuable yet underutilized tool in your kitchen.
A slow cooker can make many cozy comfort foods, from stews to simple soups and roasted meats.
Meats like brisket and short ribs become tender when made in a slow cooker.
As the first hints of fall arrive and temperatures begin to cool, it's a great time to dust off your Crock-Pot or slow cooker and ease into the season with warm, comforting meals that practically cook themselves.
Business Insider spoke with chefs and cookbook authors about their favorite comforting slow-cooker meals , from hearty beef stews and chowders to tender brisket, and researched celebrity chefs' go-to Crock-Pot dishes.
Here are 17 cozy comfort-food dishes you can make in a slow cooker, according to chefs.
Short ribs become extra tender when slow-cooked.
Braised short ribs. Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock
Short ribs are one of cookbook author Kim Laidlaw's favorite things to make in a Crock-Pot, and they're a go-to on a chilly fall day.
In her cookbook , "Everyday Slow Cooking: Modern Recipes for Delicious Meals," Laidlaw offers several recipes for short ribs and recommends serving them with other sides.
"If you do them in a slow cooker, then the meat is out of the way," she told Business Insider. "Then, you can focus on other side dishes like polenta or risotto."
Stew is one of those slow-cooker meals where you can practically toss in the ingredients and walk away.
sumnersgraphicsinc/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Beef, turkey, or chicken stew is the kind of stick-to-your-bones comfort food that feels made for fall.
Packed with tender meat, hearty vegetables, and a rich, flavorful broth, a warm bowl of stew makes an especially satisfying meal as temperatures drop and chilly evenings set in.
"Beef stew is really nice in the slow cooker," Laidlaw said. "That's something I grew up on with the slow cooker, and it's just as good today."
Corn chowder is another simple meal you can make with a few inexpensive ingredients.
Corn chowder soup with bacon. Anna Puzatykh/Shutterstock
If you make this chowder in late summer or early fall, you can use fresh, in-season corn, as suggested in this celebrity chef-approved Martha Stewart recipe on the chef's website .
However, you can also take the easy route by choosing canned corn from the store. The chowder is flavorful yet light, using heartwarming ingredients like heavy cream, bacon, and baby red potatoes.
Brisket is another meat that becomes super tender in a slow cooker.
Beef brisket. iStock / Getty Images Plus
Brisket isn't reserved just for holidays or special occasions.
Laidlaw's recipe for slow-cooked braised brisket includes garlic, onion, dry red wine, carrot, and chicken or beef stock, with a chimichurri sauce.
"Brisket is a natural partner for the slow cooker, as a gentle braise renders it meltingly tender," Laidlaw writes in "Everyday Slow Cooking."
Sticky barbecue ribs can also be made in a Crock-Pot.
David P. Smith/Shutterstock
Whether it's for game day or just a slow Sunday with the family, crock-pot barbecue ribs make everything unbelievably easy.
"Ribs do really well in the slow cooker, and you can always stick them under the broiler in the end to crisp them up," Laidlaw said.
Laidlaw's recipe recommends cooking the ribs on a low heat setting for five to six hours and marinating them in ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, wine, lemon zest and juice, brown sugar, and other seasonings for maximum flavor.
Bolognese sauce is another great way to use your Crock-Pot.
Bolognese. Piyato/Getty Images
There's nothing quite like a big pot of Bolognese in the early fall or winter, and it's easy to make in the Crock Pot.
"Bolognese is great because you can cook it for a long time," Laidlaw said. "You just have to remember that the sauce doesn't evaporate the same as it would if you were doing it on the stove. You definitely need to compensate and put less liquid in the pot if you're using a slow cooker."
There are tons of recipes out there for slow-cooker Bolognese — one recipe by The Pioneer Woman recommends browning the meat first before adding it to the Crock Pot for enhanced flavor and texture.
You can also make mac and cheese in a slow cooker.
Martha Stewart slow cooker macaroni and cheese. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Celebrity chef Martha Stewart's recipe for slow-cooker mac and cheese is not only easy to make but super delicious and perfect for the fall and winter seasons.
"It is important to use pungent cheeses, such as sharp cheddar, mixed with a little Gruyere or pecorino Romano for extra bite, since the white sauce and pasta will absorb a lot of flavor," Stewart writes.
Chicken stock and broth are two kitchen staples you can make in a Crock-Pot.
Chicken broth. Andrew Thomas Lee/Clarkson Potter Publishers
Hugh Acheson's slow-cooker chicken broth is pretty simple — all you'll need is a whole chicken, salt, garlic cloves, white onions, carrots, celery, and a few seasonings to taste.
You can find the full recipe for Acheson's chicken broth in his book, " The Chef and the Slow Cooker ."
You can also make chicken soup in a slow cooker.
Thai chicken soup. Andrew Thomas Lee/Clarkson Potter Publishers
"A simple soup with Thai chilis, coconut milk, and lime is just wickedly good," Acheson said.
The recipe for Acheson's slow cooker chicken soup with chiles, coconut milk, and lime can be found here on Garden & Gun. Or, if you're feeling a little more adventurous, Acheson also said a slow cooker is a perfect way to make delicious chicken and dumplings.
Meatballs are another warming meal to make in a slow cooker.
Meatballs. anewlifephotostudio/Getty Images
Acheson points out that not only are meatballs, like the veal meatballs he includes in his book, easy and delicious to make, but they're a comforting, kid-friendly option you can make in a slow cooker...
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