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Slow Cooker: The Best Cookbook Ever
This is the only slow cooker book for busy people. With over 400 recipes, The Best Slow Cooker Cookbook Ever saves time and money week after week with easy meals that keep one eating well at home every day. From Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie to Mexican Hot Chocolate Lava Cake, this cookbook contains recipes for everything from soups and roasts to cobblers and puddings, inspiring night after night of great meals. Prep a few ingredients, toss them in the pot, and let the cooker work its magic while you're gone for the day. Return to a slow-cooked, deeply flavored, great-smelling dinner for you and your familyevery night
544 pages, Paperback
First published November 25, 2009
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December 15, 2016Slow Cooker: The Best Cookbook Ever a homage to what I call a crock pot by Diane Phillips.
Right from the introduction I knew this was not just any old cookbook.
”Whenever I look at my slow cooker, I think of the lyrics to that old Sinatra standard, “I’m not much to look at, nothing to see,” but upon closer inspection the slow cooker is like the girl in high school who everyone said had a nice personality. This decidedly simple piece of equipment isn’t the most attractive item ever to grace your kitchen counter but can it cook.”
There are over 400 recipes provided here. Yes, you’ve seen these before but what makes this cookbook a standout is the detail. Starting with a series of questions, what it does, why do you need one, what size, answering all these quite well, it continues on to tips for success with technique and enhancing flavor, the terminology, what to keep on hand prior to jumping into chapters featuring the food, from soup to desserts and all in between. In addition to the recipe itself Phillips often provides ”slow cooker savvy”, snippets of help to improve the dish. She might also include an explanation of the ingredient, also using the savvy term, and where you might find those that could be unfamiliar to you.
If I were going to buy one slow cooker cookbook for a new cook or even a person with some savvy on this form of cooking, Slow Cooker: The Best Cookbook Ever would be it. As a matter of fact, I originally browsed this as a free selection from a trial on Amazon and then bought the book to give as a gift.
The tortoise of slow cooker cookbooks, slow and steady makes the taste.
Right from the introduction I knew this was not just any old cookbook.
”Whenever I look at my slow cooker, I think of the lyrics to that old Sinatra standard, “I’m not much to look at, nothing to see,” but upon closer inspection the slow cooker is like the girl in high school who everyone said had a nice personality. This decidedly simple piece of equipment isn’t the most attractive item ever to grace your kitchen counter but can it cook.”
There are over 400 recipes provided here. Yes, you’ve seen these before but what makes this cookbook a standout is the detail. Starting with a series of questions, what it does, why do you need one, what size, answering all these quite well, it continues on to tips for success with technique and enhancing flavor, the terminology, what to keep on hand prior to jumping into chapters featuring the food, from soup to desserts and all in between. In addition to the recipe itself Phillips often provides ”slow cooker savvy”, snippets of help to improve the dish. She might also include an explanation of the ingredient, also using the savvy term, and where you might find those that could be unfamiliar to you.
If I were going to buy one slow cooker cookbook for a new cook or even a person with some savvy on this form of cooking, Slow Cooker: The Best Cookbook Ever would be it. As a matter of fact, I originally browsed this as a free selection from a trial on Amazon and then bought the book to give as a gift.
The tortoise of slow cooker cookbooks, slow and steady makes the taste.
September 27, 2009
I already have about three slow cooker (crockpot) cookbooks in my kitchen library. But this is the best of them all. The recipes in this volume provide entree to a rich set of dishes. As Rachael Ray says: "Yum-o."
The introduction provides context. The book notes one advantage (Amen!) to slow cookers. When one comes home at the end of the day, the aromas greeting one upon entering the house are great--and most welcoming! Slow cookers work by providing low and slow heat over a period of time. The author notes several advantages: convenience, time savings, money savings, and nutritional benefit. I learned some tricks from the introduction, too. I have probably used too much liquid, based on my current recipe set; this volume suggests backing off. There are the usual suggestions as to what one ought to have in the pantry and kitchen to support optimal use of the slow cooker.
As always, though, it is the recipes that should be at the heart of a cookbook.
Here are a few examples:
Creamy onion soup. Yum. I love French onion soup, and this recipe is the first time I've seen a crockpot recipe that is delicious. Simple ingredients and simple instructions (a great combination, as far as I'm concerned!).
Creamy broccoli soup. I have several broccoli soup recipes, some of which are more interesting than others. This is a nice dish, using such ingredients as butter, an onion, carrots, broccoli, baking soda, broth, black pepper, and heavy cream (stirred in at the end of the process).
Other neat soups--Cajun chicken gumbo, potato and leek soup, chili recipes.
Some pasta recipes look nice (haven't tried these out yet), including Lasagna alla Bolognese, Penne lasagna, Old-fashioned mac and cheese.
Meat dishes? Braised chicken with Nicoise olives, Tarragon chicken, Frank's hot chicken wings (a rendering of the Anchor Bar's signature dish), Corned beef with Guinness, Pork chops with sauerkraut and apples, Zinfandel-braised leg of lamb. . . . And so on.
Anyhow, this book is a lot of fun! I look forward to exploiting its recipes further in the future.
The introduction provides context. The book notes one advantage (Amen!) to slow cookers. When one comes home at the end of the day, the aromas greeting one upon entering the house are great--and most welcoming! Slow cookers work by providing low and slow heat over a period of time. The author notes several advantages: convenience, time savings, money savings, and nutritional benefit. I learned some tricks from the introduction, too. I have probably used too much liquid, based on my current recipe set; this volume suggests backing off. There are the usual suggestions as to what one ought to have in the pantry and kitchen to support optimal use of the slow cooker.
As always, though, it is the recipes that should be at the heart of a cookbook.
Here are a few examples:
Creamy onion soup. Yum. I love French onion soup, and this recipe is the first time I've seen a crockpot recipe that is delicious. Simple ingredients and simple instructions (a great combination, as far as I'm concerned!).
Creamy broccoli soup. I have several broccoli soup recipes, some of which are more interesting than others. This is a nice dish, using such ingredients as butter, an onion, carrots, broccoli, baking soda, broth, black pepper, and heavy cream (stirred in at the end of the process).
Other neat soups--Cajun chicken gumbo, potato and leek soup, chili recipes.
Some pasta recipes look nice (haven't tried these out yet), including Lasagna alla Bolognese, Penne lasagna, Old-fashioned mac and cheese.
Meat dishes? Braised chicken with Nicoise olives, Tarragon chicken, Frank's hot chicken wings (a rendering of the Anchor Bar's signature dish), Corned beef with Guinness, Pork chops with sauerkraut and apples, Zinfandel-braised leg of lamb. . . . And so on.
Anyhow, this book is a lot of fun! I look forward to exploiting its recipes further in the future.
May 16, 2015
3.5 stars. A few of the recipes are really outstanding - the pork braised in cider and cream is my favorite, and I had excellent results with a stuffed flank steak. There are plenty of vegetarian and side dish recipes, too. I find myself reaching for this book about 50% of the time that I use my slow cooker.
However, take note: this is not a set-it-and-forget-it cookbook. If that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere. Each recipe requires a little work at the outset (usually browning meat) to produce the best results and depth of flavor. Some of the recipes also require adding ingredients during the last hour of cooking, so it's not as useful for someone who is at work all day and wants dinner ready when they get home.
With that said, this is an great book for the home cook who wants to adapt recipes to a slow cooker, and will be able to devote a little time here and there to the food. It's also very useful as a jumping-off point for your own recipes - once you know how long a meat should be cooked to get the desired ingredients, you can modify everything pretty easily.
However, take note: this is not a set-it-and-forget-it cookbook. If that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere. Each recipe requires a little work at the outset (usually browning meat) to produce the best results and depth of flavor. Some of the recipes also require adding ingredients during the last hour of cooking, so it's not as useful for someone who is at work all day and wants dinner ready when they get home.
With that said, this is an great book for the home cook who wants to adapt recipes to a slow cooker, and will be able to devote a little time here and there to the food. It's also very useful as a jumping-off point for your own recipes - once you know how long a meat should be cooked to get the desired ingredients, you can modify everything pretty easily.
August 21, 2020
Well, since the publisher already named this "The Best Cookbook Ever", I will just say that I am liking this cookbook a lot. I made the "Lemon, Garlic, and Butter Halibut" on Tuesday. It was a fabulous and reliable recipe which was important since halibut is $18 per pound.
I plan to make the "Braised Chicken with Nicoise Olives" on Sunday. I would invite you over to assess the recipe for yourself, but we are still social distancing.
This was another great cookbook find in the San Antonio Public Library ebook collection.
I plan to make the "Braised Chicken with Nicoise Olives" on Sunday. I would invite you over to assess the recipe for yourself, but we are still social distancing.
This was another great cookbook find in the San Antonio Public Library ebook collection.
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February 4, 2023not really in the habit of adding cookbooks to my shelves on here but i know i'm going to refer back to this countless times, i feel so much better about my future brain foggy cooking sessions
April 5, 2012
I have tried many of the recipes in this book and have been impressed, for the most part. I love that the author has taken the homespun tool of a slow cooker and given it style with the types of food featured in the recipes. My only issue is that every recipe that I have loved, must be prepped heavily ahead of time. All meats must be pan-sauteed, onions and garlic need to be sweated etc. Still worth it if you want to get schmancy with your slow cooker and I love, love the lamb and french lentil recipe. I have made it at least 6 times and my family loves it!
April 11, 2015
I think I'm in love! yea LOVE...This is an awesome collections of recipes...I love the help with making the same type of meat in different ways. I love the creative ways to make these dishes..The Trail mix...so easy and sooo good! Yey! a winner
January 26, 2012
Try the short ribs! Most of these recipes require a little prep time ahead- but they are far more gourmet than your average crock pot recipes. Delicious ideas!
August 12, 2025
Per the title, no. No, it wasn't the best cookbook ever. It was middle of the road. It was sadly lacking in photographs, just a few for this many recipes, which were quite extensive. I did give the recipes a thorough try. So many of the recipes were so heavily doused in wine I expected it to come seeping out of the pages. It got better when I halved the amount and periodically lifted the lid to let the wine fumes out.
The second problem was that almost everything was covered in mushrooms. It was quite a slog to find meals made without them in this 540 page tome., and that took about to the middle. And while one can leave out mushrooms, it greatly decreases the quantity of food in these recipes and their were no recommendations for substitutions. With such a high allergen food, there should always be something listed to substitute for it.
As for wine, it really began to feel like who needs other flavors? Just dump wine on it. Wine doesn't cook off in the crockpot the same way as it does in a Dutch oven or on the stove, so the food still smells and tastes heavily of wine when you make it in the crockpot. Any herbs lost their delicate flavors. Spices were even overwhelmed in many recipes. I began halving the wine and adding broth with it, which improved it, but did not get rid of the alcohol taste. For those who find that unpleasant, take heed.
There were several recipes that I enjoyed, that did not contain these two ingredients and they we much better, which is what makes me rate it at 3 stars. Those recipes did make it worth the read, but I'd recommend the library.
If you love wine and mushrooms, this is the book for you. If you don't, I'd get this from the library and take a good several weeks if you are going to read it. I still found some good recipes that my family would and could happily eat, but I'm glad I didn't pay for this book.
The second problem was that almost everything was covered in mushrooms. It was quite a slog to find meals made without them in this 540 page tome., and that took about to the middle. And while one can leave out mushrooms, it greatly decreases the quantity of food in these recipes and their were no recommendations for substitutions. With such a high allergen food, there should always be something listed to substitute for it.
As for wine, it really began to feel like who needs other flavors? Just dump wine on it. Wine doesn't cook off in the crockpot the same way as it does in a Dutch oven or on the stove, so the food still smells and tastes heavily of wine when you make it in the crockpot. Any herbs lost their delicate flavors. Spices were even overwhelmed in many recipes. I began halving the wine and adding broth with it, which improved it, but did not get rid of the alcohol taste. For those who find that unpleasant, take heed.
There were several recipes that I enjoyed, that did not contain these two ingredients and they we much better, which is what makes me rate it at 3 stars. Those recipes did make it worth the read, but I'd recommend the library.
If you love wine and mushrooms, this is the book for you. If you don't, I'd get this from the library and take a good several weeks if you are going to read it. I still found some good recipes that my family would and could happily eat, but I'm glad I didn't pay for this book.
May 6, 2024
Wow. This cookbook has a huge variety of recipes for the crock. Chapters begin with soups and chilies, casseroles, a chicken or turkey in every pot, something fishy going on (I skip fish recipes for the crock - its just not right), lets beef it up, whole hog, Ewell love this (lamb!), on the side, eat your veggies, something saucy and and saucy going on, and what's for dessert. I mean, seriously, if you not find anything interesting or to your taste in this cookbook, there are problems. My only issue with the book is the library ebook has 8 pictures grouped together around page 611, and 8 more pics around 1185 (my version is 1696 pages). I need MORE pictures, and located at the related recipe. This is a me thing, since i love looking at food pictures though.
March 25, 2022
Very useful collection of slow cooker recipes.
January 11, 2013
So far, so good. I also picked this book out because I was hungry and waiting for little people to find books to check out and it was new at the library and made me think, "Yes! I am going to stuff things in the crock and forget about them this month instead of cooking on the stovetop as I'm tired from the holiday cooking." -Which really now, today, I'm not, I just was that day.
In anycase so far, so good. I am digging the eversotasty recipes even if the staged pictures look better than what comes out of my pot. Isn't that true of all cookbooks? Everything I've tried so far has tasted excellent. I almost want to buy this book. But. I will see if I can't memorize the most favorites. This is what usually happens. If you aren't good at memorizing, you may want to invest in it.
In anycase so far, so good. I am digging the eversotasty recipes even if the staged pictures look better than what comes out of my pot. Isn't that true of all cookbooks? Everything I've tried so far has tasted excellent. I almost want to buy this book. But. I will see if I can't memorize the most favorites. This is what usually happens. If you aren't good at memorizing, you may want to invest in it.
February 7, 2016
This is a solid slow cooker cookbook (and a huge one)! The recipes are detailed, and sound.
This isn't a quick-fix cookbook - most of the recipes involve another cooking method - or two. That can add time. I would have liked to see an active time and total time on most of these. Also, while the recipes were grouped by type, there wasn't much coherence to the grouping - an Asian-inspired dish could be next to kale and sausage soup, for example. And you didn't get a sense of history, or a story behind the recipe, or how the author chose it. I missed that.
If you use your slow cooker a lot, you're going to have to pick this up - it's really comprehensive and a great reference and jumping off point.
This isn't a quick-fix cookbook - most of the recipes involve another cooking method - or two. That can add time. I would have liked to see an active time and total time on most of these. Also, while the recipes were grouped by type, there wasn't much coherence to the grouping - an Asian-inspired dish could be next to kale and sausage soup, for example. And you didn't get a sense of history, or a story behind the recipe, or how the author chose it. I missed that.
If you use your slow cooker a lot, you're going to have to pick this up - it's really comprehensive and a great reference and jumping off point.
November 13, 2011
I love this book because it actually has recipes for a 6-qt cooker, which is what I have, rather than 2-4-qt like most books. However, it's seriously lacking in vegetarian and healthy recipes. I've also had problems with recipes not cooking in the described amount of time on high heat, so you might want to go with the low heat alternatives.
May 6, 2011
This is absolutely the best slow cooker cookbook. I have made several recipes from each section and they have all been hits with my family. The BBQ chicken legs is one that I have to tripe the recipe for because my family loves it so much.
October 17, 2009
a little heavy on the meat recipes, but otherwise really delicious
January 11, 2010
I would give this book 4 1/2 stars. It has become my right hand in meal planning because the recipes are interesting - much more so (to me) than the cookbook "Not My Mother's Slow Cooker".
November 25, 2012
there are a few good recipes in it, but i have found better ones on-line.
September 26, 2015
Tons of recipes but needs more pictures.
June 30, 2013
Comprehensive, large, thorough cookbook! The crème brûlée alone is worth it!
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October 21, 2017enticed by only 2 of 400+ recipes; savvy tips are valuable
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