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  1. Midwest Living
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  4. Hearty Slow-Cooker Soups, Stews & Chilies

Hearty Slow-Cooker Soups, Stews & Chilies

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com Updated September 02, 2020
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Smoky Beef, Black Bean and Corn Chili
Credit: Blaine Moats

Make cheesy potato soup, black-bean chili, beef stew and more with our 25 kitchen-tested recipes.

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Smoky Beef, Black Bean and Corn Chili

Smoky Beef, Black Bean and Corn Chili
Credit: Blaine Moats
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This hands-off, slow-cooker recipe has just a pound of ground beef and a can of stock. All the rest of the heft and taste comes from black beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, smoked paprika, chipotle peppers and corn tortillas.

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Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

Slow-Cooker Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
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This 170-calorie slow-cooker version of a classic comfort food takes just 25 minutes of prep and uses reduced-fat cream cheese in its creamy homemade broth.

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Cheesy Potato Soup

Cheesy Potato Soup
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Potato, bacon and cheese—all the flavors you love in a bowl of soup! The American cheese keeps the soup from curdling while it slow cooks. Mashing cooked potatoes a bit gives the soup some body, while the bacon adds a smoky-salty taste. 

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Slow-Cooker Brat and Sauerkraut Soup

Slow-Cooker Brat and Sauerkraut Soup
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Potatoes, onion, sauerkraut and brats pack in the German flavor in this homey slow-cooker soup. Try with Whole Wheat Pretzel Rolls; the soft pretzels' chewy, brown exterior comes from being boiled in an alkaline solution-the 1/4 cup baking soda in the water isn't a typo!

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Chipotle Black-Bean Chili

Chipotle Black-Bean Chili
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This chili is great for tucking into your slow cooker in the morning, so you can come home to a warm dinner. Omit the meat if you'd prefer a hearty meatless main dish. If you like, add chopped avocado or shredded cheese as toppers before serving.

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Soy-Ginger Soup with Chicken

Soy-Ginger Soup with Chicken
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Somen are thin Japanese wheat noodles. Find them at Asian groceries or large supermarkets, or substitute vermicilli in this light chicken soup.

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Fireside Beef Stew with Root Vegetables

Fireside Beef Stew with Root Vegetables
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Cranberry juice makes a surprise appearance in this slow cooker main dish. The juice adds a little sweetness to the winter veggie-packed soup.

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Chicken Chili

Chicken Chili
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Short on time? Move the slow-cooker setting for this mild white chili recipe to high. If you like, serve in store-bought bread bowls.

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Mexican Meatball Stew

Mexican Meatball Stew
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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This easy slow-cooker meal has just five ingredients, all packaged or canned. Toss it together in minutes in the morning, and come home to a finished meal in the afternoon.

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Tomatillo Chicken Soup

Tomatillo Chicken Soup
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Tomatillos (the key ingredient in green salsa) look like green tomatoes with papery husks. Although they can be eaten raw, we like to cook tomatillos with other ingredients to mellow and balance their tart flavor.

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Chicken and White Bean Stew

Chicken and White Bean Stew
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Great Northern or cannellini beans blend with chicken and purchased Alfredo sauce in this easy-to-assemble meal. Serve with crusty bread and tossed salad.

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Italian Vegetable Soup

Italian Vegetable Soup
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Purchased pesto adds zip to this veggie-barley slow-cooked soup. Serve with a sandwich for a light meal.

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Red Bean, Chicken, and Sweet Potato Stew

Red Bean, Chicken, and Sweet Potato Stew
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Vitamin-rich sweet potatoes and creamy peanut butter complement spicy Cajun seasoning in this easy chicken slow-cooker stew. 

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Lentil-Ham Soup

Lentil-Ham Soup
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Fresh spinach and sliced carrots add a vitamin-rich veggie punch to this easy slow-cooker soup. Top with shaved Parmesan, if you like.

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Beef and Sweet Potato Stew

Beef and Sweet Potato Stew
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Sweet potatoes, cumin, cinnamon, and dried apricots or plums add a North African flavor to this lower-sodium version of slow-cooker beef.

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Nacho Cheese Chicken Chowder

Nacho Cheese Chicken Chowder
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This five-ingredient slow-cooker chowder goes together in minutes and then cooks two hours on high or four to five hours on low. Serve with breadsticks for dipping.

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Slow Cooker Three-Bean Chili

Slow Cooker Three-Bean Chili
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What's the secret ingredient in this recipe? Chocolate syrup, which adds a rich taste to a blend of kidney beans, black beans and small white beans. Rinse canned beans to reduce the sodium.

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Southwestern Potato Sausage Chowder

Southwestern Potato Sausage Chowder
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Vary the heat of this easy chowder by choosing sweet or hot sausage and serrano or jalapeno pepper. Cumin adds subtle Southwest character.

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Warm-Me-Up Chicken Chili

Warm-Me-Up Chicken Chili
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Combine chicken, chopped vegetables and canned beans for this warm-and-comforting chili. Our recipe gives variations for Slow Cooker Chicken Chili as well as a spicier Chipotle Chicken Chili.

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Hominy-Pork Stew

Hominy-Pork Stew
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Boneless pork shoulder, navy beans, hominy and salsa blend into a zesty slow-cooker dish. Serve with lime wedges, if you like.

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Slow-Cooked Minestrone

Slow-Cooked Minestrone
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Ground beef turns this vegetable soup recipe into a satisfying meal. Top the slow-cooked main-dish soup with fresh-grated Parmesan cheese.

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Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Sausage and Tortellini Soup
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Prep time is just 10 minutes for this slow-cooker soup; combine canned Italian-style stewed tomatoes, frozen green beans, water, a can of onion soup and turkey sausage. Add coleslaw mix and refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini 15 minutes before serving.

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Wild Rice and Chicken Soup

Wild Rice and Chicken Soup
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Mix a can of cream of chicken soup, mushrooms, veggies and rice mix for the soup base. Any boneless cooked chicken works in this recipe, but chicken thighs, with more moisture from fat, slow-cook the best.

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Buffalo Oven Stew

Buffalo Oven Stew
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The Earl family makes buffalo their business at Siouxland Buffalo in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Buffalo meat, also called bison meat, tastes a lot like lean beef. The Earls recommend cooking the meat slowly over low heat. Their oven stew is a prime example.

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Loaded Bratwurst Stew

Loaded Bratwurst Stew
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Smoked bratwurst, cabbage and potatoes cook in a mixture of broth, mustard, vinegar, and spices. You can try kielbasa or a flavored chicken sausage in place of the smoked bratwurst if you prefer.

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Slow Cooker French Chicken Stew

Slow Cooker French Chicken Stew
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Save time with premade pasta sauce for this slow cooker recipe. Tender chicken, herbs and fresh vegetables blend for a crowd-pleasing dish.

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New World Chili

New World Chili
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Pumpkin, dried cranberries, jalapeno peppers, and turkey add an unusual flavor twist to slow-simmering chili.N

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Aunt Bonnie's Taco Soup

Aunt Bonnie's Taco Soup
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This easy soup, full of beef and beans, is sure to become a top choice at your dinner table, as it is with Vicki Johnson of Hallsville, Missouri. We like to top it with a generous dollop of sour cream and serve with salsa and chips.

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By The editors of MidwestLiving.com

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    View All

    1 of 28 Smoky Beef, Black Bean and Corn Chili
    2 of 28 Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
    3 of 28 Cheesy Potato Soup
    4 of 28 Slow-Cooker Brat and Sauerkraut Soup
    5 of 28 Chipotle Black-Bean Chili
    6 of 28 Soy-Ginger Soup with Chicken
    7 of 28 Fireside Beef Stew with Root Vegetables
    8 of 28 Chicken Chili
    9 of 28 Mexican Meatball Stew
    10 of 28 Tomatillo Chicken Soup
    11 of 28 Chicken and White Bean Stew
    12 of 28 Italian Vegetable Soup
    13 of 28 Red Bean, Chicken, and Sweet Potato Stew
    14 of 28 Lentil-Ham Soup
    15 of 28 Beef and Sweet Potato Stew
    16 of 28 Nacho Cheese Chicken Chowder
    17 of 28 Slow Cooker Three-Bean Chili
    18 of 28 Southwestern Potato Sausage Chowder
    19 of 28 Warm-Me-Up Chicken Chili
    20 of 28 Hominy-Pork Stew
    21 of 28 Slow-Cooked Minestrone
    22 of 28 Sausage and Tortellini Soup
    23 of 28 Wild Rice and Chicken Soup
    24 of 28 Buffalo Oven Stew
    25 of 28 Loaded Bratwurst Stew
    26 of 28 Slow Cooker French Chicken Stew
    27 of 28 New World Chili
    28 of 28 Aunt Bonnie's Taco Soup

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