Betty's Basics: Slow Cooker Edition

1. Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Creamy Dill Sauce
The great thing about serving a pot roast dinner is that everything — meat and vegetables — is included in one dish. Complete this meal with an old-fashioned dessert such as warm apple crisp, bread pudding or cherry cobbler.

2. Slow Cooker Pulled Jerk Pork Sandwiches
A quick stop at the deli can round out this meal — just pick up some coleslaw, baked beans and chips and you've got yourself a satisfying dinner that's ready in a snap.

3. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast with Sweet Potatoes
Enjoy a savory turkey dinner any night of the week with a little help from your slow cooker. Put any leftover turkey to use in tasty turkey salad sandwiches, tetrazzini or a quick-fix soup!

4. Slow Cooker Party Tacos
The perfect recipe for feeding a hungry crowd, this slow-cooked taco filling can easily be doubled, tripled or even frozen in advance and the layered presentation of toppings will help people move through the buffet line faster. An extra bonus: It's a gorgeous presentation!

5. Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Less expensive cuts of meat, like the stew meat featured in this recipe, cook to perfection in the moist heat and low temperatures of the slow cooker. Make sure to follow the recipe and add the dairy products at the very end — they can curdle if you mix them in any earlier!

6. Slow Cooker Barbecued Baby Back Ribs
Don't be afraid to ask your butcher to cut the ribs into sections for you — it'll save your time and the hassle of handling the raw meat. You can shave even more time off this recipe by using bottled barbecue sauce (you'll need 2 2/3 cups).

7. Slow Cooker Turkey Mole Chili
Made with pantry staples and lean ground turkey, this hearty chili takes only 15 minutes to prepare. Be sure to always cook and drain ground meats before adding them to your slow cooker. (Doing so ensures that any nasty bacteria your meat may contain is destroyed.)

8. Slow Cooker Chicken Chow Mein
Skip expensive takeout and make this easy chow mein at home. To make sure that delicate vegetables like mushrooms and peapods maintain their texture, add them towards the end of cooking time. Round the meal out with a fresh fruit salad and these cute chocolate-dipped fortune cookies.

9. Slow Cooker Chunky Pork and Mushroom Spaghetti Sauce
Spaghetti sauce simmered in the slow cooker has an unbeatable depth of flavor. Just add freshly cooked pasta, a salad and some garlic bread and you'll be enjoying a hearty, home-cooked meal in minutes. (Looking for a vegetarian spaghetti sauce? Try this one!)

10. Slow Cooker Chocolate Lava Cake
Don't think a decadent chocolate dessert can come out of the slow cooker? One bite of this ooey, gooey decadent lava cake will make you a believer. To make clean up a snap, spray your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray just prior to adding the cake batter.