10 slow cooker recipes you have to try this fall

Nothing says fall is here quite like squash and pumpkin lining the produce aisles at the grocery store. This meal is great when you don’t have time to prepare anything before you jet off to work - and you can bet when you return home, the smell will remind you of hearty childhood meals after a day outdoors in the crisp, fall air. (Photo/recipe via All Day I Dream About Food)

Some would argue there is no better way to cook beef than in a slow cooker. The slow cooking process allows the beef to marinate, producing a much more tender and tasty final product. Beef stew that includes some of your favourite root vegetables is the perfect autumn comfort food. And it’s been proven: comfort food tastes best when it takes less than 20 minutes to prepare. (Photo/recipe via One Lovely LIfe)

Nothing warms you from the inside out quite like the creamy broth, shredded chicken and hearty dumplings. This meal will simmer all day while you’re at your 9-5, allowing you to come home to the most perfect end-of-day meal. (Photo/recipe via The Frugal Girls)

Do you have a busy day ahead with guests arriving for dinner? Trick them into thinking you spent all day cooking up a pot roast with this recipe. The melt-in-your-mouth, deceivingly delicious meal is great for weekends, week days and any time of year, really. (Photo/recipe via Joyously Domestic)

Do you remember as a kid gagging as your parents forced you to eat mashed potatoes, or worse, potato soup? If so, don’t rule out the power of potatoes just yet. This meal will change your opinion. With delicious ham and cheddar cheese, this soup is the comfort food of your dreams, best savoured in your favourite oversized sweater and wool socks. (Photo/recipe via Belle of the Kitchen)

While apple picking is often a favourite fall activity, you may find you were a little over-zealous in the orchard. Fret not, serve up this delicious chili for a different take on the traditional fall favourite – it won’t disappoint. (Photo/recipe via Foxes Love Lemons)

And while on the topic of apples, if you’ve made your chili and still have apples kicking around that you aren’t sure what to do with, brew up some apple cider in your slow cooker. It’s a treat that both you and the kids can enjoy. Not only will it taste delicious, it’ll make your home smell like the most delicious fall candles. Want to spice it up on a Saturday night? Just add whiskey. (Photo/recipe via Thinking Outside The Sandbox Family)

It wouldn’t be a list of fall classics if pumpkin didn’t make an appearance. If you’ve got dinner covered but prefer a sweet treat, whip up this pumpkin dump cake. It’s a nice change from the traditional pumpkin pie, but it won’t make you feel like you’re cheating on fall. (Photo/recipe via 365 Days of Slow Cooking)

If you prefer to keep your desserts tried and true, you can also make apple crisp in your slow cooker. While this recipe takes a bit of preparation time, you won’t have to worry about watching the oven while it bakes. Don’t forget the whipped cream! (Photo/recipe via Modernly Morgan)

Because there’s no such thing as too many apples in autumn, if you’d prefer a change from your regular strawberry jam on your breakfast toast, cook up apple butter in your slow cooker. This is a great way to use up remaining apples from the orchard and try something new. Apple butter is great on toast, crackers or stirred into your oatmeal - and while it cooks, it smells like apple pie. It doesn’t get more autumnal than that. (Photo/recipe via Skinny Taste)