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There is nothing better than a warm bowl of soup waiting in the slow cooker when the weather finally starts cooling down. Once fall arrives, I am more than ready to trade some of our lighter summer dinners for hearty soups, thick chilis, and cozy stews that simmer away all day.

The slow cooker makes these kinds of dinners especially easy. Most days, I can get everything going earlier in the day and not have to think about dinner again until everyone is hungry. Plus, soups, stews, and chilis are some of my favorite meals for busy fall evenings because you really don’t need much alongside them. Add some crackers, warm bread, cornbread, or a simple sandwich and dinner is done.

This collection of cozy slow cooker soups, stews, and chilis for fall has a little bit of everything. There are hearty beef stews loaded with potatoes, creamy soups, copycat chili, chicken chili, and even a cheesy chili mac for the nights when you want serious comfort food.

Whether you’re looking for an easy crockpot dinner for a busy weeknight or something warm to cook on a chilly Sunday afternoon, these recipes are perfect for soup season.

Cozy Slow Cooker Soups, Stews & Chilis

1. Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew

This budget-friendly stew is exactly the kind of simple comfort food I crave once fall rolls around. Ground beef, potatoes, carrots, and plenty of savory flavor make it hearty enough to be dinner all on its own. It’s also a great option when you want something cozy without buying an expensive cut of beef.

2. Slow Cooker Mississippi Beef Stew

Take all that savory, tangy Mississippi-style flavor and turn it into a hearty beef stew. Tender beef, potatoes, carrots, and pepperoncini cook together in a flavorful gravy for an easy cold-weather dinner. This is such a good one to serve with warm rolls for soaking up every bit of the gravy.

3. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili

If your family loves buffalo chicken, this is a fun way to turn those flavors into a cozy fall dinner. It’s creamy, hearty, packed with tender chicken, and has plenty of that familiar buffalo flavor.

4. Slow Cooker Wendy’s Chili

Skip the drive-thru and make this copycat favorite right in your slow cooker. It’s hearty, beefy, and exactly the kind of classic chili that tastes especially good on a cool fall evening. Add your favorite chili toppings and let everyone fix their bowl just the way they like it.

5. Slow Cooker Cube Steak Chili

Cube steak makes this chili extra hearty and gives you tender bites of beef in every bowl. It’s a nice change when you’re craving chili but want something a little different from the traditional ground beef version.

6. Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili

Cincinnati chili is a fun change from a traditional bowl of chili, especially served over spaghetti with plenty of cheese. The slow cooker makes it easy to let all those warm, savory flavors cook together while you go about your day.

7. Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Soup

If you love beef stroganoff, wait until you turn those familiar flavors into soup. This creamy, savory slow cooker soup is loaded with cozy comfort-food flavor and makes an especially satisfying dinner when the temperature starts dropping.

8. Slow Cooker Cheesy Potato Ham Soup

Creamy potato soup gets even better with plenty of ham and cheesy flavor. This is thick, rich, filling comfort food that’s perfect for those fall evenings when only something warm and creamy will do.

9. Slow Cooker Turkey and Rice Soup

This cozy turkey and rice soup is a great recipe to keep around throughout fall and especially as Thanksgiving gets closer. It’s warm, comforting, and filled with familiar flavors that make it feel like a classic homemade dinner.

10. Slow Cooker Steak and Potato Soup

Steak and potatoes are already a comfort-food favorite, so turning them into a hearty slow cooker soup just makes sense. This one is filling enough for hungry families and is perfect with some crusty bread on the side.

11. Slow Cooker Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

All the flavors of a bacon cheeseburger come together in one warm, creamy bowl. It’s cheesy, beefy, hearty, and a fun option when you want a family-friendly soup that’s a little more exciting than the usual classics.

12. Slow Cooker Chili Mac

Chili mac combines two of the best comfort foods into one incredibly easy slow cooker dinner. Seasoned ground beef, pasta, and lots of cheesy goodness make this one especially good for busy fall weeknights when everyone wants something filling.

What to Serve With Slow Cooker Soups, Stews & Chilis

One of the reasons I love making these recipes is that they really don’t need much to turn them into a complete dinner. A loaf of crusty bread, garlic bread, biscuits, cornbread, or even a sleeve of crackers can be all you need.

For chili, set out shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, tortilla chips, or corn chips and let everyone add their own toppings. Creamier soups are delicious with a simple sandwich, while the heartier beef stews can easily stand on their own.

Tips for Easy Fall Slow Cooker Dinners

For the easiest weeknights, chop vegetables and measure ingredients the night before so everything is ready to go in the morning. Just be sure to refrigerate your prepped ingredients rather than storing them overnight in the slow cooker insert.

Soup, stew, and chili leftovers are also perfect for easy lunches. Store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator and reheat individual portions as needed. Many soups and chilis also freeze well, making them great recipes to cook when you want to stock the freezer for busy fall and winter nights.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between soup, stew, and chili?
Soup generally contains more liquid, while stew tends to be thicker with larger pieces of meat and vegetables. Chili is typically a thick, highly seasoned dish made with meat, beans, tomatoes, or a combination of those ingredients. There is plenty of overlap, which is why they work so well together in a cozy fall recipe collection.

Can I leave soup in the slow cooker all day?
Many slow cooker soups and stews are designed for several hours of cooking, but always follow the cooking time listed in the individual recipe. Once the food is finished cooking, switch the slow cooker to warm rather than continuing to cook it on low or high.

Are slow cooker soups good for meal prep?
Yes! Soups, stews, and chilis are some of my favorite make-ahead meals because the leftovers often taste even better the next day after the flavors have had more time to come together.

Can I freeze leftover soup or chili?
Many broth-based soups, stews, and chilis freeze beautifully. Creamy soups and recipes containing pasta or potatoes can sometimes change texture after freezing, so check the storage instructions on the individual recipe before freezing.

More Cozy Fall Dinner Ideas

Fall is the perfect excuse to bring out the slow cooker and start making all those hearty dinners we’ve missed during the warmer months. From creamy soups and beefy chilis to thick stews loaded with potatoes, there is something so comforting about having a warm dinner simmering away while you go about your day.

Save this collection of cozy slow cooker soups, stews, and chilis for fall for those first chilly evenings and keep coming back to it all season long. With so many easy comfort-food dinners to choose from, soup season might just be the best dinner season of the year.