The Most Popular Slow Cooker Dish in Every State
The slow cooker is the workhorse of the kitchen. It sits silently to the side and does the job of a bunch of different appliances, chugging along all day without burning down the house. The slow heat of this handy tool can turn cheaper, tougher cuts of meat into succulent bites, or keep delicate soups and pasta dishes at the perfect temperature until they're ready to serve. It's no wonder that people all around the country adore the slow cooker.
Joybird mined Google Trends to find out which dish each state was hungering to make most in their slow cookers. What they found was a wide variety of dishes from classic soups, chilis, and stews to creative attempts at jambalaya, fajitas, and more.
Read on to find out the most popular Crock-Pot dish in your state and to get some new ideas on what you could be simmering in your slow cooker right now! (Plus, here are some healthy recipes to get you on the right track this year 22 Meals to Melt Belly Fat in 2022)
Alabama – Chicken Chili
Alabama is the only state that's whipping up chicken chili in their trusty slow cooker. We applaud the use of a healthier meat. Turkey is great too! Try the recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Chili from Foodie Crush.
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Alaska – Pot Roast
The folks in Alaska are going all in and throwing an entire pot roast into the slow cooker. If you want to give this dish a try, check out our French Pot Roast Recipe.
Arizona – Corned Beef and Cabbage
In Arizona, cooks are jumping on the bandwagon and cooking corned beef and cabbage in the old Crock-Pot. This is the most popular dish people wanted to cook in their slow cooker with six states seeking out the perfect recipe. We are fans of this method too! Check out our recipe for Slow Cooker Corned Beef.
Arkansas – Chicken and Dumplings
The classic dish is perfect for the slow cooker's even temperature, the lean chicken will not get tough and the delicate dumplings will never overcook. Try this recipe from The Cookie Rookie.
California – Corned Beef and Cabbage
In the Sunshine State, cooks dusted off the slow cooker to make perfect corned beef and cabbage.
Colorado – Carnitas
Kudos to the folks in Colorado for making delicious carnitas in their slow cookers. Slow cookers are perfect for turning tough cuts of meat into soft, flavorful meals. Check out our recipe for Tangy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas and don't skip the pickled onions and queso fresco!
Connecticut – Corned Beef and Cabbage
In Connecticut, folks like to chow down on perfectly cooked corned beef and cabbage.
Delaware – Chicken and dumplings
The cooks in Delaware are into the comforting aromas of soft and luscious chicken and dumplings.
Florida – Pea Soup
Florida is one of two states that cook up pea soup in the slow cooker. Fun fact: Because slow cookers don't heat up the whole house, they are great for warm-weather cooking. Try our recipe for Perfectly Creamy Split Pea Soup.
Georgia – Tortilla Soup
In Georgia, the people are simmering spicy tortilla soup in their slow cookers. Here's a great vegetarian version from Oh My Veggies.
Hawaii – Ham
They're going whole hog in Hawaii and cooking an entire ham in the slow cooker. Yes, if you have a big enough slow cooker, you can cook an entire ham, just be sure it gets to the desired internal temperature. Here's a good recipe to check out: Crock-Pot Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze.
Idaho – Chicken Noodle Soup
In Idaho, they're sticking to classic chicken noodle soup, which is a cinch in the slow cooker. Bookmark our recipe for Cozy Crock-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup for when winter is hitting hard.
Illinois – Tortilla Soup
Chances are, tortilla soup is simmering somewhere in Illinois right now.
Indiana – Sausage
Cooking sausage in the slow cooker is brilliant, especially if you're cooking for a crowd. Throw in some peppers and onions and you've got a great meal on your hands. Try this recipe from Well Plated.
Iowa – Lasagna
Slow cooker lasagna! Why not? The use of a slow cooker helps the sauce and seasoning penetrate through the noodles. Try this vegetarian recipe from Pinch of Yum.
Kansas – Meatloaf
Say goodbye forever to tough meatloaf when you take a page from the people in Kansas and cook it in the trusty slow cooker. Check out this recipe for Mozzarella Stuffed Crockpot Meatloaf from Diethood.
Kentucky – Vegetable Soup
Warming vegetable soup is the perfect cold-weather dish to simmer in the slow cooker. Try this Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup from Cincy Shopper.
Louisiana – Chili
It feels like a slow cooker was invented to perfect chili. The slow, steady heat softens tough meat and turns it into a magic warming meal. Try our recipe for Smoky Crockpot Chili tonight.
Maine – Buffalo Chicken Dip
If you're cooking this tangy dip for a crowd, like they probably are in Maine, the slow cooker is the perfect tool. Gimme Some Oven's version skews a bit lighter than some of the other recipes you'll find around the web.
Maryland – Chili
Classic chili is on the menu in Maryland.
Massachusetts – French Onion Soup
Slow cooker French onion soup makes the first of three appearances on the list in Massachusetts. The slow cooker is actually a genius appliance for this dish since the onions can cook low and slow and get sweet and caramelized before the broth is added. Try this recipe from Eating Well.
Michigan – Corned Beef and Cabbage
The people of Michigan are cooking up the St. Patrick's Day classic in their handy slow cookers.
RELATED: 17 St. Patrick's Day Recipes Better Than a Pot of Gold
Minnesota – Fajitas
If you've never tried slow cooker fajitas, you're in for a treat. In the slow cooker, lean chicken cooks to perfect tenderness and is completely infused with the fajita spices and the flavors of onions and peppers. Try Cooking Classy's recipe for the perfect Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas.
Mississippi – Pork Chops
Pork chops may not be the first thing you think about tossing in the slow cooker, but if you want super-tender chops without a hint of toughness it's the perfect vessel. Mississippi is one of two states that know this secret. Try these Crock-Pot Pork Chops from Kristine's Kitchen.
Missouri – Brisket
A large, tougher cut of meat, brisket is perfect made in the slow cooker. Try our recipe for Low-Calorie Braised Brisket With Horseradish Cream.
Montana – Chili
In Montana, folks are cooking classic chili in the slow cooker.
Nebraska – Pork Chops
The cooks in Nebraska have gotten the memo on cooking pork chops in the slow cooker.
Nevada – Corned Beef and Cabbage
In Nevada, home cooks are tossing corned beef and cabbage into the slow cooker.
New Hampshire – Meatballs
New Hampshire is one of two states using the slow cooker to make perfect, tender meatballs. Try our recipe for Crock-Pot Italian Meatballs.
New Jersey – Pea Soup
What do New Jersey and Florida have in common? Cooks in both states are stirring up pea soup in their slow cookers.
New Mexico – Pot Roast
In New Mexico, pot roast is being perfected in the slow cooker.
New York – French Onion Soup
In New York, chances are someone is simmering a big slow cooker full of French onion soup right now.
North Carolina – BBQ Chicken
The folks in North Carolina know barbecue, and if they say it's okay to make a big pot of barbecue chicken in the slow cooker, we believe them. This recipe from Two Peas & Their Pod looks amazing.
North Dakota – Mashed Potatoes
Rejoice! There's no need to boil potatoes to make perfect mashed potatoes, you can use the slow cooker. If you're making tons of mashed potatoes for a crowd, this is the way to go. Check out this recipe from Spend with Pennies.
Ohio – Mac and Cheese
In Ohio, they're skipping the tedious step of boiling macaroni for this fan-favorite dish and tossing all of the ingredients in the slow cooker. Here's a lighter version of this usually decadent dish from SkinnyMs.
Oklahoma – Spaghetti
Like mac and cheese, spaghetti is a cinch to make in the slow cooker because the boiling step can be skipped. We over got a great recipe for Hearty Crock-Pot Beef Ragu that you should try!
Oregon – Corned Beef and Cabbage
If you're one of those people that haul the slow cooker out once per year, it sounds like St. Patrick's Day is the time to do it!
Pennsylvania – Sausage
People in PA are using the slow cooker to make delicious sausage concoctions.
Rhode Island – Beef Stew
In Rhode Island, easy but luxurious beef stew could be on the menu tonight! Try our recipe for the Best-Ever Beef Stew in Red Wine.
South Carolina – BBQ Chicken
Both of the Carolinas are making tender BBQ chicken in their trusty slow cookers.
South Dakota – Mashed Potatoes
In chilly South Dakota, people are making easy mashed potatoes in their slow cookers.
Tennessee – Spaghetti
A big pot of spaghetti could be simmering in a kitchen in Tennessee right now.
Texas – French Onion Soup
In Texas, French onion soup fans are taking advantage of this easy way of making the comforting dish.
Utah – Pot Roast
A full pot roast dinner is hanging out in a slow cooker somewhere in Utah.
Vermont – Meatballs
In Vermont, they're using their slow cookers to make tender, juicy meatballs.
Virginia – Jambalaya
Virginia breaks away from the rest of the country to make a spicy, slow cooker version of jambalaya. Try our recipe for Crock-Pot Jambalaya.
Washington – Curry
Warming curry is a perfect slow cooker dish, as the gentle cooking process infuses the meat and veggies with tons of flavor. Try this recipe for Thai Chicken Curry from Cooking Classy.
West Virginia – Potato Soup
Soup is always the perfect thing to make in the slow cooker. Try this recipe from Gimme Some Oven.
Wisconsin – Oatmeal
We applaud you, people of Wisconsin, for making a healthy breakfast choice by simmering your oatmeal in the slow cooker. Here are 17 delicious ideas for unique slow cooker oatmeal.
Wyoming – Ham
In Wyoming, cooks are making tender ham with their trusty slow cookers.
Find out what else is popular in your state:
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