Best Overall
Crock-Pot Mini Round Manual Slow Cooker
- Ease of Use5/5
- Design5/5
- Performance5/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- The slow cooker’s straightforward plug-and-go setup makes for no-fuss cooking.
The slow cooker’s straightforward plug-and-go setup makes for no-fuss cooking.
- There are no heat settings as it only operates on low.
There are no heat settings as it only operates on low.
Crock-Pot has been synonymous with slow cookers for decades and this mini 1.5 quart slow cooker confirms the hype, as it was the only slow cooker we tested to earn a perfect score in every single category. If you’re looking for a slow cooker to plug in and walk away from, this is the unit you can depend on. Though, it’s important to note that there are no frills here. There’s not even a high heat setting. In fact, there are no settings, knobs, dials, or lights. The minimal little pot only operates on low and as soon as you plug it in, it’s on.
There are other slow cookers on this list that are cheesy dip champs. And while this unit keeps dips creamy and warm, the small size forces you to half or even quarter most dip recipes intended for a standard size slow cooker. However, it’s earned such high praise for preparing another entertaining staple: condiments. This is a sauce king. We used it to make a buttery broth with bacon and white wine to spoon over grilled clams and it was the perfect size for both preparing and serving.
And it’s also clutch for singles who live in an apartment with just a cooktop or if you don’t want to use an entire oven for one baked potato—this teeny tiny appliance steamed the best baked potato we’ve ever had.
Product Details: Capacity: 1.5 quarts | Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.5 x 7.8 inches | Weight: 4 pounds | Settings: Low heat | Care: Dishwasher safe
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / SARA LUCKEY
Best Budget
Brentwood Slow Cooker
- Ease of Use5/5
- Design4.8/5
- Performance4.8/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- Score a dishwasher safe vessel for a fraction of the cost of others with similar size and functionality.
Score a dishwasher safe vessel for a fraction of the cost of others with similar size and functionality.
- The exterior white plastic isn’t the most stylish and gets super hot.
The exterior white plastic isn’t the most stylish and gets super hot.
For a budget appliance, this Brentwood slow cooker is incredibly sturdy, with dishwasher safe stoneware and a glass lid. The plastic white exterior is the only giveaway of its low price, as it’s more prone to scratches and food stains compared to stainless steel. However, we found this unit was the easiest to wipe clean both on the interior stoneware and exterior crock.
Beyond ease of use, it’s an all-around MVP and keeps both dips and dinner warm for hours without overcooking or drying out food. But while it keeps food just-right inside, the outside exterior gets extremely hot to the touch. This is likely not the best unit to have on the countertop with curious kiddos, and it’s not that travel friendly either as the small handles get super hot, too. We struggled to get a good grip when transporting this one and ended up touching the hot exterior while holding the tiny handles.
However, for weekly meal prep at home, game day dips, or keeping leftovers warm, this outperformed more expensive slow cookers in consistent heat for each setting.
Product Details: Capacity: 1.5 quarts | Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 6.8 inches | Weight: 5 pounds | Settings: Low, high, and warm | Care: Dishwasher safe
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JACLYN MASTROPASQUA
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JACLYN MASTROPASQUA
Best with Locking Lid
Crock Pot Mini Casserole Slow Cooker
- Ease of Use4.5/5
- Design4.8/5
- Performance4.5/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- The shallow, oval shape makes it easier for guests to self-serve.
The shallow, oval shape makes it easier for guests to self-serve.
- The shorter height can’t accommodate bulkier cuts of meat like other slow cookers with the same capacity.
The shorter height can’t accommodate bulkier cuts of meat like other slow cookers with the same capacity.
While this Crock-Pot did cook a small amount of meat beautifully, it’s really made for sides, snacks, and desserts. The classic oval shape and shallow depth allows dishes such as dump cakes or brownies to cook evenly so no one gets a super-soggy portion from the middle. And it makes buffet dishes more accessible and easy to scoop for guests.
At 2.5 quarts it may not be large enough for holiday casseroles for big family get-togethers, but we found that even as an oval instead of a vertical cylinder it took up minimal countertop space.
If you’re looking for a potluck champ or tailgate go-to, you can’t beat this travel-friendly design. We put several slow cookers with locking lids to the test and this had the tightest seal.
The particular unit also has some of the best easy-to-grip handles that we’ve tested. Even better: We found the exterior was barely warm to the touch even when the appliance had been on for hours so there’s some piece of mind in toting this slow cooker to parties. Though, we always recommend using oven mitts for safety when using a slow cooker.
Product Details: Capacity: 2.5 quarts | Dimensions: 13.39 x 7.09 x 13.46 inches | Settings: Low, high, and warm | Care: Dishwasher safe
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / TAYLOR GILKISON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / TAYLOR GILKISON
Best for Dips
IMUSA USA 1.5 Quart Slow Cooker
- Ease of Use4.8/5
- Design4.5/5
- Performance4.8/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- This pick makes incredibly even, consistent dips—no cheese cracks or weird burnt tops here.
This pick makes incredibly even, consistent dips—no cheese cracks or weird burnt tops here.
- Both the interior pot and the lid are hand-wash only.
Both the interior pot and the lid are hand-wash only.
No more skimming wrinkly, burnt cheese off the top of dips and worrying about remembering to stir every 20 minutes. We found this Imusa USA slow cooker made the creamiest, most even and cohesive dip. At 1.5 quarts, it’s too small for most soup and stew recipes; however, if you don’t mind halfing or quartering a recipe from time to time, it yields tender meat and vegetables that have a just-right softness and are not total mush.
But we love this unit best for dips and sauces because it’s designed with mobility and easy storage in mind. At less than 5 pounds, we found that it can easily be picked up with one hand if needed. And the handles are surprisingly thick and sturdy for such a small appliance which is reassuring when moving a slow cooker full of molten cheese from the kitchen to a buffet spread. Or if you live in a small space and find creative-and high up-solutions for storing entertaining essentials you don’t regularly use.
Something that could be easier: cleaning. Unlike most units on our list, both the stoneware and lid are hand-wash only so it doesn’t have the ease of tossing in the dishwasher after a party. But at such a small size, we found it wipes clean quickly without any stuck-on food or burned bits on the interior walls.
Product Details: Capacity: 1.5 quarts | Dimensions: 9.06 x 7.6 x 9.06 inches | Weight: 4.5 pounds | Settings: Low, high, and warm | Care: Hand wash only
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JILL DI DONATO
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JILL DI DONATO
Best for Small Families
Crock-Pot 2 Quart Round Manual Slow Cooker
- Ease of Use4.8/5
- Design4.5/5
- Performance5/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- It’s just the right size for dinner-plus-leftovers for a couple or household of two.
It’s just the right size for dinner-plus-leftovers for a couple or household of two.
- The knob can easily be bumped, increasing the chances of accidentally changing the setting.
The knob can easily be bumped, increasing the chances of accidentally changing the setting.
Slow cooker newbie? This Crock-Pot is the best choice for beginners as it earned perfect scores in both heat performance and ease of cleaning. And you can’t beat the price. At two quarts, it’s just large enough to make five servings of pulled pork, but it’s a lot easier to store in small, shallow kitchen cabinets compared to the slightly larger 2.5 quart size. The interior liner is oven-safe, too.
While this is likely too small for households with four or more, it’s just right for couples who want dinner plus leftovers. As for dips, we didn’t find any breaks or scorches and it kept cheese perfectly melty for hours. If you’re looking for a slow cooker that can prepare meals for two during the week and serve tailgate snacks for a larger crowd on the weekend, this is your buy.
However, there were a couple of missing features typically found in slow cookers at a slightly higher price such as an indicator light to confirm the appliance—or specific heat setting—is on. The knob itself is bare bones, too. We found that it only lightly clicks into place for each heat setting and can be easily bumped to a different setting, which can be problematic since the high heat setting and keep warm functions are next to each other.
Product Details: Capacity: 2 quarts | Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.5 x 7.6 inches | Weight: 5 pounds | Settings: Low, high, and warm | Care: Dishwasher safe
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ADAM GROFFMAN
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ADAM GROFFMAN
Best for Entertaining
Elite Gourmet Maxi-Matic Triple Slow Cooker
- Ease of Use5/5
- Design4.8/5
- Performance4.5/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- Handy utensil slots and lid holders make this an efficient and mess-free buffet spread for entertaining.
Handy utensil slots and lid holders make this an efficient and mess-free buffet spread for entertaining.
- The unit is heavy and bulky which makes storage a pain.
The unit is heavy and bulky which makes storage a pain.
Three slow cookers, but only one outlet plug needed. For its space-saving magic alone, the Elite Gourmet Triple Slow Cooker is one of our top choices. But it’s also incredibly handy for parties and tailgating. Each of the three oval-shaped pots holds up to 2.5 quarts and each slow cooker can operate on its own heat setting. We were impressed at how consistent the heat was for each pot, and that using one pot on high didn’t affect another on low. We tried dips, weenies, brownie desserts and more and the trio kept food perfectly warm without hot spots or scorches.
It’s more expensive than other slow cookers the same size, but the nifty design is worth the splurge. Each slow cooker pot features a slot for utensils so there’s no need to keep spoon rests. Even better: each slow cooker features a lid rest, so you don’t end up placing the lid on the counter only to realize there’s a pool of hot water or a ring of BBQ sauce to clean up.
Washing is easy, too, as each pot and lid are dishwasher safe. However, it’s worth noting that the entire unit weighs over 25 pounds when all three pots are in, so it may not be the best appliance to store on a high shelf or in a hard to reach cabinet.
Product Details: Capacity: 2.5 quarts | Dimensions: 25.6 x 26.5 x 8.75 inches | Weight: 25.2 pounds | Settings: Low, high, and warm | Care: Dishwasher safe
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / CHAD SPARKS
Best Lunch Warmer
Crock-Pot Lunch Crock Food Warmer
- Enjoy soups, stews, curries and more on-the-go, even if there’s no microwave around.
Enjoy soups, stews, curries and more on-the-go, even if there’s no microwave around.
- It only keeps food warm and should not be used for cooking.
It only keeps food warm and should not be used for cooking.
Technically, this Crock-Pot doesn’t quite qualify as it’s not actually a cooker and doesn’t come with the heat settings hot enough to safely cook food. But it impressed us so much with its food warming functionality that we had to mention it anyway. Like a traditional slow cooker, there’s a bowl and an electric heating base. We loved that this base features a cord coil perfect for keeping it tidy when not in use.
If you’re shopping for a food warmer for tailgate dips or healthy office lunches, this is one of the best, most secure appliances we’ve tested for travel. The double lid system ensures no leaks or spills, and the matte rubberized coating on the exterior doesn't feel hot to the touch. It’s also super portable at just over one pound. And the large, pop-out rubber handle makes it easy to tote from the kitchen to the dining table, especially if you have low mobility and need a tight grip.
For performance, this little lunch box was more consistent in warming food than some of the most expensive slow cookers we tested. We used it on everything from toddler food to party dips and it kept food warm for over three hours with no scorches or burns. And at 20 ounces, it’s the perfect size for packing a lunch for an adult, too.
Product Details: Capacity: 0.6 quarts | Dimensions: 6.7 x 6.6 x 6.3 inches | Weight: 1.3 pounds | Settings: Warm | Care: Dishwasher safe
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / STELLA YU
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / STELLA YU