Crock-Pot Casserole Slow Cooker Review: Still Worth It?
Ever run out of oven space right when you need it most? I have, more times than I care to admit. Thatโs why Iโve been using a casserole-shaped slow cooker for years. It handles the dishes that donโt really belong in a round slow cooker, frees up the oven and goes right to the table. Hereโs what I think of the current model.
You know the drill. The oven is full, dinner is getting close, and the casserole that still needs to cook is sitting on the counter, waiting its turn.
Thatโs one reason Iโve been a fan of the Crock-Pot Casserole Slow Cooker for years. I bought my original 3.5-quart model in 2016, and I still use it. Now thereโs a smaller 2.5-quart version available, and after using both, I can tell you exactly where this odd-shaped little slow cooker earns its keep.
The shape is the whole point
Most slow cookers are round or oval. That works beautifully for soups, stews and pot roast. But try putting a lasagna or casserole in one and youโll quickly discover that some foods have opinions about shape, too.
The Casserole Crock has a removable stoneware insert shaped like a baking dish. Itโs wide and shallow, so casseroles cook more like casseroles instead of becoming a deep pile of food in the middle. Thatโs what makes this cooker different. And useful.
When the oven is already spoken for
Holiday cooking is really just a game of oven Tetris. The turkey needs the oven. The rolls need the oven. Something else is already in there, and now your sweet potato casserole is waiting on the counter.
This is where the Casserole Crock comes in. I can cook the casserole in the slow cooker while the oven handles everything else. I use mine for casseroles, lasagna, side dishes, dips and desserts.
One less thing fighting for oven space. Iโll take it.
It goes from kitchen to table
The stoneware insert is attractive enough to serve from, which is a small thing until youโre trying to get dinner on the table without dirtying another dish.
You can put the whole cooker on the table to keep the food warm, or lift out the stoneware and set that on the table instead. The white finish looks more like a serving dish than an appliance, which I appreciate.
And the lid locks for carrying. If you take food to a potluck, family gathering or dinner at a friendโs house, that feature earns its keep pretty quickly.
I like the simple controls
The 2.5-quart model has Low, High and Warm settings. Thatโs it. No digital display. No twenty-seven buttons Iโll never use. And honestly, Iโm fine with that.
If I need to control when it turns on or off, I can use an ordinary appliance timer. Simple works for me.
The stoneware can go in the oven
This is one of my favorite features, and Iโve used it often with my older Casserole Crock. The removable stoneware is oven-safe, so you can use it as a baking dish as well as a slow-cooker insert. That gives you some flexibility when a recipe needs to start in the oven or when you simply want to bake instead of slow cook.
Check the manufacturerโs instructions for the current model and its oven temperature limits before putting the stoneware in the oven.
And when dinner is over, both the stoneware and lid are dishwasher safe. That last part matters. A lot.
What Iโd know before buying
The current model holds 2.5 quarts, so this isnโt the slow cooker Iโd choose for feeding a crowd. Think side dish or smaller casserole rather than a giant 9-by-13-inch family meal.
If youโre cooking for several people, youโll want to check the recipe size before you start. A recipe designed to fill a 9-by-13-inch pan probably isnโt going to squeeze into a 2.5-quart cooker. Halve the recipe or choose a larger model if you need more capacity.
And remember that the outside of a slow cooker gets hot. Use the handles and give it a little breathing room on the counter.
So, is it worth it?
For me, yes. But Iโm not saying everyone needs one. If you already have a slow cooker and mostly make soups, beans, roasts and stews, your regular round or oval cooker is probably doing the job just fine.
But if you make casseroles, lasagna, baked side dishes or desserts, or if your oven regularly runs out of room when youโre cooking for company, this is a genuinely useful addition.
Iโve been using the original version since 2016. Thatโs a pretty good test run.
I like appliances that solve a specific problem without creating three new ones. This one does.
Your casserole slow cooker questions
Can you make a casserole in a regular slow cooker?
Sure. But the shape of a regular slow cooker isnโt ideal for many casserole recipes, especially lasagna. The rectangular stoneware in the Casserole Crock is designed for those foods, so you get a shape that makes more sense for the recipe.
Is a slow cooker the same as a casserole dish?
No. A casserole dish is a baking dish, while a slow cooker has a heating element and is designed for slow cooking. The Casserole Crock is a little unusual because its removable stoneware can also be used in the oven.
Can a slow cooker replace the oven?
No, and I wouldnโt want it to. A slow cooker wonโt brown or crisp the top of a casserole the way an oven does. What it can do is cook the casserole while your oven is busy with something else. And sometimes, thatโs exactly what you need.
Question: Whatโs the dish that always seems to need the oven when the oven is already full? Tell me in the comments. Iโm always curious what other cooks are trying to squeeze into that one precious oven.
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I sometimes make crock-pot volcano (lava) cake in mine to take to church potlucks. Don’t have to worry about bringing any home!
I do like my casserole crock pot but it seems to cook much faster and I have overcooked a few chicken recipes, has anyone else had this problem?
I also have the manual version and love it too! Comes in handy to keep food warm when I have parties too.
I would love some dessert recipes to use in my casserole cooker, as well as other meal-in-one recipes, if anyone has some “tried and true” recipes they’d like to share.
Here’s a recipe…feel free to make adjustments, and make it your own:
CROCK-POT REESEโS CAKE:
1 box Devilโs Food Cake mix, I use CHOCOLATE FUDGE Cake Mix (Duncan Hines)
1 package instant chocolate pudding (Kroger brand works just fine.) I use 3oz size.
1 c. whole milk
3 eggs
1/4 c. sour cream
1/4 c. peanut butter ( I use creamy)
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
2 c. peanut butter chips
Cooking spray, for Crock-Pot
1/3 c. melted peanut butter, for garnish
10 mini Reeseโs cups, halved
1/4 c. chopped Reeseโs pieces
In a large bowl, combine cake mix and pudding mix. Whisk to combine. Add milk, eggs, sour cream, peanut butter, vanilla and salt and mix until smooth. Fold in peanut butter chips. Grease the bowl of Crock-Pot with nonstick cooking spray. Add batter to Crock-Pot and smooth top with spatula. Cook on low for 2 1/2 hours checking at 2 hours to make sure the edges arenโt burning. Cake can be kept on warm for up to 4 hours before serving. The finished cake should be set on the sides and still gooey in the center. Drizzle with peanut butter and garnish with Reeseโs cups and Reeseโs Pieces and Serve.
NOTES: To drizzle the peanut butter I put the 1/3c. in a pint baggie, Microwave about 10 seconds, then snip a tiny bit off corner and drizzle away. We use JIf or Kroger brand creamy peanut butter. Either is good. Seldom do we have any leftovers.
Like Cally Ross, I am the only one in my household. I love your tips and advice. However, I am
not an Amazon shopper but do wish to purchase items from other businesses if you could recommend them.
Chris Fenninger
I got mine at home Depot.com for $39.
I love mine! Among other things, I make pizza in it. Be sure to spray the crock insert with no-stick spray. I forgot once and it was not easy to get that pizza out! Regular pizza crust mix, spread into the crock. Add your pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings. I cook ours on high for 3-3.5 hours. Don’t have to turn on the big oven and it’s just the right size for my husband and me and a little leftover.
I used this insert to Bake AuGratin Potatoes and put them in this holder to keep them warm for a bridal shower. Worked beautifully!
I also can not say more wonderful things about it. Where has this been for the past 30-years?
Could you post some winter recipes using this casserole crock pot. I’ve had mind for several years as well and basically use it for lasagna. Thanks!
I love our programmable slow cooker. You can set it up and forget about it. It won’t over cook because it switches to “keep warm” automatically. What are folks favorite recipes in a slow cooker? I love making my applesauce in it.
That’s a beautiful piece of equipment! Since I’m the only one in my household these days, it would be overkill for me. I will keep it in mind for one or more of my daughters-in-love, they have hungry kids to feed. ๐
Cally Ross, CrockPot does have a smaller size of the casserole slow cooker. I believe it is a 2.5 qt, oval shaped design.