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crockpot casserole slow cooker product review filled with macaroni and cheese

Crock-Pot Casserole Slow Cooker Review: Still Worth It?

/Updated /14 Comments/in , , /by Mary Hunt

Ever run out of oven space right when you need it most? I have, more times than I care to admit. That’s why I’ve been using a casserole-shaped slow cooker for years. It handles the dishes that don’t really belong in a round slow cooker, frees up the oven and goes right to the table. Here’s what I think of the current model.

crockpot casserole slow cooker product review filled with macaroni and cheese

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.

That’s one reason I’ve 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 there’s 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 you’ll quickly discover that some foods have opinions about shape, too.

The Casserole Crock has a removable stoneware insert shaped like a baking dish. It’s wide and shallow, so casseroles cook more like casseroles instead of becoming a deep pile of food in the middle. That’s 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. I’ll take it.

It goes from kitchen to table

The stoneware insert is attractive enough to serve from, which is a small thing until you’re 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 friend’s house, that feature earns its keep pretty quickly.

I like the simple controls

The 2.5-quart model has Low, High and Warm settings. That’s it. No digital display. No twenty-seven buttons I’ll never use. And honestly, I’m 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 I’ve 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 manufacturer’s 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 I’d know before buying

The current model holds 2.5 quarts, so this isn’t the slow cooker I’d choose for feeding a crowd. Think side dish or smaller casserole rather than a giant 9-by-13-inch family meal.

If you’re cooking for several people, you’ll want to check the recipe size before you start. A recipe designed to fill a 9-by-13-inch pan probably isn’t 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.

Save $3.28
Crock-Pot Small 2.5 Quart Casserole Slow Cooker
Crock-Pot Small 2.5 Quart Casserole Slow Cooker
    $54.99 $51.71
    Buy on Amazon

    So, is it worth it?

    For me, yes. But I’m 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 you’re cooking for company, this is a genuinely useful addition.

    I’ve been using the original version since 2016. That’s 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 isn’t 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 wouldn’t want it to. A slow cooker won’t 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, that’s exactly what you need.

     

    Question: What’s the dish that always seems to need the oven when the oven is already full? Tell me in the comments. I’m always curious what other cooks are trying to squeeze into that one precious oven.

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    14 replies
    1. Linda says:

      Walmart has the same casserole crock pot for the same price as amazon. I was so happy to see your review as i’ve been looking at this for many months and wondering if I would like it. I just got it today and have not used it but I can already tell it’s going to become my very favorite. I do have a question however….
      How many crock pots are too many? I do believe I have plenty and I actually am thinking about sharing two of them with someone else. Then I will be down to just three , and I use them a lot. Three different sizes and two different shapes. Mary thank you.

      Linda.

      Reply
    2. Judy says:

      I sometimes make crock-pot volcano (lava) cake in mine to take to church potlucks. Don’t have to worry about bringing any home!

      Reply
    3. Kathy says:

      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?

      Reply
    5. ELIZABETH says:

      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.

      Reply
      • cheryl says:

        Here’s a recipe…feel free to make adjustments, and make it your own:

        CROCK-POT REESE’S CAKE:

        1 box Devil’s 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 Reese’s cups, halved
        1/4 c. chopped Reese’s 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 aren’t 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 Reese’s cups and Reese’s 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.

        Reply
    6. Chris Fenninger says:

      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

      Reply
    7. Robin L Disney says:

      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.

      Reply
    8. Jodi says:

      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?

      Reply
    9. Lynn says:

      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!

      Reply
    10. Birgit Nicolaisen says:

      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.

      Reply
    11. Cally Ross says:

      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. 🙂

      Reply

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