Slow Cooker Kitchen Sink Casserole – When life gets busy, you need a dish that can handle it all—enter the Slow Cooker Kitchen Sink Casserole. Packed with a mix of hearty vegetables, lean ground beef, and cheesy goodness, this one-pot wonder has all the comfort you need in one dish. Best part? It only takes 10 minutes to prep, and then you can forget about it until dinner!
The first time I made this Slow Cooker Kitchen Sink Casserole, I was desperate for an easy meal that didn’t require constant attention. I threw in a little of this and a little of that, and somehow this magical, hearty casserole came together. My husband couldn’t stop going back for seconds (and thirds), and even my picky eater of a child asked if we could make it again! Now, it’s our go-to when we need a meal that’s comforting but totally effortless.
What makes this Slow Cooker Kitchen Sink Casserole truly special?
What sets this Slow Cooker Kitchen Sink Casserole apart is the simplicity mixed with the delicious results. It’s a real “set it and forget it” meal that brings together tender vegetables, seasoned ground beef, and the ultimate comfort food finish—melted cheddar cheese. Plus, it’s a one-pot dish, meaning cleanup is a breeze, and you can easily customize it with whatever veggies or cheese you have on hand. The slow cooker does all the hard work for you while you go about your day.
What You Need To Make This Slow Cooker Kitchen Sink Casserole Recipe?
These simple ingredients come together in the slow cooker to make something seriously tasty.
White Onion: You might be tempted to skip it, but don’t! The onion gets all soft and sweet as it cooks. It’s like the foundation of flavor in this dish. Seriously, everything tastes better when it starts with onions.
Red Potatoes: I love using red potatoes here because they hold their shape and get all tender without falling apart. Plus, you don’t even need to peel them, so bonus points for being easy!
Carrots & Celery: These are your classic soup veggies, but they add a nice sweetness and crunch to balance out the beef. Also, they give the dish some color—because who wants a sad-looking casserole?
Ground Beef: Go for lean ground beef so you don’t end up with a greasy mess. The beef gives the casserole that hearty, comforting vibe we all love. If you’re feeling fancy, you could even swap in ground turkey or chicken!
White Rice: You don’t even have to cook it ahead of time! It soaks up all the flavors in the slow cooker, getting tender and delicious. Think of it as the glue that holds everything together.
Condensed Tomato Soup: This is the secret sauce. It’s not just for grilled cheese anymore. It adds this tangy, savory element that ties everything together.
Cheddar Cheese: What’s a casserole without cheese? The cheddar melts into all the nooks and crannies, making each bite cheesy and wonderful. If you’re a cheese lover (and who isn’t?), you can even add extra on top.
Steps To Make Slow Cooker Kitchen Sink Casserole:
Start by tossing the sliced onions, potatoes, carrots, and celery into your crockpot. Drizzle with a little olive oil and minced garlic. Give everything a good toss until the veggies are well-coated. Easy, right?
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Next, brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. While it’s cooking, season the beef with a pinch of salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Once browned, stir in the Worcestershire sauce—because, let’s face it, it makes everything better. Spread the cooked beef over the veggies in the slow cooker. Top it all off with a few slices of butter for good measure.
Sprinkle the uncooked rice over the beef layer—yes, uncooked. It’ll cook right in the slow cooker and soak up all those flavors. Then, mix the condensed tomato soup with 1 1/2 cups of water and pour it over the rice. Don’t stress; it’s going to work its magic.
Cover and let it cook low and slow for 6-7 hours, or if you’re in a rush, set it to high for about 4 hours.
When the time’s up, uncover, top with a hefty handful of grated cheddar, and turn off the slow cooker. Let the casserole sit until the cheese is all melted and gooey. Grab a fork and dig in!
Tip:
If you want to kick this Slow Cooker Kitchen Sink Casserole up a notch, try layering the flavors even more. When you brown the ground beef, don’t just season it with salt and pepper—toss in a splash of Worcestershire sauce and maybe even a dash of smoked paprika. This adds a deeper, richer flavor to the beef. Oh, and don’t forget to mix in a little extra cheese when you layer it—because more cheese never hurt anyone, right? Finally, if you’re worried about the rice getting too mushy, you can add it during the last two hours of cooking instead of at the start. This way, it’ll still absorb all those amazing flavors but stay a little firmer.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use a different type of meat?
Absolutely! Ground turkey, chicken, or even a plant-based meat substitute can work just fine. Just make sure to adjust the seasoning accordingly since different meats have different flavors.
Can I throw in extra veggies?
Go for it! This is a “kitchen sink” recipe after all. Got bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms hanging around? Toss them in! The slow cooker is pretty forgiving with extra veggies—just make sure they’re all evenly sliced so they cook at the same rate.
What if I don’t have tomato soup?
No worries! You can substitute it with marinara sauce or even a can of diced tomatoes mixed with some tomato paste. Just be sure to adjust the seasoning to your taste.
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
Slow Cooker Kitchen Sink Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 white onion thinly sliced
- 4 medium red potatoes scrubbed and sliced thin
- 2 medium carrots peeled and sliced
- 1 celery stalk sliced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tbsp butter sliced
- 1/2 c white rice uncooked
- 1 10 ounces can condensed tomato soup
- 1 1/2 c grated cheddar cheese
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by tossing the onions, potatoes, carrots, and celery into your crockpot. Drizzle everything with a bit of olive oil and garlic, then give it all a good toss to make sure the veggies are nicely coated.
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef on medium-high heat. Season it up with some salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Once it’s nicely browned, stir in the Worcestershire sauce, then layer the beef on top of the veggies in your slow cooker. Add slices of butter right on top—because, why not?
- Next, sprinkle the uncooked rice over the beef. Mix the tomato soup with 1 1/2 cups of water, and pour that right over the rice.
- Cover it up and let everything slow-cook on low for 6-7 hours, or if you're in a bit of a rush, go for 4 hours on high.
- Once it’s done cooking, uncover and sprinkle that cheddar cheese all over the top. Turn the crockpot off but keep the lid on for a bit until the cheese gets nice and melty. Then dig in and enjoy!
Notes
I’m Bitty, owner of nodashofgluten.com, where I share simple, delicious recipes for all tastes, including gluten-free. Check out my “About Me” page for more info!
