Yes, the slow cooker is frowned upon by some, but for others, it is a lifesaver. And if you can carve out 15 or 20 minutes in the morning to prep ingredients and get them into the cooker, you can arrive home from a long day at the office to a hot, tasty meal..

The 400+ recipes offer a lot of variety, which counters the claim that the slow cooker is something of a one-trick pony. Recipes include dips, snacks, drinks, desserts, and vegetable side dishes, alongside the soups, stews, and meat-based main dishes that are the domain of the slow cooker. There is also a chapter on meatless main dishes, another on complete one-dish dinners, and — perhaps the chapter that may see the most use — 5-ingredient recipes.

Many recipes include suggestions for side dishes (often with packaged ingredients that speed preparation.) All the recipes also come with comprehensive nutritional facts per serving.