From dinner to dessert, slow cookers can be a cook's best friend

We always seem to be searching for ways to save time, both in life and in the kitchen. Shortcut recipes aimed for frazzled cooks have been around as long as we've been cooking, and appliances like Instant Pots have made quick work out of even the most time-intensive dishes.

But a cold, hectic week in the middle of winter was an opportune time to take a step back and wonder, what's the rush? So I called on an old friend, the slow cooker.

In their heyday, slow cookers were a cook's lifesaver. Dump-and-go meals required little intervention, and its low-and-slow approach made even the toughest (and most economical) cuts of meat fork-tender. They're amazingly versatile, keeping dips and dishes warm, feeding pulled pork to the masses and even baking up breads and desserts.

While I embrace anything that will help solve dinnertime dilemmas, revisiting cherished recipes and adding new ones to my repertoire were reminders that even in this hustle-and-bustle world, sometimes low and slow is still the way to go.

Serves 6 to 8.

Note: For those who fear bread baking, this recipe is for you. We used a 6-quart round slow cooker with a ceramic insert. The finished bread will be browned on bottom, but not on top. You'll want to give it a few minutes under the broiler, which is a great opportunity to flavor it with garlic, rosemary, sesame seeds — whatever goes well with dinner. From Nicole Hvidsten.

• 1 (1/4-oz.) envelope active dry yeast

• 1 1/2 c. lukewarm water, about 110 degrees

• 3 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

• 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 tsp. kosher salt

• Melted butter, for finishing

Directions

Line a slow cooker with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.

In a large, nonmetal bowl, combine yeast and sugar. Add heated water and stir until yeast is dissolved and starts to bubble. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Add flour, olive oil and salt and stir until combined and a shaggy dough begins to form.

On a lightly floured surface with floured hands, knead dough until it becomes smooth and soft and no longer sticky, about 5 minutes. Alternatively, combine all ingredients in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment and knead on medium speed for about 5 minutes.

To brown crust: Turn oven to broil setting. Remove bread and parchment from slow cooker and place on baking sheet. Broil until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Immediately brush with butter and sprinkle with preferred seasonings. Let cool for at least 20 minutes. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

Serves 6 to 8.

Is it faster to bake a brownie cake in the oven? Yes. But using the slow cooker is an open invitation to eat it while it's still warm — no cooling on a baking rack here. Serve with vanilla ice cream and top with melted peanut butter (or caramel) for dessert nirvana. Adapted by Nicole Hvidsten from the Food Network.

• 3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing insert

• 1 1/2 c. sugar

• 1/3 c. all-purpose flour

• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

• 1/2 c. dark chocolate chunks

• Creamy peanut butter, melted, for serving

Directions

Line the insert of a 4- or 6-quart slow cooker with a large piece of foil, then generously butter the foil.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter, sugar, cocoa powder, flour, eggs, vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Fold in the chocolate chunks. Scrape the batter into the prepared insert in an even layer. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours; the cake should be set around the edges and gooey in the center. (Cooking time will depend on the size of slow cooker; a smaller slow cooker will require more time, up to another 90 minutes.)

Serve the cake warm, topped with ice cream and melted peanut butter or your preferred topping.

The addition of chiles and corn give this warming chili a little Tex-Mex flair. Using masa to thicken the chili also is a fun touch that's in line with the flavor profile. Adjust to your spice tolerance and your preferred bean-to-meat ratio. Adapted from the Food Network by Nicole Hvidsten.

• 5 to 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• 1 1/2 tbsp. ground cumin

• 1 1/2 tbsp. ground coriander

• 3 tsp. dried oregano

• 1 tsp. red pepper flakes

• Kosher salt and ground white pepper

• 3 (15-oz.) cans Great Northern beans, drained

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 3 (4-oz.) cans green chiles, chopped

• 1 jalapeño, sliced, seeds removed

• 4 c. chicken broth

• 1 c. whole milk

• ¹⁄₄ to 1/2 c. masa

• 1 1/2 c. frozen corn

• Sour cream, for serving

• Chopped fresh cilantro, for serving

Directions

Add the chicken breasts to a slow cooker. In a small bowl, mix the cumin, coriander, oregano, paprika, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper. Sprinkle mixture over the chicken. Add the beans, garlic, canned chiles, onions and jalapeño. Pour in the chicken broth, put the lid on and cook on high until the vegetables are soft and the flavors are combined, about 5 hours.

Mix the milk with the masa (more masa for thicker chili) and add to the slow cooker. Add the frozen corn straight from the freezer and continue to cook until the sauce has thickened, another 30 minutes.

To serve, ladle the chili into bowls and garnish with a dollop of sour cream, extra cheese and cilantro.

Serves 12.

Note: When preparing pulled pork, make it worth your while — it freezes beautifully. In this scalable recipe, the seasoning is versatile enough that the pork will work in a number of ways: with barbecue sauce in sandwiches, as carnitas or in a rice bowl. The liquid isn't necessary — the meat makes plenty on its own — but it does add flavor. Use anything from broth or water to apple cider or orange juice. From Nicole Hvidsten.

• 6 to 8 lb. bone-in pork butt roast or pork shoulder

• 1 tsp. salt

• 3 tsp. paprika

• 3 tsp. cumin

• 3 tsp. oregano

• 1 large onion, sliced

• 5 cloves garlic

Directions

Bring roast to room temperature and pat dry with paper towels. Trim large fat pieces from roast and, if necessary, cut roast into pieces to better fit into the slow cooker.

In a small bowl, add the salt, pepper, paprika, cumin and oregano and mix well. Liberally apply to all sides of the roast pieces.

Place onions and garlic on the bottom of the slow cooker. Place seasoned meat on top; add broth, if using. Cook on low for 8 hours, checking doneness after 6 hours. It should easily shred with a fork. Remove from slow cooker and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet to cool slightly. Once cool enough to handle, use two forks to shred the meat.

Drain juices from the slow cooker, removing the garlic but reserving the onions. If using right away, add shredded meat and onions back to the slow cooker along with 1 to 1 1/2 cups of reserved juices, or until it's the preferred consistency. Keep on warm setting until ready to use. Serve with buns and barbecue sauce, tortillas and pico de gallo, as part of a baked potato bar — whatever works for the occasion.