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Home » Crockpot Recipes

How to Convert Slow Cooker to Oven

Published: Nov 14, 2022 · Modified: Apr 8, 2025 by Debra Clark · 19 Comments

There are so many delicious Crockpot recipes out there. After all, slow cooker recipes are great when you have a long time to let your food simmer, like while at work or running errands. However, perhaps you don't have a Crockpot yet, or maybe you just need to get dinner on the table without waiting four to eight hours for it!

The good thing is that you can convert your favorite recipes for the slow cooker to an oven or stovetop recipe with ease.

Shredded Chicken with Gravy in crockpot with a big ladle grabbing a scoop.

Once you know the conversion secret, you can use it for all your favorite slow-cooking dishes. This way, you'll save so much time without adding any extra effort to your plate. Let's find out how to do it!

Jump to:
  • FAQ's for converting slow cooker to oven cooking
  • Slow cooker times
  • Oven cooking times
  • How to convert crockpot recipes to oven
  • Troubleshooting
  • Best crockpot recipes

FAQ's for converting slow cooker to oven cooking

The first step in successfully converting slow-cooker recipes to an oven-based method is reviewing a few general guidelines. This will help you better understand the cooking methods so that your meal turns out perfectly—whether it's the first time you make it or the hundredth!

Can I use my oven instead of a slow cooker?

Absolutely! Most crock pot recipes are actually inspired by traditional recipes but designed for our modern, fast-paced lifestyles. However, home cooks looking for a slow cooker alternative: you're in luck. Preheat your oven to 325 or 350 degrees F (low temperate for meat, higher temperature for meatless) and keep reading to learn how to convert slow cooker times to oven cooking.

Why use a dutch oven?

With a tight fitting lid and heavy, insulating sides, a dutch oven is ideal for making tender, juicy slow cooked food in much less time than a Crockpot. It's a good choice for everything from large cuts of beef brisket and pork shoulder to stews and soups. Plus, one of the biggest advantages of a dutch oven is that it can go seamlessly from the stove top to your oven—saving you extra dishes and time.

Can you put a crockpot insert in the oven?

Good news! You can put the Crockpot insert (the main pot portion) into an oven up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Though the lid is not oven safe, you can use aluminum foil as a makeshift lid. If you have a brand besides Crockpot, check the owner's manual for information about heat rating and safety.

When is the best time to use a slow cooker?

Slow cooking is great when you want tender meat, hearty stew, or simmered soup, but don't have all day to deal with a conventional recipe. Slow cooker cooking allows you to leave the house and arrive back many hours later to a hot, delicious meal.

Plus, most Crockpots will switch to a "warm" setting at the end of the cooking time. This means that even if you get caught up in traffic or lose track of time playing with the kids, your meal will be perfectly (and safely) finished when you want to eat it.

Spooning out a large serving of crockpot ravioli out of slow cooker.
Easy to make Lazy Day Lasagna Recipe.

Slow cooker times

The most common slow cooker times you'll find in a recipe are eight hours on the low setting and four hours on the high setting. These times are ideal when cooking dishes like chicken breast or pork chops and root vegetables for a small family.

Plus, you can safely convert between eight hours/low heat and four hours/high heat. For example, if a recipe tells you to cook on the high setting for four hours, but you won't be home in that amount of time, you can set the Crockpot on low for eight hours.

A platter filled with sliced turkey breast and stuffing.

However, those aren't the only two settings you'll use. These are some general rule-of-thumb combinations for Crockpot cooking:

  • A large roast (6+ lbs) cooks on low for 9 ½ hours or high for 7 ½ hours
  • A pork loin (3-4 lbs) cooks on low for 6 hours or high for 5 hours
  • A 6-lb chicken or bone-in turkey cooks on low for 7 ½ hours or high for 6 ¼ hours

For best results, double-check that the thickest part of the meat is properly cooked by using an instant-read meat thermometer. By the way, due to the unique way a slow cooker works, the manufacturers at Crockpot warn that 2-3 hours on low is generally not enough cook time to bring meat to a safe temperature.

Oven cooking times

Your best option when it comes to converting a slow cooker recipe to a conventional oven recipe is a dutch oven. As mentioned above, you can also use the pot from your slow cooker, but you won't be able to use it on the stovetop.

An enameled cast iron dutch oven has a saute function, so you can start hearty meat dishes on the stove with a good sear. This simple cooking technique locks in so much moisture and flavor.

Then, simply add the rest of your ingredients as the recipe directs and place the whole thing, covered, into a 325-degree oven (165 degrees Celsius.)

Beef stew cooking in crockpot.
Poor Man's Beef stew cooking in a slow cooker. Hearty warming winter food.

How to convert crockpot recipes to oven

The following conversion chart lists the general timeframe to use when cooking a slow cooker recipe in the oven. However, the exact conversion time depends upon the size of your meal, the accuracy of your oven temperature, and the amount of liquid in the recipe.

You should always check your meat with a thermometer before pulling it out of the oven.

  • 4-6 hours low (2-3 hours high) in slow cooker = 15-30 minutes in oven
  • 6-8 hours low (3-4 hours high) in slow cooker = 35-45 minutes in oven
  • 8-12 hours low (4-6 hours high) in slow cooker = 1-3 hours in oven

Keep in mind, meats cook best when braised at a lower temperature (325 degrees F). However, if you're converting a meatless recipe, you can bump the temp up to 350 degrees F. It'll save you a bit more time.

Also, Crockpots generally retain more moisture than dutch ovens. For that reason, I recommend adding an extra cup of liquid so that your meat doesn't dry out.

Troubleshooting

Even with a great recipe, sometimes things go a little sideways. Here are a few common hiccups when converting slow cooker recipes to the oven—and how to fix them without breaking a sweat:

  • What if my meat turns out dry?
    Add more liquid next time (start with an extra ½ to 1 cup). Make sure your pot is tightly covered, and don’t crank the oven above 325°F for meat dishes. Also, check it a little earlier—your oven may run hotter than expected.
  • How do I know when my dish is done?
    For meat dishes, always check the thickest part with a meat thermometer. Chicken should hit 165°F, and most roasts are ready around 190–200°F if you want them fall-apart tender. For stews or casseroles, you’re looking for bubbling sauce and fork-tender veggies.
  • Can I use a baking dish instead of a Dutch oven?
    You can, but cover it tightly with foil and expect to lose a little more moisture. A deep, covered dish works best for long cooking times. Glass pans are great for casseroles but not ideal for slow-cooked meat.
  • What if my slow cooker recipe says "don’t stir" or "layer ingredients"?
    Stick with those instructions! Just recreate the same layers in your oven-safe pot or dish. For example, layer the veggies on the bottom and the meat on top if that’s what your Crockpot recipe calls for.
  • My sauce got too thick—help!
    Add a splash of broth, water, or milk toward the end of cooking. Ovens let off more steam than a slow cooker, so sauces can reduce faster. Keep an eye on it the last 20–30 minutes and adjust if needed.
  • The flavor just isn’t the same—why?
    Slow cookers blend flavors over time. In the oven, flavors can be bolder or more separated. Try browning your meat and sautéing onions or garlic first on the stovetop for that rich, layered flavor that mimics hours of slow cooking.

Best crockpot recipes

Using the right recipe is key to a delicious meal. Here are some Crockpot recipes that are not only delicious but also convert easily into dutch oven recipes.

  • Chicken and Gravy
  • Slow Cooker Steak and Potatoes
  • Copycat Panera Butternut Squash Soup
  • Crack Chicken
  • Pork Chops with Mushroom Soup
  • Crockpot Meatballs and Gravy
  • Roast Beef with French Onion Soup

Once you know the basics, converting slow cooker recipes to the oven is easy—and fast! Try it tonight with one of the recipes above, and let me know how it goes in the comments. I love hearing from fellow comfort food lovers!

More Crockpot Recipes

  • Forkful of cheesy green chile chicken enchilada casserole being lifted from a crockpot, topped with diced tomatoes and green peppers.
    Crockpot Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
  • Plated slow cooker corn on the cob sprinkled with black pepper and parmesan cheese.
    Slow Cooker Corn on the Cob
  • Melted cheese stretching from a spoonful of French onion chicken fresh from the slow cooker.
    Crockpot French Onion Chicken
  • Slow Cooker Asparagus on a platter topped with melted cheese and garnished with lemon slices.
    Slow Cooker Asparagus

About Debra Clark

Hey I'm Deb Clark, and I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over! We live in the sleepy little town of Scappoose, Oregon. And I admit it... I love food! Join me in this foodie journey (even if you've never cooked before!) I will help you learn to be confident in the kitchen! Want to learn more? Let's stay connected, you can email me at debra@bowl-me-over.com and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

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  1. Phillip J Kalaveras says

    January 10, 2024 at 3:16 pm

    I use a high-quality Belgium Dutch Oven set my oven to 200 for low and 325 for high and follow the Crock-Pot recipe as is and have never had a problem.

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      January 11, 2024 at 3:17 pm

      Good to know, thanks for sharing Phillip!

      Reply
    • Jen says

      October 18, 2024 at 5:26 am

      oh thank you so much, i was SOOOO confused, this makes sense to me, thank you, i'll try it!!!!!!!

      Reply
      • Debra Clark says

        October 18, 2024 at 10:47 am

        Thanks Jen - I'm so glad you found this helpful!

        Reply
  2. Camden says

    December 31, 2023 at 9:46 am

    I'll admit that before this post I knew absolutely nothing about crockpot to oven conversion! This makes me feel a lot better about adjusting recipes when I need to. Thank you for detailing everything out so well!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      January 04, 2024 at 3:31 pm

      You're so welcome Camden, I'm glad you found this helpful!!

      Reply
  3. Sam says

    December 23, 2023 at 5:47 pm

    You've shared such helpful information about crockpot to oven conversion. I wish there was a printable chart though so I could easily keep the info near my cookbooks!

    Reply
  4. Sharon says

    December 22, 2023 at 2:05 pm

    Thank you for this helpful slow cooker to oven conversion article. This is going to save me quite a few headaches.

    Reply
  5. Debbie says

    December 22, 2023 at 1:40 pm

    Wow, what a helpful post! I have been looking for a simple slow cooker to oven conversion and you delivered.

    Reply
  6. Cynthia says

    December 18, 2023 at 8:32 am

    I want to use my crockpot more but I am terrible about remembering to prep in the morning. I work from home and the day seems to get away from me. I like the idea of crockpot to oven conversion so I can still make the recipes I planned instead of scurrying to use the ingredients a different way!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      December 19, 2023 at 4:20 pm

      Fantastic!! I'm glad you found this helpful Cynthia!

      Reply
  7. Kristen says

    December 16, 2023 at 11:51 am

    I always worry that I will mess up the recipe, trying to figure out the conversion alone, so thank you for this really helpful slow cooker to oven conversion! I will be using it A LOT this winter!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      December 19, 2023 at 4:35 pm

      That's fantastic - I'm glad it's so helpful Kristen!

      Reply
  8. One Crazy House says

    December 16, 2023 at 11:50 am

    I just found a Crockpot recipe that I have been wanting to try, but I am so busy right now with holiday prep, and never want to leave the Crockpot running when I am not home! I am definitely going to put this slow cooker to oven conversion info to good use this holiday season!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      December 18, 2023 at 8:12 am

      Awesome! If you think of a question I didn't cover, please let me know. I'll do the research for you. Happy Holidays!

      Reply
  9. Alyssa says

    December 14, 2023 at 7:33 am

    This is so helpful. I will definitely use these crockpot to oven conversion tips. Sometimes I really want to make a crockpot meal but forget to set it up all - so this will come in handy!

    Reply
  10. Brittany says

    December 10, 2023 at 6:27 am

    I've always been curious about crockpot to oven conversion when cooking. I've never been brave enough to sort it out myself. I'm more of a stick-to-the-recipe kind of gal, lol! I look forward to following your tips on some of my favorite recipes in the near future!

    Reply
  11. Annette. says

    November 27, 2023 at 9:44 am

    You never gave a conversion chart for slow cooker temps to oven temps

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      November 30, 2023 at 4:44 pm

      That's a great suggestion Annette, though times are listed there is not a chart. I will work on that. I appreciate the suggestion!

      Reply
Blogger Deb Clark smiling at camera holding a plate filled with a casserole.
Welcome to Bowl Me Over!

Hey I'm Deb Clark! I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over. We live in a sleepy little town just north of Portland in the beautiful Pacific Northwest... (read more)

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