Comparison: Best Slow Cooker For Large Family (Updated | Dec 9th)
Finding the perfect slow cooker for a bustling family can feel like a daunting task, but it’s a game-changer for busy households. Whether you’re feeding a hungry crew of six or preparing meals for the entire week, the right slow cooker can be your kitchen’s unsung hero. From capacity and features to ease of use and durability, we’ve done the legwork to bring you the top contenders. Join us as we explore the best slow cookers that’ll make your family dinners a breeze, even on your most chaotic days.
Editor’s Choice
Best for a specific purpose
- Best for extra large capacity: Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker
- Best for generous capacity: Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker
- Best for programmable timer: Crock-Pot Large 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Auto Warm Setting Black Stainless Steel
- Best for large family size: Crock-pot Express Crock Slow Cooker 8 quart Red
- Best for personalized cooking: Crock-Pot 7-Quart Slow Cooker
- Best for stovetop-safe searing: Magic Mill Slow Cooker 10 Quart | Extra Large Non-Stick Metal Searing Pot & Transparent Tempered Glass Lid Multipurpose Lightweight Slow Cookers
- Best for sear & cook: Hamilton Beach Sear & Cook Stock Pot Slow Cooker with Stovetop Safe Crock
- Best for spacious manual: Crockpot SCV700-CH-BR Slow Cooker 7 quarts Charcoal
- Best for multi-function programmable: HOUSNAT Slow Cooker
- Best for portable programmable: Crock-Pot 6 Quart Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker with Digital Timer Stainless Steel (CPSCVC60LL-S) pack of 1
Product Comparison: Best Slow Cooker For Large Family
Extra Large Capacity
Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker, Extra Large 10 Quart, Stay or Go Portable With Lid Lock, Dishwasher Safe Crock, Black (33195)
Hamilton Beach
- PERFECT FOR A LARGE GATHERING: The 10 quart slow cooker lets you cook enough food for a gathering of 12 or more people and fits a 10 lb. turkey or a 12 lb. roast.
- REDUCE SPILLS: The lid clips tightly to the slow cooker handles to reduce messy spills when transporting food. Carry hot meals to family gatherings, potlucks or to serve at the table without worrying about spills.
- COOK FLAVORFUL MEALS WITH MINIMAL EFFORT: This Hamilton Beach slow cooker has simple controls that make it easy for you to create flavorful meals with minimal effort and great results. Just turn the dial. No watching needed.
- MAINTAIN THE IDEAL TEMPERATURE WITH 3 HEAT SETTINGS: Just turn the dial to choose from 3 heat settings. Cook your meal on Low or High, and then switch to Warm when cooking is complete for food that’s warm and ready when it’s time to eat.
- EASY TO CARRY WITH FULL-GRIP HANDLES: The large slow cooker is easy to lift and hold onto when carrying to the table to serve a meal or when taking food to gatherings.
- SIMPLE TO CLEAN: The removable stoneware crock and glass lid are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
Generous Capacity
Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR), Versatile Cookware for Large Families or Entertaining
Crock-Pot
- Generous Capacity: 7-quart slow cooker that comfortably serves 9+ people or fits a 7-pound roast
- Cooking Flexibility: High or low slow cooking settings, with convenient warm function for ideal serving temperature
- Convenient: Set it and forget it feature enables you to cook while at work or performing daily tasks
- Minimal Clean-Up: One-pot cooking reduces dishes; lid and removable stoneware are dishwasher safe
- Versatile: Removable stoneware insert can be used in the microwave or an oven up to 400°F
- Stylish: Stainless steel exterior with black accents and practical plastic handles
- Economical & Healthy: Provides a cost-efficient way to prepare nutritious, home-cooked meals
Programmable Timer
Crock-Pot Large 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Auto Warm Setting Black Stainless Steel
Crock-Pot
- Cooking Capacity: Prepares food for over 10 people, making it a holiday dinner hosting essential.
- Digital Timer: Counts down cooking time up to 20 hours for easy monitoring.
- Auto Warm: Automatically keeps food warm after cooking for optimal serving temperature.
- Easy Cleanup: Features a removable, dishwasher-safe lid and stoneware pot for convenient cleaning.
- Memory Function: Resets to previous settings in case of a power outage.
- Elegant Design: Black stainless steel finish is stylish, easy to clean, and fits any kitchen decor.
Large Family Size
Crock-pot Express Crock Slow Cooker 8 quart Red
Crock-Pot
- Serves 10+ people
- 8-quart capacity
- HIGH/LOW cook settings
- Convenient WARM setting
- Removable oval stoneware
- Dishwasher-safe stoneware and glass lid
Personalized Cooking
Crock-Pot 7-Quart Slow Cooker, Portable Programmable with Timer, Locking Lid, Stainless Steel; an Essential Kitchen Appliance, Perfect for Families and Gatherings
Crock-Pot
- Personalized Cooking: MyTime adjusts the cooking cycle so your meal is ready exactly when you want it
- Leak-proof Lid: Travel-proof locking lid provides a tight seal to prevent leaks and spills
- Large Capacity: Fitted with a 7-quart bowl that serves 7+ people – perfect for families or gatherings
- Temperature Control: Auto-adjustment cooking cycle ensures meals are never overcooked but always flavor-filled
- Intuitive Control: Flat digital control screen lets you schedule meal times, and manually control cook time and temperature
- Convenient Handles: ‘Cook and Carry’ handles for hassle-free lifting and carrying
- Sustainable Materials: Made of Aluminum, Stainless Steel (Iron, Chromium, Nickel, Manganese, Copper, Phosphorus), and is 100% recyclable.
Stovetop-Safe Searing
Magic Mill Slow Cooker 10 Quart | Extra Large Non-Stick Metal Searing Pot & Transparent Tempered Glass Lid Multipurpose Lightweight Slow Cookers, Pot is Safe to Put the On the Flame, Dishwasher Safe
Magic Mill
- EXTRA LARGE CAPACITY SLOW COOKER: Step up your culinary game with Magic Mill’s 10-Quart Slow Cooker, the ultimate solution for large family gatherings, capable of accommodating a 10 lb. turkey or a 12 lb. roast with ease.
- STOVETOP-SAFE SEARING: Transform your meats with our stovetop-safe pot, allowing you to sear succulently and then slow cook to perfection, marrying convenience with flavor in one dynamic cooker.
- LEAKPROOF TRANSPARENT LID: Monitor your meal’s progress without spills or splatters; our leakproof, tempered glass lid ensures that your slow-cooked creations are cooked to perfection and ready to impress.
- BEAUTIFUL AND FUNCTIONAL DESIGN: Not only is this a beautiful slow cooker that will grace your countertop with its presence, but it’s also designed for effortless operation with intuitive settings for any cooking scenario.
- DEDICATED TO QUALITY AND SERVICE: Trust in the Magic Mill legacy of over 50 years—each slow cooker is a testament to our commitment to your cooking excellence and ultimate satisfaction, backed by a dedicated customer service team.
Sear & Cook
Hamilton Beach Sear & Cook Stock Pot Slow Cooker with Stovetop Safe Crock, Large 10 Quart Capacity, Programmable, Silver (33196)
Hamilton Beach
- LOCK IN THE FLAVOR — SEAR RIGHT ON THE STOVETOP. Enjoy great flavor along with one-pan convenience: sear on the stovetop, then finish the meal in the same pan. The removable nonstick pot can cook directly on gas, electric or ceramic stovetops.
- SERVE 12+ PEOPLE WITH 10 QUART CAPACITY: Cook a hearty meal for the whole family or serve a delicious main dish for a crowd. The 10 quart capacity slow cooker feeds a gathering of 12 or more people and fits a 10 lb. turkey or 12 lb. roast.
- 15 HEATING OPTIONS: This programmable slow cooker lets you mix and match high, low or warm heat settings with your choice of 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 hours of cooking time.
- LIGHTWEIGHT REMOVABLE NONSTICK ALUMINUM POT. The lightweight removable pot is lighter than a ceramic crock, so it’s easy to lift when the pot is full.
- AUTOMATIC KEEP WARM. When cooking is complete, this 10 quart slow cooker automatically shifts to warm to keep food at the perfect temperature until serving time.
Spacious Manual
Crockpot SCV700-CH-BR Slow Cooker 7 quarts Charcoal
Crock-Pot
- Spacious 7-quart manual slow cooker serves 8+ people or fits a 6-lb. roast
- Set cooking time to high and get a hot meal in no time or set it on low and tonight’s dinner can cook while you’re at work
- Keep food at an ideal serving temperature for as long as you need to with the convenient warm setting
- One-pot cooking means there are less dishes to clean, plus the lid and removable stoneware are dishwasher safe
Multi-Function Programmable
HOUSNAT Slow Cooker, 10 in 1 Programmable Cooker, 304 Stainless Steel Rice Cookers 6QT, Yogurt Maker, Delay Start, Adjustable Temp& Digital Time for Large Families or Entertaining
HOUSNAT
- ✔️ MULTI USE SLOW COOKER – 10 preset programs of the low and high slow cook setting, sear/sauté, roast, bake, steam, stew, rice, multigrain, sous vide, yogurt to choose, time and energy saving. No need to operate after selecting the corresponding function, the display will automatically display the time and temperature, wait for about 10S to start automatically.
- ✔️ YOU ARE IN ALL CONTROL – Customize design allows you to adjust the cooking time and temp according to your cooking habits and preferences. 24-hour “delay start” You can set the cooking start time, the slow cooker will automatically start cooking when the time you set starts, and the slow cooker has a heat preservation function, even if you are not in the kitchen, you can make hot meals and keep warm.
- ✔️HIGH CAPACITY & DISHWASHER SAFE – 6 QT inner pot is perfect for family meals. Easy cleaning mirror stainless steel made and dishwasher safe removable pot and glass lid are convenient to be cleaned in dishwasher with warm soapy water after use.
- ✔️ SMART COOKWARE WITH RECIPE – There is a real time display of the remaining cooking time and selected temperature on the digital screen. And the automatic keep warm function works with no watching needed and keeps your dishes warm until it is time to serve.
- ✔️ SAFE TO USE – Thick 304 stainless steel with good heat insulation brings non melt and cool touch handles and shells to protect your hands from burns and assure you safe transport. The tempered glass lid can bear high temperature and long time use.
- Note: After the slow cooker starts cooking, the temperature rises gradually. The maximum slow cooking temperature is lower than 212°F(100°C): Low setting: 201.2°F ± 5.4°F; High setting: 204.8°F ± 5.4°F. This programmed setting prevents burning and sticking at the bottom. Characterized by low-temperature slow cooking, it functions to preserve the moisture and nutrients in the food.
- Note: The stainless steel pot of the slow cooker is lead-free and safe for cooking. The lead warning on the outer box pertains to the circuit board located at the base of the product. Since the circuit board does not come into contact with food, please rest assured.
Portable Programmable
Crock-Pot 6 Quart Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker with Digital Timer Stainless Steel (CPSCVC60LL-S) pack of 1
Crock-Pot
- Programmable Digital Timer: Control cooking times from 30 minutes up to 20 hours
- Serve a Crowd: 6 quart Cook & Carry Slow Cooker serves 7 plus people
- Locking Lid: Lid gasket provides extra seal for less mess during transport
- Interactive Cooking: Safe for use in oven up to 400 degree F, and microwave
- Worry-free Travel: Secure locking lid and rubber gasket prevent spills
- Material: Contains Aluminum, Stainless Steel (Iron, Chromium, Nickel, Manganese, Copper, Phosphorus)
- Environmentally Friendly: Energy efficient at 240 Watts at 120V A.C; and 60Hz
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Buying Guide
FAQs
What size slow cooker is best for a large family?
For a large family, a slow cooker with at least 6 quarts of capacity is recommended, though 8 quarts or more is ideal for leftovers or batch cooking. Larger models ensure even cooking and prevent overcrowding, which can affect texture and flavor.
What features should I prioritize in a slow cooker for a large family?
Look for programmable settings, a warm function, and a removable, dishwasher-safe insert for easy cleanup. Some models also offer searing or browning options, which can enhance flavor without extra pans.
How do oval and round slow cookers compare for large families?
Oval slow cookers are better for cooking larger cuts of meat, like roasts or whole chickens, while round models are more compact and suited for soups or stews. Choose based on the types of meals you prepare most often.
Are expensive slow cookers worth the investment?
Higher-priced models often include advanced features like multiple temperature settings, timers, and better build quality, which can save time and effort. However, budget-friendly options can still deliver excellent results if you don’t need extra bells and whistles.
How do I ensure even cooking in a large slow cooker?
Avoid overfilling the slow cooker—stick to the 2/3 full rule for best results. Stir ingredients occasionally if possible, and cut meat and vegetables into uniform sizes for consistent cooking.
What’s the difference between a slow cooker and a multi-cooker?
Slow cookers are designed for low-and-slow cooking, while multi-cookers offer additional functions like pressure cooking, sautéing, and steaming. If you only need slow cooking, a dedicated slow cooker is simpler and often cheaper.
How do I clean a large slow cooker easily?
Opt for models with removable, dishwasher-safe inserts to simplify cleanup. For stubborn stains, soak the insert in warm, soapy water before scrubbing or use a baking soda paste.
Can I leave a slow cooker unattended while cooking?
Yes, slow cookers are designed for safe, unattended cooking, especially models with automatic warm settings. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and avoid leaving it on for excessively long periods.