Related Links: 9 Hot Drinks for Cold Days Ward off the winter chill by drinking something warm and delicious. Soothing Soups Spoon away winter chills with these easy and delicious soup recipes. Want More Slow-Cooker Recipes? Try one of the 400-plus slow-cooker recipes in the Taste of Home Recipe Finder.

With a little advance preparation, you can walk away from your kitchen for an entire day at work or play and return to a hot, savory supper. That's the genius of the slow cooker: Your choice of meat or veggies plus liquid plus hours of low, continuous heat yields tender morsels packed with flavor.

Following are recipes from the Taste of Home Recipe Finder for classic stews and roasts, but we also found some new ideas that include seafood, brisket with an Asian flair, and beef fajitas. So get ready to start up your slow cooker for some hearty fare this winter!

Apple and Onion Beef Pot Roast
"Rely on your slow cooker to help prepare this moist pot roast. I thicken the juices to make a pleasing apple gravy that's wonderful over the beef slices and onions."
-- Rachel K., Hayti, South Dakota

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 5 hours

You Will Need
1 boneless beef sirloin tip roast (3 pounds), cut in half
1 cup water
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 large tart apple, quartered
1 large onion, sliced
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
1/8 teaspoon browning sauce

What to Do
1. In a large nonstick skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray, brown roast on all sides. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker.
2. Add water to the skillet, stirring to loosen any browned bits; pour over roast. Sprinkle with seasoned salt, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder. Top with apple and onion. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until the meat is tender.
3. Remove roast and onion; let stand for 15 minutes before slicing.
4. Strain cooking liquid into a saucepan, discarding apple. Bring liquid to a boil; cook until reduced to 2 cups, about 15 minutes. Combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth; stir in browning sauce. Stir into cooking liquid. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve over beef and onion.

Serves 8

Savory Beef Fajitas
"My family loves beef, and I love to use the slow cooker, so this dish pleases everyone," writes Twila B. of Middleburg, Pennsylvania. "The meat comes out nice and tender to create these tempting fajitas."

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 7 hours

You Will Need
1 beef flank steak (2 pounds), thinly sliced
1 cup tomato juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro or parsley
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground coriande
1 medium onion, sliced
1 medium green pepper, julienned
1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
1 medium jalapeno, cut into thin strips*
12 flour tortillas (6 inches)
Sour cream, guacamole, salsa or shredded cheddar cheese, optional

What to Do
1. Place beef in a slowcooker. Combine the next seven ingredients; pour over beef. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.
2. Add onion, peppers and jalapeno. Cover and cook 1 hour longer or until meat and vegetables are tender.
3. Using a slotted spoon, place about 1/2 cup of meat-vegetable mixture on each tortilla. Add desired toppings. Roll up.
Serves 12

*Editor's note: When cutting or seeding hot peppers, use rubber or plastic gloves to protect your hands. Avoid touching your face.

Thai-Style Brisket
From Cadillac, Michigan, Teri R. lets her slow cooker do most of the work when preparing this brisket flavored with peanuts, soy and zesty seasonings.

Preparation time: 1 hour
Cooking time: 8 1/2 hours

What You Need
1 fresh beef brisket (3 to 4 pounds), cut in half*
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 cup chunky peanut butter
2/3 cup soy sauce
4 teaspoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup water
1-1/4 cups julienned carrots
1 medium sweet red pepper, sliced
1 medium green pepper, sliced
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 cup unsalted peanuts, optional
Hot cooked rice

What to Do
1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown brisket on both sides in 2 tablespoons olive oil. Transfer meat and drippings to a 5-qt. slow cooker.
2. Combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, cilantro, lemon juice, garlic, pepper flakes and pepper; pour over brisket. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until meat is tender.
3. Remove brisket and keep warm. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into cooking juices. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes or until thickened.
4. Meanwhile, in a large skillet or wok, stir-fry the carrots, peppers and onions in remaining olive oil until crisp-tender. Add peanuts if desired. Stir cooking juices and stir into vegetable mixture.
5. Thinly slice meat across the grain. Place rice on a large serving platter; top with meat and vegetable mixture.

Serves 6-8

*Editor's note: This is a fresh beef brisket, not corned beef. The meat comes from the first cut of the brisket.

Shrimp Marinara
In Galesburg, Illinois, Sue M. simmers a flavorful marinara sauce for most of the day. Then, shortly before mealtime, she simply adds cooked shrimp, which merely require being heated through. Served over spaghetti, it makes a delicious dressed-up main dish.

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 3-4 hours

You Will Need
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Italian diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1/2 to 1 cup water
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt, optional
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound fresh or frozen shrimp, cooked, peeled and deveined
1 pound spaghetti, cooked and drained
Grated Parmesan cheese, optional

What to Do
1. In a slow cooker, combine the first nine ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours.
2. Stir in shrimp. Cover and cook 20 minutes longer or just until shrimp are heated through. Serve over spaghetti. Garnish with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Serves 6

See more slow-cooker recipes such as Mushroom Chicken Cacciatore and Cranberry Pork Chops on RD.com.

Looking for more inspiration? Try the Taste of Home Recipe Finder, featuring more than 18,000 kitchen-tested recipes.