The 7 Best Small Slow Cookers for Entertaining, Meal Prep, and More, According to Testing

The Bottom Line

For ease of cleaning and heat consistency, the Crock-Pot Mini 1.5-Quart Round Manual Slow Cooker checks all the boxes when it comes to ease of use and results. But for a budget buy, the Brentwood 1.5-Quart Slow Cooker is a solid option at under $25. And it’s just as easy to clean. 

Our Testing Process

To find the best small slow cookers, we evaluated 16 different slow cookers and two food warmers using a predetermined methodology. We assessed each slow cooker based on five factors: value, design, ease of use, performance, and ease of cleaning. We incorporated the slow cookers into our daily cooking routines, using high, low, and keep warm settings. To evaluate the performance further, we prepared a dip in each slow cooker and monitored the low setting for two hours, noting if the dip burned and broke. Slow cookers with high heat were monitored for heat consistency and food scorches. And all slow cookers and food warmers were tested on food build-up and drips around the food vessel and heating chamber. 

For evaluating the ease of cleaning, each slow cooker was hand-washed or washed in a dishwasher to see how easy it was to clean the lid and food vessel. We noted the weight for each element of the slow cooker as well as the ergonomic design of handles and other elements. After two weeks, we ranked the slow cookers in each of the five categories and a total, average score was calculated for each appliance to determine our top choices. 

What to Know About Slow Cookers Before Shopping

Type

When shopping for the best small small cooker for your needs, it’s important to consider the type: manual or programmable. Manual slow cookers are much more budget friendly as they just offer straight-forward temperature settings. However a programmable slow cooker has a timer with automatic functionality such as an auto shut off after a set cook time has been completed. That comes in handy when cooking meats you don’t want to dry out or following a specific time for slow cooker desserts. A programmable slow cooker can also schedule cook times and delay cooking, which is super handy for party prep

Capacity

“[The range] in size from 1 quart to 10 quarts can make choosing the best size slow cooker for your needs feel a bit daunting,” says Grainger. “However, the average sized, most-used slow cooker ranges from 5 to 6 quarts. This size is what most slow-cooker specific recipes call for and can easily feed a family of four to six with leftovers to spare.” 

You’ll note that the best small cookers have significantly lower capacities by design—0.6 quarts (20 ounces) to 2.5 quarts. These can be ideal for smaller households, or for making dips and sauces in smaller quantities than a 5 or 6-quart machine would yield. Either way, when shopping for a slow cooker, always buy one with a slightly higher capacity than what you really need, because you should never fill your slow cooker up to the brim. “Slow cookers perform best when they are half to ¾ full so be sure to adapt your recipes accordingly,” says Grainger. 

Settings and Functions

Typically, even the best small slow cookers don’t have the bells and whistles that standard-sized slow cookers come with. However, most slow cookers have two heat settings—low and high—and a keep warm function. As a general rule, high heat is 300°F and low heat is 200°F. The food warming temperature varies from brand to brand but typically this function keeps food at around 150°F, which is 20 degrees hotter than the recommended temperature for food safety. However, it’s important to note that if you use a slow cooker to reheat leftovers, you’ll need to heat the food to at least 165°F first before maintaining a keep-warm setting.

Care and Maintenance

The best small slow cooker is one that will last years in your kitchen. Ensuring that it does means cleaning the appliance after each use. “Before cleaning your slow cooker, be sure it is turned off, unplugged, and has had time to cool,” says Grainger. “If the interior bowl and glass lid can be removed, wash with warm, soapy water or, if allowed by the manufacturer, wash in the dishwasher. Before storing, gently wipe down the exterior of the slow cooker with warm, soapy water and a washcloth, sponge, or rubber spatula to remove any cooked-on food making sure to avoid scouring pads and abrasive cleaners.” 

Don’t want to hand wash after each use? Slow cooker liners are a game changer. “Not only do they prevent food from sticking to the inside of the crock, but they also protect the interior from scratches,” says Grainger. “Be sure to choose the correct size liner for your slow cooker and remove hot food from the pot before removing the liner. Because each style of slow cooker is different, always check the manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning.”

Other Small Slow Cookers We Tested

Crock-Pot Small 3-Quart Round Manual Slow Cooker

This 3-quart Crock-Pot is small but deep so the narrow shape was a bit challenging for bulky cuts of meat. The temperatures seemed to be a little wonky, too. The low setting was hotter than a traditional low heat and there were some scorches on the cheese dip even on the keep warm function. However, we did like the design of the handles on this unit. Unlike some slow cookers we tested, they never got hot and made it easy to grab and move the appliance. 

Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Slow Cooker

While we loved the look of the stainless steel exterior on this Hamilton slow cooker, the unit was extremely hot to the touch compared to other slow cooker exteriors. Another design issue: the plastic white handles. These weren’t ergonomic and we had a tough time removing the crock. However, the slow cooker did keep meat perfectly tender and juicy and we always love to see a dishwasher safe option. Though, the appliance manual did warn against using the sanitize setting with the lid and crock—likely because of the high heat and the plastic handles. 

Mainstays 2-Quart Slow Cooker

The price is right for this Mainstays slow cooker, at just under $10 bucks. And we love how lightweight and easily portable the whole unit is, but right off the bat we noticed the lid doesn’t feel as tight or secure as other slow cookers we tested. Still, it kept nacho dip perfectly melty with no burns or separation for well over two hours. And clean-up was a breeze with no drips or spills in between the pot and heating element. Even better: The pot is dishwasher safe. 

Your Questions, Answered

What size slow cooker is best for one or two people?

“When cooking for one or two people, opt for a 2 to 3-quart slow cooker,” says Grainger. “While cooking larger cuts of meat like a roast may not be recommended, it is the ideal size for small meals, soups, and dips. Plus, many traditional slow cooker recipes that serve four to siz can easily be cut in half to fit into a smaller slow cooker.”

What is the smallest slow cooker I can buy?

Most mini slow cookers have a 1- to 3-quart capacity. However, there are some slow cookers and food warmers with a capacity less than 1 quart at just .65 quarts. 

How much do small slow cookers cost?

Slow cookers have a wide price range, from under $10 to over $300, so it’s hard to know which to buy. Generally, small slow cookers range from $20 to $50, making them the more budget-friendly choice. We tested small slow cookers ranging from $10 to $75, and the average price of all slow cookers we tested was $46. 

Who We Are

Deanne Revel is an award-winning journalist and host based in Seattle. She covers home and design shopping, including the best deals and dupes, and did significant research for this story. She also spoke to Holley Grainger, MS, RD, a recipe developer and nutrition expert. 

What Is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.