Optimized for casseroles, one-pot meals, dips and other favorites, this isn’t a does-it-all option but it’s perfect for small households or student dorms and one of the best slow cookers we've seen. Although it’s slightly on the expensive side for a slow cooker of its size, we love the extra features on this slow cooker. The cook and carry lid locking option lets you prepare sides and dips for events and transport them hassle-free, and the oven-safe stoneware gives you flexibility in food prep. What’s more, we love the funky geometric design, which will look right at home in any kitchen.
Crock-Pot 2.5-Quart Mini Casserole Slow Cooker: Features
- Optimized for casseroles and appetizers
- Standard High, Low and Warm settings
- Small dimensions mean it’s good for stacking on shelves
This is the smallest slow cooker we’ve reviewed, and it’s also the cutest. Optimized for casseroles and appetizers, this is also a good option for those with limited counter or storage space. This isn’t the cheapest model at just shy of $40 at regular price, but we saw it on sale on Amazon for $25. More often than not, you’ll find it at around this price point.
The 2.5-quart capacity of the Mini Casserole Crock is perfect for households of 1-3 people. It has the standard High, Low and Warm settings to cook food at varying rates and keep it warm, and it’s a manual slow cooker, meaning you won’t get the convenience of a digital model with timer functions to stop cooking your food even if you’re out. We’ve found that this is a feature lacking in smaller models of slow cookers though, and with smaller food quantities to worry about cooking times will also be reduced. If you're after something a little bigger, consider the Crock-Pot SCR450-HX 4.5-Quart Round or Crock-Pot SCR300 3-Quart Manual.
At a petite 7.3 x 13.4 x 13.5-inch dimension, this is a shorter model than most but just as wide, meaning it’s good for stacking on shelves or hiding away in the corner of the kitchen. We like the blue and white geometric design for bringing some style to cooking and serving - perfect for side dishes at the holidays or keeping a dip warm at a mixer.
The Crock-Pot 2.5-Quart Mini Casserole Crock Slow Cooker has a bunch of great features which set it apart. Firstly, the Cook and Carry locking lid system makes this a highly portable slow cooker. Lid-mounted clips secure the lid safely to the cooker, and tactile loop side handles make this slow cooker easy to transport to pot-lucks or family gatherings. We've seen this on bigger models like the Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6-Quart or Black+Decker SCD4007 7-Quart Digital, but at less than seven pounds, this is one of the lightest slow cookers we’ve seen which makes transportation even easier.
Crock-Pot 2.5-Quart Mini Casserole Slow Cooker: Cooking experience
- Can use your stoneware pot in the oven
- You will find 10 recipes in the included instruction manual
- Perfect for a small family of 2-3
We loved the Calphalon Digital Sauté Slow Cooker for its removable stoneware pot insert which could be used independently on a stove top or in an oven, ensuring convenience and maximum flavour by allowing you to add depth and techniques such as sautéing and searing to your ingredients. However, this didn’t come cheap. With the Crock-Pot 2.5-Quart Mini Casserole Crock Slow Cooker you can use your stoneware pot in the oven, making it perfect for getting a headstart on the cooking process or simply providing you with a multi-use product. Unlike the Calphalon, the lid and stoneware in the Crock-Pot is dishwasher-safe, meaning you get convenience at every stage of the cooking process.
It may have casserole in the title, but don’t let that limit you. Although the dimensions make this an ideal slow cooker for casseroles it’s capable of so much more. You will find 10 recipes in the included instruction manual. If you happen to lose the manual, you can find these recipes and instructions on Crock-Pot's website. Crock-Pot has a great blog which lists plenty of recipe inspiration based on meal, main ingredient, regional cuisine and flavor. We love the wide range of recipe types, from dessert to vegetarian to seafood.
One thing that’s great about having a smaller slow cooker is that you can’t cook too much food, which can help with cutting portion sizes and reducing food waste and leftovers. That makes this perfect for a small family of 2-3, or those who are health-conscious, especially as one of the main advantages of Crock-Pot slow cookers is the need for less oil. We think this is the perfect choice for kids leaving for college, or for Mom and Dad once the kids have flown the nest. Like all slow-cookers, it’s easy to use and you can create a bunch of great recipes with it.
This is a well-loved slow cooker and we haven’t seen many complaints from users, but if you do have issues it’s covered by the Crock-Pot standard one-year warranty.
Crock-Pot 2.5-Quart Mini Casserole Slow Cooker: Verdict
This is quite a lot to pay for a smaller, manual slow cooker but you do get the added perks of an oven-safe, high quality stoneware pot and lid locking system which we loved in more expensive models. If you like these extra features but aren’t looking for a large-capacity slow cooker, this is definitely the one for you!
