If you're anything like us then there are times when you don't mind staying near the kitchen all day to simmer a batch of homemade soup on the stovetop—and there are other times when you really need from-scratch with less fuss. These are the recipes we reach for when we need a helping hand. By taking advantage of your slow cooker you can make everything from chicken soup to beef stew for hardly any effort at all.

One of our go-to recipes? This comforting classic. Slow-cook aromatic vegetables with chicken thighs to make a delicious broth. You can customize the soup by replacing noodles with your favorite cooked grains as well.

This chili is super quick and delicious. The cinnamon and molasses add a touch of earthiness and round out the flavors.

This Slow Cooker Beef Paprikash recipe from the Food Network Kitchen delivers tender beef simmered in a rich paprika-spiced sauce, all made easy in your slow cooker. It's a comforting, flavor-packed dish perfect for cozy nights.

Jarred pesto is one of our favorite 'secret ingredients'. With aromatic basil and salty Parmesan, it effortlessly upgrades the flavor of anything you add it to — soup included!

The Pioneer Woman gets a head start on dinner by loading the makings of a core-warming white chili into her slow cooker. Brimming with chicken, beans, sweet corn, peppers and spices, it's best served with a dollop of sour cream, extra cheese and cilantro, plus warm corn tortillas on the side.

This Slow Cooker Pork with Noodles recipe features succulent pork slow-cooked to perfection, then tossed with tender noodles for a hearty, fuss-free meal packed with flavor.

This shortcut gumbo eliminates the tricky step of cooking a roux for thickener. Instead, a small amount of rice cooked low and slow gives the stew just the right amount of body, while okra provides a layer of richness. With a bag of prepped ingredients in your freezer ready to go, you can serve this Southern crowd-favorite even on a weeknight.

This veggie-packed soup makes 8-10 servings so it's perfect for meal prep. Make a batch over the weekend and you'll have a wholesome lunch ready to go, all week long.

This vegetable-packed minestrone relies on flavorful dried cannellini beans, which benefit from the long cooking time of a slow cooker (and no soaking is required!).

Turkey, squash, chickpeas and more come together in this hearty stew that's dotted with sweet raisins and apricots. Just before serving, whip up a quick cilantro sauce for an added note of brightness.

Lemon and dill brighten the deep flavors of this low-and-slow soup for the soul.

Slow cookers are perfect for turning dried beans into a creamy soup with almost no effort. Black beans are cooked with fire roasted tomatoes, poblano peppers and spices for a full flavor. For serving, rotisserie chicken is warmed with cumin and cilantro before topping the soup, then finished with crema, onion, tortilla strips and lime wedges.

If the aroma of simmering chiles and Tex-Mex spices isn't enough to make your mouth water, one bite of this satisfying soup will!

A steaming bowl of this meaty stew is the perfect companion for a cold night. Italian sausage, smoky tomatoes and Parmesan rind create a rich broth without complicating the shopping list.

When it's warm it looks like beefy tea and when it's cold it looks like a savory gelatin. Some drink it for nourishment and others use it as a replacement for their morning coffee. Whatever your reason for liking bone broth, a slow cooker makes it easy to cook-and eliminates the need to simmer a pot over an open flame for 12 plus hours. Enjoy it plain, or try a few of our tried-and-tested flavor additions to customize and brighten your cup.

Curry powder is the secret ingredient in this easy slow-cooked soup. It adds to the depth of flavor and turns the soup golden yellow.

Black beans soak up the richness of a smoked turkey leg in this no-hassle soup. Garnish it with sour cream and lime for extra layers of flavor.

Sandra Lee's soup requires only 15 minutes of prep time before it's simmered in a slow cooker. Chipotle peppers and corn make a perfect flavor combination for a hearty soup, perfect for chilly evenings.

When you're craving the comfort of big Tex-Mex flavors, reach for this couldn't-be-easier soup.

Take the time up front to make a thick gravy and you'll love how rich and delicious it makes this slow-cooked stew. Even though the caraway is optional, we recommend giving it a try — it's a simple way to add something special to a classic.

Cook this soup with smoked turkey for robust flavor and a warm, comforting dinner. Serve it with a dollop of creamy yogurt and crusty whole-grain bread for dipping.

Make a fiber- and protein-packed meal with ease (and with very few ingredients) with this simple and delicious recipe.

Cocoa powder may seem a bit out of place in chili, but it has two jobs in this mole-inspired version: It adds depth of flavor and helps thicken the sauce. We suggest serving the chili with tortilla chips, but it would also be great with cornbread.

Get a taste of the Caribbean with this beef stew that's flavored with ginger, garlic and green chiles.

The best part of this chili recipe? You just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it go. But be sure to leave the chili powder out until the end; this ensures that the spices remain bright and vibrant rather than dull and bitter.

Pork shoulder becomes pull-apart tender when cooked on low heat for eight hours. Potatoes and veggies make it a complete meal.

Perfect on a cold winter's day, this short rib soup borrows from the Korean palate with restorative flavors like garlic, ginger and red chili paste. The slow-cooked beef melts in your mouth, and the fresh spritz of cilantro and lime at the end balances everything out.

Start your slow cooker in the morning and your meal will be ready by dinner.