Small crock pots offer the same features and versatility as large crock pots. They’re great for hot dips, queso, beans, side dishes, and small meals. We tested small crock pots. Here we’ll review our 5 favorite small crock pots!
Read on to see which one we think is the best small crock pot, and why we love it so much.
1. Elite Gourmet Electric Slow Cooker
With thousands of positive reviews and happy users, the Elite Gourmet Electric Slow Cooker is a ridiculously affordable and high-quality small crock pot. We had to test it to see why it’s so popular.
Well, it won us over too, and here’s why.
It’s 1.5 quarts and compact enough to fit nicely on any kitchen counter (even crowded ones!). This is a perfect option for a single person or couple, or for side dishes.
The inner stoneware pot is removable for easy cleaning and both the inner stoneware pot and the glass lid are dishwasher safe. The Elite also features a single dial for simple operation.
Set the crock pot to OFF, Low, High, or Warm, and always know that the crock pot is on by the convenient red indicator light located directly above the dial.
This small crock pot heats up quickly and works just as efficiently as a regular-sized crock pot.
It’s stainless steel, meaning if you have any food dripping down the sides of the pot, clean-up will be a breeze.
The lid is made of tempered glass so that you can keep an eye on the progress your dish is making, and two cool-touch handles comfortably fit an adult’s hand if the crock pot needs to be moved while still hot.
This one has become our favorite for everything from side dishes and queso dip to simmering fresh potpourri during the winter.
What We Like:
- 1.5 liters. Great for small sides or meals for one or two
- The inner stoneware pot is removable
- Dishwasher-safe inner pot and lid
- Thick cool-touch handles
- Very affordable
- Simple operation with a single dial
- Stainless steel outer pot
- Heats up quickly and cooks efficiently
- Glass lid
What Could Improve:
- Some users have reported that this crock pot has worn out with a little over a year of constant use. Ours is still going strong, but this is worth noting.
2. Crock-Pot Manual Slow Cooker, 3 Quart
Moving on to the second small crock pot on our list, the Crock-Pot 3-Quart Manual Slow Cooker is an ideal option for a small family of 2 to 3 people.
It’s very affordable, even for those who may be on a tight budget, has hundreds of positive ratings, and is made of all-black ceramic cookware for a modern, sleek look.
Operation is similar to the previous small crock pot and consists of a single dial with OFF, Low, High, and Warm settings.
The inner stoneware pot is removable and both the tempered glass lid and the inner pot are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
It features two cool-touch handles with an open center so that you can get a steady grip on the crock pot while moving it.
This is a tall and deep crock pot, making it ideal for soups, roasts, and other soupy dishes.
It works especially well and can cook multiple chicken breasts or a roast in a few hours, similar to the cooking time of a regular-sized or large crock pot.
What We Like:
- Good for small families
- Modern, black ceramic cookware
- Very affordable
- Cooks and heats up quickly
- Cool-touch, open handles
- Simple dial operation
What Could Improve:
- There’s no light indicator that lets you know the crock pot is on
3. Tru BS-325LR Slow-Cookers
Super unique and great for cooking three dishes at once, the Tru Triple Slow-Cooker features three 2.5-quart crock pots in 1 (7.5 quarts total).
Each crock pot is independent of the other with its own dial that can be used to turn the section on or off and set to Low, High, or Warm — use all at once, only one, or two at a time.
It comes with three glass lids, along with lid rests to hold the lids above the pots (to prevent messes), and three serving spoons!
This is an excellent option for game nights or get-togethers. The inner pots are removable and both the inner stoneware pots and glass lids are dishwasher-safe for effortless cleanup.
We tried this one out over Thanksgiving and Christmas and it was a lifesaver! We were able to keep side dishes fresh and warm while the oven was busy cranking out turkey, rolls, and pies.
What We Like:
- Can cook 7.5 quarts total of food (2.5 quarts in each individual crock pot)
- Unique design to cook different foods at once
- Three independent heating dials
- Dishwasher safe components
- Great for games or get-togethers
- Simple function and singular dial
What Could Improve:
- No light or indicator that the crock pots are on
4. Crockpot 2.5-Quart Mini Casserole Crock Slow Cooker
Super cute and great for casserole dishes, this 2.5-quart Mini Casserole Crock Pot is raved about by thousands of users and is an overall awesome small crock pot option.
It has a 2.5-quart capacity and the inner pot can be used both in the crock pot to cook meals and in a conventional oven, which is a really neat feature that you won’t find in many crock pots on the market.
Both the inner stoneware pot and the glass lid are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. The glass lid is also locking so that if you need to transport your crock pot, the lid won’t slide off.
Like all of the previous crock pots on our list, this Casserole Crock Pot features a single dial that you use to control the heat settings (OFF, Low, High, or Warm).
It also features two open, cool-touch handles for effortless moving and makes enough food for about 2 people, or can be used for side dishes and dips.
This is the one we most often choose for transporting side dishes to potlucks and family gatherings because of the locking lid.
What We Like:
- Great for casserole dishes
- Super cute patterned outer pot
- The inner stoneware pot is also oven safe
- The inner pot and glass lid are dishwasher safe
- Lid locks for safe transporting
- Heats quickly
- Relatively affordable
- Cool-touch handles
What Could Improve:
- No indicator to let you know that the crock pot is on
5. Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker with Digital Timer
The final small crock pot on our list, the Crock-Pot 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker is modern, digital, and more suitable for a family of 4 to 7 people or larger gatherings.
It’s still compact, yet it has a capacity of 6 quarts for dips, soups, roasts, and just about anything else you can think of.
With nearly 10,000 positive reviews, this is one crock pot that you won’t want to overlook.
The most notable features of this small crock pot are the digital timer and buttons used to set the timer and heat.
This is a pretty luxurious crock pot model compared to the others on our list that use a single dial to navigate through the temperature settings and power settings.
It has cook times from 30 minutes up to 20 hours so that you can set and forget your meals. Once the timer ends, this crock pot automatically switches to the Keep Warm function to not burn your food and hold it warm until you’re ready to eat.
Both the inner crock pot and the glass lid are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
The glass lid also features a locking mechanism to make spills less likely while moving the crock pot. The inner crock pot is also oven and microwave safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
This isn’t a super small crock pot like some others on the list, but if you’re unsure that you want a super small one, this might be the perfect one for you. We consider it to be more of a “regular” sized crock pot, but small enough for sides and small meals.
What We Like:
- Affordable
- Digital operation
- Inner crock pot is oven and microwave safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- Inner pot and lid are dishwasher safe
- Automatically switches to Warm setting when the timer ends
- Serves 4 to 7 people
- Thousands of positive reviews
- Cool-touch handles
- Locking lid
What Could Improve:
- We don’t have anything bad to say about this crock pot!
What to Consider When Buying a Small Crock Pot
In this section, we’ll be providing you with a buying guide to help you choose the right small crock pot for your needs.
Size and Intended Use
What exactly constitutes a “small” crock pot? Small crock pots are anything smaller than the average, family-sized 8-quart crock pot. Our list consists of 1.5-quart, 2.5-quart, 3-quart, and 6-quart crock pots.
The tinier 1.5-2.5 quart crock pots are best used for sides, dips, or for cooking three sides at once (as is the case with the Tru BS-325LR Slow-Cookers).
The larger 3 and 6-quart crock pots can be used for side dishes for larger families or gatherings, or for meals for small families of 2 or a single person.
Before jumping in and purchasing a small crock pot, consider the available sizes and what you plan to use it for.
Features
While all crock pots are relatively the same when it comes to features, there are some unique small crock pots on the market that vary slightly from the traditional.
Crock pots like the Crockpot 2.5-Quart Mini Casserole Crock Slow Cooker or the Tru BS-325LR Slow-Cookers offer a different cooking experience.
If you’re planning to cook casserole dishes often, the Crockpot 2.5-quare Casserole Crock is an excellent option for alternative crock pot cooking.
On the other hand, if you plan to cook many different dishes at once with your crock pot, or often need versatility in your meals, the Tru Slow-Cookers provides 3 crock pots in 1.
Other features to possibly consider are digital timers and buttons. Many crock pots have a simple dial to control the power and heat — that’s all. But there are some options on the market that feature digital timers and buttons.
An example of this is the last small crock pot on our list, the Crock-pot 6-quart Programmable Slow Cook with Digital Timer.
Rather than twisting a dial to select the heat or turn the crock pot ON or OFF, you simply push the buttons. You can also set the built-in digital timer with the buttons, as well.
The Versatility of the Inner Pot
A super unique feature, though one not found in most of the crock pots on the market today, is an oven and microwave-safe inner crock pot. This is an excellent feature for those who know their way around a kitchen and love to cook homemade meals.
You can bake a casserole in the oven in the inner pot and then place the inner pot back in the crock pot to keep it warm. On the other hand, you can reheat a previously cooked crock pot casserole or dish in the oven or microwave.
Final Thoughts
After all is said and done, all of the small crock pots on our list are great for small families, side dishes, or gatherings.
If we had to pick one small crock pot, our favorite would be the Elite Gourmet Electric Slow Cooker. It’s compact, heats evenly, and is really a nice size for side dishes and dips.
Our favorite for small size yet large capacity is the set of Tru BS-325LR Slow-Cookers. The full capacity is 7.5 quarts, with 2.5 quarts (enough to feed 1 or 2 people) in each individual pot. However, because it’s more of a bundle of small ones, it’s kinda big overall.
If you want more space than our first pick, we recommend the Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker with Digital Timer. It’s still affordable and compact but has features that the rest of the small crock pots on our list don’t have (the digital timer and buttons for operation).
It’s also large enough for a bigger family or gathering, but small enough to easily transport or set on a crowded counter.
No matter which best small crock pot you choose, we know you’ll get great use out of it! Happy cooking!