It’s one thing to wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. It’s an entirely different kind of heaven to awaken to the aroma of slow-cooked cinnamon rolls or savory breakfast casseroles. Even family members or houseguests who have trouble getting out of bed in the morning will find a reason to perk up and make their way to the kitchen table.

The best part about this scenario: you, the cook, get a well-deserved break. Rather than standing at the stove asking, “how do you want your eggs?,” you can simply serve up a couple of great slow cooker (or multi-cooker) dishes for anyone who’s hungry. You can even mix up all the ingredients in the slow cooker crock ahead of time and set it in the fridge overnight. When you wake up, just place the crock into the slow cooker base and turn on the appliance. All you have to do is sip your coffee, let the slow cooker work its magic and wait for everyone else to stumble out of bed. (Yes, the glorious part of this: time all to yourself with nothing to do.)

If you’re thinking about adding a new slow cooker to your kitchen, consider the versatile Temp Tracker™ 6 Quart Slow Cooker from Hamilton Beach^®. It’s ideal for busy people who want to cook while attending to other things. It has an integrated probe that tracks the food’s temperature for perfect results. And the “hold temperature” option will keep food at a set temperature for the exact amount of time you select—up to 24 hours.

Try our slow cooker recipes this weekend or the next time you find yourself with houseguests. You’ll find it’s easy to make brunch for a crowd when you stop playing short-order cook and put your slow cooker to work making French toast, eggs, sausage, hash browns, cinnamon rolls and more.  

Slow cooker recipes for breakfast or brunch  

French Toast Casserole 

Every bit as delicious as the pan-fried version and easier than standing at the stove to make individual slices of French toast, this slow cooker casserole serves 10 to 12 people. 

Sausage Breakfast Casserole 

Hearty and savory, this delicious casserole features the taste and texture of creamy slow-cooked eggs prepared with cheese and spicy pork sausage. This recipe calls for a multi-cooker but can be done in a slow cooker as well. Simply cook the sausage in a skillet ahead of time.  

Slow Cooker Hash Brown Casserole

With eggs, sausage and hash browns, this casserole includes almost everything on the traditional breakfast plate. The beauty: it’s prepared in one slow cooker crock rather than multiple frying pans.  

Slow Cooker Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Is there anything better than the scent of warm cinnamon rolls on a chilly morning (or any morning, for that matter)? Make them in your slow cooker and enjoy the aroma even longer.

Slow Cooker Monkey Bread

Another cinnamon delight, this rich and gooey slow cooker monkey bread is bound to be a favorite with the kids.