17 cozy comfort foods you can make in a slow cooker

• A slow cooker or Crock-Pot can be a valuable yet underutilized tool in your kitchen. • A slow cooker can make many cozy comfort foods, from stews to simple soups and roasted meats. • Meats like brisket and short ribs become tender when made in a slow cooker.

There's nothing better than coming home to the comforting aroma of beef stew or pasta sauce simmering in a Crock-Pot, especially on cozy days in the fall and winter.

As the weather turns even cooler, it's the perfect time to bring out your Crock-Pot or slow cooker to prepare hearty meals that cook on their own during the workday.

Business Insider spoke with chefs and cookbook authors about their favorite comforting slow-cooker meals, from hearty beef stews and chowders to brisket, and researched celebrity chefs' go-to Crock-Po