There really is nothing the slow cooker can't do. This year it became my go-to for working even more meatless recipes into my meal plan. It's a natural fit for beans and legumes, ultra-hearty vegetables, slow-simmered stews, veggie pot pie, and so much more. Here were our most popular vegetarian slow cooker recipes of the year.

Homemade veggie pot pie might sound like a stretch on a weeknight, but when your slow cooker is involved it's totally doable. This version uses a mix of potatoes, carrots, peas, and corn, but go ahead and use whatever you have on hand.

This lentil chili tastes like everything you love about chili — filled with smoky spices and lots of rich tomato flavor — but it goes lighter than the meat-filled version, thanks to the addition of barely sweet butternut squash and hearty lentils.

Hearty, protein-rich chickpeas are our favorite pick to bring a satisfying meat-free tikka masala to the table. An all-day simmer leaves this Indian-inspired favorite packed with flavor.

Grits couldn't be more suited to the slow cooker! This Southern staple benefits from hands-off coking at a low, slow simmer.

Warm spinach-artichoke dip is a force to be reckoned with. After it's cooked, turn the slow cooker setting to warm and serve it straight from the bowl it was cooked in.

Keep this recipe nearby and plan to make it all winter long. A spoonful of unsweetened cocoa powder gives this chili a rich, deep flavor with a very gentle chocolate undertone.

If you've been trying to work more veggies into your breakfast routine, this is a great place to start. The squash cooks up with notes of maple and cinnamon, and is great paired with yogurt or even a small scoop of oatmeal.

Let this oatmeal cook through the night and you'll be greeted with the scent of warm spices the instant you wake up. It's an ultra-cozy breakfast I want to eat all winter long.

There are some recipes you know you're bound to love before you actually make them. This stew was that recipe for me, and was I smitten at first bite. It was everything I hoped for — wholesome, hearty, and surprisingly easy and versatile to pull off.

This is my favorite summertime recipe to make in the slow cooker. It starts by sautéing the onions, which I urge you not to gloss over — it adds a richness and deeper flavor of flavor to the ratatouille.