Busy schedules can make it hard to find time to prepare home-cooked meals, but that’s where slow cookers come in handy. They allow for one-step preparation and cook meals over a period of several hours, which means you can set everything up in the morning and come home to a hot, ready-to-eat dinner. If you’re someone with a packed daily routine, looking for the best slow cooker to fit into your time-strapped life, here are some top performers that bring both convenience and quality to your kitchen.

1. Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker: If simplicity is what you’re after, you can’t go wrong with this classic model from Crock-Pot—the original slow cooker brand. It’s reliable, easy to use with its manual low, high, and warm settings, and big enough to feed the whole family.

2. Hamilton Beach Set & Forget Programmable Slow Cooker: With its built-in temperature probe, this Hamilton Beach model takes the guesswork out of cooking meats to perfection. The programmable aspects mean you can set your cook time and not worry about it until it’s done.

3. Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker: For those who want more than just a slow cooker, the Instant Pot DUO60 functions as a pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, and warmer in addition to slow cooking. It offers versatility and speed for those who need options on the fly.

4. KitchenAid 6-Quart Slow Cooker with Solid Glass Lid: The appeal of this KitchenAid cooker lies in its 24-hour programmability and the convenience of its easy-to-read digital display. Four temperature settings provide more control over your cooking.

5. All-Clad Programmable Oval-Shaped Slow Cooker: This high-end slow cooker comes with a sleek stainless steel exterior and a dishwasher-safe ceramic insert. It features a 26-hour programmable timer and keeps food warm until you’re ready to serve.

6. Cuisinart MSC-600 3-In-1 Cook Central 6-Quart Multi-Cooker: Life gets even easier with Cuisinart’s multi-cooker option that allows you to sauté ingredients before slow cooking—all in the same pot—which enhances flavors and reduces cleanup.

When choosing the best slow cooker for your needs consider factors like size, programmability for when you’re away from home, multi-functionality if space-saving is important to you, ease of cleaning, and of course price point. A good slow cooker can transform meal preparation from an everyday chore into a simple pleasure—a worthwhile investment for anyone strapped for time but wanting to maintain a diet of homemade meals.