Walmart’s $17 Slow Cooker Is Perfect for Summer Potlucks and Sunday Suppers
If you’ve been putting off buying a slow cooker because “it’s not the right time,” consider this your sign: Walmart has the Mainstays 6-Quart Oval Slow Cooker for $17.28, and it comes in two genuinely pretty colors — sage green and lilac bloom — that won’t embarrass you on the potluck table.
At under $20, this is the kind of deal that makes you buy a second one for your college kid or your sister who keeps borrowing yours.
What You’re Getting
The Mainstays 6-quart oval slow cooker is a straightforward, no-frills appliance with a 210-watt motor and a glass lid so you can check on your brisket without losing all that steam. The 6-quart size is the sweet spot for most families — big enough to feed six to eight people, compact enough to store without rearranging your whole cabinet.
It’s rated for the basics: low, high, and warm settings. That’s all most home cooks actually need for pulled pork, chicken tortilla soup, pot roast, or a big batch of pinto beans for taco night.
Who This Is Best For
- Southern families who rely on slow cookers year-round for BBQ, stews, and Sunday roasts — this is a workhorse at a fraction of the price of name-brand options
- Summer potluck hosts who need to transport a dish and keep it warm on arrival
- Apartment dwellers and first-time buyers getting their kitchen basics in order
- Parents sending a kid to college this fall — at $17, it’s an easy add-on to a back-to-school haul
- Anyone whose old slow cooker finally gave out and doesn’t want to spend $50+ to replace it
How It Compares
Branded slow cookers like the Crock-Pot 6-quart typically run $35–$55 at full price, and even off-brand competitors rarely dip below $25 for this size. The Mainstays line is Walmart’s house brand, so you’re not getting smart-home features or programmable timers — but for set-it-and-forget-it cooking, the difference is minimal.
If you want a programmable unit with a locking lid for transport, you’ll need to spend more. But for everyday use at home? $17.28 is hard to argue with.
A Few Things to Know
- Colors available: Sage green and lilac bloom — both trending shades that look great in modern kitchens
- Shipping: Free for Walmart+ members or on orders $35 or more. Otherwise, choose free store pickup to avoid a shipping fee — easy to do from the product page
- No expiration listed, but Walmart flash prices like this tend to move fast. If you’re on the fence, don’t wait a week
How to Get It
Head to Walmart’s website and search for the Mainstays 6-Quart Slow Cooker, or use store pickup if you want it today. To hit the $35 free shipping threshold, toss in a pantry staple or two — it adds up faster than you’d think.
[AFFILIATE:walmart] — Link to the Mainstays 6-Qt Slow Cooker product page on Walmart.com
Slow cookers are one of those things you don’t realize you need until you have one. At $17.28, this one is worth finding out.