Slow Cooker Divider Hack

Have you ever wished you could cook and serve two tasty dips, appetizers, or dishes at once in your slow cooker? Grab some aluminum foil and let us show you our game-changing hack on how to divide a slow cooker and double your delicious options!

Last updated: September 2, 2026

Ingenious DIY Slow Cooker Divider

What’s better than a warm dish for a party? Two satisfyingly delicious party dishes in one slow cooker. This simple slow cooker divider hack lets you cook two dishes with one cook time for your next party. And thanks to slow cooker liners, you’ll score an easy cleanup. 

What you’ll need 

  • Slow cooker 
  • Reynolds Kitchens® Slow Cooker Liners 
  • Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil 

How to make a slow cooker divider

slow cooker with an aluminum foil divider and one side of the bowl lined with a slow cooker liner sitting alongside a package of Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners and Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty Foil

Step 1

Create a half inch divider, molded from Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil, and place in the middle of your slow cooker.

slow cooker with an aluminum foil divider and both sides of the bowl lined with a slow cooker liner sitting alongside a package of Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners and Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty Foil

Step 2

Add a Reynolds Kitchens® Slow Cooker Liner to each side.

slow cooker with an aluminum foil divider and both sides of the bowl lined with a slow cooker liner one side filled with mac and cheese and the other filled with baked beans

Step 3

Add your ingredients and cook accordingly. You'll have two dishes with one cook time and easy cleanup.

  • Using a few long sheets of Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil, fold and fashion a sturdy rectangular foil divider to fit your slow cooker.
  • It may take 4–6 layers of foil for the divider to be thick enough. You could also use Reynolds Wrap® Everyday Foil, but you may need additional layers.
  • Ensure the slow cooker separator is high enough to divide the pot into haves but doesn’t extend past the rim so you can still fit the lid.
  • It should also be at least 2 inches wider than the inside of your pot.
  • Fold about 1 inch of one edge.
  • Then, fold 1 inch of the other edge in the opposite direction.
  • When you place it across the width of the slow cooker, it should look like an elongated "Z." The folded edges help stabilize the divider.
  • If your divider doesn’t fit across the width of your pot, adjust the edge folds until they are snug.
  • Anchor one Reynolds Kitchens® Slow Cooker Liner on each side of the divider.
  • Add your ingredients to each side and cook as directed. Once fully cooked, you can serve your dips at the warming setting.1, 2
  • Get ready to party!

YOU'LL NEED...

Hearty slow cooker dips & recipes

Be the talk of the town at parties and gatherings with these simple and delicious slow cooker recipes for holidays and entertaining. You’ll also discover fantastic tips to make cooking and cleanup feel effortless.

Buffalo chicken dip on a plate alongside pita bread and celery sticks

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Score big with this slow cooker buffalo chicken dip that’s bursting with flavor. It’s perfect for game day or casual entertaining any time of the year.

Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe Icon
Cheesy Jalapeno Dip in a slow cooker lined with a Reynolds slow cooker liner alongside diced vegetables

Cheesy Jalapeno Dip

Get two times the heat, meat, and flavor when you make this Double-Layered Cheesy Jalapeño Dip. Easy to prepare and cook in your slow cooker, this recipe is sure to be the talk of the party!

Cheesy Jalapeno Dip Recipe Icon

Other brilliant ways to use a divided slow cooker

The slow cooker divider is a brilliant hack for tailgating, game days, holiday gatherings, and other celebrations. But it can be a fantastic tool for more than just dips. If you're having a soup night for the family and can’t decide which to make, make both! If you're making meatballs and want to offer two different sauces, go right ahead. A divided slow cooker makes it all possible.

The trick is all in the timing. The easiest way to cook with a divider is to use recipes that cook and finish at the same time and temperature. However, if you have two dishes with different cooking times, start with the dish with the longest cooking time. Then, add the ingredients for the second dish later so they will be finished simultaneously 

How to cook two dishes with different finish times 

  1. Prepare your slow cooker with a Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil divider and line both sides with Reynolds Kitchens® Slow Cooker Liners.
  2. Since you’re only using half the slow cooker, you may need to halve your recipes. Fill one side with the ingredients for the dish with the longer cook time. Toss a few foil balls in the other side to keep the divider in place until you’re ready to add your second dish.
  3. Turn on your slow cooker and cook until it’s time to add the other dish. You’ll want to add 30 minutes of cook time for your first dish, because you’ll be opening the slow cooker to add the second dish.
  4. When it’s time to add the second dish, carefully remove the foil balls with tongs, and add your ingredients for the other recipe.
  5. Cook both foods until they reach the safe minimum internal temperature with a meat thermometer. For dips, soups, casseroles, and other dishes with combined ingredients, the temperature should reach 165°F.
Discover more warm and cozy slow cooker recipes Icon

Slow Cooker Recipes and Tips & Tricks

Frequently asked questions about slow cooker dividers

Yes. Aluminum foil can be used in many ways in a slow cooker: 

  1. DIY slow cooker divider: as discussed above, thickly folded aluminum foil can be fashioned into a divider “wall” to cook or warm two dishes in a slow cooker. 
  2. Cook casseroles evenly: some slow cookers have hotter walls, usually on the side opposite the controls . Creating a foil barrier on the hot side evens out the cooking. 
  3. Wrap foods: wrap delicate foods or foods you want to slice before serving, such as fish or meatloaf, in foil to prevent them from falling apart during cooking and when removing them from the slow cooker. 
  4. Foil packets: Some foods might cook faster than the rest of your ingredients. To prevent overcooking, wrap them in foil packets and crimp the edges. This trick is also handy for cooking foods separately from the rest of your dish.3 

Find more tips on cooking with aluminum foil

We don’t recommend fully lining your slow cooker with aluminum foil. Reynolds Kitchens® Slow Cooker Liners are best for lining a slow cooker. Always check your slow cooker’s manufacturer’s directions for guidance on using aluminum foil to line your pot.

We recommend lining your slow cooker with our Reynolds Kitchens® Slow Cooker Liners. These liners, designed especially for slow cookers, simplify cooking by eliminating cleanup and reducing the need for oil or spray. If using a DIY aluminum foil slow cooker divider, lining each side lets you cook two dishes simultaneously without flavor transfer. Made from FDA-compliant, BPA-free, heat-resistant nylon, they’re safe for cooking on high, low, and warm slow cooker settings.