Tunable magnetic phase transition and magnetocaloric effect in the rare-earth-free Al-Mn-Fe-Co-Cr high-entropy alloys

•Ferromagnetic Al-Mn-Fe-Co-Cr high-entropy (HE) alloys were fabricated.•Structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric (MC) properties were reported.•Combined experimentally determined and theoretically analyzed was performed.•Excellent MC properties were achieved at room temperature.•These HE alloys have potential for room temperature magnetic refrigeration.