Over the break, I shared some of our favorite summer dinners that are easy to make. You all loved it so much that I knew I had to do another dinner post! Now that the kids are back in school and I’m working more, I like to rely on my crockpot for those days when I don’t have as much time to cook. If your schedule feels busier too, these crockpot meals can help!
In my list of slow cooker recipes, you’ll find healthy crockpot meals as well as cheap crockpot meals. I’m also sharing tips for when crock pot meals come in extra handy, how to use your crockpot for meal prep, and ideas for how to make meals even more affordable.
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When to Make Slow Cooker Meals
The best thing about slow cooker meals is how convenient they are. You can make them anytime of the year — no matter the season — and whenever it fits into your schedule.
That being said, we usually crave certain crock pot meals, like soups and stews, when the weather gets cooler. Unlike summer dinners, we typically want warmer foods and heavier meals during the fall and winter, which is where a crockpot comes in handy.
Here are a few ideas for when to make meals in your crockpot:
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Use your crockpot for busier days. On the weekend, look at your schedule for the week ahead. Then plan out easy crockpot meals for the days when there’s not much time for cooking at the stove — or you just want a meal that’s ready by a certain time.
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Satisfy the need for cozy, comfort foods. While you can make nearly anything in the crockpot, most of us associate warm, hearty meals with a slow cooker. Since we typically want these types of meals during the cooler months, this is the perfect time to make your favorite comfort foods.
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Reduce stress when cooking. If making certain foods, like ribs or pot roast, feels intimidating, let your crockpot do the work for you! You can also use your crockpot to make it simpler when cooking for large gatherings.
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Make meal prep easier with your crockpot. You can use your crockpot to cook larger portions of food for different meals throughout the week — or freeze meals for later. For example, make shredded chicken to use in pastas, salads, or sandwiches — or double a soup recipe and freeze half of it for another time.
Crockpot Meal Prep Tips
Meal prepping can be a pain, but it really does save you a lot of time (and money, too!). One of the great things about a slow cooker is that it makes it much simpler to meal prep and have ready-to-go meals on hand.
Here are some of my tips for using your crockpot to plan ahead.
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Make a list of slow cooker recipes. Whether you create a Pinterest board, make a note in your phone, or hand-write your favorites, having a list of recipes to refer to is super helpful. This will save you a lot of time from scrolling through your phone or looking up that one recipe you made that one time.
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Look for “dump and go” recipes. Some crockpot meals require you to use your stove first. If you want easy slow cooker meals, look for recipes where you can dump all (or most) of the ingredients in at the same time and go on about your day.
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Meal prep when it works for you. Look at your schedule to see when you can prep your ingredients. Do you have time in the evenings or mornings to get everything ready for your crockpot meal? Can you chop veggies on Sunday for the week ahead?
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Batch cook foods for multiple meals. Use your crockpot to cook chicken, beef, and other meats that you can use in various meals throughout the week. Remember to keep the spices simple — or use spices that will complement the meals you plan to make.
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Double your slow cooker recipes and freeze portions for busy days. This works well for anything more liquidy, like pasta sauces, soups, and stews. Just use what you want for your meal that week, and then save the rest in freezer-safe bags or containers. Make sure to also label them with the date.
How to Make Slow Cooker Meals More Budget-Friendly
Crock pot meals tend to be more affordable in general. They use less energy than your oven and make cheaper cuts of meat tastier. Plus a lot of slow cooker recipes use budget-friendly ingredients, like beans, rice, and pasta.
Even though a slow cooker lends itself to cheap crockpot meals, there are ways to save even more money. Here are a few ideas!
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Buy cheaper cuts of meat. A slower cooker makes tough meats easier to cook — and they turn out tender and juicy! Look for recipes that use chuck roast, beef brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, chicken thighs, and drumsticks.
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Go big when you can. Buying a larger cut of meat, like a whole chicken, is usually cheaper (per pound) than buying smaller pieces. The same goes for buying grains in bulk. Your crockpot makes it simple to cook it all up and then have it ready for meals during the week.
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Freeze what you don’t use. Look for deals on meat (for example, buying a 3-pack of beef can be cheaper than buying one pack). Then freeze the rest to use at another time. You can also freeze extra portions from your crockpot soups and stews to have ready-to-go meals at a later date.
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Use frozen veggies. Frozen vegetables are usually cheaper than fresh ones — and they’re already washed and chopped. They also won’t spoil as quickly, so there’s less food waste.
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Save scraps for stock. You can save meat bones and veggie scraps that you would normally discard to make your own stock in the crockpot. This is cheaper than store-bought stock, and you can make sure every bit of what you spend money on gets used.
Easy Slow Cooker Meals
In this list you’ll find some of the best crockpot meals (well, according to my family anyway!) for those days you’re too busy to be at the stove or when you’re craving a warm, comforting dish. These crock pot meals also come in handy during sick season, which I know we’re all gearing up for mentally!
Soups & Stews
Chicken Enchilada Chili Over Rice
Chili is one of those classic slow cooker meals. I love this recipe because it has a bit of a twist with its Tex-Mex flavor — think two yummy dishes with tons of flavor combined into one crockpot. It’s super satisfying and simple to make!
Lasagna Soup
If you’re looking for crockpot meals for kids, lasagna is the way to go. Lasagna in the oven can be very time-consuming, so I love that this recipe takes about 20 minutes of prep time while my crockpot does the rest. Plus it’s in soup form, making it a perfect dish for fall or winter.
Creamy Tomato Soup
It’s almost soup season! This rich and creamy tomato soup is perfect for cooler months, and it’s easy to make in your slow cooker. Just add grilled cheese or crusty bread for a more complete meal.
Loaded Baked Potato Soup
If your family is craving comfort food, this “dump and go” recipe is the one to make. It has all the flavors of a loaded baked potato in a smooth, creamy soup form. Plus it’s easy for everyone to add their own favorite toppings — and it makes great leftovers!
Beef Stew
This hearty dish is loaded with tender bites of beef, potatoes, and veggies. While this recipe does recommend pan searing the meat first, you can also just dump it in the slow cooker if you don’t have time. For more comfort food ideas, add cornbread, biscuits, or rolls — or serve it over mashed potatoes.
Minestrone Soup
Packed with tons of veggies, flavorful herbs, and secret ingredients (like sun-dried tomato pesto), this is one of those cheap crockpot meals that’s very delicious and nutritious. While most of the recipe is dump and go, I recommend prepping everything ahead of time since there are a few items that need to be added toward the end.
Main Dishes
Pork Carnitas Tacos
Pulled pork needs to be cooked for a long time at a low temperature, so a crockpot is the perfect choice for this dish if you don’t have all day to be near a stove. This is one of those delicious and easy slow cooker meals that require very little prep (about 15 minutes). While the recipe includes homemade tortillas and salsa, you can also save time with store-bought versions.
Chicken Pot Pie
Sometimes we just want cozy crockpot meals that feel like comfort food. This is a great “dump and go” recipe that is also freezer-friendly. Plus it gives tips for how to make it thicker or creamier. There is also no pie involved, so it’s super easy — just add biscuits instead!
Beef Stroganoff
A classic dish made even easier by your crockpot! All it takes is three simple ingredients in the crockpot — the meat, mushrooms, and onion — and then a few minutes at the stove to make your cornstarch thickener. Sour cream and mustard at the end make it creamy and tangy, while chopped dill adds a fresh, bright flavor.
Brisket Tostadas
I love every recipe we have tried by Marcela! These brisket tostadas are super delicious and easy to make in your slow cooker. Just marinade the meat the night before, bring it to room temp, then let your crockpot do the rest. If you don’t have a lot of time in the mornings, I recommend prepping everything the day before — or saving this recipe for the weekend.
Dips, Sauces, & Sides
Easy Slow Cooker Refried Beans
The perfect addition to tacos, burritos, and quesadillas — or use it as a dip for tortilla chips. This recipe is simpler than making it on the stove, and it’s much tastier than refried beans from a can.
Green Chile Queso
If you have 30 minutes, I highly recommend making this homemade queso! Since you’re only using a crockpot to keep the queso warm, this recipe is perfect for when you need to make an appetizer ahead of time for a larger crowd. You can also half the recipe if you want to make less.
Mashed Potatoes
This recipe is perfect if you’ve ever felt intimidated to make mashed potatoes — or if you’re making multiple meals for a gathering and need to save space on your stove. Just toss cut potatoes, butter, salt, pepper, and water into your slow cooker, then walk away!
Spaghetti Bolognese
While bolognese is easy to make on the stove, a more traditional, richer sauce usually takes several hours to simmer. This is where your crockpot comes in handy! Since you’ll need about 30 minutes at the stove first, plus a quick addition at the 2-hour mark, this recipe is perfect for those days where you don’t have a lot of time to cook but will still be at home.
Applesauce
This recipe is a great addition to your crockpot meals for kids. And it’s a perfect fall treat. My kids love applesauce — and I love making it in the slow cooker! All you need are apples, water, and lemon juice, then you can let your crockpot do the rest.
Chocolate Fondue
Richy, creamy, and decadent — this chocolate fondue is perfect for parties, holiday gatherings, or movie nights with your family. Everything goes right into the crockpot and is done in just 30 minutes! Serve it with something sweet, like fruit or cookies, or something salty, like pretzels.
Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate is an absolute must for fall and winter! Even if it doesn’t snow where you live, you can still enjoy a warm cup of cocoa. And the crockpot makes it easy to whip up a big batch. Since you’ll need to whisk the mixture about every 30 minutes for a couple of hours, I recommend saving this recipe for a slow and cozy weekend indoors.
Kitchen Tools for Crockpot Meals
Slow Cooker: This is the slow cooker I have. I love it because it’s huge, so I can make a lot of food in it. Plus it has an easy-to-read LCD screen, and it’s stovetop- and dishwasher-safe.
Slow Cooker: This crockpot is the same size as mine, but it’s at a significantly lower price (only $50). Remember, you don’t need anything fancy to make a delicious crockpot meal!
Small Slow Cooker: This 1.5-quart crockpot is ideal for two people — or for making sauces, dips, and side dishes.
Cutting Board: Made from natural material, this cutting board has non-slip feet and a groove for catching juices.
Knives: Perfect for all types of chopping and prep work! These are the knives I use to make all my meals.
Garlic Press: I like this press because it fits multiple cloves and the built-in cleaner pushes out the peels.
FAQ: Easy Crockpot Meals
Are there ways to make crock pot meals even simpler?
Absolutely! One of the easiest meals you can make in the crockpot is salsa chicken or barbecue chicken. Just add chicken breasts and either sauce to your slow cooker, then cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Once it’s done, shred the chicken and use it for multiple meals throughout the week.
How many crockpot meals should I plan for in a week?
This is totally up to you! If your family likes leftovers, you can make one dinner in the crockpot that lasts for three days. Or you can make one type of food to use in various dishes all week long. If your family wants more variety, 2-3 meals should be enough since the crockpot can make a ton of food.
Which ingredients are the most affordable and work best in the crockpot?
Crock pot meals are very budget-friendly on their own. But if you want to save even more money, look for cheaper cuts of meat, frozen veggies, and pantry items like rice, beans, lentils, and potatoes. Many slow cooker recipes also use fresh vegetables that don’t cost a lot, like carrots. If you have a Costco (or Sam’s Club) membership, it’s usually more cost-effective to get certain items, like canned tomatoes, in bulk.
Are these good crockpot meals for kids?
My kids love them, so I would say so! But you know your kids best and what they will eat. Many of these recipes can be adapted to satisfy different hunger levels, food preferences, and dietary needs.
What about healthy crockpot meals?
While comfort foods aren’t always thought of as being healthy, crock pot meals can be very nutritious! The slow cooking process helps retain nutrients, and you don’t need to add a lot of salt, sugar, or fats to make your meal taste good. You can also use lean cuts of meat, lots of veggies, protein-rich foods, and healthy spices.
How do I make sure my crockpot meals have flavor?
Easy slow cooker meals don’t always have a ton of spices in them. If a recipe feels too bland, you can add more spices to the crockpot at the very beginning and toward the end. You can also top your meal with fresh herbs or citrus juices to bring out certain flavors. Lastly, make sure to use broth or stock instead of water.
What size crockpot should I get?
You should look for a size based on how many people you’re cooking for and how much food you plan to make. For example, a 4-6 quart slow cooker can make enough food for four people, but it will probably not make enough food for leftovers or to use for multiple meals. Also, an oval shape works best for slow cooking larger cuts of meat.
What crockpot features should I look for?
You really don’t need anything fancy to make delicious crockpot meals! All you need is the timer and the “low,” “high,” and “keep warm” settings. If you use the crockpot a lot, you could consider other features, like a sear/saute function.
Final Thoughts
You can use your crockpot all year long to make delicious, affordable meals. During the warmer months, it’s a great way to use your stove less so your house doesn’t heat up. And in the colder months, it’s perfect for busy days and when you’re craving comfort foods.
You can also use your crockpot to make meal prep easier. This could mean finding recipes where you can just dump everything into one pot, using one dish for multiple meals throughout the week, or freezing portions for later.
If you try any of these recipes, let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear your favorites, too. For more food tips like this, check out my post on easy after school snacks and lunch ideas for kids.
