These easy slow cooker recipes are the ones my family has made over and over for almost 15 years. Most are dump-and-go crockpot dinners, budget-friendly and made with simple grocery store ingredients, so you can toss everything in the slow cooker in the morning and have dinner ready when you walk in the door.
Most Popular Slow Cooker Recipes
Crockpot Chicken Recipes
Chicken is one of the cheapest proteins at the store, and the slow cooker makes it tender with almost no work. Our family favorites are Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings, Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing (just 3 minutes to prep), and Crock Pot Crack Chicken Casserole.
For a complete meal in one pot, try Crockpot Creamy Ranch Chicken with potatoes and carrots.
Tip: Chicken breasts can dry out if they cook too long, so cook on low and check that they reach 165°F. Chicken thighs are cheaper and stay juicy even if dinner runs late.
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Slow Cooker Beef Recipes
We love hearty beef dinners your family will ask for again and again. The slow cooker turns cheaper cuts of beef tender, so you don’t have to buy the expensive steaks. My 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Pot Roast is the one I make when I have zero time to prep, and Crock Pot Spaghetti is a weeknight lifesaver because there’s no pot of boiling water to watch.
When I want something that feels like a diner meal, I make Beef Manhattan.
Tip: Chuck roast is the best budget cut for the slow cooker because it gets more tender the longer it cooks. Brown ground beef before adding it so the dish isn’t greasy.
Popular Crockpot Beef Recipes
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Easy Crockpot Pork Recipes
Pork is one of the best budget buys for the slow cooker, especially pork shoulder, which is cheap and gets fall-apart tender. Our favorite is Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork for about $2 a serving, and the kids love the sweet twist in Crockpot Dr Pepper Pulled Pork.
For weeknights, Easy Crock Pot Pork Chops and Crock Pot Smothered Pork Chops come out juicy in a rich gravy, and Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin is easy enough for any night but nice enough for company.
Tip: Use pork shoulder (also called pork butt) for pulled pork and cook it low and slow. Lean cuts like tenderloin and chops cook faster, so check them early. They’re done at 145°F.
Popular Pork Recipes
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Slow Cooker Soups
Soup is one of the cheapest ways to feed a crowd, and the crock pot makes it almost no work. Easy Crock Pot Potato Soup is the one my family requests all fall and winter, and Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup is a dump-and-go favorite.
For a lighter option packed with veggies, try Crockpot Chicken Vegetable Soup. If you’re really stretching the budget, Crock Pot Black Bean Soup is under $1 a serving.
Tip: Add milk, cream, cheese, or pasta in the last 30 minutes so the dairy doesn’t curdle and the pasta doesn’t turn mushy. Most of these soups freeze well, so make a double batch.
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Crockpot Appetizers & Dips
The slow cooker is my secret weapon for parties, game day and holidays. Toss everything in, let it melt, and it stays warm for hours, so I’m not running back to the kitchen. Crock Pot Rotel Dip is our go-to for every get-together, and Crock Pot Chili Cheese Dip takes just 3 ingredients.
For a creamy twist, try Crock Pot Cream Cheese Taco Dip or Crock Pot White Cheese Dip.
Tip: A small 3-quart crock pot is perfect for dips. Cube the cheese so it melts evenly, and stir every 30 minutes. Once it’s melted, switch to “warm” so the dip stays creamy and doesn’t burn on the bottom. For a big crowd, double the recipe and use your 6-quart.
Most Popular Slow Cooker Appetizers
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Crock pot Side Dish Recipes
The crock pot isn’t just for dinner. It’s my secret for easy sides, especially at the holidays when the oven is full. Crockpot Green Bean Casserole is on our Thanksgiving table every year for about 86 cents a serving, and Crock Pot Baked Potatoes come out fluffy without heating up the kitchen.
For a weeknight side, try Crock Pot Potatoes with parmesan and garlic, or Slow Cooker Cabbage with bacon. Find even more ideas in our 29 Crockpot Side Dishes and 25 Easy Crock Pot Potato Recipes.
Tip: A second slow cooker is a lifesaver for holiday meals. Make sides in the crock pot so your oven is free for the turkey or ham, and set it to “warm” to keep them hot until everyone sits down.
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Crockpot Breakfast Recipes
Breakfast in the crock pot means a hot meal is ready when everyone wakes up. It’s perfect for holidays, overnight guests, or busy school mornings. My Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole is loaded with hash browns, sausage, eggs and cheese, and it feeds a crowd.
For something sweet, Crock Pot Cinnamon Roll Casserole is always a hit with the kids, and Crock Pot Monkey Bread is our Christmas morning tradition.
Tip: Grease your crock pot really well or use a slow cooker liner, because eggs stick. Egg casseroles cook fastest around the edges, so cook on low and check that the center is set. Assemble breakfast casseroles before bed and wake up to breakfast that’s already done.
Popular Slow Cooker Breakfasts
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Easy Crockpot Dessert Recipes
Yes, you can make dessert in the slow cooker, and most of these need just a few pantry ingredients. Crock Pot Peach Cobbler is our favorite at about $1.14 a serving, and Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake takes only 3 ingredients.
Crock Pot Apple Crisp uses canned pie filling, so there’s no peeling or slicing, and Slow Cooker Rice Pudding is a creamy, cozy treat made with simple ingredients.
Tip: Lay a clean paper towel under the lid while dump cakes and cobblers cook. It catches the steam so the topping doesn’t get soggy. Desserts cook faster than dinners, so start checking early.
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My Best Slow Cooker Tips (FAQ)
Most of the recipes on Eating on a Dime are made in a 6-quart crock pot. A 3-quart is great for dips and small households, and an 8-quart is best for big families and freezer meal prep.
As a rule of thumb, 1 hour on high is about 2 hours on low. So a recipe that cooks 8 hours on low will usually be done in about 4 hours on high. Low is best for tougher cuts like roasts.
Food safety experts recommend thawing meat before slow cooking. Frozen meat can stay in the unsafe temperature zone too long while the crock pot heats up. Thaw it in the fridge overnight first.
Fill it about half to two-thirds full. Too little and it can overcook. Too much and it may not cook evenly.
For most of my dump-and-go recipes, no. Browning adds flavor to things like roasts, but it’s optional. Ground beef is the exception: brown and drain it first so your dish isn’t greasy.
Yes, that’s what slow cookers are made for. Set it on a flat, heat-safe counter away from the wall, and use a model that switches to warm when it’s done.
Try not to. Every time you lift the lid, heat escapes and it adds cooking time.