Cheap crockpot meals are easy on your budget and schedule. These affordable slow cooker meals will save time on prep and cooking and keep your grocery budget on track. Your family will love the delicious recipe and you'll love knowing it saved time and money.
Slow Cooker Pizza Pasta
Family pizza night just got a lot easier and way cheaper than your typical take out pie. A slow cooker pizza pasta recipe is filling, easy to assemble, and something for both kids and adults. Serve with a simple side salad for a serving of vegetables and add any favorite pizza toppings to the mix to make this the perfect affordable slow cooker recipe for your family.
Easy Crockpot Stir Fry
Savory and full of flavor, stir-fry is a fun weeknight meal with tons of nutritional value and a small budget. Swap traditional beef for chicken, tofu, or pork according to your family's preferences. For an extra affordable approach, stick to only vegetables. If you have leftover steak from earlier in the week, you can cut the budget on this meal in half!
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ginger powder
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 8-12 ounces strip steak pieces
- 1 sweet onion, sliced
- 1 red pepper, sliced
- 1 green pepper, sliced
- 1 head of broccoli, chopped into florets
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Directions:
- Mix your sauce by combining the soy sauce, garlic powder, ginger powder, and brown sugar. Set aside.
- Pat your steak pieces dry, seasoning with salt and pepper if you like, and place them into your crockpot along with the peppers and onions.
- Pour the sauce mixture over your steak and vegetables, stirring slightly to coat everything.
- Mix cornstarch into the beef broth and pour over the stir fry mix.
- Cook on high for 4 hours.
- Serve with steamed rice or rice noodles for a filling meal.
Crockpot Creamy Lemon Chicken
Refreshing and bright, this recipe only calls for a few ingredients and a few hours of slow cooking. Creamy lemon chicken in your crockpot pairs well with pasta like angel hair or penne or a side of roasted potatoes and green beans.
Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie
The most comforting dinner is also easy to prepare and gentle on your wallet. Toss everything into your crockpot for a twist on chicken pot pie that's hearty and easily serves your entire family.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of salted butter
- 3 chicken breasts
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 bag frozen carrots and peas mix
- 4 cups of chicken broth
- 2 cups of heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 can of biscuits
Directions:
- Add butter, chicken, onion, and frozen vegetables to your crock pot in that order. You want the butter to be beneath the chicken as it cooks. Add salt and pepper to your chicken here if desired.
- Cook on high for 3 hours.
- Give your ingredients a stir and shred the chicken.
- Add the broth, cream, and herbs and stir to combine.
- Place your uncooked biscuits on top of the mixture and cook on high for another 3-4 hours.
- Top your biscuits with more butter and herbs if desired.
Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole
A few ingredients and 4 hours in the crockpot is all you need for a warm and comforting breakfast bake. Make this french toast casserole in your slow cooker for the ultimate Saturday morning breakfast your family will love. This recipe calls for pecans, but you can substitute them for a more affordable option like diced apples, chopped walnuts, or slivered almonds.
Creamy Crockpot Honey Mustard Chicken
If you need a flavorful protein to serve alongside pasta, rice, or potatoes, look no further than this creamy and tangy honey mustard chicken. Everything gets tossed into the slow cooker at the same time for the simplest meal prep ever.
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons of salted butter
- 1 tablespoon of minced garlic (can substitute for garlic powder)
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- ¼ cup brown mustard
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 1 cup of heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Generously coat your chicken breast in salt and pepper on both sides.
- Place butter and chicken breasts in the crockpot in one layer.
- Top with garlic.
- Mix your sauce in a separate bowl by whisking together the olive oil, mustard, honey, vinegar, and lemon juice.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken.
- Cook on high for 4 hours, flipping your chicken breasts to the other side at the two-hour mark.
- Give the chicken and honey mustard sauce a gentle stir and add the heavy cream.
- Cook for one more hour on high and add additional salt and pepper to taste.
Crockpot Turkey Chili
Chili is just one of those simple meals that hits all the marks. It's warm, comforting, filling, and affordable. A crockpot turkey chili variation is even easier and cheaper than a traditional recipe and your family will love adding their favorite toppings to customize the flavor profile. If you want to cut more costs without compromising on flavor, try a delightful vegetarian chili recipe.
Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas
This family favorite recipe only calls for seven ingredients and is fully customizable to your taste and preferences. Crockpot chicken enchiladas are ready in less than four hours and you'll love how easy this recipe is on your wallet. You may even have some ingredients on hand already. Swap the chicken for canned black beans or refried beans for an extra cost effective or vegetarian option.
Creamy Crockpot Tomato Soup
Canned tomato soup is a simple and affordable option, but this recipe brings the flavors of a homemade course without a huge increase in price. Plus, it's unbelievably easy to make! This effortless homemade tomato soup is creamy and pairs perfectly with a grilled cheese sandwich or your family's favorite toppings.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons of salted butter
- 3 large carrots, finely chopped
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 28-ounce cans of crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- 3 teaspoons of brown sugar.
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 cup heavy cream
Directions:
- Saute your vegetables in the butter over medium to high heat until they are tender.
- Add the garlic to the pan and saute an additional 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
- Add all the sauteed vegetables and garlic to your crock pot.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes and vegetable stock.
- Stir in brown sugar, Italian seasoning, pepper, and thyme.
- Cook on low for 2-3 hours.
- Add heavy cream just before serving.
Crockpot Biscuits & Gravy
Sometimes the most delicious meals are often the most simple and this definitely rings true for a cozy serving of biscuits and gravy. Make this classic southern breakfast without breaking the bank or spending tons of time at the stovetop. Though this crockpot biscuits and gravy recipe is super filling, you can add some protein to the dish with bacon, sausage, or eggs.
Crockpot Chicken & Rice
The picky eaters in your family will love this simple dinner recipe that fits perfectly into your budget. Crockpot chicken and rice is surprisingly hearty and pairs well with any of your family's favorite vegetables or a fresh side salad.
Easy Crockpot Taco Chicken
You can still celebrate taco Tuesdays with this simple crockpot chicken recipe. Toss all your ingredients into the crockpot early in the day and you're ready to serve it in the evening with all of your favorite taco toppings. You can even pair it with rice for hearty taco bowls that every family member can customize.
Ingredients:
- 6 chicken breasts.
- ½ cup mild or medium salsa.
- 2 teaspoons of cumin.
- 1 teaspoon of chili powder.
- 1 teaspoon onion powder.
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Directions:
- Lay your chicken breasts flat in the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Add your salsa and spices and use tongs to coat the chicken in the mixture.
- Cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 6 hours.
- Shred the chicken with a fork prior to serving.
Crockpot Vegetable Soup
Warm and full of nutritional benefits, this crockpot vegetable soup is perfect for meatless Mondays and for cutting costs on your grocery bill. Serve with crackers, breadsticks, or rice to make this meal extra filling.
Affordable Crockpot Lasagna
Lasagna is a staple dinner in most households, but the long list of ingredients can get pricey. This crockpot lasagna recipe has a simple approach with a manageable amount of ingredients. To make the meal even more affordable, you can choose to omit the meat in place of a vegetarian lasagna, swap ricotta cheese for cottage cheese, or use whatever noodles you have on hand in place of traditional lasagna noodles.
Mealtime Just Got Easier & Cheaper
The best part of all these affordable slow cooker meals is that you'll get to spend more time enjoying the meal with your family. When the stress of cooking is off the table and you know you're serving a budget-friendly recipe, you'll be much more focused on the conversation happening between bites.
