Cooking dinner can be stressful, especially after a hectic day. With the help this 19 Favorite Family Crockpot Meals round up, you can make flavorful, nutritious meals a breeze – even on the busiest nights!
With some simple preparation in the morning, you can come home to a hot meal that’s already cooked and ready for the whole family to enjoy. From one-pot stews to slow-cooked roasts, learn how you make crockpot magic happen – without ever having to stress over what’s for dinner.
Why You’ll Want To Try These Family Favorite Crockpot Meals
Slow cooker dinner recipes are a great way to make delicious and hearty meals without having to spend hours in the kitchen. They’re easy to make, hands-off, healthy, versatile, and affordable. So next time you’re looking for a quick and easy meal, give a slow cooker recipe a try!
- Easy to make. Crockpot meals are easy! Once the ingredients are in the slow cooker, let it do its thing.
- Hands-off. Once you set the slow cooker, you can forget about it until dinnertime.
- Versatile. You can use them to make a variety of dishes, from soups and stews to chili and pulled pork.
- Affordable. Slow cooker meals are typically very affordable to make.
- Healthy. Slow cooking helps to preserve the nutrients in food, making it a healthier option than many other cooking methods.
- Perfect for busy families. Family crockpot meals are a great way to get a delicious, home-cooked meal on the table even when you’re short on time.
What Size Of Crockpot Should I Use?
Choose a 1.5 to 2.5 quart slow cooker for two people, a larger 4 to 4.5 quart will feed four, and 5 to 7 quart crockpot is ideal for six to eight people. For family events, or large quantities for meal prep, you’ll want a larger slow cooker, such as a 8 to 10 quart.
It’s convenient to have two sizes of slow cookers also. Use a 2 to 3 quart for side dishes and a larger 6 to 8 quart for main dish or family events.
18 Favorite Family Crockpot Meals
Slow Cooker Chicken Paprikash is a twist on the classic Hungarian Chicken Paprikash yet has the same savory goodness! Chicken thighs are simmered in a savory, creamy sauce that highlights both sweet and smoky paprika.
This Slow Cooker Tri Tip Roast is a great recipe for menu planning. Slice and serve with mashed potatoes and sides or shred, portion, and freeze for fajitas, enchiladas, BBQ sandwiches, or casseroles.
Coq au Vin is an old-world French classic of chicken and vegetable braised in the oven. We have updated the recipe as a Slow Cooker Coq au Vin with all the same awesome flavors without heating up the oven.
A slow cooker pork chop pot roast dinner with thick, fall-apart, pork chops that are slow-cooked for hours with a mix of potatoes, carrots, fennel and onions. The cooking process results in an especially flavorful broth that is easily transformed to a quick gravy to pour over these chops!
The zesty spices are complemented by the maltiness of beer in this slow cooker chili with turkey and beer.
This is a one-pot method of making mashed potatoes. You don’t need to drain the liquid and you can mash and serve the potatoes right in the crockpot. Make them in advance and keep them on the warm setting for 2 to 3 hours.
The top of the potatoes will discolor slightly since they do not get submerged in the liquid but it blends in when you mash them. The potatoes that do not get submerged in the liquid will cook just as well as the potatoes on the bottom since they cook from the steam.
This slow cooker chicken bone broth is easy and hands-free. Simply toss everything in the crockpot, set it to cook, and let it do its thing. The result is a delicious, rich, and nutritious broth that you can use in various recipes or sip as is.
Plus, it's a great way to use a chicken carcass, whether you use a rotisserie chicken from the store or a home-cooked chicken. You can also use leftover bones from a chicken thigh or chicken leg recipe.
This crockpot goulash is a rich and hearty meal that is perfect for a chilly winter night. The combination of ground beef, tomatoes, and pasta create a savory, thick stew that is sure to satisfy. To kick things up a notch, we added some smoked paprika and Parmesan cheese which helps to give this dish an extra level of flavor complexity. Serve with crusty bread or your favorite side dishes.
Prepare this classic American goulash before you rush out for your day, and let it simmer to perfection in the slow cooker until you get home. Check the notes for optional add-ins to make this dish more flavorful and filling.
This recipe for slow cooker elk stew is simmered in a rich, flavorful broth with tender chunks of elk meat, potatoes, onions and mushrooms. At the end of the cooking the savory broth is slightly thickened.
This easy, crock pot beer cheese dip is smooth, creamy and the perfect party-pleasing treat to add to your snack table!
This slow cooker sirloin tip roast is tender and ful of flavor. After a quick searing and an 8-hour low and slow braise this tough cut of beef is transformed into a succulent roast beef dinner. A big bonus is the amazing sauce that is perfect for a mound of mashed potatoes!
This Crockpot Chicken and Vegetables is a breeze to prepare and a huge time saver. Tender, tasty chicken, fresh veggies and herbs cooked for hours and creating a rich sauce.
Roasted, tender and juicy whole chicken cooked in the crockpot. This easy to prepare, chicken is a great base for Sunday or weeknight dinner.
Tender, corned beef brisket with potatoes, carrots, turnips and cabbage. This is an easy one-pot meal that will free up your time to celebrate the luck of the Irish
This red wine slow cooker pot roast is an easy and comforting meal. The combination of tender beef, aromatic vegetables, and a rich red wine gravy creates a flavorful, hearty meal.
This hearty Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup is infused with incredible flavor from a generous amount of beef and lots of veggies, wine and beef broth. Barley adds extra nutrition as well as thickens the soup during the long, slow cooking process.
This hearty Lentil Stew is a comforting blend of lentils, fresh vegetables, and aromatic spices. Slow-cooked to perfection, it's an ideal meal for busy weeknights or cozy weekends.
Optional meat additions like chicken or sausage make it versatile for all eaters. See the notes if you want to add meat. Finish with a splash of lemon juice for a refreshing twist.
The soup will get thicker the next day and it will be even more flavorful.
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Ways To Serve Easy Crockpot Meals
These slow cooker dinner recipes are popular all year round, but they’re especially good during the fall and winter months. This is because they’re hearty and comforting, and they’re perfect for warming up on a cold day.
Many family crockpot meals go well served with or over rice, mashed potatoes, crusty breads, and side salads. Whether you’re making slow cooker meals for meal prepping or the family dinner while you’re at work, you’ll love the fix and forget cooking method!
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Substitutions and Variations
There are many ways to customize these family crockpot meal recipes. Here are a few ideas:
- Use different types of meat, such as chicken, pork, or beef.
- Add different vegetables, such as carrots, potatoes, or zucchini.
- Use different spices and herbs to change the flavor of the dish.
Storage, Freezing, and Reheating Options
Slow cooker meals can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat a frozen slow cooker meal, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat it in the slow cooker on low heat, or in the microwave.
Tips for Success
- Don’t overcrowd the slow cooker. This will prevent the food from cooking evenly.
- Add a little liquid to the slow cooker. This will help to prevent the food from drying out.
- You can brown the meat before adding it to the slow cooker. This will give crockpot meals more flavor.
- If you’re making a soup or stew, you can add a little bit of cornstarch or flour towards the end of cooking to thicken it up.
More Recipes To Serve With Crockpot Meals
Frequently Asked Questions
The cooking time for a slow cooker meal will vary depending on the recipe. However, most slow cooker meals cook for 6-8 hours on low heat.
The size of the slow cooker you need will depend on the number of people you’re cooking for. A good rule of thumb is to get a slow cooker that’s about 1 quart larger than the number of people in your family. For instance a 5 quart crockpot is perfect for a family of 4. This gives head space in the crockpot as well as leftovers.
Yes and no. It depends on the type of recipe and food you are cooking. The USDA states that it is not safe to cook frozen food in a slow cooker. However, sometimes a recipe will call for things like frozen peas to be added toward the end of the cook time. Small items that cook quickly, like frozen peas, are usually safe to cook in a crockpot.
If your slow cooker burns your food, it is usually because the heat setting is too high. Try reducing the heat setting or cooking the food for a shorter amount of time.
