Utilizing your slow cooker is one of the easiest ways to not only cook more at home, but also to stick to your budget. You can throw just about anything — from pantry staples to affordable cuts of meat — into a slow cooker and let it simmer for hours, and you'll get a hearty, flavorful meal that will leave you with plenty of leftovers. With these 20 cheap and easy slow-cooker recipes on hand, you'll be able to whip up comfort foods that are easy on your wallet and busy schedule.
Slow-Cooker Beans and Quinoa With Scallions and Cheddar
This lunch standby is the definition of a dish that's greater than the sum of its parts — when you combine pantry staples like beans and quinoa with fresh scallions, cheddar, and hot sauce, you get a flavorful and hearty meal.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker beans and quinoa with scallions and cheddar [3]
Slow-Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs
Making spaghetti and meatballs has never been easier than throwing all the ingredients in a slow cooker and letting it come together in about eight hours. Prep this on a Sunday, and you've got dinner for the week.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker spaghetti and meatballs [4]
Slow-Cooker Carnitas
Making a big batch of slow-cooker carnitas means you can use it throughout the week with rice, tacos, soups, and more.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker carnitas [5]
Slow-Cooker Beef Chili
This chili is bursting with flavor and is made with a cheap ingredient list of ground beef and canned ingredients like tomatoes, beans, and pumpkin puree.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker beef chili [6]
Slow-Cooker Baked Potato Soup
All the comforting things you love about a loaded baked potato are simmered in a slow cooker and then mashed for a smooth and creamy texture.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker baked potato soup [7]
Slow-Cooker Gigante Beans With Tomatoes and Pancetta
This slow-cooker favorite is sure to become a staple in your kitchen after you try it once. Dried beans, canned tomatoes, a few fresh herbs, and pancetta cook together slowly to form a brothy, hearty stew you'll want to dip crusty bread in.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker gigante beans with tomatoes and pancetta [8]
Slow-Cooker French Onion Pot Pie Stew
Part french onion soup and part beef pot pie, this incredibly comforting meal is perfect for chilly Winter nights — and will barely make a dent in your wallet.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker french onion pot pie soup [9]
Chickpea Coconut Curry With Sweet Potatoes
A creamy vegan curry that's made with pantry ingredients and filling vegetables like sweet potatoes and cauliflower, this slow-cooker dish might convince you to go vegetarian.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker chickpea coconut curry with sweet potatoes [10]
Crockpot White Chicken Chili
You'll think of this simple, few ingredient recipe as anything but boring when you let your slow cooker do the work for you.
Get the recipe: white chicken chili [11]
Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili
Skip the meaty chili altogether and opt for a cheaper version with black beans, zucchini, corn, and mushrooms.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker vegetarian chili [12]
Slow-Cooker Turkey Enchilada Soup
If you love chicken tortilla soup, you'll want to try this slow-cooker turkey enchilada soup that's a cinch to throw together.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker turkey enchilada soup [13]
Slow-Cooker Tomato Basil Tortellini Soup
This inexpensive Italian soup proves it's OK to take shortcuts with store-bought staples like cheese tortellini.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker tomato basil tortellini soup [14]
Split Pea Soup
With so few ingredients that pack in so much flavor, this easy recipe will convert you into a pea-soup-lover if you're not already.
Get the recipe: split pea soup [15]
Slow-Cooker Beef Taco Soup
Put a new twist on taco night and let your slow cooker do the work to make a savory, zesty, and cheesy beef taco soup.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker beef taco soup [16]
Sausage, Spinach, and White Bean Soup
Canned white beans are an affordable staple you can add to just about anything, and they're one of the stars of this slow-cooker sausage and spinach soup.
Get the recipe: sausage, spinach, and white bean soup [17]
Slow-Cooker Quinoa, Chicken, and Kale Soup
Quinoa, chicken breasts, kale, chicken broth, and dried herbs prove they're a winning combination in this light and satisfying soup.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker quinoa, chicken, and kale soup [18]
Slow-Cooker Honey-Garlic Chicken and Vegetables
Even easier than a one-pan dinner that you make in the oven is this slow-cooker meal with inexpensive chicken thighs, potatoes, carrots, and green beans.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker honey-garlic chicken and vegetables [19]
Slow-Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
Kick your cold to the curb without making much of an effort with this basic chicken noodle soup made in a slow cooker.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker chicken noodle soup [20]
Slow-Cooker Sticky Chicken Wings
Skip the game-day delivery and make a batch of these sweet, salty, and sticky chicken wings flavored with spices and condiments you probably already have in your kitchen.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker sticky chicken wings [21]
Slow-Cooker Chicken Fajitas
Treat yourself to a restaurant-worthy Mexican dish that costs way less by making a big batch of slow-cooker chicken fajitas that you can add to rice or tortillas.
Get the recipe: slow-cooker chicken fajitas [22]