20 Cheap and Easy Slow-Cooker Recipes You Need in Your Life
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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