Looking for some slow cooker family meals on a budget? You should try these dump and go recipes that taste really good without breaking the budget. The beauty about dump dinners is that you can place all ingredients you want in a slow cooker and wait until they’re cooked. Here are 11 cheap slow cooker meals you can try.
Weeknight Slow Cooker Lentil Soup
If you’re feeling ultra-lazy then this slow cooker meal is a godsend. It’s extremely easy to make and it’s also a super hearty soup with lots of veggies, protein, and other nutrients.
Of course, it tastes great too! With just ten minutes of prep, you’ll have a filling meal to come home to after work. Head to Choosing Chia for the recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
This chicken tortilla dump dinner is a super simplified version of the south-of-the-border favorite without all the hassle.
Just scoop it into a tortilla and you have a delicious dinner! Cooking Classy has the full recipe for you.
Slow Cooker Wild Rice And Vegetable Soup
Soup, soup, and more soup! After all, isn’t that what slow cookers are great at?
Plus, when making soup, you often have leftovers, making it a multiple-night meal! This crockpot recipe really couldn’t get any easier and the flavors of chicken and rice are always a crowd pleaser. Kristine’s Kitchen Blog lays out all the details for you in her recipe.
Best Dump and Go Recipes: Simple Garlic Chicken
Simple, healthy, delicious – what more could you want in a meal? Oh, and did we mention insanely easy to make? It really doesn’t get any better than that. What’s great is that all the juices left at the bottom of the slow cooker make for a super yummy gravy/sauce to drizzle over the chicken and veggies. You can find the recipe at Tasty.co.
Slow Cooker Breakfast Dump Casseroles
Who said dinner could be the only meal you could cook in a slow cooker? Breakfast can be prepared as well! All you need to do is throw all the ingredients into the crockpot before you go to bed, and you’ll wake up to a nutritious and filling meal!
This is perfect for those that are short on time in the mornings.The Spruce Eats has the recipe.
Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken
This chicken recipe is sure to be a hit with the kids. Thanks to the cup of dried apricots that go into this dish, the chicken comes out tasting perfectly sweet. Just toss the ingredients in, let it cook, then scoop out over some rice and you have a wonderful well-rounded meal.
The recipe can also be followed by omitting the apricots for a less ‘fruity’ dinner. Head over to Family Food On The Table to get the recipe.
Slow Cooker Coconut Curry
Since we’re on a fruit kick – why not test out making some coconut curry for the family?
This meal is packed with veggies, vitamins, and protein making it a very well-rounded meal that your family will drool over. You’ll just need to do a little prep with cutting some veggies, but then you can go relax and watch your favorite TV show. Head over to Tasty.co to see how simple and fast it is to make.
Slow Cooker Chickpeas Curry
Are you or your family members vegetarian? This slow cooker crockpot recipe is a perfect addition to your weekly rotation of meals.
And it takes little to no effort at all! This veggie-based, gluten-free meal is hearty, dense, and great for when you’re lacking time or motivation. Get the recipe at A Spicy Perspective.
Crockpot Veggie Lasagna
Fix it and forget it. That’s the name of the game when it comes to using a slow cooker – this is the epitome of one of those meals.
And it turns out perfectly every time. It takes almost no time at all to layer all of the ingredients, then just let it cook away while you’re out for the day. Voila! Head over to Pinch Of Yum for the recipe.
Slow Cooker Mac And Cheese
If there was ever a food that kids absolutely love and adore – it’s macaroni and cheese. If you’re having a busy night, don’t reach for the artificial box of mac and cheese with the mysterious powdered ‘cheese’ product. Just plan ahead and opt for a slow cooker version that tastes a million times better.
Delish has the recipe for you – you can also add hot dogs or pieces of chicken for a little bit of added protein.
Broccoli And Cheese Stuffed Shells
Stuffed pasta shells are the way to any person’s heart.
All you need to do for this healthy dump casserole recipe is stuff the uncooked pasta shells, set them in the slow cooker, then walk away for a few hours. Meals like this were designed for busy parents!
Takeaway
After trying out these dump and go recipes, you’ll realize what you’ve been missing in your household all along. They’re healthy, hearty, cheap, and save you a lot of time. Who wouldn’t want these as go-to dinners!