Sometimes making dinner can be hard. You want to have meals that are delicious, but figuring out how to do it can be complicated. Plus, cooking is often time-consuming and can be impossible to do on top of an already busy schedule.
Thankfully, you can cook with ease with our top ten best crockpot recipes. These dishes allow you to let things cook all on their own without having to watch over them constantly. They are easy, delicious, and great for families of any kind.
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Crockpot Recipes FAQ
Crockpot recipes are dishes that can be cooked almost completely inside a crockpot. The only additional work you may have to do is chopping, stirring, or pouring.
If you find yourself strapped for time, these crockpot recipes can help. These delicious and nutritious meals can easily be set and left while you go about your day. Plus, they provide a great variety of meal styles that can keep both your pallet satisfied and your time well managed.
No need to constantly order out or resort to endless TV dinners when making and preparing these meals are so simple.
No! Most of them are actually quite simple to create. As mentioned previously, most of these recipes only require you to chop ingredients and stir occasionally. The crockpot will do the rest.
While overall the meal may take a bit longer to cook than if you cooked it on your own, you will not have to waste your time standing and slaving over a hot stove. You can put all the ingredients in, turn the crockpot on, and have a great meal ready in no time.
No need to constantly order out or resort to endless TV dinners when making and preparing these meals are so simple.
Surprisingly, no. Your most expensive ingredient in any of these recipes will be meat. The type of meat, the grade of the meat, and the amount of meat you need will often determine how expensive the overall meal will be.
Other ingredients will also contribute to the cost (like spices, vegetables, etc.) but will not completely break your budget. If you shop smart, you can make most of these meals for around $20 or less.
Technically, you should use all the listed ingredients if you want to create the dish the way it was intended. However, if you know for a fact you do not like mushrooms, excluding them from the dish may suit it more to your taste buds.
Other substitutions can be made to accommodate for allergies, dietary restrictions, or lifestyle choices.
How we Reviewed Crockpot Recipes?
After scouring a number of online crockpot recipes, we narrowed down our recipe choices to the top ten. After that, we took a closer look at each recipe’s overall description, its ingredients, the cost to prepare it, and its level of difficulty. This allowed us to come to a final conclusion on the best crockpot recipe out there.
Overall Price Range
Making these crockpot recipes will cost a different amount for each person based on the type of product you buy (organic, natural, processed, frozen, etc.), the grocery stores in your area, the level of difficulty needed to bring produce to your area, and the number of people you are intending to serve.
Our estimated prices are rough but designed to give you an idea of how much you can expect to pay to create each dish. These prices are not definite and it is very likely that you may find the prices to be either too high or too low. Overall, we estimate that these dishes will cost you somewhere between $10 and $20 to create.
What We Reviewed – Crockpot Recipes
- Chicken Tikka Masala
- White Bean Chicken Chili
- Beef Stew
- Chicken Burrito Bowl
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches
- Baby Back Ribs
- Curried Vegetable and Chickpea Stew
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Baked Potato Soup
- Pork Carnitas
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Chicken Tikka Masala
Description
Chicken Tikka Masala is an incredible dish for those looking for a bit of Indian flair. This dish features a ton of flavor with the optional spice if you so desire. It can easily be prepared in your crockpot and served over rice or naan. This could be a great way to bring a new culture into your home.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Kosher salt
- Whole-milk plain yogurt
- Yellow onion
- Minced garlic
- Ground coriander
- Minced ginger
- Garam masala
- Ground cumin
- Tomato paste
- Ground turmeric
- Can of diced tomatoes
- Heavy cream (can be substituted with coconut milk)
- Cooked rice and/or naan
- Cilantro
Price to Make
Depending on what you have in your home and where you buy your groceries, you can likely make this dish for around $15.
White Bean Chicken Chili
Description
For an interesting twist on a classic dish, try out this white bean chicken chili. This is a simple dish that can stay warm in your crockpot all day long. Also,this white chili, as opposed to regular red chili, has a lighter and more refreshing taste.
It will keep you warm all winter long and require hardly any preparation to make. Depending on how you like your chili, there are also a number of optional ingredients to this recipe that you can choose to add or ignore.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Ground black pepper
- Salt
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Minced garlic
- Jalapeno pepper
- Oregano
- Ground cumin
- Chicken broth
- Cans of cannellini beans
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional avocado
- Optional tomatoes
- Optional cilantro
Price to Make
You can probably find all the ingredients you need at your local grocery store for around $10.
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Beef Stew
Description
There is nothing quite like a hearty bowl of beef stew to get you through those winter months. This recipe will keep you warm, satisfied, and give you plenty of time to watch that movie you have been putting off.
Many of the items in this recipe can be substituted or added in addition to the ingredients listed here. Add your favorite vegetables or spices for your own unique kick.
Ingredients
- Flour
- Spanish smoked paprika
- Ground black pepper
- Seasoned salt
- Beef chuck
- Olive oil
- Mushrooms
- Onion
- Potatoes
- Chicken broth
- Worcestershire sauce
- Can of crushed tomatoes
- Dry onion soup mix
- Salt
- Optional water
- Optional cornstarch
Price to Make
Depending on how much meat you get and what grade it is, you can probably make this dish for somewhere around $18.
Chicken Burrito Bowl
Description
The chicken burrito bowl has become a popular hit in recent years. This unique blend of spice, chicken, and beans makes for a fun and flavorful dish.
The great thing about this recipe is that it offers a ton of different options and suggestions for those with any type of needs. They even tell you how to properly store your leftovers for future meal times. This rice-based meal is a must have for families of any size or style.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- Can of diced tomatoes
- Chili powder
- Chicken broth
- Salt
- Ground cumin
- Uncooked brown rice
- Can of black beans
- Frozen corn kernels
- Optional shredded cheese
- Optional sour cream
- Optional cilantro
- Optional avocado
- Optional hot sauce
- Optional salsa
- Optional green onions
- Optional lettuce
Price to Make
Many of the ingredients listed here are optional. These optional ingredients will add to the initial price needed to create. For the basic chicken burrito bowl, you can expect to pay roughly $10 for all the ingredients.
Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Description
Pulled pork sandwiches are often a huge hit at family gatherings. They are simple but unbelievably tasty. People can stack their sandwich with as much or as little meat as they want, making this a great choice for your next family game night.
Ingredients
- Pork tenderloin
- Brown sugar
- Ketchup
- Cider vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Spicy brown mustard
- Rolls or buns
- Pepper
- Optional coleslaw
Price to Make
To make this dish, you can expect to pay roughly $10.
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Baby Back Ribs
Description
If you love barbecue foods, chances are you love some good baby back ribs. However, sometimes finding the time to grill can be a bit challenging. With this recipe, you can prepare your ribs whenever you want. The recipe is simple and can be customized in any way you wish. Pick your favorite sauce, season to taste, and let your mouth water in anticipation.
Ingredients
- Trimmed baby back ribs
- Water
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- Onion
- Minced garlic
- Bottle of barbecue sauce
Price to Make
Depending on where you buy your meat, you can expect to pay roughly $20 to prepare this meal.
Curried Vegetable and Chickpea Stew
Description
For vegetarians or those looking to find a healthy meat-less alternative, check out this curried vegetable and chickpea stew recipe. This is a great soup with a delicious flavor.
The vegetables and the potatoes work perfectly with the blend of spices for a fulfilling dish that is as simple to make as it is delicious to eat.
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Potatoes (red or yellow)
- Kosher salt
- Curry powder
- Brown sugar
- Ginger
- Optional cayenne pepper
- Minced garlic
- Vegetable broth
- Can of chickpeas
- Green bell pepper
- Cauliflower
- Can of diced tomatoes
- Ground black pepper
- Coconut milk
- Bag of baby spinach
- Red bell pepper
Price to Make
To make this dish, you can expect to pay somewhere around $12.
Macaroni and Cheese
Description
One of the most classic American dishes is macaroni and cheese. This crockpot recipe is designed to make recreating that dish simpler than ever. This recipe uses three different types of cheese to make it extra gooey and tasty.
Ingredients
- Elbow Macaroni
- Shredded Mexican cheese
- Processed cheese (like Velveeta)
- Shredded white cheddar cheese
- Whole Milk
- Melted butter
- Eggs
- Evaporated milk
Price to Make
Depending on the type of cheeses you get and the prices of your local grocery store, you can create this dish for around $10.
Baked Potato Soup
Description
For another soup idea, try out this baked potato soup recipe. The only preparation needed is a bit of chopping. Then you can slide all of your ingredients into your crockpot and let it cook for a few hours. This is a great twist on a traditional potato dish that can help turn a side dish into your main dish.
Ingredients
- Red potatoes
- Flour
- Bacon bits
- Garlic
- Red onion
- Chicken bouillon
- Dried parsley
- Ranch dressing mix
- Seasoned salt
- Water
- Ground black pepper
- Half-and-half
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Green onion
Price to Make
If you want to create this dish, you can expect to pay roughly $10 for the ingredients.
Pork Carnitas
Description
For another great Mexican-style dish, try out these pork carnitas. The pork itself can be cooked in the crockpot with the liquid of your choice. You can add in a bit of extra spice or keep it mild. The versatility of this dish makes it fun to try again and again. Plus, the average serving size is 15 people, making this a great choice for parties or for leftover meals.
Ingredients
- Pork butt or shoulder
- Kosher salt
- Ground cumin
- Ground black pepper
- Cinnamon
- Oregano
- Garlic cloves
- Chipotle chiles
- Can of diced tomatoes
- Liquid (orange juice, beer, broth, etc.)
- Optional cayenne pepper
Price to Make
You can likely purchase all the ingredients needed for this meal for around $12.
The Verdict
The crockpot recipes featured on this list can provide you with quick, easy meals that taste delicious. Our overall top pick is the tasty classic, macaroni and cheese.
While the dish itself is simple, your family is sure to love its cheesy flavor night after night. Give it, or one of the other nine crockpot recipes a try today!
