20 Cheap Crockpot Dinners
When grocery prices keep climbing, finding ways to feed your family without breaking the bank becomes a daily challenge. These cheap crockpot dinners use affordable ingredients and pantry staples to create satisfying meals that won’t strain your budget.
You’ll find hearty stews, comforting casseroles, and creative twists on family favorites that make the most of budget-friendly proteins and simple ingredients. Plus, the generous servings these cheap crockpot recipes provide mean you’ll often have plenty of leftovers to stretch your grocery dollars even further.
Cheap Crockpot Dinners (20 Budget Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes)
1. Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
This cheap slow cooker meal uses just three ingredients, making it a great option for feeding your family on a budget. The chicken cooks until tender in a rich, savory gravy that transforms simple ingredients into a comforting dinner.
When you need some cheap family dinners that everyone will enjoy, this will be a winner in your house.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
2. Crockpot Pizza
Cheap protein sources like pepperoni and sausage create this family-friendly dinner for much less than ordering pizza out. Rotini pasta takes the place of pizza dough while still delivering all those tasty pizza flavors everyone craves.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Pizza
3. Crockpot Potato Soup
This delicious soup turns inexpensive ingredients into a warm and filling meal. Let the slow cooker do the work while the potatoes simmer into a comforting dinner that’s easy on your grocery budget.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Potato Soup
4. Crockpot Mississippi Meatballs
Frozen meatballs become surprisingly affordable when you catch them on sale, and this recipe transforms them with tangy pepperoncini juice and rich au jus gravy.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Mississippi Meatballs
5. Crockpot Spaghetti
Pasta is one of the easiest ways to feed a family on a budget, and this crockpot spaghetti is a hearty meal everyone will enjoy. Made with affordable pantry staples, it’s a comforting dinner that’s perfect for busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Spaghetti
6. Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Chicken breasts cook until easy to shred in a flavorful barbecue sauce and seasoning blend. Serve it on sandwich buns or as a topping for pasta to create a variety of budget friendly dinners.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot BBQ Chicken
7. Crockpot Taco Casserole
Layers of tortillas, seasoned meat, beans, corn, and cheese come together for a filling family meal. You can use ground beef, or, to make it even more budget-friendly, use ground turkey.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Taco Casserole
8. Crockpot Beef Stew
Beef stew meat is one of the most affordable cuts in the meat department, and this recipe turns it fork-tender with slow cooking. Make a big batch, and you’ll have dinner tonight, plus leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Beef Stew
9. Crockpot Sloppy Joes
Ground beef, peppers, and onions simmer together in a rich tomato-based sauce for a family-friendly meal. This recipe offers an easy way to make sloppy joes while keeping dinner prep to a minimum.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Sloppy Joes
10. Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Casserole
Chicken and egg noodles are combined in a creamy casserole finished with a crunchy cracker topping. With only a short prep time, this comforting dinner is a great addition to any busy weeknight menu.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Casserole
11. Crockpot Lasagna Soup
Italian sausage ranks as one of the most economical proteins you can buy, and this soup shows why it’s worth keeping on your shopping list. All those familiar lasagna flavors come together in a hearty broth for a satisfying dinner.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Lasagna Soup
12. Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Tender beef simmers in a creamy sauce that pairs perfectly with egg noodles. The long cooking time helps build rich flavor while keeping prep simple and affordable.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
13. Crockpot Potatoes and Sausage
Sausage and potatoes are filling and won’t empty your wallet. The smoky paprika and tomatoes add so much flavor to this recipe.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Potatoes and Sausage
14. Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie Stew
This recipe stretches just four chicken breasts into six servings with the help of vegetables and a creamy soup base. It’s a smart way to make chicken go further while still delivering all that comfort food goodness.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie Stew
15. Crockpot Chili Mac
This hearty one-pot dish combines all the comfort of chili with cheesy macaroni in your slow cooker for the ultimate weeknight dinner. The pasta cooks right in the crockpot along with everything else, making it incredibly easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chili Mac
16. Crockpot Creamy Ranch Pork Chops
Five simple ingredients create enough food for eight people, making this recipe great for large families or meal prep. The ranch flavor will appeal to even the pickiest eaters, and the generous portions mean plenty of leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Creamy Ranch Pork Chops
17. Crockpot Chicken and Rice
Here’s why chicken thighs deserve a spot in your meal rotation: they cost way less than chicken breasts while staying incredibly juicy when slow-cooked. Paired with rice, one of the cheapest pantry staples, this creates a satisfying dinner that won’t break the bank.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chicken and Rice
18. Crockpot Salisbury Steak
Ground beef shows its versatility here, getting dressed up with mushrooms and gravy that tastes way fancier than the price tag suggests. Pantry basics like breadcrumbs and seasonings work together to create something that feels like a restaurant meal at home.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Salisbury Steak
19. Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
Skipping the meat makes this chili incredibly budget-friendly while still delivering all the hearty satisfaction you crave.
Kitchen staples like canned beans, diced tomatoes, and frozen corn come together with simple spices to create a filling meal the entire family will enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
20. Crockpot Lemon Rosemary Chicken
A whole chicken becomes something delicious when you cook it low and slow with fresh rosemary, garlic bulbs, and lemon slices. Whole chicken is often cheaper per pound, and as an added bonus, you can use the bones to make homemade chicken broth for another meal.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Lemon Rosemary Chicken
More Budget-Friendly Cheap Recipes
Cheap Taco Rice Casserole
I make this delicious taco rice casserole all the time. It’s cheap, easy, and my family loves it!
Get the Recipe: Taco Rice Casserole
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