:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/204424_StephsZestySweetandSourMeatballs_MFS-4c50b0f5c05e426794cfd01a306d17b5.jpg)
Budget-conscious cooking and your slow cooker go hand in hand. When you cook on low heat over long periods of time, you can transform cheap ingredients into succulent, flavorful dinners. And, just as important as saving money, slow cookers save you time spent in the kitchen. This collection of budget-friendly slow cooker recipes is designed to feed a family of four every weeknight for four weeks. If you do happen to have leftovers, save them for the weekend and spend your time doing prep for the next week of meals. We've included corresponding weekly grocery lists, so you can keep everybody fed with as little effort as possible.
Week 1: Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/509091-2a073616ba344d79b471bb1d47f15d39.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by CC<3's2bake
Start the week/month with a crowd-pleasing comfort dinner that everyone can get behind. This dump-and-go, five-ingredient dinner was made for Mondays. Serve over egg noodles, fettuccine, or rice.
Week 1: Slow Cooker Vegan Sweet Potato Chili
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/265333_slow-cooker-vegan-sweet-potato-chili_Chef-Mo-2000-0ed9855a3d8c47438f9ec286d00a213c.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by
This meat-free chili will be a nice change of pace. “The flavors of the sweet potatoes and orange juice makes this chili taste different than most,” says reviewer and Allrecipes Allstar Chef Mo. Try it with a side of cornbread.
Week 1: Frank's Favorite Slow-Cooker Thai Chicken
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/3981789-58d988d868a94c5a8a9aa9b033f1afae.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by kkupcake037
Chicken thighs are the supermarket’s best kept secret. Legs and thighs tend to be cheaper since they’re dark meat, but don’t count this against them—dark meat is more flavorful, and it doesn’t dry out in the slow cooker like breast meat can at times. Here, thighs are coated in a Thai-inspired sauce made with salsa, peanut butter, coconut milk, lime, soy sauce, and ginger. Use whatever coconut milk you have to make Asian coconut rice for serving with your chicken.
Week 1: Erica's Delicious Slow Cooker Beef Roast
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/16260_ericas-delicious-slow-cooker-beef-roast_CookinBug-75bbb17d710a4b8284715081d7bb6c7a.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by
The slow cooker makes tough, cheaper cuts of beef like chuck roast fork tender. We love this classic pot roast because it's a whole meal in one—meat, potatoes, and carrots—no need for any additional side dishes.
Week 1: Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Alfredo
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/8622562-slow-cooker-italian-chicken-alfredo-photo-by-fabeveryday-356e75db66ee4ae3af2d35bf3fb9c68c.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by fabeveryday
It’s hard to believe that this show-stopping Alfredo sauce comes together with shortcut ingredients like packaged salad dressing mixed, cream cheese, cream of chicken soup, and canned mushrooms. Reviewer lucyford describes it as, “Creamy and so full of flavor.”
Week 2: Spicy Beef Curry Stew for the Slow Cooker
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/110899-feae0af41ce5455e975618bd027b97be.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by chibi chef
This hearty and flavorful stew is made with affordable beef stew meat and packs some serious heat thanks to the fresh jalapeno. Serve over mashed potatoes or rice as recipe creator NANCIG suggests.
Week 2: Slow Cooker Chicken Creole
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/387244-1-c0d81b0db9c9470295eaada91e8c3241.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by TTV78
“The stewed tomatoes and jalapeno pepper give this slow cooker recipe its Creole zing, along with seasoning and other veggies,” says recipe creator MARY MOON. “This is an easy and tasty Creole chicken recipe. Just put all ingredients into the slow cooker and let it simmer all day.” Like many Creole and Cajun dishes, this dish is based on the holy trinity of Cajun cooking: onions, bell peppers, and celery. Serve by itself or over egg noodles or rice.
Week 2: Slow Cooker Lemon Pepper Chicken
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Slow-Cooker-Lemon-Pepper-Chicken-by-Deb-C-c520ec42668942afb6fe2949e96fc727.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by Deb C
The slow cooker makes a whole chicken that’s much more moist and flavorful than anything you’ll find at the store. Try adding a little rosemary alongside the lemon as reviewer DJC suggests, and serve with green beans to make it a meal.
Week 2: Flavorized Slow Cooker Meatloaf
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/260224_flavorized-slow-cooker-meatloaf_Linda-T-2000-1b81d3299cd84370ab95b8a816d72b26.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by
Forget dry and flavorless meat loaf; the slow cooker seals in flavor and moisture. We love that this recipe cooks the potatoes and carrots alongside the meat: "Came out delicious and the veggies being cooked with the meat I think was my favorite part?"
Week 2: Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/237842_slow-cooker-pineapple-chicken_Elizabeth-Rios-625f7c6f1a9c45b1b465b3573247ab22.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by
Pineapple and soy sauce are a perfect match for marinating meat, offering both sweet and salty, tropical and tangy. You’ll likely have leftover pineapple—try making this Quick and Easy Pineapple Fried Rice to serve with the chicken or check out our collection of sweet and savory ways to use canned pineapple.
Week 3: South-of-the-Border Mac and Cheese
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/231135-south-of-the-border-mac-and-cheese-sherri-048ffd0e1ebd49ce9226445ca290719a.jpeg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by *Sherri*
Mac and cheese gets a Tex-Mex inspired makeover with diced green chile peppers, chili powder, tomatoes, and green onions. “This recipe’s a keeper—NO LEFTOVERS,” says reviewer Sarah Jo.
Week 3: Slow Cooker Chicken Pepperoni
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/247082-slow-cooker-chicken-pepperoni-d033485220dd4f71ad1a6d053f4ae3b4.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by Linda T
Chicken breasts are smothered in spaghetti sauce, topped with pepperoni and jalapenos, cooked in the slow cooker, and served over layers of mozzarella cheese and spaghetti in this mashup comfort food recipe.
Week 3: Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/277017_slow-cooker-spaghetti-and-meatballs_Bren-2000-759e8205d1944e55bf2810b2b6901778.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by Bren
Use the remaining spaghetti from yesterday's meal to serve with homemade spaghetti sauce and Parmesan-flavored meatballs made easy in the slow cooker.
Week 3: Slow Cooker Chicken Quesadillas
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/267953_slow-cooker-chicken-quesadillas_ProudMeinke-da7dbfe48a434ec7a8fc0f3ccfc77b9c.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by
In this five-ingredient recipe, chicken is slow cooked with red enchilada sauce and taco seasoning to make a delicious filling for quesadillas. “I made it two days in a row. [It] was so good!” says reviewer Vicki Olson. Serve with a little salsa or guacamole on the side.
Week 3: Slow Cooker Autumn Delight
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/slow-cooker-autumn-delight-a3f53b206d834dc888698c1fda1e9452.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by Ray W Riehemann
Beef stew meat and onions are cooked in a thick mushroom and onion gravy and served over egg noodles. If you can’t find cream of mushroom soup with garlic, you can use two cans of regular cream of mushroom soup with fresh minced garlic instead, as reviewer Sarah Jo suggests.
Week 4: Honey Sriracha Chicken
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/268251_honey-sriracha-chicken_Soup-Loving-Nicole-2000-96429bc87ea84a4ca62208dd3ae86483.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by
It’s hard to resist this combination of honey and the sweet-heat flavor of sriracha. Pair with a vegetable stir-fry or steamed broccoli.
Week 4: Steph's Zesty Sweet and Sour Meatballs
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/204424_StephsZestySweetandSourMeatballs_MFS-4c50b0f5c05e426794cfd01a306d17b5.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by Meredith Food Studios
Homemade meatballs, fresh pineapple, and green peppers are glazed in a pineapple-soy sauce mixture and cooked in the slow cooker. “For dinner, I like to serve them with a side of steamed minute rice to go along with the meatballs,” says recipe creator zoeandelvis.
Week 4: Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/4932240-2000-48e07a4f1a63492e8aa9587bd9eac531.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by My Hot Southern Mess
Chicken, corn, beans, salsa, and taco seasoning combine in the slow cooker to make a delicious fajita and/or taco filling. Make a family fajita bar by saut?ing some fajita vegetables such as peppers, onion, and mushrooms, and let everybody serve themselves.
Week 4: Slow Cooker Mojo Chicken
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/284658_slow-cooker-mojo-chicken_Yoly-2000-10b050deafe448b5bfd633d31dd927f0.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by
Do the prep the night before and allow these chicken thighs to soak up the citrusy marinade overnight. Serve with additional sauce on the side for spooning over chicken and rice, as recipe creator and Allrecipes Allstar Yoly suggests.
Week 4: Fry Bread Tacos with Spicy Shredded Beef
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/247197_fry-breaded-tacos-with-spicy-shredded-beef_Buckwheat-Queen-2000-ed962595e5c84de7bc046334a826e6f0.jpeg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Photo by Buckwheat Queen
Fry bread Friday, anyone? Round out this month of slow cooker meals with these fun, fluffy fried bread tacos topped with shredded beef from the slow cooker and homemade refried beans. You can also provide additional toppings like shredded cheese, lettuce, salsa, and sour cream.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/4170502-slow-cooker-mediterranean-roast-turkey-breast-photo-by-allrecipes-magazine-4cea59690a5a4bc88d7d514994861e6c.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/8347212-roasted-fall-vegetable-salad-AR1615-2x1-b30419ac841a44cba515353478794c63.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-costco-adobe-2x1-1-b0b5d53680f64cc58ac45ebe53f23798.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-costco-dips-2x1-1024-81ebda32da3e46d5bee831cd533a9629.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-sams-club-sign-adobe-2x1-d3f52e08657b4d779f3abc66f7501e99.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-Halloween-Bark-2x1-f7b7b36bbd5948258f4dfaf4c167d295.jpg)
Leave feedback about this