Here are 10 quick and easy crockpot recipes you can make for under $8! Crockpot recipes are great because you can just toss the ingredients into the crockpot in the morning and then, when it’s dinner time, your meal will be done!
Cheap And Easy Crockpot Meals!
Summer is the perfect time to break out the crockpots because most of us are busy running around and it’s not only convenient, but won’t heat up the house!
There’s a reason crockpot recipes are so popular—they save time, save money and make busy days so much easier! On those mornings when life is hectic, there’s nothing better than spending just a few minutes tossing a handful of ingredients into the slow cooker and knowing dinner will be ready when everyone gets home.
One of the biggest secrets to keeping grocery costs down is using simple ingredients you can stock up on when they go on sale. We always recommend buying extra meat when you find a good price, freezing it, and then serving it with inexpensive pantry staples like beans, rice, pasta and canned tomatoes. A crockpot is perfect for stretching those ingredients into hearty meals that feed the whole family without stretching your budget.
These cheap easy crockpot recipes are some of our favorite “real life” dinners because they don’t require fancy ingredients or a lot of hands-on cooking. Whether you’re craving tacos, chili, stuffed peppers, barbecue beef stew or a comforting chicken dinner, you’ll find recipes here that are easy enough for weeknights and delicious enough that your family won’t complain.
Another bonus? Most of these meals make fantastic leftovers. Cook once and enjoy lunch the next day, or freeze extra portions for those evenings when you don’t have time to cook at all. That’s one of the easiest ways to save both time and money in the kitchen.
If you’re looking for simple, budget-friendly dinners that practically cook themselves, these cheap easy crockpot recipes are a great place to start. Pick one to try this week—you may find yourself reaching for your slow cooker a lot more often!
10 Crockpot Recipes Under $8
Here are 10 quick and easy crockpot recipes you can make for under $8! Just toss the ingredients into the crockpot in the morning for an easy meal at dinner time!
Most of these recipes are in our Dining On A Dime Cookbook, Volume 1, but if you want more ideas check out our 100 Crockpot Recipes eBook Bundle!
Tip: For the best prices, it’s all about shopping the sales and ONLY buying your meat on sale or on clearance. When meat is on sale, buy extra and freeze it so you don’t have to buy it when it is expensive. Then use what is in your freezer until the next sales comes along.
3 Ingredient Chicken Tacos Recipe
Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 package taco seasoning (or 2 Tbsp. homemade taco seasoning)
1 can Rotel tomatoes
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in the crockpot.
- Cook on low in the crockpot for 6-8 hours.
- Shred the chicken and use in tacos, burritos, enchiladas or in a salad.
Notes
- You can serve this chicken tacos recipe hot or cold, so the leftovers would be great to take in a lunch.
- Rotel tomatoes are canned tomatoes with chopped green peppers or jalapeños. Any brand that is labeled “tomatoes and green chilies” should be OK. You can also just used canned tomatoes and add the kind of peppers that you like.
This quick and easy crockpot bean goulash recipe is tasty, will get you in and out of the kitchen fast and is ideal for when you’re having a rough day!
PrintCrockpot Bean Goulash Recipe
This crockpot bean goulash recipe is a super easy dump and go crockpot recipe. It makes a delicious, hearty one dish meal that everyone loves and it takes less than 5 minutes to prepare!
- Yield: 8-10 servings
Ingredients
1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. bacon
1 stalk celery
1 small onion
1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans or 2 cups cooked beans
1 (15 oz.) can butter beans
1 (15 oz.) can pork and beans
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1/2 cup barbecue sauce or ketchup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° (unless you’re using a crockpot).
- Brown the ground beef, bacon, celery and onion.
- If using canned beans, drain them.
- Mix the remaining ingredients together with the beef mixture.
- Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or put in the crockpot on low for 1-2 hours.
[dining]
Garlic Roasted Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
3-5 lb. chicken
salt
pepper
paprika
3 Tbsp. minced garlic
about 1/4 lb. butter
1/2 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Sprinkle the chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Rub the bird inside and out with garlic.
- Place in the crockpot.
- Lay a couple of pats of butter on top of the breast.
- Pour in the broth.
- Cook on low 6-8 hours.
- Serve with the garlic butter sauce.
Barbecue Beef Stew Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup onion, sliced
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 cups beef stock
1 (8 oz.) can tomatoes
1 (4 oz.) can mushrooms
1/3 cup barbecue sauce
1-2 lbs. stew meat
Instructions
- Sauté onion, pepper and garlic in oil.
- Add salt, pepper, beef stock, tomatoes, mushrooms and barbecue sauce.
- Cook meat and all of the other ingredients in a crockpot on low heat for 8-10 hours.
- To thicken, mix 2 Tbsp. cornstarch and 1/4 cup cold water and add to stew before serving.
Crockpot Stuffed Peppers Recipe
Ingredients
6 large bell peppers
1/2 pound ground beef (cooked or uncooked – leftover works great)
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 (14 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 cup rice, cooked (any kind of rice will work)
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup water
shredded cheese
Instructions
- Combine ground beef, onion, diced tomatoes, rice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Cut off the top of each pepper and scrape out the seeds and membranes.
- Stuff each bell pepper with the ground beef mixture.
- Pour water on the bottom of the crockpot.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours, until the peppers are tender and the ground beef is cooked through.
- About 15 minutes before serving, sprinkle the cheese over the top and let it melt.
Sour Cream Chili Bake Recipe
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef, cooked, drained
1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans, drained
1 (10 oz.) can enchilada sauce
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 cup American cheese, grated
1 Tbsp. instant minced onion
1 cup water
3 cups corn chips, crushed
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a crockpot.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
- Serve with sour cream, cheese and chips in summer or cornbread in the winter.
Crockpot Cajun Pork and Beans
Ingredients
Hot sauce
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a crockpot.
- Cook on low 4-8 hours.
If you are a chili connoisseur this recipe may not be for you but if you have picky eaters or children this chili recipe may be be a life saver. You can adjust the amounts of the ingredients to the size of your family without doing much harm. This is also a perfect recipe to make the day before and just warm up when you need it.
PrintQuick And Easy Chili Recipe
Ingredients
3 small cans tomato soup*
3 soup cans of water
1/2 to 1 lb. cooked hamburger
Chili powder, to taste
Garlic powder and onion powder, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Put everything into a large pan.
- Simmer at least 2 hours. It’s better to let it simmer all day if possible.
I usually use at least 2 teaspoons each of chili powder and garlic powder. You can also use onions.
You can add almost anything you want to this basic recipe. Beans work well or I like to crumble in some fried sausage for extra flavor.
*I have also replaced the soup with a large can (32-36 oz.) of tomato juice and it is good, too!
Potato Bacon Chowder Soup Recipe
This Potato Bacon Chowder Soup Recipe makes a hearty and delicious soup that is perfect for cool winter days!
- Yield: Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
8 slices bacon, cut
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups cubed potatoes
1 cup water
1 can cream of chicken soup (regular small can)
1 cup sour cream
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 tsp. salt
Dash pepper
2 Tbsp. parsley, optional
Instructions
- In a kettle, fry bacon until crisp.
- Add onion and sauté 2-3 minutes.
- Drain.
- Add potatoes and water.
- Bring to a boil.
- Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes until potatoes are tender.
- Add soup and sour cream.
- Gradually add milk.
- Add salt, pepper and parsley.
- Heat until warm. Do not boil.
Easy Baked Potatoes
Virtually everyone loves baked potatoes. With toppings, baked potatoes can be a meal all by themselves. Prepare your toppings the night or morning before and you can have a quick and easy dinner.
Check out these easy ways to bake potatoes:
- When slowly cooked, baked potatoes have a much better flavor than when cooked quickly in the microwave.
- Here’s a tip from one of our readers on perfect baked potatoes: Bake your potatoes in a crockpot. Scrub, pierce with a fork, rub some butter on the potatoes and cook on low all day. You will have perfectly baked potatoes when it’s time for dinner.
- If you like the taste of oven baked potatoes but forgot to put them in the oven in time, nuke them in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. Then finish them in the oven. The centers will be cooked and they won’t take nearly as long to bake in the oven.
- To prevent a dry hard skin, rub your potato in butter or margarine, sprinkle with salt and wrap in foil.
- It is usually best to prick a potato with a fork when cooking it in the microwave because at times potatoes have been known to explode. Big Mess. 🙂
Baked Potato Toppings:
Tomatoes, chopped
Broccoli, chopped
Peppers, chopped
Cheese, grated
Bacon, crumbled
Ham, cubed
Chili
Onion
Olives
Mushrooms
Ranch dressing
Sour cream
Yogurt
Taco themed baked potato: everything you would put on a taco including hamburger with taco seasoning
Pizza themed baked potato: pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, sausage
For lots more cheap and easy crockpot recipes your family will love, check out our 100 Crockpot Recipes eBook Bundle Here!
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