Slow cookers are a busy cook’s best friend, especially with an entire family to feed. Many of these easy recipes are dump-and-set, requiring just a few minutes of prep time, and all can feed a family of four for $20 or less — though a recent spurt of inflation may push the boundaries of the ingredient prices in the recipes we’ve included. To cut costs even more, use homemade broths, leftover veggies and meats, budget-friendly frozen produce, and cheap cuts of meat in these healthy family meals.
Related: 55 Big-Batch Meal Ideas
Hearty Oatmeal
Start the day with a super-healthy breakfast of steel-cut oats that practically makes itself. The best part? The oats and butter cost only $1. For another $1, you can add optional dried fruit.
Recipe: Food.com
French Toast Casserole
Another money saver, this indulgent breakfast or brunch recipe works well for holidays or large family get-togethers. Start with a loaf of French bread for $3 and add $1.50 in eggs, and milk, butter, and seasonings that total no more than $2. The cost of the entire dish is $6.50.
Recipe: Recipes That Crock
Barbecue Chicken
Super-simple barbecue chicken is a time-saver for easy weeknight meals. The recipe calls for $6 of chicken and $4 of seasonings to simmer slowly together, infusing every bite of healthy low-fat chicken with flavor and resulting in a dinner recipe that serves four for $10.
Recipe: Allrecipes
Dal Makhani
Great meals can also be incredibly cheap. This Indian lentil recipe is full of heart-healthy nutrition and vegetarian protein for a quick and easy meatless meal. Lentils are also one of the least expensive sources of protein. This recipe uses $1 of lentils, $3 of vegetables and spices, and $3 of canned tomatoes and beans. Basically a high-protein vegetable soup, the dish serves eight for only $7.
Recipe: EatingWell
Bean and Barley Soup
Protein-packed and nutrient-dense beans combine with hearty barley to make a thick vegetarian stew. This recipe calls for $2 of beans and seasonings, $3 of barley and broth, and $1.50 of vegetables. The $6.50 pot of soup serves six. Need to feed a crowd? Go large and double the recipe for an easy family dinner or lunch.
Recipe: EatingWell
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Kung Pao Chicken
This takeout-dish-turned-homemade-family-meal requires three steps, saving time and effort amid a busy schedule. This recipe calls for $3 of chicken, $2 of spices and seasonings, and $2 of vegetables for a $7 entree that serves six, leaving room to add vegetables, rice, or noodles on the side.
Recipe: Platings & Pairings
Split Pea Stew With Ham Hock
Ham hocks put big, satisfying flavor into humble ingredients such as split peas. This recipe calls for $1.50 of split peas, $2 of vegetables and spices, and $6 of ham hocks and broth. This large pot of thick and creamy soup costs $9.50 and serves eight. (Make your broth at home and cut costs even more.)
Recipe: Chowhound
Vegetarian Chili
Vegetarian chili is low-carb, low-fat, but satisfying. This easy recipe uses $7 of broth and canned beans, $2 of vegetables and spices, and $1.50 of toppings, totaling just $10.50, and the process couldn’t be simpler.
Recipe: Oxmoor House
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Bacon and Pinto Bean Stew
Bacon and beans are an irresistible combination. This protein-laden soup uses $5 of bacon, $1 of beans, $5.50 of vegetables and seasonings, and $2 of garnishes. A boon for large families, this recipe yields a hearty pot of beans and bacon that serves 10 for $13.50. This dish will be handy when you need a budget meat, but if you end up with too much, save the extra in the freezer.
Recipe: The Food Charlatan
Chicken Tortilla Soup
A hearty and flavorful Mexican-inspired dish works in any season and is ready in just a few hours. Making eight servings requires $7 for vegetables and canned sauces, $1 for spices, $1 for tortillas, and $3 for chicken. The total cost: $12.
Recipe: Allrecipes
Quinoa Morning Porridge
Alternative grains are all the rage, and this morning porridge is made from $1.50 worth of quinoa, $2 of coconut milk, and $2 of fruit toppings and sweeteners. Using thawed frozen fruit for toppings can bring the cost even lower than $5.50. Large families can double or even triple the recipe and still remain under $20.
Recipe: iFoodreal
Turkey Chili
Frugal turkey fans will love this simple chili recipe that uses $6 of canned tomatoes and beans, $4 of ground turkey, and $2 of spices and cooking oil to make a large batch that serves eight. The total cost is $12, which leaves room for fixings such as chips, rice, salad, or avocado.
Recipe: Allrecipes
Tuscan Kale Stew
A filling stew is packed with nutrient-dense kale and beans and flavorful hot pork sausage. The recipe calls for $4 of broth, $4 of vegetables and seasonings, $4 of sausage, and $1 of beans for a $13 pot of stew that serves eight.
Recipe: Cooking Light
Stuffed Cabbage
Stuffed cabbage is an old-country, comfort food classic that lends itself well to gentle slow cooking. This recipe of simple ingredients calls for $4 of meat, $2 of vegetables and seasonings, and $2 of rice and sauce to make four large servings for $8.
Recipe: Sugar Apron
Lemon Herb Chicken
This recipe lets garlic, herb and lemon flavors infuse chicken as it cooks slowly over 8 hours, all hands-off. Gather $2.50 of vegetables and seasonings, $1.50 of butter and stock, and $6 of chicken for a $10 preparation that serves four.
Recipe: Food.com
Meatloaf
These time-saving instructions allow you to make a classic comfort food dish — without sacrificing taste — while out running errands or at work. Combine $9 of ground beef with $3 of supporting ingredients such as eggs and seasonings. The dish serves six for $12.
Recipe: Southern Living
Chicken Noodle Soup
Handy when the whole family has a cold, or just needs a familiar, warming, budget meal, this chicken noodle soup recipe combines $8.50 of chicken and broth, $3 of vegetables, and $1.50 of noodles. The dish costs $13 and serves six.
Recipe: Family Fresh Meals
Barbecue Beef Stew
Instant coffee adds extra depth of flavor to a beefy dish. This easy slow-cooker recipe for a large family meal calls for $10 of beef, $5 of vegetables, and $1 of seasonings. For just $16, this stew feeds eight.
Recipe: Food.com
Veggie Omelet
Start the day on a healthy note with a time-saving breakfast. The recipe uses $1.50 in eggs and $4 worth of veggies, plus $2 of cheese and milk — a total cost of $7.50.
Recipe: Diethood
Chicken Tikka Masala
The ultimate Indian takeout dish is an easy and inexpensive one to make at home in a slow cooker. It calls for $3 of vegetables, $1.50 of rice and seasonings, and $4 of chicken. This is a complete four-person meal for $8.50.
Recipe: Real Simple
Jerk Chicken
This is by no means an average family meal. Here’s a combination of spices and seasonings that meld in a spicy broth for cooking chicken. Start with $4 of vegetables and spices, and $9 of chicken. Finish by caramelizing the chicken under the broiler for flavor and textural contrast. This $13 dish feeds five.
Recipe: Immaculate Bites
Shakshuka
This Middle Eastern dish can be a spice-laden breakfast or a light dinner served with bread. This recipe calls for $2 of oil and seasonings, $4 of vegetables including canned tomatoes, and $2 of eggs. The $8 dish makes four servings. To feed a crowd, you can make large versions of this recipe and still stay around the price point.
Recipe: Tasting Table
Eggplant Parm Stack
Eggplant parmesan is a vegetarian favorite. Use $8 of eggplant, $3 of sauce and breading, and $5 of cheese and eggs for a dish costing $16 and serving eight.
Recipe: Allrecipes
Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Tangy and mildly spicy chicken makes a quick and cheap meal when turned into sandwiches using $6 of chicken, $5 of seasonings, and $4 of bread, making six portions for $15.
Recipe: Allrecipes
Related: Simple and Tasty Sandwiches That Cost $1 or Less to Make
Vegetable Lasagna
A classic among weeknight dinner recipes, lasagna is even more convenient with a slow cooker. This easy recipe calls for $3 of pantry-stocked pasta, $6 of cheese, and $8 of vegetables and seasonings. The veggie-loaded meal costs $17 and yields eight plentiful servings.
Recipe: EatingWell
Breakfast Egg Casserole
Dishes with super versatile eggs — under 25 cents each today — are among the best cheap meals feeding a big family. This breakfast casserole uses $3 of eggs, $3 of vegetables, $7 of cheese and meat, and $1 of seasonings to create eight hearty portions for $14.
Recipe: Family Fresh Meals
Beef Stew
There’s little more comforting than slow-cooked beef stew. A homestyle version calls for $10 of beef, $4 of potatoes and other vegetables, $2 of seasonings, and $2 of broth. This hearty stew costing $18 to make easily serves eight — go lighter on the meat and you can keep it even cheaper.
Recipe: Damn Delicious
Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joe night is a family favorite made even easier with a slow cooker. The filling can be made with $6 of ground beef, $6 of sausage, and $3 of vegetables and seasonings. Add $4 for buns, and the $19 spend yields eight plentiful sandwiches.
Recipe: Southern Living
Italian Wedding Soup
Loaded with vegetables and homemade meatballs, this soup is a delicious meal that saves money. This recipe calls for $4 of veggies and seasonings, $1 of pasta, $4 of beef, $1 of cheese and bread, and $4 of broth for a $14 pot of soup serving six.
Recipe: Gather for Bread
Pasta e Fagioli
This Italian noodle stew combines pasta with beef and beans for a nutritionally balanced meal with satisfying flavor. Relying on very simple ingredients that provide big flavor, this slow cooker version calls for $1 of pasta, $8 of ground beef, $3 of vegetables and seasonings, $2 of tomato sauce, and $5 of canned beans and broth. For the price of $19, you get a full eight servings.
Recipe: MyRecipes
Greek Chicken and Vegetable Ragout
A flavorful chicken thighs recipe from an unusual source is part of a super-healthy Mediterranean diet packed with lean protein and zesty garden vegetables. To make, combine $6 of chicken, $7 of vegetables, $3 of seasonings and broth, and $1 of eggs. The saucy, low-carb, gluten-free dish costs $17 to make and yields six portions.
Recipe: WebMD
Thai Fish Curry
Thai-inspired flavors transform a cheaper fish such as tilapia into a gourmet meal. The recipe calls for $4 of seasonings and broth including coconut milk, $3 of vegetables, and $12 of fish. The $19 dish serves eight.
Recipe: Serendipity and Spice
Smoked Chicken
Even coming out of a super-easy, hands-off slow cooker, this smoky chicken recipe has all the flavor of an outdoor grill. The recipe calls for an $8 roasting chicken plus $2 of spices and aromatics for a $10 meal that feeds four and will leave plenty in the budget for bread or rice and vegetables.
Recipe: RB and Mindy
Shepherd’s Pie
Finishing this dish in a slow cooker allows the flavors to meld into a cohesive meal of meat and potato goodness. The ingredients are $12 of ground beef, $6 of vegetables, and $2 of seasonings. The entire recipe costs $20 and serves eight.
Recipe: Recipes That Crock
Beef Ragu
A rich combination of flavorful beef, tomatoes, and aromatics sits atop a bed of soft polenta for a warm, budget meal that works well in cold weather. The recipe calls for $15 of beef, $2.50 of vegetables and seasonings, $5 of tomatoes, and an extra $2.50 for the polenta. That serves 10! Cutting the recipe in half to save money and feed a family of four with some left over brings the cost to $12.50.
Recipe: Pinch of Yum
Cajun Pork and Beans
This low-country dish, a hearty way to start or end the day, is packed with flavorful meat and nutritious beans and is worth remembering when you need a budget meal. It calls for $2 of beans, $2 of seasonings, $7 of pork, and $2 of rice. The $13 recipe yields five servings.
Recipe: Deep South Dish
Taco Casserole
Preparing this taco-flavored dish in a slow cooker makes is quick and easy. Combine $6 of ground beef, $6 of canned vegetables and seasonings, $3 of tortillas and cheese, and $1 of toppings to make a eight-serving casserole for $16.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Gourmet
Tofu Vegetable Curry
The warming spices in curry are healthy and tasty, and a slow cooker gives the impression you slaved over the stove for hours. Pick up $3 of tofu, $2 of coconut milk, $2 of aromatics and seasonings, and $4 of vegetables and rice — an $11 ingredient list that makes four servings.
Recipe: Hummusapien
Chicken Tacos
Chicken tacos can be made for a fraction of the price of takeout. A recipe using $6 of chicken, $1 of seasonings and spices, and $6 for toppings means that with $13, you can feed four hungry people easily.
Recipe: The Kitchn
Baked Ziti
Great for big family get-togethers, cheesy baked pasta is a winning dish among even the pickiest eaters, and a true time saver. The recipe comes together with $2 of pasta, $7 of tomato sauce, $7 of cheese, and 75 cents of eggs and other seasonings. For less than $17, the pot yields six massive portions.
Recipe: Build Your Bite
Chicken Biryani
This homemade Indian dish is full of fragrance and taste from inexpensive spices using $1 of rice, $6 of vegetables and spices, and $2 of chicken. At $9 for three servings, doubling the recipe would bring the total cost of the dish to $18.
Recipe: Naive Cook Cooks
Spicy Noodle Soup
This Asian-inspired noodle soup that combines fresh herbs, hot sauce, and tangy sauces calls for $5 of chicken, $5 of vegetables, seasonings, and broth, and $2 of rice noodles. The $12 pot of hot and spicy soup yields four large portions. (If cheap, easy meals are your favorite kind, check out these new twists on ramen noodles.)
Recipe: Cooking Light
Ranch Chicken
A flavor-packed chicken and vegetable dinner takes just a few minutes to prepare before setting the slow cooker to do the rest. The recipe calls for $6 of chicken breast, $4 of vegetables, and $5 of seasonings for a $15 dinner that feeds four.
Recipe: 12 Tomatoes
Saucy Sausage Sandwiches
Spicy sausage and vegetable heroes are a treat any night of the week and need just 5 minutes of prep time. Instructions call for $2 of vegetables, $4 of bread, $2 of sauce, and $12 of sausage. The family-size recipe makes six large hoagies for $20.
Recipe: Allrecipes
Whole Chicken
A whole chicken is an easy and beloved way to feed a family, and this recipe will likely leave leftovers for other weekday meals. It calls for a 4-pound chicken for $8, plus $3 of vegetables and $1.50 in seasonings — just $12.50 total.
Recipe: The Little Kitchen
Meatballs
This traditional Italian-American dish is even easier with a slow cooker. The recipe calls for $1.50 of vegetables and egg, $6 of ground beef, and $5 of breadcrumbs and tomato sauces. The total cost for 16 meatballs is $12.50.
Recipe: Allrecipes
Beef and Broccoli
Normally a stir fry, this Chinese takeout classic is easy and cheap to prepare at home in a large family-style slow cooker batch without sacrificing taste. A minimalist crockpot recipe combines $12 of beef, $1 of broth and soy sauce, and $6 of vegetables and other seasonings. The $19 batch yields six full servings.
Recipe: Damn Delicious
Goulash
This Hungarian beef stew is like a hug in food form, with rich and comforting flavors that seep deep into tender chunks of slow-cooked meat. This crockpot recipe calls for $15 of beef, $4 of seasonings and broth, and $6 of vegetables. For $25, it can feed up to eight people, so making a half batch to feed a family of four brings the total to $12.50.
Recipe: A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
Coq Au Vin
This sexy dish is easy to perfect with the help of a slow cooker, fresh vegetables, and inexpensive wine. To make, gather $4 of dry red wine and broth, $8 of meat, and $4.50 of vegetables and seasonings. This $16.50 recipe serves four.
Recipe: Delish
Pulled Pork
Great for weeknight meals and one of the easiest things to make in a slow cooker, pulled pork is a versatile and well-liked dish for easy family meals. This sandwich calls for $10 of pork shoulder, $3 of additional seasonings and spices, and $5 for buns. The $18 yields four very hearty portions.
Recipe: Food Network Kitchens
