When you’re too busy to spend time in the kitchen, make one of these 17 easy slow cooker dinner recipes. They’re the perfect recipes to add to your meal plan!
“What’s for dinner, Mommy?”
Too often, my response is a blank stare or a shrug of the shoulders.
For a long time, I was really good at meal planning. I could tell you what was in the refrigerator at any given moment, and what I was going to do with it over the next week.
Throwing baby number three in the mix a couple years ago threw me off my game, and it took far too long to recover.
One of the things that helped me get back in the swing of things with meal planning, was to incorporate a good variety of easy recipes…especially recipes that don’t need a lot of fuss on busy school nights.
We love our programmable crock pot with its removable ceramic insert (so easy to put leftovers straight into the fridge!). And with BPA free liners, clean up is a breeze too.
So it’s no surprise that slow cooker and crock pot recipes are one of the very best ways to get a tasty dinner on the table without having to rush when you get home.
Unfortunately, slow cooker dinners can get boring quickly. So I went on a hunt for some easy and flavorful recipes to make on the busiest weeknights!
[clickToTweet tweet=”Shake up your #dinner routine with these 17 awesome #recipes! ? #moms #family via @PlayDatesParty” quote=”Shake up your #dinner routine with these 17 awesome #recipes! ? #moms #family”]
Many of these recipes are the dump-and-cook variety, because who wants to be searing steaks or chicken first thing in the morning. But a few recipes do require a little bit of prep work that is easily done a day or so in advance.
With so many awesome recipes in my arsenal, it’s great to actually be able to provide an answer when my kids ask “what’s for dinner?”
17 Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili from The Fit Blog
Crock Pot Cream Cheese and Ranch Chicken from Smiles and Sundays
Slow Cooker Pot Roast from Cincy Shopper
Slow Cooker Chili from Cincy Shopper
Slow Cooker Rosemary, Chicken, Sausage & Mushrooms from Culinary Ginger
Slow Cooker Chicken and Black Beans from Living Sweet Moments
Italian Meatballs from Aileen Cooks
Crockpot Orange Ginger Chicken from Faith Filled Food for Moms
Hearty Bacon and Corn Chowder from Honey & Lime
Thai Peanut Spiced Chicken Wings from Honey & Lime
Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese from Snappy Gourmet
Costa-Rican Shredded Beef from Pura Vida Moms
Stunningly Simple Slow Cooked Brisket from The Culinary Jumble
Easy Crock Pot Lettuce Wraps from Living Well Spending Less
Spicy CrockPot Pork and Cabbage Soup from All She Cooks
CrockPot Ham and Beans from All She Cooks
Chili Lime Beef Tacos with Mango Salsa from the Fit Blog
How do you handle dinner on busy weeknights?
What’s for dinner at your house tonight?
Don’t forget to subscribe via
Bloglovin, Facebook, and Twitter,
to get more updates
Tamara says
I cannot handle the “What’s for dinner” question! Generally the four of us eat four different things. Pathetic, I know. I’m liking these recipes for me! It’s nearly impossible to impress my three family members so I need to think about my own happiness. That’s what I think!]
The Crockpot Orange Ginger Chicken is where I’ll start.
Nina says
I finally got a slow cooker a few months ago after years of putting it off. Now I don’t know why I ever held out for so long! It makes for an awesome meal when you can’t be housebound for hours on end.
And yes, meal planning is key. I just got a planner and I include the meals we prepare. Takes it out of my brain and onto a piece of paper!
Jen says
Glory hallelujah. because you have shared some great recipes here!! My husband is on a no carb diet and dinner is a real challenge around here lately.
Nellie says
omg now you have got me wanting to make a crockpot dinner tomorrow!! These all look so good especially the roast! I love my crockpot, seriously, so good.
Janine Huldie says
Definitely read my mind and need all the help I can get on dinner planning for the fall and slow cooker recipes. So definitely going to have to try a few of these yummy looking recipes now!! 🙂
the frenchie mummy says
Lovely recipes! I really need to get myself a slow cooker. It’s so easy and healthy too! the Crock Pot Cream Cheese and Ranch Chicken would be my pick for sure! #happynowlinkup
Wendy says
I’ve tried the cream cheese/ranch chicken (or one similar), it was very flavorful! The crockpot is my friend, especially during winter. I love the yummy smells in the house all day. 🙂
the geeky mama says
I am most definitely using these! I absolutely LOVE my slow cooker but after a while I could not find anymore yummy recipes. Thank you so much for posting this!
#happynowlinkup
Katy says
The Rosemary chicken recipe looks good. I’ll have to give it a try. We are using our slow cooker weekly now that it’s hockey season in our house. Thanks for the new ideas!
#happynowlinkup
Mother of 3 says
These look yummy! I love my slow cooker (so much so that my oldest boy commented last week that he sick of having food from it after eating crock pot meals 5 days in a row!). I was just so happy it was fall like weather and I could finally break out some of my favorite fall crock pot recipes.
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook says
Such a great post to share! Wish I have a slow cooker, though! 🙁 Thanks for sharing!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
Pinning several of these!! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party!
Aletha Oglesby says
One can’t have too many crock pot recipes. thanks.
Roseann Hampton says
Thanks for the great list!
Chas says
I love my crock-pot and can’t wait to give some of these a try. Thanks for sharing!
Kerrie says
Thanks for sharing these very handy recipes!!! Definitely keeping these for those busy nights!
Kathleen Rupp says
Thank you Thank you! Love my crockpot and definitely I need easy! saw your post through diy party time. pinned:)
Kim~madeinaday says
Lots of great recipes here! Tweeted! Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Hope to see ya next week!
Kim
Fiona Cambouropoulos says
I love slow cooking. Sadly they don’t make a slow cooker big enough for my family (6 teenagers) but I do slow cook int he oven which has the same result, just more expensive! Lovely looking recipes you have here #DreamTeam
Teresa says
So many great alternatives, and they all look delicious. I so need to get myself a slow cooker…anyway, thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party this week. Pinned!
Donna Reidland says
Great recipes. I’m pinning to try later.
Teresa Solem says
I am always on the lookout for good slow cooker recipes. Thank you for this wonderful selection! Thanks for sharing them with Party in Your PJs too! I’ve pinned and shared.
Teresa says
I am always on the lookout for good slow cooker recipes. Thank you for this wonderful selection! Thanks for sharing them with Party in Your PJs too! I’ve pinned and shared.
Rhonda says
These recipes look delicious, especially the Brisket. I love slow cooker recipes. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best. Hope to see more of you.
Michelle Leslie says
Crockpot meals is probably my favorite way to cook. JUst the tought of being able to put elmost everything into the pot in the morning and come home from woork to smell all those delicious aromas. Yum. Pinned so I can come back and try them all
Betty Asphy says
These are awesome recipes. My crockpot blew a fuse. Can’t wait until I get my new one to try these recipes.
Sheri says
Thanks for sharing this in the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party! This has been pinned. Remember to follow all of us and we hope to see you back this Wednesday!
Jen Gregor says
Thank you for sharing this great list of slow cooker recipes on the Friday at the Fire Station link-up! You will be the featured post this week!
Teresa Kindred says
Pinned and will definitely be cooking these! Thanks for sharing and if you have time please link up a thttps://nanahood.com/seaside-and-loving-it my pinky party this week! I know my nana friends would love it!
Molly says
I love my slow cooker. Everyone’s favourite is the Chicken and Chirozio casserole
Mollyx
Debanita says
All these slow cooker recipes sounds so perfect & yummy. I need to buy a slow cooker now so that i can try all these recipes.?Hope you have a great weekend ahead!
Thank you for sharing such wonderful recipes with us at Fiesta Friday!
Jann Olson says
Crock pot cooking was a life saver when I worked. It was so nice to come home to a meal pretty much ready. I still like using mine now and then. Thanks for sharing these great recipes with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Miz Helen says
This is a fantastic collection of Slow Cooker Dinner recipes! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Miz Helen
[email protected] says
I can’t follow you down that asparagus road, bu this was a great reminder that I need to start using my crock pot more #happynow