20 Money-Saving Recipes to Make in a Crock-Pot
Let's face it, no matter how many mouths you feed each day, food is expensive! And while there are so many ways to save money on groceries, it sometimes boils down to finding the right budget-friendly dinner ideas where you can throw together a bunch of pantry staples and be done with it. Enter: these cheap Crock-Pot recipes.
Not only are these slow cooker recipes affordable, but they save so much time. It's no surprise that Ree Drummond is a fan of her slow cooker. How else do you think fed five kids and still had time to be The Pioneer Woman? As she puts it, "Dream dinner: throw everything in a slow cooker. Turn on. Go live life." Talk about the easiest way to meal prep for dinner one night and leftovers the next day! There are plenty of hearty Crock-Pot soups and chili recipes that'll fill you up and taste delicious reheated.
Here, you'll find smart money-saving ideas like using canned goods, dried beans, and frozen veggies and tasty ways of cooking more affordable cuts of meat like brisket. Learn go-to recipes like making your own beef broth and yogurt from scratch. They are less expensive ways to start so many meals, but also end up being healthier slow cooker recipes, too, because you can control the salt and sugar amounts. So get ready to raid that pantry and save some money with these cheap Crock-Pot recipes.
Slow Cooker Potato Soup
Russet potatoes are easy to find and usually pretty affordable when you purchase in bulk. Turn them into pure comfort with this soup recipe! It also freezes really well if you want to make it in advance.
Get the Slow Cooker Potato Soup recipe.
BBQ Ranch Baked Potatoes
All you need is four ingredients to make this delicious meal. (Okay, it's six if you add the garnish and broccoli.) And guess what? This is one of three meals you can make from one single pot roast. It's so versatile!
Get the BBQ Ranch Baked Potatoes recipe.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Check your local store and see what's on sale. If you find bone-in pork shoulder, pork butt, or Boston butt roast, any of them would work in this low-and-slow savory dish. Make sandwiches, tacos, or soups with the meat!
Get the Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
A bag of dried peas is super affordable and makes a hearty and healthy meal. Peas are actually a great source of protein on their own, but you can also make this a leftover ham recipe and enrich it with that smoky flavor.
Get the Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup recipe.
Slow Cooker Brisket
Love beef? Brisket is one of the more affordable cuts of meat, but it tends to be a little tough. The solution is to cook it low and slow to make it tender. Let the slow cooker do it for you!
Get the Slow Cooker Brisket recipe.
Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili
A great way to flavor simple chicken breasts is with creamy canned cannellini beans, a can of chopped green chiles, and a package of frozen corn. Serve with lime wedges and chopped avocado for freshness!
Get Ree's Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Ten minutes of prep time to make up to 12 servings is the ultimate meal prep goal! Use canned tomatoes and pre-made chicken broth to make it as flavorful as it is easy.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.
Slow Cooker Applesauce
This delicious, healthy snack is not only easy to make, but versatile, too. You can use pretty much any kind of apple you may have on hand or find on sale! It's also great if you've had apples in the back of the crisper for a while and you're not sure if they're quite as fresh.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Applesauce recipe.
Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Adding butternut squash to mac and cheese makes it flavorful, more nutritious, and cuts back on the amount of cheese you need. That means you can save a little money if the price of dairy is a little more than you expected!
Get the Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese recipe.
Homemade Yogurt
Make a healthy breakfast without fake flavors or the price tag associated with the fancy brands. All you need is milk and some live active cultures! Then you can flavor it with whatever have on hand: jam, honey, berries, you name it.
Get the Homemade Yogurt recipe.
Slow Cooker Refried Beans
Once you've made refried beans from scratch, you'll never want to buy cans again! You get more bang for your buck using dried beans and the result is much more flavorful. Serve as a dip or as part of your Taco Tuesday spread.
Get the Slow Cooker Refried Beans recipe.
Slow Cooker Chili
Classic and comforting, there's nothing like a bowl of chili. The great thing about this recipe, besides how easy it is to make, is that you can use practically any type of canned bean you have in the pantry!
Get the Slow Cooker Chili recipe.
Slow Cooker Bolognese
What kind of pasta do you have in your pantry? It doesn't matter, because this savory sauce will go with all of them! It makes a big batch, so you can serve a crowd or freeze and save for later.
Get Ree's Slow-Cooker Bolognese recipe.
Slow-Cooker Drip Beef Sandwiches
Chuck roast is often more affordable to buy, so grab it in bulk when you can! It can make so many different recipes when made in the slow cooker. Start with these delicious sammies!
Get Ree's Slow-Cooker Drip Beef Sandwiches recipe.
Slow Cooker Pork Chops
If you can find pork chops on sale, get them and make this! You save money by using canned cream of mushroom soup, which you probably have in your pantry right now. Serve with egg noodles or mashed potatoes!
Get the Slow Cooker Pork Chops recipe.
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Pro tip: You'll often find ground turkey that's 85 to 93% lean for cheaper than the 99% lean option. Plus, that added fat means more flavor and it's still quite healthy! Canned beans and frozen corn keep it so easy to assemble, too.
Get the Slow Cooker Turkey Chili recipe.
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Sometimes, the classics are the best! Pot roast is pure comfort food, and it uses that same affordable chuck roast along with easy-to-find onions, potatoes, and carrots.
Get the Slow Cooker Pot Roast recipe.
Beef Broth
Frugal and full of flavor, homemade beef broth is an incredible way to start any other recipe. You can throw a few veggies in it for a quick soup or save it to make something fancy in the future. It freezes beautifully!
Get the Beef Broth recipe.
Crock-Pot Stuffing
Never waste bread ever again! If it has gone stale, turn any kind of bread (even a mix!) into stuffing for a comforting side any time of the year. It would taste good with roast chicken, turkey, ham, or beef!
Get the Crock-Pot Stuffing recipe.
Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup
Shortcuts for the win! Cream of celery soup and frozen broccoli florets make this an easy lunch or dinner option for any weeknight. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for a few days, too!
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe.
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