Weeknights are busy, and the slow cooker is the easiest way to get dinner started before the day takes over. These 14 easy crockpot dinners use simple ingredients, need very little prep, and finish cooking while you handle work, school, or errands. Pick one, load the slow cooker in the morning, and come home to a warm meal.
What Makes a Good Weeknight Crockpot Dinner?
The best weeknight crockpot dinners need only a few minutes of prep, use ingredients you can find at any grocery store, and give you leftovers for the next day. Here is what you will find in this list:
- Dump and go chicken dinners: chicken breasts with a creamy, sweet, or savory sauce.
- Ground beef and beef dinners: casseroles, pasta, tacos, and tender beef bites.
- One-pot comfort food: soup, chili, and meals with the sides cooked right in.
14 Easy Crockpot Dinners
1. Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
Boneless chicken breasts cook with cream of chicken soup and chicken gravy mix until they shred easily into a smooth, savory gravy. Spoon it over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles for an easy comfort food dinner. Get the Crockpot Chicken and Gravy recipe.
2. Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken
Chicken breasts cook low and slow with BBQ sauce, onion, garlic powder, and smoked paprika, then shred right back into the sauce. Pile it on buns for sandwiches or serve it with a simple side. Get the Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken recipe.
3. Crockpot Honey Mustard Chicken
Chicken breasts simmer in a sweet and tangy sauce made with honey, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, and garlic. Serve it over rice or pasta with a green vegetable. Get the Crockpot Honey Mustard Chicken recipe.
4. Crockpot Southwest Chicken and Rice
Chicken, rice, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and taco seasoning cook together in one pot, so the main dish and the side are done at the same time. Get the Crockpot Southwest Chicken and Rice recipe.
5. Crockpot Million Dollar Chicken
Chicken breasts cook in a creamy mix of cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheese, and ranch seasoning. Serve it over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes to soak up the sauce. Get the Crockpot Million Dollar Chicken recipe.
6. Crockpot Garlic Butter Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots
Juicy chicken cooks with potatoes, carrots, garlic, butter, and herbs, so the protein, the vegetables, and the sauce all come out of one crockpot. Get the Crockpot Garlic Butter Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots recipe.
7. High Protein Crockpot Cowboy Casserole
Ground beef, black beans, corn, potatoes, and taco seasoning cook together into a filling one-pot dinner. Top it with shredded cheese if you like. Get the High Protein Crockpot Cowboy Casserole recipe.
8. Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites and Potatoes
Tender beef stew meat and baby potatoes cook in a garlic butter sauce with beef broth and Worcestershire. It tastes like steakhouse food and takes almost no work. Get the Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites and Potatoes recipe.
9. Crockpot Southern Goulash
Browned ground beef, tomatoes, bell pepper, and elbow macaroni cook in a savory tomato sauce and finish with melted cheddar. It is a classic family dinner in one pot. Get the Crockpot Southern Goulash recipe.
10. Crockpot Lasagna
Layers of ground beef, ricotta, tomato sauce, lasagna noodles, and melted mozzarella cook in the slow cooker, so you get lasagna without turning on the oven. Get the Crockpot Lasagna recipe.
11. Crockpot Street Tacos
Ground beef cooks with taco seasoning, broth, and salsa, then goes into small tortillas with chopped onion, cilantro, lime, and cheese. Set out the toppings and let everyone build their own. Get the Crockpot Street Tacos recipe.
12. Crockpot Kielbasa, Potatoes, and Green Beans
Sliced kielbasa, tender potatoes, and green beans cook together in broth for a simple meat-and-vegetable dinner with very little prep. Get the Crockpot Kielbasa, Potatoes, and Green Beans recipe.
13. Crockpot Stuffed Pepper Soup
Ground beef, rice, bell peppers, tomatoes, and beef broth make all the flavor of stuffed peppers in a soup, without stuffing a single pepper. Get the Crockpot Stuffed Pepper Soup recipe.
14. Crockpot Pumpkin Chili
Ground beef, pumpkin puree, and beans cook into a thick, cozy fall chili. Top it with cheese, sour cream, and green onions. Get the Crockpot Pumpkin Chili recipe.
Tips For Easy Crockpot Weeknight Dinners
- Prep the night before: chop vegetables and measure seasonings the evening before, then keep them in the refrigerator.
- Thaw meat first: thaw chicken and beef in the refrigerator before cooking so it cooks evenly.
- Keep the lid on: opening the lid releases heat and adds cooking time.
- Use a slow cooker liner or cooking spray: cleanup takes a minute, especially with cheesy or sugary recipes.
- Check the temperature: chicken is done at 165°F and ground beef at 160°F.
More Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Love
- Best 8 Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes for Easy Dinners
- Creamy Chicken Recipes For The Slow Cooker
- Easy Crockpot Ground Beef Dinner
- Easy Fall Crockpot Dinner Recipes
FAQs
What Are The Easiest Crockpot Dinners For Busy Weeknights?
Dump and go recipes like chicken and gravy, honey mustard chicken, and BBQ pulled chicken need only a few ingredients and a few minutes of prep. Add everything to the slow cooker in the morning and dinner is ready when you get home.
Can I Put Frozen Meat In The Crockpot?
It is safer to thaw chicken and beef in the refrigerator first. Frozen meat takes longer to heat up and may not cook evenly, so check the temperature before serving.
How Long Do Crockpot Dinners Keep In The Refrigerator?
Store leftovers in airtight containers and use them within 3 to 4 days. Soups, chili, and shredded chicken also freeze well in freezer-safe containers.
Can I Cook These Recipes On High Instead Of Low?
Most recipes can be cooked on high in about half the time of the low setting, but each recipe has its own times, so follow the instructions on the recipe page.
What Can I Serve With Crockpot Dinners?
Mashed potatoes, rice, egg noodles, steamed vegetables, a green salad, or crusty bread all work with these recipes.