Busy mornings, long days at work, and a family that still needs dinner. These 12 set and forget crockpot dinners for busy moms use simple grocery store ingredients and take only a few minutes to load before you leave, so dinner is ready when you walk back in. Most cook for 6 to 8 hours on low, which fits a normal work day, and each one comes with its own cook time so you can match it to your schedule.
What Makes a Crockpot Dinner Good For A Work Day?
The best recipes for a day away from home need very little prep, cook on low for several hours, and make enough for leftovers. Here is what you will find in this list:
- Dump and go chicken dinners: sweet, savory, creamy, and barbecue chicken that goes in with the sauce.
- Chicken with the sides built in: potatoes, carrots, and rice-friendly sauces from the same pot.
- Beef and pasta dinners: a cheesy pasta, a taco potato casserole, and Salisbury steak meatballs.
Cook times in this list run from 4 to 8 hours on low. If you will be away for 9 hours or more, choose a recipe with a 6 to 8 hour cook time, and keep the 4 to 6 hour recipes for shorter days.
12 Set And Forget Crockpot Dinners
1. Crockpot Orange Chicken
Bite-size chicken is browned, then cooks in a sticky sauce of orange marmalade, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Spoon it over rice for a takeout-style dinner at home. Cook time: 5-6 hours on low. Get the Crockpot Orange Chicken recipe.
2. Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken
Chicken breasts cook in teriyaki sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger in a simple dump and go method. Serve it over rice or noodles and top with green onions. Cook time: 6-8 hours on low. Get the Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken recipe.
3. Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
Chicken breasts simmer in honey, soy sauce, garlic, apple cider vinegar, and ginger until tender. It works well on a shorter day when you are home in the late afternoon. Cook time: 4-6 hours on low. Get the Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken recipe.
4. Crockpot Bourbon Chicken
Chicken thighs cook in a sweet and savory sauce of brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, honey, and bourbon. Thicken the sauce with cornstarch at the end and serve it over rice. Cook time: 6 hours on low. Get the Crockpot Bourbon Chicken recipe.
5. Crockpot Coca Cola Chicken
Chicken breasts cook with a can of Coca Cola and barbecue sauce, then shred easily into the sauce. It only takes a few ingredients, so it is one of the quickest to load. Cook time: 6-7 hours on low. Get the Crockpot Coca Cola Chicken recipe.
6. Crockpot Creamy Ranch Chicken
Chicken breasts cook with ranch seasoning, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, shredded cheese, and chopped vegetables. The sauce is creamy enough to spoon over rice or pasta. Cook time: 6-8 hours on low. Get the Crockpot Creamy Ranch Chicken recipe.
7. Crockpot Chicken and Potatoes
Chicken, diced potatoes, onion, and a whole head of garlic cook in chicken broth with thyme and paprika. The meat and the side dish come out of the same pot. Cook time: 6-7 hours on low. Get the Crockpot Chicken and Potatoes recipe.
8. Crockpot Chicken Pot Roast
Bone-in chicken thighs cook with carrots, baby potatoes, onion, chicken broth, and ranch dressing mix. It gives you the feel of a Sunday pot roast on a regular weekday. Cook time: 6-8 hours on low. Get the Crockpot Chicken Pot Roast recipe.
9. Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken breasts cook with enchilada sauce, black beans, corn, cumin, and garlic powder, then everything is rolled into flour tortillas with shredded cheese. Set out toppings and let everyone build their own. Cook time: 6-7 hours on low. Get the Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas recipe.
10. Crockpot Creamy Taco Potato Casserole
Potatoes, ground beef or turkey, black beans, corn, taco seasoning, salsa, cheese, and sour cream cook together into a filling one-pot dinner. Top each bowl with extra cheese. Cook time: 6-8 hours on low. Get the Crockpot Creamy Taco Potato Casserole recipe.
11. Crockpot Cheesy Beef Pasta
Ground beef, short pasta, marinara, beef broth, and cream cheese make a rich, cheesy pasta dinner that tastes like a casserole. Finish it with shredded cheese on top. Cook time: 4-6 hours on low. Get the Crockpot Cheesy Beef Pasta recipe.
12. Crockpot Salisbury Steak Meatballs
Frozen meatballs cook with onion soup mix, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and mushrooms into a savory brown gravy. Serve it over mashed potatoes or egg noodles. Cook time: 6-8 hours on low. Get the Crockpot Salisbury Steak Meatballs recipe.
Tips For Set And Forget Crockpot Dinners
- Prep the night before: chop vegetables, measure seasonings, and keep everything in the refrigerator so the morning takes five minutes.
- Thaw meat first: thaw chicken in the refrigerator before cooking so it heats evenly.
- Match the cook time to your day: pick a 6 to 8 hour recipe for a full work day.
- Use a liner or cooking spray: cleanup is faster, especially with sugary sauces like orange chicken and bourbon chicken.
- Keep the lid on: opening the lid releases heat and adds cooking time.
- Check the temperature: chicken is done at 165°F and ground beef at 160°F.
More Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Love
- 14 Easy Crockpot Dinners for Busy Weeknights
- Best 8 Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes for Easy Dinners
- Creamy Chicken Recipes For The Slow Cooker
- Easy Crockpot Ground Beef Dinner
FAQs
How Long Can A Crockpot Cook While I Am At Work?
Most of the recipes in this list cook for 6 to 8 hours on low, which fits a normal work day. Follow the cook time on each recipe page, and use a programmable slow cooker that switches to warm if your day runs long.
What Are The Easiest Set And Forget Crockpot Dinners?
Coca Cola chicken, teriyaki chicken, and honey garlic chicken need only a few ingredients and a few minutes of prep. Add everything to the slow cooker, set it to low, and leave.
Can I Put Frozen Chicken In The Crockpot?
It is safer to thaw chicken in the refrigerator first. Frozen chicken takes longer to heat up and may not cook evenly, so check the temperature before serving.
How Long Do Crockpot Leftovers Keep?
Store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator and use them within 3 to 4 days.
Can I Cook These Recipes On High Instead Of Low?
Many of these recipes list a high setting that takes about half the time, but each recipe has its own times, so follow the instructions on the recipe page.