5 Slow Cooker Dinners My Whole Family Begs Me to Make Weekly
Not everyone has the time—or the desire—to play master chef every evening. Groceries can hit the wallet hard, and some recipes read more like science experiments than dinner plans. What most of us crave are easy, fuss-free meals that still taste like a warm hug. Think affordable, no-stress cooking with flavor that doesn’t fall flat.
Let’s learn from Abby! She’s known as TheSimplifiedSaver on YouTube.
She’s a working mom, so just imagine how much she juggles each day
Here are five of her go-to recipes you can easily whip up at home. Just grab a crock pot, a little confidence, and you’re all set to impress.
Abby’s no amateur she’s mastered the art of multitasking, balancing work, home, and everything in between. In true supermom fashion, she’s discovered clever ways to cut down on grocery costs without compromising flavor. And yes, every meal is seriously delicious.
These recipes feature a mix of meats to show you just how flexible slow cooking can be. No boring repeats here just variety, simplicity, and taste. Each dish calls for minimal ingredients, yet still packs a punch. Let’s dive in.
Her selected recipes feature a mix of different meats, giving you the freedom to switch things up and avoid mealtime monotony. Each dish keeps the ingredient list short and sweet—simple to make, yet packed with flavor. Let’s get started.
1. Buttery Ranch-Infused Tender Roast
Ingredients:
- 1 tender chuck roast
- 1 packet of ranch dressing
- 1 packet of onion soup mix
- 1 stick of butter
- 1/4 cup of water
- 1 Poblano pepper
Start by drizzling a touch of olive oil into the bottom of your slow cooker just enough to lightly coat the surface and keep things from sticking. Then, it’s as easy as layering it all in.
Place the beef in first, followed by a generous slab of butter on top. Use as much or as little butter as you like it’s your call. Open up the ranch dressing and onion soup mix packets, and sprinkle the seasoning over everything like a savory snowstorm.
Rinse the poblano pepper, strip out the seeds, and slice it into thick, hearty strips. Tuck them around the beef for a subtle kick of smoky flavor. Finally, pour a bit of water along the edges of the pot, surrounding the meat without rinsing off the seasoning.
Set your cooker to HIGH and let it work its magic for 4 to 6 hours. The beef should be irresistibly tender by the end. Shred it up and serve it however you please over a bed of fluffy rice, tucked into a soft bun, or piled high on crunchy chips for a bold twist.
2. Meatball Subs
Ingredients:
- 1 pack of frozen meatballs
- 2 24 ounce cans of spaghetti sauce
This might just be the simplest recipe in the lineup. Notice how Abby uses a slow cooker liner to make cleanup a breeze? Just toss in the frozen meatballs, pour in two cans of your favorite sauce, and give it a good stir to coat every meatball in that rich, savory goodness. Set it to cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours—and that’s it.
Want to take it up a notch? Add cheese. Piles of it. These saucy meatballs were practically made to be nestled inside a soft, warm bun with a generous sprinkle (or handful) of melted cheese. Enjoy the meal.
3. Sausage and Potatoes
Ingredients:
- 3 russet potatoes
- 1 pack of sausage links
- 1 frozen pack of green beans (or canned)
- 1 cup of water
Slice those russet potatoes into hearty, one-inch chunks. Drizzle a bit of olive oil into the crockpot, then toss the potatoes in for a golden base.
Chop the sausages into similar-sized pieces to keep things even. Layer them right over the potatoes, then finish with a generous handful of green beans on top. Set your slow cooker to HIGH and let it do its thing for 4 to 6 hours, just enough time for the potatoes to become perfectly tender.
Give everything a good stir once it’s ready, then dish it up and garnish to your heart’s content.
4. Crack Chicken Sliders
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of chicken
- 2 blocks of cream cheese
- 1 packet of ranch seasoning
- 1/4 cup of water
Nestle the chicken snugly into your crockpot, making sure it’s evenly placed. Drop the block of cream cheese right on top, then sprinkle the ranch seasoning packet over it. Pour 1/4 cup of water into the bottom of the pot—just enough to help everything meld. Set the cooker to HIGH and let it simmer gently for 4 to 6 hours.
Once it’s cooked to perfection, remove the chicken and shred it in a large bowl. Add a few spoonfuls of those rich, savory juices from the pot and blend them with the cream cheese to keep everything luscious and moist.
This creamy, flavor-packed chicken is made for sandwich buns. Load it up and finish with your favorite toppings—crisp lettuce, pickles, or maybe a dash of hot sauce for a little kick.
5. Salsa Chicken
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of chicken
- a jar of your favorite salsa
- 1 can of black beans
- 1 can of corn
- 1 packet of taco seasoning (optional)
Pour a light swirl of olive oil into the bottom of your slow cooker to keep things smooth and mess-free. Then simply add the chicken along with every other ingredient—no extra steps, no complicated prep. That’s right, everything goes in at once. This one’s a slow simmer, so let it cook on HIGH for 4 to 6 hours until tender.
Once done, shred the chicken effortlessly with a fork and serve it over a fluffy bed of rice. Want to kick it up a notch? Toss in the taco seasoning for an extra punch of bold, zesty flavor.
Not a fan of rice? Wrap it in warm tortillas instead—it’s just as delicious!
Told you they were effortless and tasty! It’s wild how much magic a slow cooker can create with so little. Enjoy every bite!
