Kid friendly slow cooker recipes. ♡ I’ll just put it out there. Best dinner solution ever. That’s right. Best dinner solution ever.
This is like combining everything your kids have ever loved and letting the slow cooker do all the work. From mac and cheese fanatics to soup lovers, this list has you covered. Time to check out these recipes.
1. Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Okay, can we talk about Sloppy Joe meat? Because if you aren’t making it in the slow cooker, you are seriously missing out. There is just no better way to do it.
Letting it simmer away locks in so much incredible flavor, and the sandwiches end up being melt-in-your-mouth amazing. This method is a total game-changer.
2. Crockpot Chicken and Rice
Speaking of creamy and cheesy goodness, this chicken and rice recipe is an absolute dream. The chicken gets so tender and juicy, while the rice is perfectly fluffy and packed with flavor.
It’s got this wonderful garlicky, herby vibe going on, and it’s so, so filling. The best part? It only takes 10 minutes to prep before you just let the slow cooker work its magic. You just can’t beat that.
3. Crockpot Stuffed Shells
You are going to make these jumbo shells extra delicious by filling them with spinach and a trio of cheeses, then smothering them in pasta sauce.
This is one of those meals you’ll find yourself making over and over again. They need about four hours to cook, but the whole process is so simple with very little hands-on time. Plus, your entire house will smell absolutely incredible.
4. Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole
Whether you eat this enchilada casserole right away or a few days later, it’s still just so tasty. I am a huge fan of food that makes for amazing leftovers.
For that reason alone, I probably make this one way more often than I should. With ingredients like onions, peppers, and garlic, it has such a fantastic flavor, and you just know that’s always a win.
5. Crockpot Ham and Swiss Sliders
When you cook these sliders in the Crockpot, they get infused with so much flavor. The ham gets the perfect texture, and the cheese becomes gooey, melty, and insanely yummy.
The real star here, though, is the topping. It’s made from butter, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, and Worcestershire, and it turns a simple ham and cheese into something truly special.
6. Crockpot Beef Tacos
So, you won’t cook the actual tacos in the slow cooker, but you’ll prepare the meat for them, and that’s the part that really matters.
What I absolutely love about this recipe is the homemade taco seasoning. It is so much better than anything you could buy in a packet from the store.
It takes a little time to pull together, about 15 minutes, but it is completely worth the effort.
7. Slow Cooker Honey Chicken
This tender, delicious chicken has a wonderful Asian-inspired flair. The combination of honey, soy sauce, onions, and garlic makes it both a little sweet and savory.
It’s at its best served over a bed of rice, but you could totally eat it by itself, on a bun, or with some steamed veggies. You can’t go wrong.
8. Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Sliders
Chicken parmesan and sliders might not seem like a natural pairing, but after you take one bite, you’ll be a believer. They’re so simple to make!
All you need are chicken breasts, marinara, garlic, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese, plus some wheat buns and your choice of mozzarella or provolone.
9. Slow Cooker Ragu for Kids
I can still remember coming home from school and smelling homemade Ragu simmering in the kitchen. Those dinners were some of my absolute favorites as a kid.
This recipe brings all that happiness right back. The beef is juicy and perfectly seasoned, while the carrots, celery, herbs, garlic, and tomatoes create a sauce that is so flavorful and full-bodied.
It honestly doesn’t matter what kind of pasta you serve it with; your kids are going to love this meal.
10. Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes
These potatoes are so soft, fluffy, and unbelievably cheesy. You’ll make them with just eight ingredients, plus salt and pepper, and it only takes 5 minutes of prep.
Besides the cheese, the flavor really comes from the onions, garlic powder, and onion powder. They have a very earthy and garlicky taste that kids just devour.
11. Slow Cooker Bacon Cheeseburger Soup
There’s nothing quite like a comforting soup during the cooler months, and this bacon cheeseburger soup is always a massive hit with the kids.
It’s loaded with dense, hearty ingredients like russet potatoes, onions, ground beef, bacon, and pepper jack cheese. It’s thick, chunky, herby, and has just the right hint of spice.
I’m not sure who will love it more, you or the little ones.
12. Crockpot Spaghetti Casserole
It’s almost a universal truth that kids are obsessed with spaghetti. The only thing that could possibly be better is a spaghetti casserole, which adds tons of gooey cheese to the mix.
The herbs give it that classic, rich Italian flavor, and the ground chuck makes it hearty enough to keep everyone full for hours. What’s also great is that you can easily make this dish vegetarian by simply leaving out the meat.
13. Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole
Cheesy, beefy, and absolutely stuffed with tater tots, this easy-to-make casserole is basically every kid’s dream meal, especially if they’re fans of Mexican food.
Along with the other ingredients, you’ll be adding black beans, corn, salsa, and enchilada sauce. It gives the whole dish a really fun Mexican vibe.
14. Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
Five ingredients, five minutes of prep, and five hours to cook. Everything about this chicken and gravy is so easy to remember. All you will need for this one is the meat and some flavorings.
In this case, that means cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix, and water or chicken broth, served over steamed rice. It’s so delicious, and the kids will absolutely gobble it up.
15. Crockpot Baked Ziti
If you are a fan of baked ziti but hate having to wait around for it to bake in the oven, you should try making it in your slow cooker next time.
The ingredients are mostly the same: penne pasta, tomato sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella. The big difference is that it only takes 20 minutes to throw together.
After that, you can just let it do its thing for the next few hours. It’s super convenient and every bit as scrumptious.
16. Slow Cooker Macaroni and Beef
Sure, you could always use a Hamburger Helper kit, but why would you when making this healthy, satisfying macaroni and beef requires only 10 minutes of prep?
The macaroni becomes soft and tomatoey, and the ground beef, along with herbs and veggies, gives the entire dish the most fantastic flavor.
17. Crockpot Kid-Friendly Turkey Chili
I am all about soups in the fall and winter, but absolutely nothing compares to a hot, chunky bowl of chili. And whether you prefer it spicy or mild, your kids are guaranteed to love this turkey chili.
This recipe is for a version without beans, but if you’re like me and believe chili isn’t complete without them, you can always add a can of kidney beans. It contains an impressive variety of veggies and is packed with protein and flavor.
18. Slow Cooker Lasagna
Here’s another fantastic Italian dish that becomes so much easier when you toss it in the slow cooker. It’s also incredibly customizable.
The recipe uses Italian sausage, pasta sauce, and no-boil lasagna noodles, but feel free to adjust it however you like.
Want to leave out the meat and load it up with garden veggies for a vegetarian version? You can totally do that. Your kids are sure to love it either way.
19. Crockpot Pizza Casserole
If you have some pizza addicts in your house, they might just go for this Crockpot pizza casserole. It’s got plenty of cheese, garlic, and pizza sauce.
Thanks to the Italian sausage, pepperoni, and ground beef, it is also incredibly filling. You can put the whole thing together with fewer than ten ingredients, and the prep time is just 5 minutes!
20. Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings
You really can’t have a list of Crockpot recipes without including chicken and dumplings. And this version is one of the best.
It’s almost like a cross between classic chicken and dumplings and a chicken pot pie, thanks to the addition of peas, carrots, and cream of celery soup.
You’ll use refrigerated biscuits to make the dumplings, and they come out so soft and incredible. They will practically fall apart on your tongue.
21. Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
If you’ve never tried crack chicken, let me just tell you right now that it is 100% addictive. There’s a reason they call it “crack chicken,” after all. It’s almost hard to believe that something made with only six simple ingredients can taste this good.
But there’s just something about this zesty, cheesy dish that is truly exceptional. You’ll be so glad it’s easy to make, because after you try it once, you’ll want to make it again and again.