60 Slow Cooker Meals for Kids That Prove Your Crockpot Is Dinner's MVP
Your slow cooker has come to save the day with these chicken, pasta, and pork recipes.
You can make a whole slew (or perhaps we should say, stew) of delicious and quick dinner recipes without any kitchen equipment like a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or air fryer, but these popular devices make preparing a meal for the whole family a breeze. Crockpot recipes in particular can help pull you out of a "What should I make the kids for dinner?" rut, promising quick prep time for you and a kid-friendly dinner for them. The whole family will love these meals, but kids will especially appreciate how creamy and cheesy their dinnertime favorites — from mashed potatoes to meatball subs — will come out, all thanks to your handy Crockpot!
The job of a Crockpot (a.k.a. slow cooker) is to make meal-prepping for a family or any large group of people super easy. They can prepare fast and healthy dinners for kids, but also hearty lunches, delicious appetizers, and even dreamy desserts. All you have to do is prep all of the necessary ingredients, toss them into the cooker's ceramic or porcelain pot, set the correct settings according to the recipe, and go about the rest of your day. Obviously, you'll want to keep an eye on what you have cooking or baking, but you can pretty much let the Crockpot be the chef while you tackle everything else on your to-do list. So what are you waiting for? It's time to take your slow cooker down from the shelf, pick out one of our easy Crockpot meals for kids, toss in your ingredients, and walk away. It's that simple!
Chipotle Beef Tacos with Pico de Gallo
Taco Tuesday just got an upgrade! Let the beef absorb all of the flavors while it simmers in the slow cooker.
Tex Mex Chile
Whole and hearty, this warm chili is sure to satisfy the little ones after a long day of school and basketball practice.
Get the Tex Mex Chile recipe.
Slow Cooker Mini Meat Loaves and Polenta
Yes, you can make meatloaf in a slow cooker! And your kids will love this miniature version of the family favorite.
Slow Cooker Balsamic-Ginger Chicken Lettuce Cups
Sneak in some extra greens with these delicious chicken lettuce cups.
Get the Slow Cooker Balsamic-Ginger Chicken Lettuce Cups recipe.
Hearty Beef Soup
What's the perfect dinner for a cold winter's night? Stew, of course!
Get the Hearty Beef Soup recipe.
Slow Cooker Pork Ragu
Though this recipe features thick pappardelle, you can sub in any of your favorite pastas for an Italian-style weeknight dinner.
Get the Slow Cooker Pork Ragu recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Marbella
Add capers, olives, and prunes to really impress the family.
Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Marbella recipe.
Chicken Pot Pie Chowder
This lightened up version of chicken pot pie is best served with adorable star biscuits.
Get the Chicken Pot Pie Chowder recipe.
Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Shells
Shells loaded with veggies and cheese cook perfectly in a crockpot for an easy, fuss-free dinner.
Slow Cooker Pulled-Pork Sandwiches
Sweet pork soaked in ketchup, brown sugar, and chili powder for several hours tastes oh-so-good.
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Use a jar of your favorite store-bought marinara sauce and pour it over dry lasagna noodles and three cheeses. In just four hours, this family favorite will be ready to go!
Get the Slow Cooker Lasagna recipe.
Slow Cooker Meatballs
Use these rich meatballs to make bite-size sliders, and then freeze leftovers to serve with pasta next week.
Get the Slow Cooker Meatballs recipe.
Philly-Style Pulled Beef Sandwiches
Using a slow cooker makes the beef in these sandwiches even more tender.
Ham And Cheese Pasta Bake
This easy, cheesy pasta bake is sure to become your kiddos' favorite meal.
Get the Ham And Cheese Pasta Bake recipe at Farm Wife Cooks.
Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie
This deconstructed pot pie still features the best part of the original: the creamy chicken filling.
Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie recipe.
Creamy Crockpot Mac and Cheese
The only thing that could make mac and cheese even better? A super simple and quick recipe like this one.
Get the Creamy Crockpot Mac and Cheese recipe at Family Fresh Meals.
Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Pasta
Throw all the ingredients in, and then let the crock pot work its magic.
Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Pasta recipe at Damn Delicious.
Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
Dinner doesn't get much easier than throwing a little ground beef, some spices, and ketchup into a slow cooker. In just four hours, you'll have savory sloppy sandwiches.
Get the recipe at Crock Pot Sloppy Joes recipe at Yummy Healthy Easy.
Homemade Spaghettios and Meatballs
When the temperatures begin to drop, make a big batch of this comfort food staple to share with your family.
Get the Homemade Spaghettios and Meatballs recipe at Shugary Sweets.
Slow Cooker Chicken Lo Mein
Skip take out and let your go-to kitchen gadget do the work.
Get the recipe at Slow Cooker Chicken Lo Mein recipe at Life Made Sweeter.
Courtney (she/hers) has spent the past 5 years testing everything from reusable straws to standing desks to homemade kombucha kits. A longtime reviewer, deals hunter, and lifestyle writer, she currently heads up the American Kennel Club's product review site Retrievest and previously worked as the Shopping Editor for USA Today’s Reviewed. Additionally, she has covered design and lifestyle trends for Apartment Therapy, Domino, SELF, and more. A graduate of Elon University, she loves telling everyone about what race she’s planning on running next while raving about her favorite running headphones (they’re bone conducting!).
Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.
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