Recipes | Crockpot Recipes | Dinner Recipes | Food on a Budget

25 Cheap Crockpot Meals That Won’t Break the Budget

Cheap dinners are always a winner in our house, especially when they don’t actually feel like cheap dinners. I still want something everyone is going to enjoy and that fills us all up, rather than something I’ve thrown together just because it costs less.

That’s one of the reasons I use my slow cooker so much. I can throw everything in earlier in the day and know dinner is pretty much sorted, which makes life so much easier when the afternoon gets busy. And some of the cheapest ingredients actually work really well in the slow cooker too.

So I’ve put together 25 cheap slow cooker dinners that are perfect for feeding the whole family without spending a fortune. There’s a real mixture in here, from chicken and pork chops to pasta, soups and casseroles, and plenty that I know my own family would happily eat.

Why You’ll Love These Recipes

They’re budget-friendly. These are the kind of dinners that make cheaper ingredients go further, which is always handy when you’re feeding a family.
There’s plenty of choice. Chicken, pork, beef, pasta, soups and casseroles are all in here, so hopefully there’s something for even the fussiest person at the table.
The slow cooker does most of the work. I love anything I can get started earlier in the day and then pretty much forget about until dinner.
They’re proper family dinners. Nothing fancy or complicated, just filling meals that actually work on a normal busy weeknight.
Most use everyday ingredients. You shouldn’t need to buy a cart full of unusual ingredients you’ll never use again.

Table of Contents

1. Crockpot Broccoli Chicken

This is a good one for keeping dinner costs down without it feeling like you’ve skimped. It’s filling, full of flavor and a great way to turn a few simple ingredients into a proper family dinner.

2. Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

Fajitas are always a good option when you want to make a little chicken go further. Add some peppers and onions, pile everything into tortillas and you’ve got a tasty family dinner that doesn’t need to cost much at all.

3. Crockpot Chili

Chili is one of those meals that’s perfect when you’re trying to keep the grocery bill down. A pot goes a long way, it’s really filling, and you can bulk it out with beans to make the meat stretch even further.

4. Crockpot Mexican Chicken

This is a great one for stretching a pack of chicken into a few meals. Serve it with rice, pile it into tacos or use it for burrito bowls, and you’ve got an inexpensive dinner that everyone can make their own.

5. Crockpot Ranch Pork Chops

Pork chops can be a really budget-friendly option, especially when you spot a good deal on a family pack. This is proper comfort food too, so add some mashed potatoes or veggies on the side and you’ve got a filling dinner without spending loads.

6. Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken

This is such a good alternative to ordering takeout when you’re trying to spend less. Serve it over a big bowl of rice and you can easily stretch the chicken to feed the whole family.

7. Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore

I love meals like this when I’m trying to keep costs down because you can serve the chicken with whatever you already have in the cupboard. Pasta, rice or even some crusty bread on the side will easily turn it into a filling family dinner.

8. Crockpot Chicken Casserole

You can’t really go wrong with a big comforting casserole when you’re feeding a family on a budget. It’s filling, uses simple ingredients and is just the sort of dinner everyone can tuck into after a busy day.

9. Crockpot Apricot Brown Sugar Chicken

I’d serve this with a big pile of rice to soak up all that lovely sweet sauce. It’s a really simple way to make chicken a bit more interesting without adding loads of expensive extras.

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10. Crockpot Cherry Cola Pulled Chicken

Pulled chicken is always handy when you’re trying to make dinner stretch a bit further. Pile it into buns, wraps or baked potatoes and you can feed everyone without needing a huge amount of chicken.

11. Crockpot Chicken and Gravy

This is the kind of no-fuss dinner I love when I’m trying to keep the food bill down. Serve it over mashed potatoes with whatever veggies you have and you’ve got a really filling meal for not much money.

12. Crockpot Garlic Chicken and Noodles

Noodles are brilliant for bulking out a meal without spending much, so this is a good one for hungry families. The garlicky chicken makes it feel really comforting too, especially on a cold evening.

13. Crockpot Ranch Beef and Noodles

Beef can get expensive, so I like to buy it when I spot it discounted and pop it in the freezer. Adding plenty of noodles makes it stretch even further and turns it into a really filling family dinner.

14. Crockpot Dill Pickle Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes are already a pretty cheap dinner, and this is a fun way to change them up a bit. Serve them in buns with some fries or chips on the side and you’ve got an easy family meal that doesn’t cost a fortune.

15. Crockpot Dr. Pepper Pork Chops

Pork chops are something I often pick up when they’re on offer because they’re so handy for cheap dinners. The Dr. Pepper gives them a lovely sweet, sticky flavor, then you just need a couple of simple sides to make a proper meal.

16. Crockpot Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper

Ground beef is one of my go-tos when I need a dinner that won’t cost loads, especially when I can stretch it out with pasta. This is proper cozy comfort food too, so there’s no feeling like you’re eating a budget meal.

17. Crockpot Honey Garlic Pork Chops

I love the combination of honey and garlic with pork, and you really don’t need much else with it. We usually have these with mashed potatoes and some frozen veggies for a cheap, filling dinner.

18. Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken

The honey sesame sauce gives this loads of flavor without needing a long list of ingredients. I’d just make a big pot of rice to go with it and dinner’s done.

19. Crockpot Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice

Chicken and rice is one of those meals that’s always been handy when I’m trying to spend a bit less on groceries. It’s filling, doesn’t need loads of ingredients and the lemon and herbs give it plenty of flavor.

20. Crockpot Pineapple Brown Sugar Chicken

I just put some rice on with this and call dinner done. The pineapple and brown sugar give the chicken loads of flavor, and it’s a nice change when you’re fed up with making the same cheap meals over and over.

21. Crockpot Sloppy Joe Pasta

Pasta is one of my favorite ways to make a pack of ground beef feed everyone without needing loads of meat. I make this when I want something cheap, filling and a bit different from our usual pasta dinners.

22. Crockpot Turkey Pot Pie

This is such a good one for using up leftover turkey, especially after the holidays when there always seems to be loads of it. I can turn those leftovers into another proper family dinner without having to buy much else.

23. Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

Potatoes are brilliant for making a meal filling without adding much to the cost. I like this one when I have some ham to use up, and there’s plenty here to feed the whole family.

24. Crockpot Chicken Minestrone

Beans, potatoes and plenty of veggies make this a really cheap meal to throw together. I love that it’s made mostly from basic ingredients I usually have in anyway, but it’s still hearty enough for a proper dinner.

25. Crockpot Cowboy Casserole

This is proper hearty family food and a good way to stretch ground beef a bit further. With potatoes and beans in there too, I find I don’t need to serve much else with it, which helps keep the cost down.

I’m always looking for ways to keep our grocery bill down without making dinners that feel boring, and the slow cooker makes that so much easier. Hopefully you’ve found a few new meals here to add to your rotation, especially for those weeks when you’re trying to spend a little less.

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