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    Home » MSN Slideshows

    Stretch Your Grocery Budget With These 18 Simple Crockpot Meals

    Published: Aug 2, 2025 by Barbara Curry

    Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

    A collage of four crockpot meals—beef stew, rice with sausage, chicken soup, and chili with cornbread—shows how you can stretch your grocery budget with these crockpot meals. “18 Easy Crockpot Meals to Save You Time and Money” appears at the bottom.
    A collage of four crockpot meals—beef stew, rice with sausage, chicken soup, and chili with cornbread—shows how you can stretch your grocery budget with these crockpot meals. “18 Easy Crockpot Meals to Save You Time and Money” appears at the bottom.

    Feeding everyone without blowing through your food budget can feel like a full-time job, but slow cookers make it so much easier. These cozy, no-fuss dishes are perfect for busy nights and picky eaters alike. If you’re trying to stretch your grocery budget with these crockpot meals, you’re in for comforting flavors that go a long way. Bonus: most of them are set-it-and-forget-it, so dinner basically makes itself.

    Bourbon Pulled Chicken

    A platter of rolls next to pulled chicken.
    Slow Cooker Bourbon Pulled Chicken. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.


     

    Slow Cooker Bourbon Pulled Chicken isn’t just for Game Night, it’s great for any time you’re feeding a crowd. Bourbon and a molasses barbecue sauce are perfect with chicken. An EASY and healthy dish that everyone will love.
    Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Bourbon Pulled Chicken

    Easy Crock Pot Taco Soup With Ranch Dressing

    Three bowls of crockpot taco soup.
    Easy Crock Pot Taco Soup With Ranch Dressing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Warm Up Your Winter: Southern Classics!

    FREE EMAIL BONUS: Southern staples made simply & cozy

    The EASIEST EVER Crock Pot Taco Soup! Ground beef, beans, tomatoes, spices and Ranch dressing for a soup bursting with flavor.
    Get the Recipe: Easy Crock Pot Taco Soup With Ranch Dressing

    Slow Cooker Ranch Pork Chops With Gravy

    Pork chops on a plate covered with ranch gravy.
    Slow Cooker Ranch Pork Chops With Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This ranch pork chops recipe is made in the slow cooker with just a few ingredients. Perfect golden brown pork chops in a thick and flavorful gravy.
    Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Ranch Pork Chops With Gravy

    Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup With Chicken Thighs

    Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup With Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Homemade chicken noodle soup with tender chicken, fresh veggies, and herbs simmered to perfection—an easy, slow-cooked bowl of comfort.
    Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup With Chicken Thighs

    Fall-Off-The Bone Baby Back Pork Ribs

    Barbecue ribs with a bowl of sacue.
    Fall-Off-The Bone Slow Cooker Baby Back Pork Ribs. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Crock pot dinners is all about convenience, and this recipe is the perfect example. Ribs have never been this easy to eat!
    Get the Recipe: Fall-Off-The Bone Slow Cooker Baby Back Pork Ribs

    Old Fashioned German Goulash (Slow Cooker Recipe)

    Old Fashioned German Goulash (Slow Cooker Recipe). Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

    This hearty Slow Cooker German Goulash recipe is full of tender beef and vegetables cooked to perfection in a rich red wine and paprika sauce.
    Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned German Goulash (Slow Cooker Recipe)

    Tuscan Chicken Meatballs With Gnocchi

    Chicken Meatballs With Gnocchi. Photo credit: Talking Meals.

    Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Meatballs with Gnocchi with sun dried tomatoes and spinach is perfect for family dinner during the busy week!
    Get the Recipe: Tuscan Chicken Meatballs With Gnocchi

    Lasagna

    Slow Cooker Lasagna. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

    This Slow Cooker Lasagna recipe features a meaty sauce, three cheeses and lasagna pasta sheets that are cooked low and slow.
    Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Lasagna

    Crispy Carnitas

    Crispy pork carnitas in a skillet with a spatula.
    Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Slow Cooker Carnitas start in the slow cooker and finish in a skillet. Learn the secret to juicy carnitas that finish crispy.
    Get the Recipe: Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas Recipe

    Pork Tenderloin With Roasted Sweet Potatoes

    Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin Recipe With Roasted Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Juicy and tender pork tenderloin is paired with sweet potatoes and cooked for hours in a slow cooker for an easy and decadent meal.
    Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin Recipe With Roasted Sweet Potatoes

    Chicken Chili

    A bowl of chili made in a slow cooker topped with cheese and sour cream
    Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Slow cooker chicken chili with pablano peppers comes together in no time. Just dump in the ingredients and let the slow cooker do all the work. A healthy dinner the whole family will love.
    Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

    Crock Pot Pork Chops In Mushroom Soup

    Mushroom soup and rice with a slow cooker pork chop on a plate.
    Crock Pot Pork Chops In Mushroom Soup. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This recipe produces the most tender and moist bone-in pork chops! Cooked slowly in a crockpot, the marinade is a scrumptious homemade mushroom soup.
    Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Pork Chops In Mushroom Soup

    Pot Roast With Carrots And Potatoes

    A fork with tender roast beef on a platter.
    Slow Cooker Pot Roast With Carrots And Potatoes. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This fall apart, melt-in-your-mouth slow cooker pot roast recipe is complete with veggies and gravy. Classic recipe for weeknights or Sunday supper.
    Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pot Roast With Carrots And Potatoes

    Chicken Chili With Cream Cheese

    A bowl of slow cooker chicken salsa chili.
    Chicken Chili With Cream Cheese. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This Chicken Chili Crock Pot recipe is light, fresh and delicious. Just dump the ingredients into your crockpot so you come home to an easy dinner.
    Get the Recipe: Chicken Chili With Cream Cheese

    Tender And Juicy Beef Carnitas

    Two beef tacos on a platter.
    Tender And Juicy Beef Carnitas In A Slow Cooker. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    With only 15 minutes of prep time, beef carnitas are full of flavor all by themselves but even better with pineapple mango salsa.
    Get the Recipe: Tender And Juicy Beef Carnitas In A Slow Cooker

    Coq Au Vin

    A serving of coq au vin
    Coq Au Vin. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Let the slow cooker do all the work while you kick back, and still enjoy a cozy French chicken stew. It’s rich, flavorful, and basically zero effort.
    Get the Recipe: Coq Au Vin

    Jambalaya

    A bowl of jambalaya featuring rice, sausage, chicken, tomatoes, peppers, and onions, garnished with chopped green onions and parsley.
    Slow Cooker Jambalaya. Photo credit: Spicy Southern Kitchen.

    Slow Cooker Jambalaya, with chucks of chicken and andouille sausage and lots of shrimp, is a super flavorful one dish meal.
    Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Jambalaya

    Pot Roast With Homemade Mushroom Gravy

    A plate of slow cooker pot roast with gravy, garnished with carrots, mushrooms, and potato chunks. A small dish of extra gravy lies in the background on a gray napkin. The meal is served on a white plate against a light blue surface.
    Slow Cooker Pot Roast With Homemade Mushroom Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This Slow Cooker Pot Roast is made with chuck roast and veggies simmered in a thick broth, and topped with homemade mushroom gravy.
    Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pot Roast With Homemade Mushroom Gravy

    If Grandma Made It, You Know It Was Good—20 Cakes That Prove It

    A collage of cakes: a key lime bundt cake with icing, a close-up of a sliced pecan cake with caramel frosting, chocolate sheet cake, coconut-topped bars, and a round strawberry cake—did everyone's mom make these recipes?.
    If Grandma Made It, You Know It Was Good—20 Cakes That Prove It. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Some recipes just have that magic touch—and let’s be real, if grandma made cakes, you know it was good. There’s a reason her baking disappeared faster than anyone else’s at family gatherings. These timeless favorites bring back all those warm, cozy memories with just one bite. Ready to revisit the sweet side of nostalgia?

    Get the Recipe: If Grandma Made It, You Know It Was Good—20 Cakes That Prove It

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    Barbara holds a tote bag filled with flowers, baguettes, and fresh produce at an indoor market.

    Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

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