In today’s fast-paced world, it can be challenging for families to find the time to prepare a healthy and delicious dinner every night. Between work, school, and extracurricular activities, cooking can often feel like a daunting task. However, with the help of a slow cooker, busy families can enjoy flavorful and nutritious meals without spending hours in the kitchen. This versatile appliance allows you to simply throw in your ingredients in the morning and come home to a delicious meal in the evening. In this article, we will explore some easy and convenient slow cooker dinner ideas that are perfect for busy families.
Easy Slow Cooker Dinner Ideas for Busy Families
Creamy Chicken and Potato Soup
One of the most comforting and satisfying meals for a chilly evening is a creamy chicken and potato soup. This classic recipe is not only delicious but also incredibly easy to make in a slow cooker. To prepare this dish, you will need:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 4 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 stalks of celery, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 cup of heavy cream or half-and-half
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or chives for garnish (optional)
To start, place the chicken breasts at the bottom of your slow cooker. Then add in the diced potatoes, chopped carrots, celery, and onion. In a separate bowl, mix together the heavy cream or half-and-half with salt and pepper. Pour this mixture over the ingredients in the slow cooker. Give everything a good stir, cover the slow cooker, and let it cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Once done, use two forks to shred the chicken and mix it back into the soup. Serve hot and garnish with fresh parsley or chives if desired.
Pulled Pork Sliders
Pulled pork sliders are a crowd-pleasing dish that is perfect for game day or casual family gatherings. The best part? You can easily make them in your slow cooker! To prepare this dish, you will need:
- 3-4 pound pork shoulder
- Your favorite barbecue spices (such as paprika, garlic powder, and brown sugar)
- 1 cup of barbecue sauce
- Slider buns
- Toppings of your choice (such as coleslaw, pickles, or cheese)
Start by seasoning the pork shoulder with your preferred barbecue spices. Then place it in the slow cooker and pour the barbecue sauce over it. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Once done, use two forks to shred the pork and mix it with the sauce. Serve the pulled pork on slider buns with your favorite toppings for a delicious and easy dinner option.
Easy Beef Chili
Nothing beats a hearty bowl of chili on a cold day, and with a slow cooker, you can have a delicious pot of chili ready for dinner without any hassle. To prepare this dish, you will need:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cans of beans (black, pinto, or kidney), drained and rinsed
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons of chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Start by browning the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Once cooked, transfer it to the slow cooker and add in the chopped onion, bell pepper, beans, diced tomatoes, and chili powder. Give everything a good stir, cover the slow cooker, and let it cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Serve hot with your favorite toppings, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, or diced avocado.
Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes for Family Dinners
Beef Stroganoff
Beef stroganoff is a classic dish that is loved by many, and with a slow cooker, you can easily make a delicious version of this comfort food. To prepare this dish, you will need:
- 2 pounds of beef stew meat
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 cup of beef broth
- 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
- 1 cup of sour cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Egg noodles for serving
Start by browning the beef stew meat in a skillet over medium heat. Once cooked, transfer it to the slow cooker and add in the chopped onion, minced garlic, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard. Give everything a good stir, cover the slow cooker, and let it cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Once done, mix in the sour cream and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve over egg noodles for a hearty and delicious family dinner.
Chicken Fajitas
Who doesn’t love a good fajita night? With a slow cooker, you can have all the flavors of chicken fajitas without the hassle of cooking each ingredient separately. To prepare this dish, you will need:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- 1 packet of fajita seasoning
- Flour tortillas for serving
- Toppings of your choice (such as shredded cheese, sour cream, or guacamole)
Start by placing the chicken breasts at the bottom of your slow cooker. Then add in the sliced onion, bell pepper, diced tomatoes, and fajita seasoning. Give everything a good stir, cover the slow cooker, and let it cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Once done, use two forks to shred the chicken and mix it back into the sauce. Serve the chicken fajitas on warm flour tortillas with your favorite toppings for a delicious and easy family dinner.
Vegetable Curry
For a vegetarian option, try making a flavorful and hearty vegetable curry in your slow cooker. To prepare this dish, you will need:
- 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- 2 cups of chopped vegetables (such as carrots, potatoes, and bell peppers)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon of curry powder
- 1 cup of vegetable broth
- 1 cup of coconut milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooked rice for serving
Start by combining the chickpeas, diced tomatoes, chopped vegetables, chopped onion, minced garlic, curry powder, vegetable broth, and coconut milk in your slow cooker. Give everything a good stir, cover the slow cooker, and let it cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Once done, season with salt and pepper to taste and serve over cooked rice for a delicious and healthy family dinner.
Quick and Simple Slow Cooker Meals for Weeknight Dinners
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
This chicken enchilada casserole is a quick and easy weeknight dinner that is sure to be a hit with the whole family. To prepare this dish, you will need:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can of corn, drained
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- 1 packet of taco seasoning
- 1 cup of shredded cheese
- Tortilla chips for serving
- Toppings of your choice (such as sour cream, salsa, or avocado)
Start by placing the chicken breasts at the bottom of your slow cooker. Then add in the black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and taco seasoning. Give everything a good stir, cover the slow cooker, and let it cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Once done, use two forks to shred the chicken and mix it back into the sauce. Layer tortilla chips at the bottom of a casserole dish, then pour the chicken mixture over it. Top with shredded cheese and bake in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
Beef and Broccoli
Skip the takeout and make this delicious beef and broccoli dish in your slow cooker instead. To prepare this dish, you will need:
- 2 pounds of beef chuck roast, sliced into thin strips
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 cup of beef broth
- 1/2 cup of soy sauce
- 1/4 cup of brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
- 4 cups of broccoli florets
- Cooked rice for serving
Start by browning the beef strips in a skillet over medium heat. Once cooked, transfer them to the slow cooker and add in the chopped onion, minced garlic, beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and sesame oil. Give everything a good stir, cover the slow cooker, and let it cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Once done, add in the broccoli florets and let them cook for an additional 30 minutes. Serve over cooked rice for a delicious and easy weeknight dinner.
Lasagna Soup
Love lasagna but don’t have the time to make it from scratch? This slow cooker lasagna soup is the perfect solution. To prepare this dish, you will need:
- 1 pound of ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- 1 can of tomato sauce
- 1 can of tomato paste
- 4 cups of beef broth
- 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning
- 8 ounces of lasagna noodles, broken into small pieces
- Shredded mozzarella cheese for serving
Start by browning the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Once cooked, transfer it to the slow cooker and add in the chopped onion, minced garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, beef broth, and Italian seasoning. Give everything a good stir, cover the slow cooker, and let it cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Once done, add in the broken lasagna noodles and let them cook for an additional 30 minutes. Serve hot with shredded mozzarella cheese on top for a delicious and comforting weeknight dinner.
Family-Friendly Slow Cooker Dinner Ideas to Try Tonight
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
This chicken parmesan casserole is a family-friendly twist on the classic Italian dish. To prepare this dish, you will need:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 jar of marinara sauce
- 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup of melted butter
- Cooked pasta for serving
Start by placing the chicken breasts at the bottom of your slow cooker. Then pour the marinara sauce over them and top with shredded mozzarella cheese and grated parmesan cheese. In a separate bowl, mix together the panko breadcrumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle this mixture on top of the cheese layer. Cover the slow cooker and let it cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Once done, serve the chicken parmesan casserole over cooked pasta for a delicious and easy family dinner.
Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies
This honey garlic chicken and veggies dish is not only delicious but also packed with nutrients. To prepare this dish, you will need:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 cup of honey
- 1/2 cup of soy sauce
- 1/4 cup of ketchup
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 4 cups of chopped vegetables (such as broccoli, carrots, and bell peppers)
- Cooked rice for serving
Start by placing the chicken breasts at the bottom of your slow cooker. Then add in the chopped onion, minced garlic, honey, soy sauce, ketchup, and olive oil. Give everything a good stir, cover the slow cooker, and let it cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Once done, add in the chopped vegetables and let them cook for an additional 30 minutes. Serve over cooked rice for a delicious and healthy family dinner.
Mac and Cheese
Who doesn’t love a good mac and cheese? With a slow cooker, you can easily make this classic comfort food without any hassle. To prepare this dish, you will need:
- 1 pound of elbow macaroni
- 4 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups of milk
- 1 can of evaporated milk
- 1/4 cup of melted butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Start by cooking the elbow macaroni according to package instructions and drain. Then place it in the slow cooker and add in the shredded cheddar cheese, milk, evaporated milk, melted butter, salt, and pepper. Give everything a good stir, cover the slow cooker, and let it cook on low for 2-3 hours or on high for 1-2 hours. Serve hot for a delicious and easy family dinner.
Conclusion
In conclusion, using a slow cooker is a game-changer for busy families looking to enjoy delicious and nutritious meals without spending hours in the kitchen. With these easy and convenient slow cooker dinner ideas, you can have a variety of dishes to choose from every night of the week. From comforting soups and stews to hearty casseroles and flavorful curries, there is something for everyone to enjoy. So why not give these recipes a try tonight and see how a slow cooker can make your life easier and your dinners more delicious?
