Healthy and Cheap Crockpot Meals for Easy Family Dinners

Crockpots are the ultimate kitchen tool for making affordable meals. They use less energy than an oven, require little effort, and turn inexpensive ingredients into flavorful, tender dishes. Slow cooking allows flavors to blend beautifully over time, so there’s no need for fancy or pricey ingredients. Even pantry staples like lentils, beans, rice, and canned tomatoes can transform into satisfying meals that everyone loves.

Another great benefit is that crockpot cooking helps reduce food waste. You can easily toss in odds and ends from your fridge — a few carrots, leftover chicken, or half a can of beans — and end up with a filling, flavorful dish. Some people even find that they can make cheap crockpot meals under $10 that feed the whole family, whether they use up food that might have otherwise gone to waste or make the most of inexpensive staples from the pantry.

And since crockpots let you “set it and forget it,” they’re ideal for getting an inexpensive home-cooked meal on the table even when your days are busy. This is another way they save you money because they make it less likely you’ll rely on takeout when you’re short on time or tired after a commitment-filled day.

Want to get the most out of your slow cooker while keeping costs down? Try these practical tips to make easy, healthy, and cheap crockpot meals:

• Plan your meals ahead of time. Choose crockpot recipes that use ingredients already in your pantry or that align with sale items. Make multiple meals using the same ingredients to avoid food waste and take advantage of bulk purchases, or make a double batch and freeze leftovers to enjoy at a later time.
• Pick affordable proteins. Chicken, ground beef, beans, and lentils are all family-friendly options that are flavorful, satisfying, and easy on your wallet. Pork tenderloin is another inexpensive protein that cooks perfectly in a crockpot.
• Stretch your servings. Add vegetables, beans, or grains like brown rice or quinoa to bulk up meals and make them more filling without much additional cost. These ingredients will also make meals healthier.
• Go meatless once a week. Although many people like cheap crockpot meals with ground beef, pork, or chicken, dishes like lentil stew or vegetarian chili are also delicious. They’re packed with flavor, protein, and fiber — and they typically cost less than meat-based options.
• Reduce sodium and fat. Flavor with herbs and spices rather than salt, use low-sodium broth instead of creamy canned soups, swap Greek yogurt for heavy cream, and trim visible fat from meats before cooking to make your affordable crockpot meals healthier.

With a few healthy slow cooker recipes up your sleeve, you’ll find it’s easy to make cheap crockpot meals that are delicious, nutritious, and fun to eat, all while saving you time so you can spend your days and nights doing something other than cooking.