When you don’t have time to cook a dinner from scratch or just want to make life a little bit easier, a crock pot is the way to do it! In this article, we’ll be giving you 10 of the best crock pot meals that the whole family will love (and meals that don’t take forever to prepare).
Let’s jump right in!
1. Keto Pork Tenderloin
A crock pot recipe of our own, the Keto Pork Tenderloin is great for those on the Keto diet or for those who just love bacon-wrapped anything!
This is an extremely simple recipe with only 4 ingredients:
- 2 pounds of pork loin roast
- 4 strips of uncooked, thick-cut bacon
- 1/4 cup of water
- 1 packet of dry onion soup mix
You can either cook this crock pot meal on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours, depending on your day’s schedule. Pair this with a salad, mashed or oven-baked potatoes, or roasted vegetables for a delicious and healthy dinner!
2. Crock Pot Salsa Chicken
A great and easy take on Mexican cuisine, Crock Pot Salsa is super simple to create and mouthwatering! Pair it with Spanish rice, tortillas, or Mexican corn. You could also shred the chicken and use it for tacos!
It only takes a handful of minutes to prepare and is made with:
- 2 pounds of chicken breasts
- 2 cups of your favorite salsa
- 1 cup of shredded Mexican blend cheese
Cook this meal on high for about 1 and a half to 2 hours.
3. Chicken Parmesan Soup
Getting a little more complicated, this Chicken Parmesan Soup has quite a few ingredients, but is totally worth the time spent prepping! This soup is made with pasta, garlic, chicken, and delicious cheeses and herbs for an Italian flair — great for chilly days, healthy, and perfect for the whole family!
To make this crock pot meal, add the following ingredients to your grocery list:
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 14 1/2 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 pound raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup chopped white onion
- 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more if you like it spicy!)
- 4 ounces uncooked dry Gemelli or penne pasta
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
You’ll cook this meal on high for 3 and a half hours or on low for 7 hours.
4. Southern Shrimp Boil
A southern classic and full of veggies and lip-smacking herbs and spices, this crock pot shrimp boil is a must! Serve with coleslaw, potato or macaroni salad, or savory baked mac and cheese!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups bottled clam juice
- 1 cup of water
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay)
- 1 pound small red potatoes (1 to 1 1/2–inch diameter), halved
- 12 to 16 ounces cooked kielbasa or other link sausages, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 4 ears fresh sweet corn, husks, and silks removed, halved crosswise
- 1 1/2 pounds fresh or frozen jumbo unpeeled shrimp (16/20 count), thawed
- 1 lemon, plus more wedges for serving
- Melted butter, for serving
Cook in a 6-quart crock pot. Cook on high for 4 hours, adding the corn and shrimp in the last hour.
5. Mississippi Pot Roast
One of our all-time favorite best crock pot meals, Mississippi Pot Roast is a meal the whole family will want seconds (or thirds) of! The meat is pleasantly tender, and once it’s done cooking, a gravy is left behind. This gravy is absolutely to die for on top of mashed potatoes! You can also serve it with your favorite greens. Plus, it’s a breeze to prepare!
It only has 5 ingredients:
- 4 pounds of chuck roast
- 1 ranch packet mix
- 1 brown gravy mix
- 6 pepperoncini peppers + 1/2 cup of pepper juice
- 1/4 cup of stick butter
Trust us on this one, you HAVE to try this! Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours (you’ll have to be up early for this one!).
6. Crockpot Tex-Mex Chili
It’s getting closer to fall, so you’ll need something to warm you up after a chilly day… and this Tex-Mex Chili is the perfect way to do it! With loads of healthy lentils, herbs, spices, and chicken, this is a healthy and yummy option.
It has quite a few ingredients, but we promise it’s worth it!
- 1 28-oz can no-salt-added fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
- 1 14.5-oz can no-salt-added petite diced tomatoes
- 1 tbsp. chili powder
- 2 tsp. dried oregano
- 2 tsp. ground cumin
- 3/4 c. wheat berries (optional)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 poblano pepper, cut into ¼-in. pieces
- 2 large cloves garlic, pressed
- 2 15-oz cans low-sodium beans (such as kidney or pinto), rinsed
- 1 c. frozen corn, thawed
- 2 c. shredded cooked white meat chicken
- Cilantro leaves, Cotija cheese, and lime wedges, for serving
You could also add a few slices of avocado to this dish and serve alongside cornbread, salad, or casserole. Cook 7 to 8 hours on low or 4 to 5 hours on high.
7. Crack Chicken
This is a great one for kids and picky eaters! Cheesy, bacon-y, and great when paired with hamburger buns and corn on the cob, crack chicken has gained popularity like no other crockpot meal has!
With only 4 ingredients, this is an easy meal and only takes 5 minutes to prepare!
- 3 pounds boneless chicken breasts
- 2 (8oz) blocks of cream cheese
- 2 (1oz) packets of dry ranch seasoning
- Real crumbled bacon bits (1 small package)
Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours. You can also add half a cup of shredded cheddar cheese to the crockpot and allow it to melt at the end of the cooking time.
8. Mozzarella-Stuffed Chicken Meatballs (Pasta Meal)
Spruce up your spaghetti game with these mozzarella-stuffed chicken meatballs! With this recipe, you’ll be making your own homemade sauce and meatballs full of mouthwatering flavors. Side with garlic bread and a caesar salad for a complete Italian style dinner!
Ingredients are many, but the reward is worth every minute of preparation!
Sauce:
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 medium onion, grated
- 1/4 cup dry red wine
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (Unseasoned regular breadcrumbs would work just fine.)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into roughly 1/2-inch cubes
- 16 ounces spaghetti, cooked, for serving
Cook on high for 3 hours or cook on low for 6 hours.
9. Salmon with Creamy Lemon Sauce
A healthy and easy-to-prepare choice, this Salmon with Creamy Lemon Sauce is zesty and flavorful. It pairs nicely with steamed vegetables or on top of your favorite salad. You can also enjoy the salmon and sauce on top of a bed of herb rice!
Allow yourself about 15 minutes for preparation:
- 3 lemons, divided
- 1.5 to 2 pounds of skin-on salmon filet
- Cooking spray
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice (you can scoop it out of the crockpot where the salmon was cooked)
- 1/4 cup chicken broth, water, or white wine
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/8 teaspoon lemon zest
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Cook on low for 2 hours, or until the salmon is opaque.
10. Loaded Potato Soup
This loaded potato soup is a really versatile option that would go great with chicken, steak, hot sandwiches, or just on its own. It’s very filling and perfect for chilly weather!
There are quite a bit of ingredients, so allow yourself 15 minutes of prep time:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small yellow onion – diced
- 3 large carrots – diced
- 2 pounds gold potatoes – cut into 1/2 inch chunks
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt – more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 to 4 cups of chicken broth
- 1 (12oz) can evaporated milk
- 3 tablespoons corn starch
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese – plus more for serving
- 1 cup of sour cream or greek yogurt – plus more for serving
- Crumbled bacon bits for serving
- Chives for serving
Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until potatoes are soft and can be blended.
Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it! The top 10 BEST crock pot meals to have any night of the week! No matter which meal you choose to make, we know you’ll love it! We definitely recommend the Mississippi Pot Roast and Crack Chicken, so don’t skimp on trying those out!
See you later with more awesome recipes!