10 Crockpot Recipes Under $5 - Easy Meals Your Family Will Love! (2024)

Here are 10 quick and easy crockpot recipes you can make for under $5! Crockpot recipes are great because you can just toss the ingredients into the crockpot in the morning and then, when it’s dinner time, your meal will be done!

10 Crockpot Recipes Under $5 - Easy Meals Your Family Will Love! (1)

Summer is the perfect time to break out the crockpots because most of us are busy running around and it’s not only convenient, but won’t heat up the house!

Most of these are in our Dining On A Dime Cookbook but if you want more ideas check out our100 Crockpot Recipes eBook Bundle!

10 Crockpot Recipes Under $5

Here are 10 quick and easy crockpot recipes you can make for under $5! Just toss the ingredients into the crockpot in the morning for an easy meal at dinner time!

2023 Update about the prices – YES YOU CAN STILL make these recipes for under $5 in 2023. I just bought chicken for .97/lb.-$1.40/lb. and hamburger (ground beef) for $2.87/lb. in Wyoming. We have also had viewers from all 48 contiguous states in the United States say they HAVE found those prices also AND viewers in Ireland, UK, Germany and Finland.

It’s all about shopping the sales and ONLY buying your meat on sale or on clearance. When meat is on sale, buy extra and freeze it so you don’t have to buy it when it is expensive. Then use what is in your freezer until the next sales comes along.

10 Crockpot Recipes Under $5 - Easy Meals Your Family Will Love! (2)

3 Ingredient Chicken Tacos

4 bonelessskinless chicken breasts
taco seasoning to taste (homemade or 1 packet)
1 can Rotel tomatoes*

Place all of the ingredients in the crockpot and cook on low 6-8 hours. Shred and use in tacos, burritos, enchiladas or in a salad. You can also serveit hot or cold so it would be great as leftovers to take in a lunch.

*Rotel tomatoes are canned tomatoes with chopped green peppers or jalapeños.Any brand that is labeled “tomatoes and green chilies” should be OK or just used canned tomatoes and add the kind of peppers you would like.

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This quick and easy crockpot bean goulash recipe is tasty, will get you in and out of the kitchen fast and is ideal for when you’re having a rough day!

Crockpot Bean Goulash Recipe

1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. bacon
1 stalk celery
1 small onion
1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans or 2 cups cooked beans
1 (15 oz.) can butter beans
1 (15 oz.) can pork and beans
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1/2 cup barbecue sauce or ketchup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar

Brown ground beef, bacon, celery and onion. If using canned beans, drain them. Mix the remaining ingredients together with the beef mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or put in the crockpot on low for 1-2 hours. Serves 8-10.

You can make EASY and delicious meals at home in less time than eating out! You’ll save a ton of money on food and your family will thank you!

Click here to get our Dining On A Dime Cookbooks 25% Off NOW! They’re filled with tasty recipes and tips to make your life easier!

10 Crockpot Recipes Under $5 - Easy Meals Your Family Will Love! (5)

Garlic Roasted Chicken Recipe

3-5 lb. chicken
salt
pepper
paprika
3 Tbsp. minced garlic
about 1/4 lb. butter
1/2 cup chicken broth

Sprinkle the chicken with salt, pepper, paprika. Rub the bird inside and out with garlic. Place in the crockpot. Lay a couple of pats of butter on top of the breast and pour in broth. Cook on Low 6-8 hours. Serve with the garlic butter sauce.

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Barbecue Beef Stew Recipe

1-2 lbs. stew meat
1 cup onion, sliced
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 cups beef stock
1 can (8 oz.) tomatoes
1 can (4 oz.) mushrooms
1/3 cup barbecue sauce

Saute onion, pepper and garlic in oil. Add salt, pepper, beef stock, tomatoes, mushrooms and barbecue sauce. Cook meat and all of the other ingredients in a crockpot on low heat for 8-10 hours. To thicken, mix 2 Tbsp. cornstarch and 1/4 cup cold water and add to stew before serving.

10 Crockpot Recipes Under $5 - Easy Meals Your Family Will Love! (7)

Crockpot Stuffed Peppers Recipe

6 Large Bell Peppers
1/2 pound lean ground beef (cooked or uncooked – leftover works great)
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 – 14 oz can diced tomatoes
1 cup rice, cooked (any kind of rice will work)
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup water
shredded cheese

Combine ground beef, onion, diced tomatoes, rice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper.Cut off each top of the peppers and scrape out the seeds and membranes. Stuff each bell pepper with mixture. Pour water on bottom of crock pot.Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours until peppers are tender and ground beef is cooked throughout.About 15 minutes before serving, sprinkle cheese and let it melt.

10 Crockpot Recipes Under $5 - Easy Meals Your Family Will Love! (8)

Sour Cream Chili Bake Recipe

1 lb. ground beef, cooked, drained
1 can (15 oz.) pinto beans, drained
1 can (10 oz.) enchilada sauce
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 cup American cheese, grated
1 Tbsp. instant minced onion
1 cup water
3 cups corn chips, crushed

Place all of the ingredients in a crockpot. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Serve with sour cream, cheese and chips in summer or cornbread in the winter.

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Crockpot Cajun Pork And Beans

5 (15 oz.) cans Pork-n-Beans
2 (6oz.) cans tomato sauce
2 onions (chopped)
6 hot links or 8 hot dogs (sliced)
1/4 bottle barbecue sauce (about 1/2 -1 cup)

Add in extras to taste:

Worcestershire sauce
Hot sauce
Cajun seasonings
Liquid smoke
Mustard
Brown sugar

Mix all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low 4-8 hours.

10 Crockpot Recipes Under $5 - Easy Meals Your Family Will Love! (10)
If you are a chili connoisseur this recipe may not be for you but if you have picky eaters or children this chili recipe may be be a life saver. You can adjust the amounts of the ingredients to the size of your family without doing much harm. This is also a perfect recipe to make the day before and just warm up when you need it.Print

Quick And Easy Chili Recipe

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 2 reviews

Ingredients

Units

3 small cans tomato soup*
3 soup cans of water
1/2 to 1 lb. cooked hamburger
Chili powder, to taste
Garlic powder and onion powder, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Put everything into a large pan.
  2. Simmer at least 2 hours. It’s better to let it simmer all day if possible.

I usually use at least 2 teaspoons each of chili powder and garlic powder. You can also use onions.

You can add almost anything you want to this basic recipe. Beans work well or I like to crumble in some fried sausage for extra flavor.

*I have also replaced the soup with a large can (32-36 oz.) of tomato juice and it is good, too!

10 Crockpot Recipes Under $5 - Easy Meals Your Family Will Love! (11)

Potato Bacon Chowder Soup Recipe

8 slices bacon, cut
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups cubed potatoes
1 cup water
1 can cream of soup base (regular small can)
1 cup sour cream
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 tsp. salt
Dash pepper
2 Tbsp. parsley, optional

In a kettle, fry bacon until crisp. Add onion and saute 2-3 minutes. Drain. Add potatoes and water. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes until potatoes are tender. Add soup and sour cream. Gradually add milk. Add salt, pepper and parsley. Heat until warm. Do not boil. Makes 4 servings.

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Easy Baked Potatoes

Virtually everyone loves baked potatoes. With toppings, baked potatoes can be a meal all by themselves. Prepare your toppings the night or morning before and you can have a quick and easy dinner.

Check out these easy ways to bake potatoes:

  • When slowly cooked, baked potatoes have a much better flavor than when cooked quickly in the microwave.
  • Here’s a tip from one of our readers on perfect baked potatoes: Bake your potatoes in a crockpot. Scrub, pierce with a fork, rub some butter on the potatoes and cook on low all day. You will have perfectly baked potatoes when it’s time for dinner.
  • If you like the taste of oven baked potatoes but forgot to put them in the oven in time, nuke them in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. Then finish them in the oven. The centers will be cooked and they won’t take nearly as long to bake in the oven.
  • To prevent a dry hard skin, rub your potato in butter or margarine, sprinkle with salt and wrap in foil.
  • It is usually best to prick a potato with a fork when cooking it in the microwave because at times potatoes have been known to explode. Big Mess. :)

Baked Potato Toppings:

Tomatoes, chopped
Broccoli, chopped
Peppers, chopped
Cheese, grated
Bacon, crumbled
Ham, cubed
Chili
Onion
Olives
Mushrooms
Ranch dressing
Sour cream
Yogurt

Taco themed baked potato: everything you would put on a taco including hamburger with taco seasoning

Pizza themed baked potato: pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, sausage

For lots more cheap and easy crockpot recipes your family will love, check out our100 Crockpot Recipes eBook Bundle Here!

You can make EASY and delicious meals at home in less time than eating out! You’ll save a ton of money on food and your family will thank you!

Click here to get our Dining On A Dime Cookbooks 25% Off NOW! They’re filled with tasty recipes and tips to make your life easier!

This post contains affilate links. If you purchase using this link we will get a small commission. Thanks for supporting us!

10 Crockpot Recipes Under $5 - Easy Meals Your Family Will Love! (2024)

FAQs

What is the cheapest food that can feed a lot of people? ›

Pasta is one of the cheapest and most filling pantry staples you can buy, and that's exactly why it's the perfect food to feed to a crowd! Plus, everyone loves a good pasta dish. Grab yourself a buffet server warming tray so you can pop your cooked pasta inside and keep it warm all evening long!

How to cook for a big family on a budget? ›

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families
  1. 01 of 26. Hungarian Goulash. View Recipe. ...
  2. 02 of 26. Simple Chicken and Noodles. ...
  3. 03 of 26. Easy Taco Casserole. ...
  4. 04 of 26. Winter Lentil Vegetable Soup. ...
  5. 05 of 26. Salisbury Steak. ...
  6. 06 of 26. Crispy and Tender Baked Chicken Thighs. ...
  7. 07 of 26. Black Beans and Rice. ...
  8. 08 of 26. Six Can Chicken Tortilla Soup.
Feb 22, 2024

What foods should be slow cooked? ›

The Best Foods to Cook in Your Slow Cooker
  • Long-Cooking Cuts of Meat. Tough cuts of meat that turn out meltingly tender when cooked low and slow are made for this appliance. ...
  • Whole Chicken & Chicken Thighs. ...
  • Soups, Stews & Chilis. ...
  • Dips.
Jan 6, 2020

What is slow cook low and slow cook high? ›

A: Both "High" and "Low" stabilize at the same temperature; it is just a matter of how long it takes to reach the simmer point. Once food reaches the simmer point, total cook time is dependent on cut and weight of meat to reach the point of maximum flavor and texture potential.

What cheap food makes you full? ›

Filling Fruits

Bananas, apples, oranges, and kiwi are not only cheap but filling. Bananas and apples we recommend adding a heavy dollop of your favorite nut butter or peanut butter for an even more filling treat or snack.

What's the cheapest thing to cook? ›

68 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat
  1. Buffalo Chickpea Wraps. ...
  2. 3-Ingredient Teriyaki Chicken. ...
  3. Garlic Veggie Rotini Pasta. ...
  4. Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos. ...
  5. Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With Avocado Crema. ...
  6. Barbecue Beer Can Chicken. ...
  7. Energy-Boosting Buddha Bowl. ...
  8. Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto.
May 3, 2024

How do I make a food budget for a family of 5? ›

You can also look at the last three to six months of your family's grocery bills and calculate a monthly average. Divide that amount by the number of members of your family. Once you see how much you're actually spending per person each month, you can adjust your budget accordingly.

What is the cheapest way to cook food? ›

Using slow cookers, microwaves and air fryers when you can, are all great options for low-maintenance, low-cost, low-carbon cooking. Microwaves: When it comes to cooking quickly and cheaply, microwaves are going to be your best friend.

What not to put in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
  1. Raw Meat.
  2. Seafood.
  3. Pasta.
  4. Rice.
  5. Delicate Vegetables.
  6. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
  7. Dairy.
  8. Wine and Other Liquor.
Jan 19, 2024

What is the difference between a crockpot and a slow cooker? ›

A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker. Crockpot popularized slow cookers when they launched their version in the 1970s.

Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in the crockpot? ›

Always cook your boneless skinless chicken breasts on LOW for the best results. I do not recommend cooking boneless chicken breast on HIGH, as it will become very dry and tough, even if you check it early. On high, the chicken turns out drier; I consistently have the best results with low.

How long can you leave a slow cooker on low? ›

Slow cooker recipes are often designed for an eight-hour cook so that the food is ready when you return home after a long day. Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on for 12 hours? Yes, you can use your slow cooker for longer than eight hours, as long as you keep an eye on it.

What happens if you slow cook on high instead of low? ›

Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low. However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting.

What is a cheap way to feed 100 people? ›

Serving budget-friendly cuisines like salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes can be a very cost-effective choice. Or, if you're looking for a more casual option, how about a barbeque? Burgers, hot dogs and other grill-oriented foods are sure to be crowd favorites, and they won't rack up a big bill.

How do you feed 50 guests on a budget? ›

Feed the masses without breaking the bank with these budget-friendly dishes.
  1. Mexican Lasagne. A spicy lasagne for those of us who love Mexican and Italian food. ...
  2. Cheese Cob Dip. ...
  3. The Best Burger in Oz. ...
  4. Kangaroo Casserole. ...
  5. Sausage Casserole. ...
  6. Nanna's golden sausage casserole. ...
  7. Quiche Lorraine. ...
  8. Turkey and Pumpkin Lasagne.

What is the cheapest food to make for a party? ›

20 Great inexpensive party food ideas
  • Ham and cheese pinwheels. ...
  • Mini spinach pies. ...
  • Spaghetti bolognese. ...
  • Baguettes with toppings (bruschetta) ...
  • Egg, cheese, and ham skewers. ...
  • Chicken pot pie. ...
  • Cheese straws. ...
  • Macaroni and cheese. You can make a few dishes of macaroni and cheese and serve it from warming trays.
Oct 13, 2022

What food can feed the most people? ›

Cereal grains and tubers are the most common food staples. There are more than 50,000 edible plants in the world, but just 15 of them provide 90 percent of the world's food energy intake. Rice, corn (maize) and wheat make up two-thirds of this.

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