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.

10 Crockpot Recipes Under $5 - Easy Meals Your Family Will Love! (9)

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
★★★★★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.

10 Crockpot Recipes Under $5 - Easy Meals Your Family Will Love! (12)

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

How do you feed a family of 5 for $10? ›

Cheap Family Meals Under $10
  1. Spanish Rice Soup. ...
  2. Ramen Noodle Stir Fry with Vegetables. ...
  3. Crescent Roll Sausage Egg Casserole. ...
  4. Chicken and Rice Casserole with Broccoli. ...
  5. Creamy Tomato Bacon Pasta. ...
  6. Easy Cheese Manicotti. ...
  7. White Bean and Spinach Soup. ...
  8. Black Bean Enchilada Casserole.
Apr 2, 2023

What is the cheapest meal to make? ›

Budget dinner recipes
  • Sardine pasta with crunchy parsley crumbs. ...
  • Miso lentil & cabbage soup. ...
  • Air-fryer meatballs. ...
  • Black bean & tortilla soup. ...
  • App onlyOne-pan hot honey & mustard parsnips & chicken thigh traybake. ...
  • Turbo beans & cheese on toast. ...
  • Chole with cumin rice & raita. ...
  • Spicy jerk potato & pineapple hash.

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? ›

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.

How to feed 6 people cheaply? ›

Budget meals for large families
  1. Orzotto with pancetta & peas. ...
  2. Double bean & roasted pepper chilli. ...
  3. Halloumi flatbreads. ...
  4. Slow cooker ratatouille. ...
  5. Easy sausage casserole.
  6. Courgette & tomato soup. ...
  7. Mexican pulled chicken & beans.
  8. Vegetable curry for a crowd.

How can I feed my family on a very small budget? ›

How to feed your family for less - Experts tips for shopping and cooking on a budget
  1. Don't feel pressured to always buy fresh. ...
  2. Eat seasonally. ...
  3. Substitute pricey lettuce. ...
  4. Meal plan with the catalogue in hand. ...
  5. Top trick to find the lowest priced groceries. ...
  6. Learn how to stretch your food further. ...
  7. Shop the 'dodgy' bin.

What's the cheapest food you can live on? ›

Cheapest Foods to Live On:
  • Oatmeal.
  • Eggs.
  • Bread.
  • Rice.
  • Bananas.
  • Beans.
  • Apples.
  • Pasta.

What is the cheapest box meal? ›

The cheapest meal kit deal we found is EveryPlate. This budget-friendly service already offers some of the most affordable meal subscriptions. New customers will get their first box for just $1.49 per serving when you try its simple meal kits, most of which take less than 25 minutes to whip up.

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!

What is the best meat to cook in a Crockpot? ›

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

What kind of dishes would be best cooked in a Crockpot? ›

From hearty pot roast to warming soup, and even ribs, we've got dinner covered!
  • Slow-Cooker Thai Green Curry. ...
  • Slow Cooker Barbacoa-Style Beef Tacos. ...
  • Slow Cooker Roasted Tomato Basil Soup. ...
  • Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli. ...
  • Slow Cooker Loaded Potato Soup. ...
  • Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos.
Mar 25, 2024

What cannot be cooked 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

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.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

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 is a normal food budget for a family of 5? ›

Creating a budget can help keep costs in check. On average, a family of five spends anywhere from $922 to $1,488 a month on groceries, according to USDA monthly food plans.

How do I feed my family for $10? ›

Links From This Episode
  1. Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner cookbook.
  2. Lemon Garlic Chicken Skewers.
  3. Chicken Teriyaki.
  4. Butter Chicken.
  5. Greek Chicken Bake.
  6. Nachos.
  7. Peanut Sauce (for peanut noodles with chicken or tofu)
  8. Beef and Broccoli.

How much should a family of 5 spend on food a week? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the average weekly grocery bill for a family our size is $344.70; that means more than $1,400 each month. There are times when my weekly grocery bill approaches that number but for the most part, I'm able to keep it to $200 per week. Here's how.

How much food to feed 5 people? ›

In the grand scheme of things, an adult will eat roughly a pound of food at a party, while children (except for male teenagers), will eat roughly half a pound of food. The more food options you offer, the less each partygoer will eat of each food.

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