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22 Slow-Cooker Recipes That Will Make Your Kids Ask For Seconds

Your kids are about to be card-carrying members of the Clean Plate Club.

By
crock pot mac and cheese
kat wirsing

Kids can be a handful, but dinner doesn't have to be! With all the after-school extracurriculars on the calendar (not to mention those picky eaters we know and love), we love relying on our slow-cookers to make some seriously kid-approved dinners (and sneak in some vegetables). Best of all? All of these easy slow-cooker recipes only require a short amount of prep time before you can get to setting and forgetting. So whether you've got a mac and cheese-loving toddler or a pizza-obsessed teenager, all of these recipes will have your kids begging for seconds.

Cooking for kids can often make you feel like a short-order cook, cooking for all kinds of cravings (chicken noodle soup! lasagna! breakfast casseroles!). Thankfully, these slow-cooker recipes are tried-and-true crowdpleasers that even the grown-ups at the table will enjoy. Some of our favorites? We might love our slow-cooker beef chili, slow-cooker chicken Alfredo, and Crockpot chicken fajitas as much as our kids do. And let's be real, no one is ever mad about seeing Crockpot enchilada soup on the menu.

We also have plenty of tips on expert tips on how to get your kids to eat better, our favorite bento boxes for kids, and healthy snacks to add to those lunch boxes. And if your kid loves getting involved in the kitchen, they'll go nuts over these kids' cooking kits, best cookbooks for kids, and play kitchen sets.

1

Crockpot Mac & Cheese

crockpot mac  cheese
kat wirsing

Homemade macaroni and cheese is a process. But this slow-cooker mac & cheese makes cooking up the staple a breeze. Everything—including the pasta!—cooks in a slow cooker. And in the end you have just ONE DISH to clean.

Get the Crockpot Mac & Cheese recipe.

2

Crockpot Chicken Noodle

crockpot chicken noodle
Ethan calabrese

Homemade chicken noodle soup is already easy to whip up, but tossing all of your ingredients in a slow cooker makes it even easier. Want to make chicken noodle soup in your Instant Pot? See this recipe here.

Get the Crockpot Chicken Noodle recipe.

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3

Slow-Cooker Pizza

slow cooker pizza

Pizza night just got even easier. While you can absolutely use a store-bought dough for this recipe, feel free to try our homemade pizza dough too.

Get the Slow-Cooker Pizza recipe.

4

Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup

crockpot chicken enchilada soup
Erik bernstein

Looking for a low-effort, stick-to-your-ribs dinner? You've come to the right place. This Tex-Mex-inspired soup is hearty, delicious, and endlessly riffable.

Get the Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup recipe.

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5

Slow-Cooker Chicken Alfredo

slowcooker chicken alfredo
Parker feierbach

We love a nice creamy Alfredo, and this zero-effort version of chicken Alfredo might be our new favorite. It's a perfect recipe for a date night or busy weeknight.

Get the Slow-Cooker Chicken Alfredo recipe.

6

Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Soup

crockpot cheesy chicken broccoli soup
Erik bernstein

Come home to the best bowl of soup with zero effort. If you love our cheesy chicken and broccoli bake, you'll fall in love with our soup version. With all the same flavors—and less effort required—this easy soup is perfect for cold, lazy days.

Get the Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Soup recipe.

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7

Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs

crockpot spaghetti and meatballs
Parker feierbach

The classic, made infinitely easier in your slow cooker. Love this recipe? Check out our slow-cooker chicken Alfredo for your next family pasta night.

Get the Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe.

8

Crockpot Lasagna

crockpot lasagna
Jonathan Boulton

We turn to the slow cooker when we want to have something a little comforting made easy. So is there really anything more stick-to-your-ribs delicious than a cheesy, hearty lasagna? Though you might be able to pull off only using the slow cooker for this recipe, we do recommend browning the meat and sautéing together in a skillet for maximum flavor.

Get the Crockpot Lasagna recipe.

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9

Slow-Cooker Beef Chili

slow cooker beef chili
Parker feierbach

Our classic beef chili is already quick enough to make on a weeknight, but this slow-cooker recipe is even easier. Sautéing the beef and onion will definitely lead to more flavor, but if you want to just throw everything into the slow cooker all at once, it'd be totally fine. Just be sure to top your bowl with plenty of Fritos!

Get the Slow-Cooker Beef Chili recipe.

10

Slow-Cooker Chicken Fajitas

slow cooker chicken fajitas
kat wirsing

Slow cookers can not only make your lives easier, but they can also make fajitas easier. You won't get a smoking hot sizzle tray, but you will get perfectly tender fajitas that are full of flavor. Make sure to top with sour cream, cheese, and pickled red onions.

Get the Slow-Cooker Chicken Fajitas recipe.

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11

Slow-Cooker Creamy Gnocchi Soup

slowcooker creamy gnocchi soup
Erik bernstein

When the temperature drops below 60°, all we want for dinner is soup. Make it a slow-cooker soup, and it's even better. With extremely little effort, you'll end up with a soup that's so warm and comforting, you'll completely forget there's a blizzard outside.

Get the Slow-Cooker Creamy Gnocchi Soup recipe.

12

Mini BBQ Chicken Sliders

mini bbq chicken sliders

Sliders—in any variation—are something we love whether we're at a BBQ or not. We find this recipe for mini BBQ chicken sliders impossible to resist. It's got some homemade coleslaw on top and served on super-soft, super-fluffy rolls.

Get the Mini BBQ Chicken Sliders recipe.

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13

Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup

slow cooker chicken tortellini soup
Parker feierbach

Chicken noodle soup is already the most comforting soup ever; tortellini just adds that perfect hint of indulgence.

Get the Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup recipe.

14

Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos

crock pot chicken tacos
Charlie gillette

Who says boneless, skinless chicken breasts have to be boring? This chicken has TONS of flavor! It's got spice from the chiles, some tang from the lime juice, and just a hint of sweetness from the brown sugar.

Get the Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos recipe.

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15

Slow-Cooker Bolognese

slow cooker bolognese
Parker feierbach

Bolognese is one of our favorite recipes to make during the winter: It instantly warms you up and makes you feel sooo cozy. Pro tip: The vegetables will steam in the slow cooker, but they'll never sauté, so we prefer to get them a little golden in the skillet first to help coax out some flavor before hitting the slow cooker.

Get the Slow-Cooker Bolognese recipe.

16

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

crock pot breakfast casserole
kat wirsing

Is there anything your slow cooker can't do?! Baking eggs in your slow cooker is a huge help when you have family staying over for the holidays or are hosting a brunch and need extra space. We love the trick of adding frozen hash browns straight to the slow cooker—no need for defrosting!

Get the Crockpot Breakfast Casserole recipe.

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17

Crockpot Garlicky Mashed Potatoes

crockpot garlicky mashed potatoes
Parker feierbach

Mashed potatoes are an important part of Thanksgiving, but they sure do require a lot of babysitting. You’ve got to bring water to a boil, then make sure the potatoes don’t overcook in the water, drain them, then go back to the pot to put it all together. With these mashed potatoes, everything happens right in the slow cooker.

Get the Crockpot Garlicky Mashed Potatoes recipe.

18

Crockpot Salsa Chicken

crock pot salsa chicken
Parker feierbach

A slow-cooker meal made with only 4 ingredients is really something to celebrate. The chicken falls apart and becomes immensely tender, with the familiar flavors of chunky salsa and taco seasoning, and brightened up with bursts of lime juice. Serve this over rice, in lettuce cups, or as tacos.

Get the Crockpot Salsa Chicken recipe.

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19

Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili

slow cooker turkey chili
Ethan Calabrese

Having a big bowl of chili ready at dinner with very minimal effort (and dishes) is what winter is all about. This turkey chili is both comforting and healthy. So grab your slow cooker and cozy on up!

Get the Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili recipe.

20

Crockpot Potato Soup

crockpot potato soup
Parker feierbach

For a thick, creamy potato soup, mashing half of your potatoes when the soup is almost done will give you that signature texture. Want potato soup fast? Try our classic loaded baked potato soup!

Get the Crock-Pot Potato Soup recipe.

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