10 Easy Crockpot Recipes and Tips - Chicken, Salisbury Steak And More! (2024)

Using your crockpot can save you a lot of money, slash the amount of time you have to spend preparing meals, and reduce your overall stress.

These easy crockpot recipes are perfect for hot days when you don’t want to heat up the house. Cooking with a crockpot can also save a lot of energy, because you don’t have to heat up the house in the summer when you’re trying to keep it cooler.

Here are some easy crockpot recipes and tips from our Easy Crockpot Recipes and Menus e-book to help you with your crockpot cooking.

10 Easy Crockpot Recipes and Tips

• Unless the recipe states otherwise, always cook with the lid on your crockpot. It is best not to open the lid while cooking.
• Many recipes that you cook in the oven or on top of the stove can be adapted to the crockpot. If it takes 2-4 hours to cook in the oven or on the stove top then it will take about 4-6 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low in the crockpot.
• If you need to reduce the liquid, take the lid off for the last half hour of cooking. You could also make a mix of 2 teaspoons cornstarch with some of the liquid from the dish and stir it into the rest. Then allow it to cook and thicken.

• If you find yourself going out to eat a lot because you hate the clean up, then try using crockpot liners. It is much less expensive to use them than to eat out. Liners are especially good to use when you have company and during the holidays.
• To make crockpot dishes even easier and faster keep a supply of ingredients like cooked hamburger, sausage, bacon or ham in the freezer. Then you won’t have to dirty a skillet or take the time to cook things like hamburger before you toss them into the crockpot.
• Normally you should fill your crockpot about 3/4 full, especially if you are cooking soups and stews. Add the ingredients and then add liquid to fill it to 3/4 full.
• If you have a large crockpot and a smaller recipe, simply put the recipe ingredients in an oven proof dish (like Pyrex) and set it down inside your crockpot. Then cover and cook.

Here’s a super easy barbecue chicken recipe you can make in the crockpot in less than 5 minutes! You can use boneless chicken or bone-in chicken. Serve it with rice and a vegetable, like fresh frozen broccoli or sliced peppers, baby carrots and cucumbers for a quick and easy meal!

This recipe makes great barbecue chicken sandwiches if you start with boneless chicken. You can place a whole piece of chicken on each bun or shred the chicken just before serving and serve on buns with barbecue sauce, onions, and pickles!

Barbecue Chicken Crockpot Recipe

4-6 pieces chicken
1 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2-1 tsp. red pepper flakes

Place chicken in a crockpot. Mix the remaining ingredients. Pour over the chicken. Cook on low in the crockpot for about 4-6 hours.

Here’s an easy chicken crockpot recipe you’re sure to love! It’s a tasty one-dish comfort food meal you can make in the morning with just 5 minutes prep. Then toss it in the crockpot and it will be ready at dinner time!

You can serve this brown rice and chicken just as the recipe as written or you can adapt it by adding your favorite vegetables, like mushrooms, bell peppers, or whatever else sounds good. It’s a perfect way to use leftover vegetables.

The recipe is delicious with just the listed ingredients, but if you prefer a more themed flavor, you can also serve it with a sauce like sweet and sour sauce.

Brown Rice and Chicken

1-2 cups diced cooked chicken
2 onions, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 cups cooked brown rice
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Combine all ingredients but almonds in a crockpot. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on low for 4 to 5 hours. Serve with almonds.

Delicious Slow Cooked Roast

1 beef roast, 3-5 lbs.
1 onion, sliced
1 can cream of mushroom soup (omit for GF and sprinkle with seasoned salt)
carrots and potatoes, diced (optional)

Place roast in crockpot. Pour cream of mushroom soup and onion on top. Cover. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8-10 hours. Add carrots and potatoes 2 hours before dinner.

*This recipe is an excellent way to prepare inexpensive roasts. This slow cooked roast recipe makes them so tender they fall off the bone and are almost impossible to lift out of the pan. It is an excellent way to make a delicious meal for Sunday after church or for guests, because it can cook for 2 or 3 hours longer than required without overcooking. Since it is so tender that no meat is left on the bone, you get more for your money. Serves 4.

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Eating out is expensive! You can make wholesome meals at home in minutes for the entire family for less than the cost of one person eating out! For more easy crockpot tips and recipes, check out our 100 Crockpot Recipes eBook Bundle today!

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.

Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe

2 lbs.of lean hamburger
2 eggs
1 Sleeve of Saltine Crackers
Ketchup
Salt and pepper
1 small onion, chopped

Start by crumbling up your crackers. I keep the sleeve closed and just gently crush them until I’m ready to use them. Crack the eggs into a large bowl and beat them with a fork. Add the meat, chopped onion, crushed crackers and salt and pepper to taste. Mix it all together with your hands and put it in the crockpot. I pat it down a bit so it molds itself to the shape of the crockpot. Pour enough ketchup on top to cover your meatloaf. Cook on low for 8 -9 hours.

Chicken Tacos

4 bonelessskinless chicken breasts
1 package taco seasoning
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 jalapenos.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.

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.

Crockpot Bread Recipe

Submitted by Liz A.

I use my Automatic Bread Machine to make a batch of dough, then bake it in the 3-4 qt. Slow Cooker.

1 cup + 2 Tbsp.water (or more if necessary)
1/4 cup sugar, honey or sweetener of choice
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp.butter
1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds, roasted & salted
1 cup rolled oats
2 Tbsp.non-fat dry milk powder (optional)
2 1/2 cups bread flour
2 1/2 tsp. instant yeast

Place ingredients in pan according to ABM instructions. Run on Dough Cycle. Place a piece of Parchment Paper in the bottom and slightly up the sides of your Slow Cooker.

When the dough cycle is complete, shape into a large ball and place on the paper. Place a single layer dish towel across the top of the cooker (above the dough) to absorb excess moisture, then top with the lid. Cook on HIGH at least 1 hour, then check for doneness.

I’m at 6300 ft above Sea Level, and a loaf this size takes 1 hour, 15 minutes. The top will be pale and may shrink back a small bit after cooked. At the end of cooking, turn it off but leave it in the cooker 15 minutes. Then remove and cool on a wire rack. The crust closest to the heating element will be darker and thicker — changing in color and thickness the further from it. Something for everyone!

Slow Cooker Apple Dip

2-12 ounce cans condensed milk
6-4 ounce canning jars with lids

Open the cans of condensed milk and pour them evenly into the jars. One jar will fill three 4 ounce canning jars perfectly. Leave a little room for expansion.

Put the jars into the crock of your slow cooker. Add water to cover the jars by at least an inch.
Cook on low for 10 hours, or until the caramel is the color you want it to be. Remove the jars, carefully, and let cool completely before opening. Serve with sliced apples.

Just a note: READ ALL THE COMMENTS!! As usual our readers have some great ideas for using Crockpots!