Delicious & Affordable: 5 Must-Try Slow Cooker Meals
Easy, Affordable Slow Cooker Meals for Busy Days
In today’s fast-paced world, finding the time and energy to cook can feel impossible. That’s where the slow cooker comes in—a kitchen superhero that helps you make hearty, home-cooked meals with minimal effort. Whether you’re feeding a family or cooking on a budget, the slow cooker is your best friend. It’s perfect if you are just looking for a stress-free way to eat well.
Why Use a Slow Cooker?
- Saves Time: Simply throw in your ingredients, set it, and forget it. No need to babysit a stove or oven.
- Budget-Friendly: Slow cookers make it easy to use affordable ingredients like beans, lentils, and cheaper cuts of meat. Turning them into tender, flavorful meals.
- Minimal Cleanup: Since most of it cooks in one pot, you’ll spend less time doing dishes.
- Big Batch Cooking: Make extra servings and store leftovers for future meals—perfect for meal prepping. Even better is to turn them into freezer meals as well for more time and budget savings.
Simple and Affordable Slow Cooker Meal Ideas
1. Hearty Soups and Stews
Nothing warms the soul like a bowl of homemade soup. Slow cookers are perfect for making large batches of hearty stews with inexpensive ingredients like potatoes, carrots, beans, and grains. Toss in some protein—whether it’s chicken, beef, or lentils—and let the flavors meld together over hours of slow cooking.
2. Budget-Friendly Beans and Rice
A slow cooker transforms dried beans into a tender, protein-packed meal with hardly any effort. Add rice, canned tomatoes, and spices for a complete, satisfying dish that costs next to nothing.
3. Shredded Chicken or Pork for Multiple Meals
A simple slow-cooked chicken or pork shoulder can be the base for tacos or sandwiches. It can also be used in salads or grain bowls throughout the week. Cook it with broth and spices, then shred it for a variety of meals.
4. Comforting Pasta Sauces
Skip the jarred sauce—making your own marinara or bolognese in the slow cooker is incredibly easy. Toss in canned tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Add ground meat or lentils for a vegetarian option. Let the slow cooker do the work.
5. Breakfast Without the Hassle
Wake up to a hot breakfast with overnight oatmeal or a slow cooker egg casserole. You can use pantry staples like oats, milk, and spices. Prep your meal the night before. Then enjoy a stress-free morning.
Tips for Slow Cooking on a Budget
- Buy in Bulk: Stock up on staple ingredients like beans, rice, and canned goods when they’re on sale.
- Use Cheaper Cuts of Meat: The slow cooker works magic on tougher cuts. These cuts are more affordable and include chicken thighs, pork shoulder, and beef chuck.
- Stretch Meals with Veggies and Grains: Load up your slow cooker meals with affordable vegetables like carrots. You can also add potatoes and cabbage. These additions make dishes go further.
- Make Use of Leftovers: Repurpose slow-cooked meals into new dishes. Use shredded meats for sandwiches. Use extra beans for burritos. Use extra soup as a base for another meal.
The slow cooker isn’t just a tool—it’s a game-changer for easy, budget-friendly meals. With a little prep and creativity, you can enjoy homemade meals without the stress of cooking every day. What’s your favorite slow cooker meal? Share your ideas in the comments.
To watch the Video
5 EASY Slow Cooker Meals for Busy Weeknights
Try this lovely bread with any of these meals Simple and Quick Crusty Bread Loaf
To make your own balsamic glaze The Ultimate Guide to Making Balsamic Glaze
Easy Sausage and Tomato Pasta in the Slow Cooker
Creamy tomato and sausage pasta made in the slow cooker. An easy, family-friendly dinner using simple ingredients and minimal prep.
Print Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker or multi-cooker
Ingredients
- 6 sausages any flavour
- 1 onion diced
- 2 cups tomatoes diced
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup fresh spinach leaves
- 1 cup capsicum sliced
- 1 Tbsp garlic chopped
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp italian herbs
- 2 Tbsp balsamic glaze
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder optional
- 1 Tbsp onion powder optional
- ½ tsp turmeric optional
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup cream
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated (optional)
- 500 g pasta cooked and drained
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except the cream, parmesan cheese, and cooked pasta to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high for 3–4 hours or low for 5–6 hours, until the sausages are cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
- Use kitchen shears to cut the sausages into bite-sized pieces directly in the slow cooker, or remove them, slice into rounds, and return to the sauce.
- Stir in the cream and parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Cook the pasta according to packet instructions, drain, and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Serve the creamy sausage mixture over the pasta or add the pasta directly to the slow cooker and toss everything together before serving.
Notes
Stacey's Kitchen Tips:
- Any sausages work here — pork, beef, chicken, or even flavoured sausages if that’s what you have.
- If your sauce looks a bit thin, leave the lid off for the last 20–30 minutes on high to thicken it up.
- Adding the pasta straight into the slow cooker makes it a great one-pot dinner with less washing up.
Variations & Substitutions:
- Swap spinach for silver beet or frozen spinach if needed.
- Use canned diced tomatoes if fresh aren’t in season.
- Skip the parmesan for a dairy-light version or use a budget-friendly grated cheese instead.
- Add mushrooms or courgette if you want to bulk it out with more vegetables.
Servings: 6 servings
Japanese-Style Chicken Teriyaki (Slow Cooker)
This incredible slow cooker recipe couldn't be any easier. With just a few steps, you will have delicious homemade chicken teriyaki on rice for quick food prep or lunches.
Print Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker or multi-cooker
Ingredients
- 3 large chicken breasts
- 1½ cups low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 cup water
- 4-6 garlic cloves chopped
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp chinese cooking wine rice wine vinegar, or white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp fresh grated ginger or ½ tsp ground ginger
- rice cooked as required
Corn flour Slurry:
- 3 Tbsp corn flour
- 4 Tbsp water
To Serve:
- kewpie mayonnaise
- toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except the corn flour and water slurry to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 3–4 hours or high for 2 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- While the chicken cooks, prepare the rice according to packet instructions.
- Remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and set aside.
- Stir the corn flour and water together, then add to the sauce to thicken. You can do this in the slow cooker or transfer the sauce to a pot on the stove if you want it done faster.
- Use two forks to shred the chicken.
- Spoon some of the thickened sauce over the chicken.
- To serve, add rice to a bowl, top with chicken, drizzle with extra sauce, then finish with kewpie mayo and toasted sesame seeds.
Notes
Stacey's Kitchen Tips:
- If you don’t have low-sodium soy sauce, add an extra cup of water so the sauce isn’t too salty.
- This sauce thickens more as it cools, so don’t overdo the corn flour.
- The chicken is lovely warm, but it’s also great cooled for lunch bowls and meal prep.
Variations & Substitutions
- Chicken thighs work just as well and stay extra juicy.
- Swap brown sugar for honey if that’s what you have.
- Use ground ginger if fresh isn’t in the fridge.
- Add sliced capsicum or grated carrot during cooking for extra veg.
Servings: 5 people
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Slow cooked honey garlic chicken with rice made in the slow cooker. An easy, family-friendly dinner with simple ingredients and mild flavours.
Print Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker or multi-cooker
Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken breast cut into tender strips or diced
- ½ cup honey add an extra ¼ cup if you like it sweeter
- 1 cup water or chicken stock
- 2 tsp chicken stock powder if not using stock
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 2 Tbsp Chinese cooking wine rice wine vinegar or white vinegar works too
- 6 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp fresh grated ginger or ½ tsp ground ginger
- 2 cups frozen Asian stir-fry vegetables
- salt and pepper to taste
Corn Flour Slurry
- 2 Tbsp corn flour
- 2 Tbsp water
To Serve
- rice or thin Asian egg noodles
- toasted sesame seeds optional
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except the corn flour slurry and frozen vegetables to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 3–4 hours or high for 2 hours, until the chicken is cooked through.
- While the chicken cooks, prepare the rice or noodles according to packet instructions.
- In the last 20 minutes of cooking, add the frozen Asian vegetables to the slow cooker.
- Stir the corn flour and water together, then add to the slow cooker to thicken the sauce. If you prefer a thicker sauce, add an extra tablespoon of corn flour mixed with water.
- Serve the honey garlic chicken over rice or noodles and garnish with toasted sesame seeds if using.
Notes
Stacey's Kitchen Tips
- Don’t add the frozen vegetables too early — they’ll go soft and lose their colour.
- Chicken thighs work well if you prefer darker meat.
- This sauce thickens as it cools, so stop thickening just before it looks perfect.
Variations & Substitutions
- Add a splash of sweet chilli sauce for a bit of heat.
- Swap honey for brown sugar if needed.
- Use mixed fresh vegetables if that’s what you have on hand.
- Serve with noodles for a change from rice.
Servings: 5 people
Cost: $15
Slow Cooker Comfort Pork Chops
Slow cooked creamy pork chops with potatoes made in the slow cooker. A comforting, family-friendly dinner with a rich, creamy sauce.
Print Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker or multi-cooker
Ingredients
- 1 kg moonlight or similar potatoes cut into quarters
- 5 bone-in pork chops pork loin chops work too
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
- ½ cup water for deglazing the pan after browning pork
- 2 onions sliced
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 4 garlic cloves chopped
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp sage
- ½ tsp thyme
- 125 g cream cheese
- 1 cup cream
Corn flour Slurry:
- 3 Tbsp corn flour
- 2 Tbsp water
Instructions
- If you have time, brown the pork chops in a pan for extra flavour. Deglaze the pan with the extra ½ cup water and set aside.
- Add all ingredients except the cream, cream cheese, and corn flour slurry to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 5–6 hours or high for 2–3 hours, until the pork is cooked and the potatoes are tender.
- Remove the pork chops and place them on a plate, covering loosely with tin foil to rest.
- Stir the corn flour and water together, then add to the slow cooker to thicken the sauce. If you prefer a thicker sauce, add another tablespoon of corn flour mixed with water.
- Stir in the cream and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Return the pork chops to the slow cooker and coat them well in the sauce and potatoes before serving.
Notes
Stacey's Kitchen Tips
- Browning the pork first isn’t essential, but it really boosts the flavour if you have time.
- Moonlight potatoes hold their shape well, but any good all-rounder potato works.
- Letting the pork rest while you thicken the sauce keeps it juicy.
Variations & Substitutions
- Swap pork chops for pork steaks or boneless chops if preferred.
- Add mushrooms during the last hour for extra richness.
- Use sour cream instead of cream cheese for a slightly tangier sauce.
- Chicken thighs also work well with this creamy sauce.
Servings: 5 people
Slow Cooker Pork Meatball Stroganoff
Slow cooked pork meatball stroganoff with pasta. A creamy, comforting slow cooker dinner made with pork mince, mushrooms, and simple ingredients.
Print Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker or multi-cooker
Ingredients
- 1 kg pork mince
- 400 g mushrooms sliced
- 2 onions diced
- 2 cups water or beef stock
- 2 beef stock cubes if using water instead of stock
- 2 tsp garlic
- 1 tsp mushroom salt
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 2 tsp paprika
- pinch of dried thyme
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup cream
- fresh parsley to garnish
- 500 g pasta of your choice
To Thicken:
- Corn flour mixed with water as needed
Instructions
- Roll the pork mince into evenly sized meatballs.
- Heat a tablespoon of oil in a frying pan and brown the meatballs until golden on the outside. They don’t need to be cooked through. Transfer them to the slow cooker.
- Use about ½ cup of the stock or water to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits, and pour this over the meatballs.
- Add all remaining ingredients except the sour cream, cream, pasta, and corn flour slurry to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 5–6 hours or high for 2–3 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through.
- Cook the pasta according to packet instructions and drain.
- Stir the sour cream and cream into the slow cooker.
- Mix corn flour with a little water and add gradually to thicken the sauce to your liking.
- Add the cooked pasta and gently stir to combine everything before serving.
Notes
Stacey's Kitchen Tips
- Browning the meatballs first adds flavour and helps them hold together.
- Don’t add the sour cream too early — it stays smoother when stirred in at the end.
- This dish thickens as it cools, so stop thickening just before it looks perfect.
Variations & Substitutions
- Beef or chicken mince can be used instead of pork.
- Swap sour cream for crème fraiche if you prefer.
- Add a spoon of wholegrain mustard for extra depth.
- Serve over mashed potatoes or rice instead of pasta.
Servings: 5 people
