One of the best investments you can make in your kitchen is a crockpot. Just toss your ingredients in the pot, and let it cook while you head out to work or do whatever you need to do. After 6-8 hours, dinner is ready without you having to lift another finger. The best part is that there are so many delicious crockpot recipes to try, and I have 25 easy ones you can use to meal prep for the week.
25 Easy Crockpot Recipes You Can Meal Prep for the Week
1. Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
Marry Me chicken is amazing, and this recipe makes it even easier to enjoy it. The creamy sundried tomato sauce is to die for. You’ll need to brown the chicken in the cooker before adding the other ingredients and cooking it for two hours. Serve it with your favorite noodles or rice.
2. Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice
A super easy recipe that you can enjoy all week long. Tender chicken cooked with a garlicky cream of chicken soup, brown rice and cheddar cheese. You can easily double the recipe to make 12 servings if you need to feed your family.
3. 3-Ingredient Pork Chops
I love simple crockpot recipes like this one that use just a few ingredients. This recipe makes a gravy that is out of this world. All you need are some pork chops, cream of chicken soup and dry ranch dressing mix.
4. Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes and Kielbasa
Beef kielbasa, sweet onions and diced potatoes cooked in a creamy cheese sauce everyone will love. The best part? You can cook this on high or low, depending on your schedule. On the low setting, this meal will be ready in 5-6 hours.
5. Slow Cooker Beef Stew
A traditional beef stew cooked slowly to perfection. This recipe adds a few extra ingredients you may not have on hand, like cabernet sauvignon, celery salt and Gravy Master. It’s SO easy to make, and so flavorful. You’ll have plenty of stew to eat throughout the week.
6. Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie
Tender, juicy chicken and mixed veggies cooked in a creamy sauce and topped with flaky biscuits – yum! Chicken pot pie is a classic comfort food, and this recipe adapts it to a slow cooker for an easy weeknight meal that will satisfy everyone.
Related: 25 Chicken Air Fryer Recipes That Will Change The Way You Meal Prep
7. Crockpot Goulash
Elbow pasta slow-cooked in a meaty tomato sauce with onions, pepper and cheese. Goulash is always a crowd-pleaser, and when you make it in a crockpot, you can cook enough servings for multiple meals.
8. Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo
Crockpot recipes don’t get much easier than this one. Tender chicken breast cooked in a homemade alfredo sauce that you won’t be able to get enough of. Add the pasta during the last 30-45 minutes of cooking, and you have the perfect weeknight meal.
9. Teriyaki Chicken
Slow-cooked chicken breast in a sweet, homemade teriyaki sauce. We love this recipe at our house because it’s so easy to make. Just coat chicken pieces in cornstarch before tossing them into the crockpot. Add the ingredients for the sauce, and cook for 4-5 hours. Top with sesame seeds and green onions for an extra kick of flavor.
10. Million Dollar Pasta
A cheesy pasta dish with decadent layers of sauce, pasta, beef and delicious cream sauce. Top it all off with melty and gooey mozzarella cheese.
The whole family will love this dish, and prep time is just 25 minutes.
While this recipe calls for jarred spaghetti sauce, it tastes even better if you use homemade sauce with tomato passata.
11. Short Ribs
Bone-in beef short ribs cooked in a savory herb sauce for up to 8 hours. The fresh herbs in this recipe add so much flavor. While this recipe is super easy, it does require an extra step. You’ll need to brown the ribs and a few other ingredients in a pan before adding everything to your crockpot. But it’s worth the extra step – trust me!
12. Taco Chicken Nachos
Looking for something different to cook in your crockpot? Try this recipe. Taco-seasoned chicken breast cooked in a salsa-based sauce with queso and cheddar cheese. For this recipe, you’ll add ingredients slowly over time. Serve your chicken over tortilla chips for an unforgettable snack or meal.
13. Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs slow-cooked in a zesty lemon garlic sauce with chili pepper flakes for a hint of spice. This recipe produces the juiciest chicken thighs, and it’s so effortless to prepare.
We like to serve this over quinoa or just with steamed veggies on the side.
14. General Tso’s Chicken
Your favorite Chinese food dish cooked in a crockpot. General Tso’s chicken is surprisingly easy to make at home, and you only need a few ingredients to make the sauce. Coating the chicken breasts in cornstarch helps thicken the sauce, which tastes amazing when served over rice. Add steamed broccoli or peppers and onions for a complete meal.
Related: 25 Best Pressure Cooker Recipes to Make in Your Instant Pot
15. Chicken, Potatoes and Green Beans
Another very simple recipe. Your main ingredients include chicken, potatoes and green beans. You’ll add in garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper, oregano, olive oil and lime juice, all of which will be part of the tasty homemade dressing that you’ll make.
16. 5-Ingredient Chicken Fajitas
It doesn’t get much easier than chicken fajitas – unless it contains just five ingredients. Quick, tasty and healthy for you, these fajitas only require:
- Chicken
- Onion
- Bell pepper
- Diced tomatoes
- Fajita seasoning
And in your slow cooker, you can cook for 2-3 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low – whichever setting is best for you. Chicken breasts work best for this recipe, but you can use thighs if you prefer.
17. Chicken Marsala
Chicken marsala is one of my fave crockpot recipes, and it’s so fast to prep and pop into my crockpot. Healthy and delish, you’ll need boneless chicken breasts, garlic powder, basil, thyme, paprika, ground pepper, olive oil, mushrooms, garlic, dry marsala wine, cornstarch, heavy cream and some parsley.
And don’t let the shorter ingredient list fool you – this recipe is delish.
18. Meatloaf, Potatoes and Garlic Butter
If you’re a fan of meatloaf, this recipe is a must-try for anyone with a crockpot. A calorie-heavy dish, you’ll make meatloaf, potatoes and a sauce made from ketchup, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce.
Nutrition values are 662 calories, 68 grams of carbs, 26 grams of protein and 31 grams of fat.
19. Chicken Lasagna
Cheesy, flavorful and an Italian classic, this recipe does take a lot of shortcuts with rotisserie chicken and a jar of alfredo sauce. But it’s still delish. You’ll cook for four hours and make a cheesy filling with mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese and spices.
If you want a rich meal, this lasagna is a great choice.
20. Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice
I appreciate the simplicity of this recipe, which calls for one pound of smoked sausage and beans, garlic, pepper, onion, chicken broth, rice and Creole seasoning. Simple yet delish, this recipe has tons of protein, and the seasoning adds a nice kick of flavor that you’re sure to appreciate.
21. Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
A splash of beer adds flavor to this protein-filled dish that cooks for four hours and includes chicken breasts, broth, onion, garlic, Great Northern Beans, green chilis, canned sweet corn and over a dozen other ingredients.
22. Beef Casserole
Delightfully light and crunchy, this casserole is an instant favorite, with parmesan cheese and only 10 minutes of hands-on time. You will need some ale. Guinness is preferred, but it’s 100% up to you. Serve with rice or swap in couscous if you want to keep this casserole even lighter.
Related: 25 Delicious Air Fryer Recipes That Will Make You Wonder How You Lived Without Them
23. Sweet and Sour Pork
Prep of 15 minutes is all you need for this dish that will slow-cook to perfection in a little over six hours. I love this Chinese-inspired recipe with sugar, brown sugar, chicken broth and over a dozen other ingredients. Pineapple chunks really add to the flavor, along with the soy sauce and spices.
24. Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Potatoes
Crockpot recipes with chicken always seem like a top choice, and this one uses a cup of Parmesan cheese, garlic, cloves, red potatoes, seasoning and a few other ingredients. You’ll cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 if you want it to cook slower.
25. Easy Slow Cooked Italian Chicken
Italian chicken is easy to make and a healthy option for your slow cooker. Five minutes is all it takes to get this dish ready, and with a little bit of non-stick cooking spray, cleanup is also a breeze. Just mix your salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning together, sprinkle on the chicken and rub it into the meat.
Pour Italian dressing on top and cook for 6 – 7 hours.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it—25 easy and delicious crockpot recipes to keep your meal prep on point all week long. Whether you’re craving a cozy beef stew, a cheesy pasta dish, or some flavorful teriyaki chicken, your slow cooker is about to make life so much easier.
Which recipe are you trying first? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your favorites! And if you want more meal prep inspiration, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter for the latest recipes, tips, and freebies. Happy slow cooking!
