Slow Cooker Magic for the Fam That Never Eats at the Same Time

This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy + disclosures for details.

We’ve all been there: the kids trickle in at different times after school, band, or practice—sometimes with extra friends in tow. And if your house is anything like mine, you’re left scrambling to make sure everyone gets a hot, filling meal—preferably without the stress of making dinner three times. That’s where these simplified crockpot recipes come in handy! Crockpot Hot Chocolate, Crockpot Chili Recipe, and Crockpot Cheeseburgers all scream family-friendly and leave you with the peace of mind that it’s homemade. Pop everything in, walk away, and voila—dinner’s ready whenever the crew rolls in. From the sweet and savory goodness of Crockpot Chicken Alfredo to the hearty comfort of Crockpot Goulash, you’ve got a meal that works for the entire family (and their surprise friends). Whether you’re dishing up Crockpot Cowboy Casserole or Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken, everyone’s eating hot and hearty, no matter when they make their grand entrance. Now, who’s ready to get this crockpot party started? Click through and discover recipes that make dinner work, even on the busiest nights!

Crockpot Hot Chocolate

Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
A hand holding a glass mug filled with hot chocolate, topped with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips. Other mugs and bowls with marshmallows and chocolate chips are blurred in the background.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Fancy hot chocolate shops and time-consuming stovetop recipes? Pass. Crockpot Hot Chocolate is the ultimate crowd-pleaser—rich, creamy, and always ready for kids (and their surprise friends) after a long day of band, practice, or just being kids.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Hot Chocolate

Crockpot Chili Recipe

A bowl of chili topped with chopped onions, shredded cheese, sour cream, crushed crackers, and parsley. The chili is filled with beans and ground meat. A spoon is placed in the bowl. Crackers are scattered around the bowl.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Crockpot Chili brings the heat with beef, beans, tomatoes, and a whole lot of flavor-packed goodness. It’s the kind of recipe that makes busy nights feel downright manageable, especially when the kids roll in hungry—and maybe not alone!
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chili Recipe

Crockpot Chicken Alfredo

A plate of creamy chicken alfredo pasta garnished with chopped parsley. Tender pieces of chicken are mixed with penne pasta, all coated in a rich, creamy alfredo sauce, served on a dark-colored plate with a fork.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Crockpot Chicken Alfredo is creamy, dreamy, and practically made for chilly evenings. It’s one of those slow cooker heroes that’s ready to tackle everything from staggered dinner times to second helpings for surprise guests.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chicken Alfredo

Crockpot Cowboy Casserole

A close-up of a vibrant dish featuring sliced potatoes, kidney beans, melted cheese, corn, and chopped parsley. The dish is colorful and appears freshly cooked, with a mix of textures and an appetizing appearance.
Photo credit: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Crockpot Cowboy Casserole ropes in hearty flavors with sausage, tender potatoes, and gooey cheese that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds. Perfect for nights when the kids—and their extra friends—wander in hungry and ready to chow down.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Cowboy Casserole

Crockpot Cheeseburgers (Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes)

A close-up of a cheeseburger on a sesame seed bun. The burger is topped with melted cheese, slices of tomato, and pickles. The filling appears to be a mix of ground beef and seasonings, served on a wooden plate.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Crockpot Cheeseburgers turn the classic into a slow-cooked, flavor-packed masterpiece. Perfect for nights when kids drift in at all hours after practice, band, or just being teenagers—because no matter when they eat, these Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes always hit the spot.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Cheeseburgers (Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes)

Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken

A bowl of white rice topped with shredded chicken in a brown sauce, red bell pepper pieces, and broccoli florets. Garnished with sesame seeds and chopped herbs, with chopsticks resting on the bowl's edge.
Photo credit: Carlsbad Cravings

Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken is proof that dinner can be equal parts effortless and irresistible. With a sweet, tangy, garlicky sauce that clings to every bite, it’s the perfect solution for feeding kids, their friends, and even the adults who secretly hope there’s some left for them.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

A bowl of chicken noodle soup with wide noodles, carrot slices, and chicken pieces, garnished with chopped parsley. A spoon rests in the bowl, and bits of parsley are scattered around.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup is the ultimate soul-soother, ready to bring warmth to your table even when dinner time is a moving target. It’s so easy, you might just find the kids (and their surprise guests) asking for a second bowl—and maybe even a third!
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

Porcupine Meatballs

A plate of white rice topped with meatballs in a rich, red tomato sauce, garnished with fresh parsley. A fork rests on the plate. The background includes scattered parsley leaves.
Photo credit: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Crockpot Porcupine Meatballs are a quick prep, set-it-and-forget-it meal that will feed the whole gang—whether they’re walking in after school, band, or practice. On those nights when dinner looks a little different for everyone, these meatballs ensure no one’s going hungry, no matter when they show up.
Get the Recipe: Porcupine Meatballs

Crockpot Goulash

A slow cooker filled with cooked macaroni pasta mixed with ground meat, diced tomatoes, onions, and spices in a savory sauce, creating a hearty and colorful dish.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Crockpot Goulash is a beefy, cheesy, pasta-packed hug in a bowl. Perfect for those hectic after-school nights when dinner time is more of a window than a set hour—everyone gets a hearty, filling meal, no matter when they stumble in from practice, band, or carpool.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Goulash

White Turkey Chili

A bowl of creamy white chicken chili topped with corn and cilantro. Surrounding the bowl are tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sliced avocado in a red bowl, and a small bowl of sour cream. A spoon rests beside the chili.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

Turn leftover turkey into Crockpot White Turkey Chili—the easiest way to make sure everyone eats well, no matter when they wander in from school, practice, or wherever. Dump everything in the crockpot, forget about it, and when the crew rolls in hungry (and maybe with a few extra friends), they can top off their perfect chili bowl to their heart’s content.
Get the Recipe: White Turkey Chili

Crockpot Taco Meat

Close-up of two crispy tacos on a dark blue plate. The tacos are filled with seasoned ground meat, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, lettuce, and chopped onions, with cheese scattered on top.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Crockpot Taco Meat simmers all day to give you beef tacos with a texture that’s practically magical. It’s the perfect solution for those days when dinner times are staggered—everyone can enjoy a hot, satisfying taco, no matter when they show up after school, practice, or band!
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Taco Meat

Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce

A white plate filled with spaghetti topped with a rich meat sauce and garnished with grated cheese and herbs. The pasta is golden and the sauce has visible chunks of meat and tomato.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce gets better the longer it simmers, creating a hearty, rich flavor that’s perfect for any time the kids (and their friends) roll in. With dinner ready when they are, it’s a no-brainer for those nights when schedules collide but everyone still needs a hearty, homemade meal.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce

About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *