Cheap & Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Families

Feeding a family doesn’t have to mean spending hours in the kitchen or blowing your grocery budget. Slow cookers are one of the best tools for making affordable, filling meals with minimal effort. With simple ingredients and hands-off cooking, you can serve comforting dinners everyone loves, without the stress.

 

Why Slow Cooker Meals Are Perfect for Families

• Budget-friendly: Uses inexpensive cuts of meat and pantry staples

• Time-saving: Dump ingredients in and let the slow cooker do the work

• Kid-approved: Comfort food flavours the whole family enjoys

• Great for leftovers: Stretch meals into lunches or freezer meals

Budget Slow Cooker Beef Mince Chilli

Estimated cost: £6-£7
Serves: 6
Cooking time: 6-8 hours (LOW)

Ingredients

• 750g beef mince (5% fat is ideal)

• 1 large onion, diced

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed (or 2 tsp garlic paste)

• 2 tins chopped tomatoes

• 1 tin kidney beans, drained

• 1 tin baked beans

• 2 tbsp chilli powder (adjust for heat)

• 1 tsp cumin

• 1 beef stock cube

• 200ml boiling water

Instructions

1. Brown the mince in a frying pan (optional but recommended for flavour).

2. Add the mince to the slow cooker.

3. Add all remaining ingredients and stir well.

4. Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours.

5. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.

Serve with: rice, jacket potatoes, or wraps.
Money-saving tip: add an extra tin of beans to stretch it further.

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Estimated cost: £4-£5
Serves: 4-6
Cooking time: 6 hours (LOW)

Ingredients

• 1kg chicken breasts or thighs

• 1 bottle BBQ sauce (store brand is fine)

• 1 small onion, sliced

• 1 tsp paprika

• Soft bread rolls or baps

Instructions

1. Place sliced onion at the bottom of the slow cooker.

2. Add the chicken on top.

3. Pour over BBQ sauce and sprinkle with paprika.

4. Cook on LOW for 6 hours.

5. Shred the chicken using two forks and mix back into the sauce.

Serve with: coleslaw, oven chips, or corn on the cob.
Leftovers: freeze well for quick meals later.

Slow Cooker Thai-Inspired Peanut Chicken

Estimated cost: £5-£6
Serves: 4-5
Cooking time: 6 hours (LOW)

Ingredients

• 800g chicken thighs

• 1 onion, sliced

• 3 tbsp smooth peanut butter

• 2 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tbsp mild curry paste

• 1 tin coconut milk

• Juice of ½ lime (optional)

Instructions

1. Add onion and chicken to the slow cooker.

2. In a bowl, mix peanut butter, soy sauce, curry paste, and coconut milk.

3. Pour sauce over the chicken.

4. Cook on LOW for 6 hours.

5. Stir well and add lime juice before serving.

Serve with: rice or noodles.
Optional: add frozen peppers or green beans in the last hour.

Slow Cooker Mexican Pulled Beef (Budget Cut)

Estimated cost: £6-£7
Serves: 6
Cooking time: 8 hours (LOW)

Ingredients

• 1kg beef brisket or braising steak

• 1 onion, sliced

• 2 cloves garlic

• 1 tin chopped tomatoes

• 2 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• 1 beef stock cube

• 200ml boiling water

Instructions

1. Place onion and garlic in the slow cooker.

2. Add beef on top.

3. Sprinkle spices evenly over the meat.

4. Add tomatoes, stock cube, and water.

5. Cook on LOW for 8 hours.

6. Shred beef and stir into the sauce.

Serve with: tortillas, rice bowls, or jacket potatoes.
Leftovers: amazing for wraps or quesadillas.

 

Slow Cooker Caribbean-Inspired Jerk Chicken Stew

Estimated cost: £5-£6
Serves: 4-6
Cooking time: 6-7 hours (LOW)

Ingredients

• 1kg chicken thighs

• 1 onion, sliced

• 2 carrots, sliced

• 2 tbsp mild jerk seasoning

• 1 tin chopped tomatoes

• 1 chicken stock cube

• 200ml boiling water

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.

2. Stir gently to coat chicken in seasoning.

3. Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours.

4. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.

Serve with: rice and peas or plain rice.
Heat control: use mild jerk for kids, add chilli sauce for adults.

Final Thoughts

With a slow cooker, cheap ingredients don’t have to mean boring meals. These recipes introduce new flavours gently, making them perfect for families who want to be a bit more adventurous without wasting food or money.