Back to school is right around the corner, and I’m already thinking about how busy our afternoons and evenings will be. I’m not going to lie, it’s bumming me out.
If you are like me, you’re dreading trying to get back into a routine, and are worried about the responsibility of feeding a family when evenings are quick and bedtimes are early. Well, you guys, I’m here to help with kid friendly Crock Pot meals.
If you are familiar with myCrock Pot Thursdayseries, you know that I have spent several years testing and reviewing one slow cooker recipe a week with my mother-in-law and a few of my sisters-in-law. Most of us feed children, and all of us feed grown men who are often more picky than the kids. Today I’m sharing the recipes our kids actually ate!
I selected easy, quick, and family-friendly choices, so you can slap the meal together in the time it takes to make lunch. Often, the recipe can be assembled the night before, plopped in your Crock Pot and turned on in the morning, freeing up time to pour yourself one more cup of coffee before the chaos begins.
Feast your eyes on these Back to School Crock Pot recipes kids will actually eat, and click on the picture or the name to go to the recipe page. Enjoy!
Crock Pot Mexican Shredded Beef
Instant Pot or Crock Pot Mexican Shredded Beef is perfect for busy families! It is spicy enough to keep the adults happy but not too spicy for most kids. It is easy to prepare and cooks quickly in the pressure cooker or all day in the slow cooker, and is great in burrito bowls, in tacos, on a bun, or on top of a salad!
Crock Pot 40 Clove Garlic Chicken
Don’t let the 40 cloves of garlic scare you. This chicken tastes delicious, and while you’ll be scavenging for the delicious chunks of garlic, your kids will be gobbling up the moist and flavorful chicken.
Crock Pot Bacon Cheeseburgers
These slow cooker bacon cheeseburgers look like sloppy Joe’s and taste like bacon cheeseburgers!
Crock Pot Bacon Ranch Chicken
Beef and Broccoli
If the trick of pretending broccoli is “baby trees” no longer works on your kids, try getting them to eat it by preparing it in an extra delicious way. This recipe should do the trick!
Crock Pot Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Casseroles aren’t always on lists of crockpot meals for kids, but when they are it’s because they are topped with tater tots.
Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff Meatballs
I keep a bag of frozen meatballs in the freezer because my slow cooker and some frozen meatballs have gotten me out of countless dinner jams.
Crock Pot Chicken and Noodles
This recipe isn’t fancy, but kids LOVE it. Sometimes I add peas and carrots to it, because adding extra veggies to kid-friendly dishes is kind of my thing.
Crock Pot Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
Crock Pot Braised Beef Ragu
Crock Pot Chicken Doritos Casserole
This one is an obvious winner, because DORITOS. Your kids will be shocked, in the very best way. “Are these chips? For dinner?” The final product tastes like enchiladas, but without all of the work. Top it with lettuce and tomatoes to make yourself feel better about gorging on Doritos casserole.
Crock Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu
Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie Stew
Crock Pot Cheesy Tortellini
My family went crazy for this Cheesy Tortellini, and now I make sure I double the recipe. Sometimes I reheat some of the leftovers and throw it in a Thermos for my kids’ school lunches.
Crock Pot Corn Chowder
Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken
Crock Pot Cowboy Casserole
It’s no surprise this casserole has been pinned over 10,ooo times! It’s sort of a love child of chili and homestyle potatoes, and the result is delicious. Top it with sour cream and green onions to really bring it home!
Crock Pot Creamy Beef Stroganoff
Crock Pot Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
What’s a list of crock pot meals for kids without a slow cooker macaroni and cheese recipe? The adults in our family loved this dish, too!
Crock Pot Herb Garlic Parmesan Potatoes
Kids love a good starchy side dish. Keep these gorgeous potatoes in mind for those fancier dinner occasions when you know your kid will only eat a roll. And now maybe some potatoes.
Crock Pot Creamy Ranch Pork Chops
Crock Pot Creamy Salsa Chicken
Easy Crock Pot Beef Pot Roast
The first thing people think of when they hear “Crock Pot” is soups, stews, and roasts. We rarely makes roasts in our slow cooker, but when we do, everyone’s happy. This one calls for a secret ingredient!
Crock Pot Korean Shredded Pork
This delicious slow cooker Korean shredded pork is a little bit sweet, a little bit tangy, and not too spicy for the kids.
Easy Chicken Chili
Easy Crock Pot Applesauce
Don’t tell the kids that this slow cooker applesauce recipe doesn’t have any added sugar.
French Dip Subs
People went crazy over these subs, and for good reason. A friend’s pre-teen daughter even requested these for her special birthday dinner. They are that good. Make them. Make them soon!
Honey Garlic Chicken
Lasagna Soup
Loaded Baked Potato Soup
The most time consuming part of preparing this incredible soup is frying the bacon and chopping the veggies. Do it the night before, and morning you will sing the praises of night you.
Crock Pot Meatball Subs
Kids love messy sandwiches, and so do I.
Crock Pot Minestrone
Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken
This chicken looks spicy, but it isn’t! All of the Crock Pot Thursday children (7 kids, ages 8 and under) loved it! This is my all-time favorite chicken. Because butter. And ranch.
Crock Pot Mississippi Roast Sandwich
Crock Pot Pork Carnitas
The flavors in this recipe are complex enough for the adults to enjoy, and the kids love being able to put together their own tortilla fixings. Throw some barbeque sauce on the leftovers and make tasty BBQ pork sandwiches.
Crock Pot Pork Tacos
If your family is like mine, they’ll eat pretty much anything wrapped in a tortilla. These pork tacos taste even better than they look, if you can believe that. I love them, and my kids love adding their own toppings!
Salsa Verde Chicken
Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers
Crock Pot Shredded Chicken
This incredibly easy, super tasty shredded chicken is a dinner saver! I like to whip up a big batch of it, and use it in everything from tacos to pasta to salads. It’s excellent in soups, you can squirt some BBQ sauce on it for BBQ chicken sandwiches, and it can go on top of nachos. Truly, the possibilities are endless, and the spices in this recipe lend themselves to all sorts of dishes.
Crock Pot Sausage Pizza Pasta
Slow cooker recipes for kids are heavy on the pasta, and this recipe layers on another kid favorite: pizza.
Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes
I don’t know if you’ll find an easier Crock Pot recipe, and the kids will love adding their own toppings!
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Slow Cooker Roasted Turkey Breast
This roasted turkey breastis made with the most incredible rub! Don’t wait for Thanksgiving to make this quick and easy dinner. You deserve Thanksgiving quality turkey more than once a year, and the leftovers (if there are any) of this turkey makes fantastic sandwiches.
Slow Cooked Mashed Potatoes
Slow Cooked Whole Chicken
A few spices, an onion, and a chicken make up this recipe. This may be the easiest recipe in the entire Crock Pot Thursday lineup, and it’s healthy and delicious.
Crock Pot Smothered Pork Chops
Crock Pot Southwest Chicken Soup
Crock Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
We love spaghetti and meatballs around here, but we love meatball subs equally. This recipe can be used for either of these family favorites!
Crock Pot Split Pea Soup
Crock Pot Steak and Gravy
Crock Pot Spare Ribs
You will be shocked at how much these Crock Pot spare ribstaste like they came off the BBQ! If you don’t have all day to make fall-off-the-bone ribs on your grill, let the slow cooker do the work for you.
Crock Pot Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup
This soup may seem like it doesn’t fit on a list of slow cooker meals for kids, but it does if you call it “sausage and rice soup” like I do when I’m pulling a fast one on my kids. My kids hate stuffed bell pepper soup, but they LOVE sausage and rice soup.
Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes
Buttery and a little bit sweet, these slow cooked sweet potatoes are a great kid-friendly side dish.
Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Pork Wraps
These wraps are great for warm evenings, and the cabbage, pork, and cilantro combination tastes amazing!
Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken
Crock Pot Tex-Mex Chicken
Crock Pot Vegetable Beef Soup
World’s Greatest Crock Pot Chili
My kids like to top this chili with sour cream, cheese, and if I’m feeling like a fun mom, Fritos. We love chili dogs, too!
These kid friendly slow cooker recipes are all tried, tested, and loved by multiple families. Check out the full compilation HERE, make yourself a shopping list, and log some miles on that slow cooker in your kitchen!
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