Easy Frugal Crockpot Recipes + Crockpot Hacks

These frugal crockpot recipes are perfect for dinner tonight! Plus make sure to take advantage of these slow cooker hacks below. You will never want to let go of this awesome kitchen tool after you have all these recipes and life hacks!

🍚 Why These Work

• Flavors – Because the food sits in the slow cooker for so long, the flavors have a great chance to marry together. This creates an incredible taste that’s hard to beat. 
• Tender Meats – When you make meat in the slow cooker, it’s so delicate that it just falls apart. This is my favorite way to eat things like chicken and roast. 
• Hands-Off Work – You will love how little work is required for most slow cooker recipes. You can pretty much dump in the ingredients and go to work, clean the house, or hit the mall for shopping. The entire time you are gone, your dinner is cooking! 
• Frugal – I always enjoy saving money, and using my slow cooker is a fantastic option for that. You are much less tempted to go to a restaurant when you know dinner is waiting for you when you get home. 
• It’s Great For Meal Prepping – Many of the dishes can be made ahead of time, and there is plenty for leftovers. Or freeze them to have them even longer. 

I could go on and on with all the reasons why this is my favorite kitchen tool. I’m sure you have plenty of reasons for loving yours too.

🥦 Affordable Dinners To Make

Check out all these affordable dinners to make in your crockpot! Now, I love my Instant Pot and Air Fryer, but this will never go out of style in my home.

Here are some easy recipes to whip up, that won’t break the bank.

💡 Seven Crockpot Hacks

Crockpots have been around forever, but these hacks might be new to you. Take advantage of these tricks, and make slow cooking even more effective.

1. Removing Film | Have you seen that your crockpot creates a white film on the sides after a lot of use? Baking soda and Dawn dish soap to the rescue.

Add two tablespoons baking soda, one drop of soap, and fill with water. Turn on low for two hours, then dump, and wash away the white residue film. Boom!

2. Foil Divider | Now, if you want to cook two foods at the same time, try this divider. Fold up some aluminum foil to make a barrier.

Place it in the center of the slow cooker, and then use a slow cooker liner. Now you can cook two things at once.

3. Al Dente Pasta | Want to have al dente pasta when it comes to a slow cooker meal?

Add your pasta at the end of cooking your recipe, so it only cooks for 10-30 minutes. This will ensure your pasta is al dente, and not too soft or mushy.

4. Don’t Open | One thing you need to know is when you use your crockpot, don’t open the lid.

Opening the lid can affect how long it takes your food to cook. You will lose tons of heat. So hands off your lid. Set it, and forget it, unless recipe says otherwise.

5. Yogurt Maker | Did you know you can make yogurt in the crockpot? This little device doubles as a yogurt maker as well.

6. Fatty Cuts Welcome | Fatty cuts of meat do best in the crockpot. You will find sometimes chicken can end up on the tougher side. Pork shoulders, chuck roasts, and more are great as they are marbled with fat.

The fat ensures the meat stays moist as it slow cooks and infuses all the flavors into the meat.

7. House Potpourri | Add some water and dice up oranges, toss in cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, apple slices, and more to create a warm and festive potpourri to fragrance your home.

This is a great way to freshen your home, and great for when guests come over.

👩‍🍳 Common Questions for Crockpots

More Recipes To Try