11 Kid Approved Crockpot Dinners To Make

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of walking into your house after a long day and smelling dinner already cooking. That’s the magic of the crockpot – you throw everything in before you leave in the morning, and by dinner time, you’ve got a hot meal waiting for you and some very happy kids.

The trick with crockpot meals for families is finding recipes that actually taste good (not just convenient) and that your kids will actually eat without a fight. After years of trial and error, these 11 recipes have earned their spot in my regular rotation because they pass the ultimate test: my kids ask for seconds.

Most of these use simple ingredients you probably already have, and they’re all designed to be dump-and-go recipes. No fancy prep work, no complicated steps – just real food that your family will love.

1. Cheesy Chicken and Rice

This is comfort food at its finest, and it’s basically impossible to mess up.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless chicken breasts
• 1 1/2 cups white rice (uncooked)
• 1 packet onion soup mix
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Spray your crockpot with cooking spray.
2. Layer rice in the bottom, then place chicken breasts on top.
3. Mix the soup, broth, and onion soup mix in a bowl, then pour over everything.
4. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
5. Shred the chicken right in the crockpot, then stir in vegetables and cheese.
6. Cook for another 30 minutes until cheese is melted and veggies are heated through.

The rice absorbs all those amazing flavors, and the cheese makes everything irresistible. Even my pickiest eater devours this one.

2. Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

These are so easy, and kids love building their own tacos with whatever toppings they want.

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs chicken breasts or thighs
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 jar salsa (mild or medium)
• Soft tortillas
• Toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes

Instructions:

1. Place chicken in crockpot and sprinkle with taco seasoning.
2. Pour salsa over the top.
3. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
4. Shred chicken with two forks right in the crockpot.
5. Serve in tortillas with desired toppings.

The chicken stays incredibly moist, and you can use the leftovers for quesadillas, nachos, or even on top of salads.

3. Creamy Beef Stroganoff

Kids love noodles, and this stroganoff is rich and creamy without being too fancy.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef stew meat
• 1 packet onion soup mix
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 12 oz egg noodles
• 2 tbsp flour
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place beef in crockpot and sprinkle with flour, salt, and pepper.
2. Mix onion soup packet with cream of mushroom soup and pour over beef.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours until beef is tender.
4. Cook egg noodles according to package directions.
5. Stir sour cream into the crockpot during the last 30 minutes.
6. Serve over cooked noodles.

The meat gets so tender it practically falls apart, and the creamy sauce is mild enough for sensitive taste buds.

4. Crockpot Pizza Pasta

It’s like pizza and pasta had a baby, and kids go absolutely crazy for it.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef or turkey
• 1 jar pizza sauce
• 1 packet Italian seasoning
• 12 oz penne pasta (uncooked)
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup pepperoni slices

Instructions:

1. Brown ground meat in a skillet and drain (this step prevents greasiness).
2. Add meat, pizza sauce, seasoning, pasta, and water to crockpot.
3. Cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring halfway through.
4. In the last 15 minutes, stir in cheese and top with pepperoni.
5. Let cheese melt, then serve.

This tastes like your favorite pizza place, but in a bowl. The pepperoni gets slightly crispy on top, which is the best part.

5. Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Sweet and savory flavors that even picky eaters love, and chicken thighs stay so juicy in the crockpot.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 6 boneless chicken thighs
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix honey, soy sauce, garlic, ketchup, olive oil, and red pepper flakes in a bowl.
2. Place chicken in crockpot and pour sauce over top.
3. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
4. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes.

The sauce is sweet enough for kids but has enough flavor to keep adults happy. Serve it over rice to soak up all that delicious sauce.

Related:

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6. Loaded Baked Potato Soup

All the flavors of a loaded baked potato in soup form – kids think it’s like eating dessert for dinner.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 6 large russet potatoes, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add potatoes, onion, and chicken broth to crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 6-7 hours until potatoes are tender.
3. Mash about half the potatoes right in the crockpot for texture.
4. Stir in heavy cream, sour cream, and cheese.
5. Cook for another 30 minutes until cheese melts.
6. Top with bacon and serve.

This is basically liquid comfort food. The texture is perfect – creamy but still chunky enough to feel substantial.

7. BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Sweet, tangy, and messy in the best possible way. Kids love the hands-on eating experience.

Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 3 lb pork shoulder roast
• 1 bottle BBQ sauce (divided)
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• Hamburger buns
• Coleslaw for topping (optional)

Instructions:

1. Place pork roast and onion in crockpot.
2. Mix half the BBQ sauce with brown sugar and vinegar, pour over pork.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours until pork shreds easily.
4. Remove pork and shred with two forks.
5. Mix shredded pork with remaining BBQ sauce.
6. Serve on buns with coleslaw if desired.

The pork gets so tender it practically shreds itself. Make extra because the leftovers are amazing in quesadillas or over baked potatoes.

8. Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole

This is how you get kids to eat their vegetables – hide them in cheese and rice!

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups white rice (uncooked)
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 bag frozen broccoli florets
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine rice and chicken broth in crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 2 hours.
3. Stir in frozen broccoli, soup, and milk.
4. Cook for another hour.
5. Stir in cheese and let melt.
6. Season with salt and pepper.

The broccoli stays bright green and just tender, and the cheese sauce coats everything perfectly. Even broccoli-haters usually give this one a try.

9. Sloppy Joe Pasta

All the flavors of sloppy joes but with pasta instead of buns – less messy but just as delicious.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 12 oz elbow macaroni (uncooked)
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup shredded cheese

Instructions:

1. Brown ground beef and onion in a skillet, then drain.
2. Add meat mixture, tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire to crockpot.
3. Stir in pasta and beef broth.
4. Cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally.
5. Top with cheese in the last 15 minutes.

This has all the sweet, tangy flavors kids love about sloppy joes, but it’s way easier to eat. Plus, no soggy buns!

10. Chicken and Dumplings

Nothing says comfort food like fluffy dumplings in rich chicken broth – this is pure childhood nostalgia.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless chicken breasts
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups mixed vegetables (carrots, celery, peas)
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups biscuit mix (like Bisquick)
• 2/3 cup milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place chicken, broth, vegetables, and soup in crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
3. Remove chicken and shred, then return to pot.
4. Mix biscuit mix and milk to form dumpling dough.
5. Drop spoonfuls of dough on top of the chicken mixture.
6. Cook on high for 1 hour without lifting the lid.

The key is not lifting the lid during that last hour – the dumplings need the steam to cook properly. They come out light and fluffy every time.

11. Mexican Rice and Bean Bowl

This is basically a burrito bowl that cooks itself – kids love customizing their own portions.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups brown rice (uncooked)
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1 jar salsa
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
• Toppings: sour cream, avocado, cilantro

Instructions:

1. Combine rice, broth, beans, corn, salsa, and taco seasoning in crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 4-5 hours until rice is tender.
3. Stir in cheese during last 15 minutes.
4. Serve in bowls with desired toppings.

This is like Chipotle at home, and kids love adding their own toppings. The rice absorbs all the salsa flavors and comes out perfectly seasoned.

If you liked there recipes, you may want to check these out:

• 18 Easy One Pot Chicken Dinners Kids Will Actually Eat
• 21 Healthy and Delicious Family Dinners Your Kids Will Love
• 21 Kid Approved Easy Dinners for Busy Nights