You can make a whole slew (or perhaps we should say, stew) of delicious and quick dinner recipes without any kitchen equipment like a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or air fryer, but these popular devices make preparing a meal for the whole family a breeze. Crockpot recipes in particular can help pull you out of a "What should I make the kids for dinner?" rut, promising quick prep time for you and a kid-friendly dinner for them. The whole family will love these meals, but kids will especially appreciate how creamy and cheesy their dinnertime favorites — from mashed potatoes to meatball subs — will come out, all thanks to your handy Crockpot!
The job of a Crockpot (a.k.a. slow cooker) is to make meal-prepping for a family or any large group of people super easy. They can prepare fast and healthy dinners for kids, but also hearty lunches, delicious appetizers, and even dreamy desserts. All you have to do is prep all of the necessary ingredients, toss them into the cooker's ceramic or porcelain pot, set the correct settings according to the recipe, and go about the rest of your day. Obviously, you'll want to keep an eye on what you have cooking or baking, but you can pretty much let the Crockpot be the chef while you tackle everything else on your to-do list. So what are you waiting for? It's time to take your slow cooker down from the shelf, pick out one of our easy Crockpot meals for kids, toss in your ingredients, and walk away. It's that simple!
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Chipotle Beef Tacos with Pico de Gallo
Mike Garten
Taco Tuesday just got an upgrade! Let the beef absorb all of the flavors while it simmers in the slow cooker.
Use a jar of your favorite store-bought marinara sauce and pour it over dry lasagna noodles and three cheeses. In just four hours, this family favorite will be ready to go!
Dinner doesn't get much easier than throwing a little ground beef, some spices, and ketchup into a slow cooker. In just four hours, you'll have savory sloppy sandwiches.
Now, chowder isn't every kid's favorite soup, but if you have a fan or two living under your roof, then they will squeal with delight upon seeing you set down a bowl of this veggie chowder.
Stuffed peppers are an easy weeknight dinner without a slow cooker, but with the help of this kitchen gadget your cooking skills just got a whole lot more speedy.
CON POULOS. FOOD STYLIST: VIVIAN LUI. PROP STYLIST: MEGAN HEDGPETH.
Even the pickiest eaters tend to like chicken dinners, and this recipe spices up their favorite protein with apricot jam, soy sauce, and crushed red pepper flakes.
Incorporating more vegetables into their diet can be tricky, but this easy-yet-impressive recipe delivers with an herb combo that will have even the pickiest eaters ready to dig in.
Lentils are another great source of protein for vegetarian and plant-based eaters. This recipe can even be vegan if you skip the parmesan shavings on top.
This soup is loaded with carrots, celery stalks, potatoes, and your choice of two seasonal veggies. Although who says you can't add more than two while you're at it?
When you're on the run in the morning, it can be super duper helpful to prep these steel cut oats the night before so even sleepyhead kiddos can grab a bowl before heading out for school.
If you are planning a summer barbecue for the kids and all of their friends, then this smokey yet sweet brisket will please the young ones (and their parents).
This Chinese dish combines boneless pork shoulder, a vegetable medley, and pineapple chunks with soy sauce, dark brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar for a delicious crockpot dinner ready in under three hours.
Courtney CampbellCourtney (she/hers) has spent the past 5 years testing everything from reusable straws to standing desks to homemade kombucha kits.
Elizabeth BerryEditorial AssistantElizabeth Berry (she/her) is the digital editorial assistant for Woman’s Day, where she covers seasonal recipes, holiday gift ideas, and other lifestyle topics for the website.
