Cheap Crockpot Recipes That Taste Like You Spent More

Walking into a kitchen that already smells like dinner has a way of settling the whole evening. No last-minute scramble, no growing pile of dishes, just the slow cooker doing its quiet work while the rest of the day happens around it. And when that dinner cost you less than a coffee run? That’s the kind of small win that makes a whole week feel a little easier.

These thirty crockpot recipes were chosen with one thing in mind: real, satisfying dinners that don’t ask much of your grocery budget. Cheap cuts of chicken, a bag of dried beans, a few pantry staples that’s often all it takes when you give it time. Below you’ll find the ingredients, the method, and an honest approximate cost for each one, so you can see exactly where your money’s going before you even turn the dial.

A few notes before you dive in: costs are approximate US averages for a 6-serving batch and will shift depending on where you shop and what’s on sale. Buying chicken thighs and drumsticks over breasts, dried beans over canned when you have the time to soak them, and building meals around what’s already in your pantry are the three biggest budget levers in this whole list you’ll see them at work again and again.

1. Crockpot Chicken & Rice

Bone-in chicken thighs are one of the cheapest proteins around, and slow-cooking them with rice and broth turns them fall-apart tender while flavoring everything around them. A one-pot dinner that tastes like it took real planning. Approximate cost: $10 total | $1.67 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 2 lbs bone-in chicken thighs
• 1½ cups long-grain white rice
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 can cream of chicken soup (or a simple broth-and-flour roux)
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• Paprika, thyme, salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Season the chicken thighs generously with paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper.
2. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery to the base of the slow cooker.
3. Place the chicken on top, then pour over the broth and soup mixture.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
5. Stir in the rice for the final 45 minutes, adding a splash more broth if it looks dry.
6. Shred the chicken through the rice before serving.

2. Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Potatoes are the hardest-working vegetable in a budget kitchen. A five-pound bag turns into something rich enough to feel indulgent once a little milk, butter, and cheese find their way in near the end. Approximate cost: $9.50 total | $1.58 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 5 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup milk or cream
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 cup shredded cheddar (optional)
• Bacon bits and chives, for topping (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Add the potatoes, onion, garlic, and broth to the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6–7 hours, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
3. Mash roughly with a potato masher for texture, or blend a portion for a smoother finish.
4. Stir in the milk, butter, and cheese until melted through.
5. Season to taste and top with bacon bits and chives before serving.

3. Crockpot Lentil Soup

No meat needed here dried lentils cook down into something so satisfying and full-bodied that they carry the whole pot on their own. One of the most affordable dinners on this entire list. Approximate cost: $7 total | $1.17 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried lentils, rinsed
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 bay leaf

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
2. Cover and cook on low for 7–8 hours, until the lentils are tender.
3. Remove the bay leaf.
4. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.

4. Slow Cooker Bean Chili

Built entirely from what’s already in the cupboard. Three cans of beans, tomatoes, and spices you likely own already come together into something thick and warming, with no meat required. Approximate cost: $7 total | $1.17 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 3 cans mixed beans (kidney, black, pinto), drained and rinsed
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 cups vegetable broth

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or high for 3–4 hours.
3. Mash a portion of the beans against the side of the pot to thicken the chili.
4. Serve with any toppings you have on hand shredded cheese, sour cream, or crushed tortilla chips.

5. Crockpot Chicken Taco Bowls

Chicken, a can of black beans, and a bit of rice cover nearly everything you need for a filling bowl, and the slow cooker means the chicken practically shreds itself. Approximate cost: $10 total | $1.67 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1½ lbs chicken breast or thighs
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn (frozen or canned)
• 1 cup rice, cooked separately
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 can diced tomatoes

Instructions

1. Place the chicken in the slow cooker and sprinkle over the taco seasoning.
2. Add the beans, corn, salsa, and diced tomatoes.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
4. Shred the chicken directly in the pot and stir through the sauce.
5. Serve over the cooked rice with your favorite toppings.

6. Slow Cooker Sausage & Potatoes

One package of smoked sausage, sliced thin, is more than enough to season a whole pot of potatoes and peppers a small amount of meat doing a lot of flavor work. Approximate cost: $8.50 total | $1.42 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1 lb smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced
• 2 lbs potatoes, cubed
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Paprika, salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Toss the potatoes, onion, and bell pepper with olive oil and seasoning in the slow cooker.
2. Add the sliced sausage and garlic, stirring to combine.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or high for 3–4, until the potatoes are tender.
4. Stir once halfway through if you’re home to do it.

7. Crockpot Split Pea Soup

If there’s a ham hock or leftover ham in the fridge, this is where it belongs. Dried split peas break down into a thick, savory soup that needs very little else to feel complete. Approximate cost: $8 total | $1.33 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried split peas, rinsed
• 1 ham hock or 1½ cups diced ham
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 7–8 hours, until the peas have broken down into a thick soup.
3. Remove the ham hock, shred the meat, and stir it back in.
4. Discard the bay leaf and season to taste before serving.

8. Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

Drumsticks are one of the cheapest cuts of chicken you’ll find, and hours of low, steady heat leave them so tender the meat practically slips from the bone. Approximate cost: $6.50 total | $1.08 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 2–3 lbs chicken drumsticks
• 1 cup BBQ sauce or a dry seasoning blend of choice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp paprika

Instructions

1. Season the drumsticks with garlic, onion powder, and paprika.
2. Place in the slow cooker and pour over the BBQ sauce, turning to coat.
3. Cover and cook on low for 5–6 hours.
4. For a caramelized finish, broil the drumsticks for 5 minutes after cooking.

9. Crockpot Beef & Bean Chili

A single pound of ground beef, bulked out with two cans of beans, stretches across six generous servings without losing any of the heartiness of a proper bowl of chili. Approximate cost: $10 total | $1.67 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
• 1 can kidney beans, drained
• 1 can pinto beans, drained
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet, then transfer to the slow cooker.
2. Add the beans, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and spices.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or high for 3–4.
4. Stir well before serving.

10. Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

A pantry-shelf soup in the truest sense. A squeeze of fresh lime and a scattering of cilantro at the end lifts the whole pot and makes it taste far more considered than its short ingredient list suggests. Approximate cost: $5.50 total | $0.92 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 3 cans black beans, drained and rinsed (or 1½ cups dried, soaked overnight)
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• Juice of 1 lime, cilantro to finish

Instructions

1. Add the beans, onion, garlic, and spices to the slow cooker with the broth.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
3. Blend a portion of the soup for a creamier texture, if you like.
4. Finish with lime juice and fresh cilantro before serving.

11. Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

You need surprisingly little chicken to make a soup taste like it simmered all day. Noodles, stirred in at the very end, do the real work of filling everyone up. Approximate cost: $8 total | $1.33 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breast or thighs
• 8 oz egg noodles
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp thyme, 1 bay leaf

Instructions

1. Add the chicken, carrots, celery, onion, broth, thyme, and bay leaf to the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
3. Remove the chicken, shred, and return it to the pot.
4. Stir in the egg noodles and cook on high for 20–30 minutes, until tender.

12. Slow Cooker Baked Beans

Hearty enough to be the whole meal, not just a side. Dried navy beans cost very little, and a slow simmer with brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard turns them deeply savory-sweet. Approximate cost: $6 total | $1.00 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 4 cups dried navy beans, soaked overnight (or 4 cans, drained)
• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp mustard
• 2 tbsp molasses

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker with enough water or broth to cover the beans by an inch.
2. Cover and cook on low for 7–8 hours, until the beans are tender and the sauce has thickened.
3. Stir occasionally if you’re able, adding more liquid if it reduces too far.

13. Crockpot Cabbage & Sausage

An old-fashioned combination that never needed updating. A single head of cabbage turns tender and slightly sweet as it simmers alongside smoked sausage, absorbing all that smoky flavor. Approximate cost: $7 total | $1.17 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1 head green cabbage, chopped
• 1 lb smoked sausage, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp paprika, caraway seeds (optional)

Instructions

1. Layer the cabbage, onion, and sausage in the slow cooker.
2. Add the garlic, broth, and seasoning.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, until the cabbage is tender.
4. Stir gently before serving.

14. Slow Cooker Chickpea Curry

Almost every ingredient here already lives in the pantry. Left to simmer, chickpeas and warm spices build a curry with real depth the lack of meat never once feels like an absence. Approximate cost: $7 total | $1.17 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
• 2 tbsp curry powder
• 2 cups spinach, stirred in at the end

Instructions

1. Add the chickpeas, coconut milk, tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger, and curry powder to the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 5–6 hours.
3. Stir in the spinach for the last 10 minutes, letting it wilt down.
4. Serve over rice.

15. Crockpot Mexican Chicken & Beans

Inexpensive and endlessly versatile. Chicken, beans, corn, and salsa slow-cook into a saucy base that works as a bowl on its own, or reshapes into tacos and burritos across a few dinners. Approximate cost: $9 total | $1.50 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1½ lbs chicken breast or thighs
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 cup corn
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles
• 1 packet taco seasoning

Instructions

1. Place the chicken in the slow cooker and add the beans, corn, salsa, tomatoes, and seasoning.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
3. Shred the chicken directly in the pot and stir through.
4. Serve as-is, or wrapped in tortillas.

16. Slow Cooker Minestrone

Made to use up whatever’s lingering in the fridge and pantry. Simmered with tomatoes and broth, a few scattered ingredients become something far more cohesive, finished with a grating of parmesan. Approximate cost: $8.50 total | $1.42 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 can kidney or cannellini beans, drained
• 1 cup small pasta (ditalini or elbow)
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• Parmesan, for serving

Instructions

1. Add the tomatoes, beans, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, zucchini, and broth to the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
3. Stir in the pasta for the last 30 minutes and cook until tender.
4. Serve with a generous grating of parmesan.

17. Crockpot Hamburger Soup

A pound of ground beef stretches into a soup hearty enough for the whole table, leaning on whatever’s in the crisper drawer potatoes, carrots, celery, a bag of frozen vegetables. Approximate cost: $11 total | $1.83 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 potatoes, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 6 cups beef broth
• 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef and transfer to the slow cooker.
2. Add the tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, and broth.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6–7 hours.
4. Stir in the frozen vegetables for the last 20 minutes.

18. Slow Cooker Red Beans & Rice

A New Orleans classic built mostly on beans, with just enough sausage to carry real flavor through the pot. Mashing a portion of the beans thickens everything into that signature texture. Approximate cost: $8.50 total | $1.42 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 3 cups dried red beans, soaked overnight (or 4 cans, drained)
• 8 oz andouille or smoked sausage, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• Rice, cooked separately

Instructions

1. Add the beans, sausage, onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, and seasoning to the slow cooker with enough broth or water to cover.
2. Cover and cook on low for 7–8 hours, until the beans are tender.
3. Mash a portion of the beans to thicken.
4. Serve spooned over rice.

19. Crockpot Pasta e Fagioli

An Italian pantry soup built around two cans of beans and a cup of small pasta rather than any real amount of meat, with far more character than its short grocery list suggests. Approximate cost: $6.50 total | $1.08 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1 can cannellini beans, drained
• 1 can kidney beans, drained
• 1 cup ditalini pasta
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Parmesan, for serving

Instructions

1. Add the beans, tomatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and seasoning to the slow cooker with 6 cups of water or broth.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
3. Stir in the pasta for the final 20–30 minutes.
4. Top with parmesan before serving.

20. Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry

Made to be flexible. Whatever vegetables are sitting in the crisper drawer can go into the pot with coconut milk and curry spices a meatless dinner that never feels like it’s missing anything. Approximate cost: $7.50 total | $1.25 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 2 potatoes, cubed
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 cup peas
• 1 cup cauliflower florets
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
• 2 tbsp curry powder

Instructions

1. Add all the vegetables, coconut milk, tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger, and curry powder to the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, until the vegetables are tender.
3. Stir well and adjust seasoning before serving over rice.

21. Crockpot White Bean Chicken Chili

A lighter, creamier chili where white beans carry most of the bulk. A smart way to make a modest amount of chicken breast go further, finished with a spoonful of cream cheese for a silky texture. Approximate cost: $8.50 total | $1.42 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1½ lbs chicken breast
• 2 cans white beans (cannellini or great northern), drained
• 1 can diced green chiles
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 oz cream cheese (optional, for creaminess)

Instructions

1. Add the chicken, beans, chiles, onion, garlic, broth, and cumin to the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
3. Shred the chicken directly in the pot.
4. Stir in cream cheese, if using, until melted through.

22. Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken

Chicken thighs shred more easily and cost less than the breast meat most pulled chicken recipes call for. A simple mix of BBQ sauce and pantry spices does the seasoning work. Approximate cost: $7.50 total | $1.25 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken thighs
• 1½ cups BBQ sauce
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tbsp brown sugar

Instructions

1. Place the chicken and onion in the slow cooker.
2. Sprinkle over the garlic powder, paprika, and brown sugar, then pour over the BBQ sauce.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
4. Shred the chicken in the pot and stir through the sauce.

23. Crockpot Ham & Bean Soup

The best possible use for the last of a holiday ham. A ham hock or diced leftover ham flavors an entire pot of navy beans, giving it a full second life as dinner. Approximate cost: $8 total | $1.33 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1½ cups diced leftover ham (or 1 ham hock)
• 3 cups dried navy beans, soaked overnight (or 4 cans, drained)
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 6 cups broth

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 7–8 hours, until the beans are tender.
3. Remove the bay leaf, shred any ham hock meat, and stir back in.
4. Season to taste before serving.

24. Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Lentil Curry

Two of the least expensive staples in any grocery store build a curry with genuine richness. The coconut milk and warm spices carry enough depth that it feels indulgent, even though the receipt won’t. Approximate cost: $8 total | $1.33 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 2 sweet potatoes, cubed
• 1 cup dried red lentils, rinsed
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
• 2 tbsp curry powder
• 2 cups spinach, stirred in at the end

Instructions

1. Add the sweet potatoes, lentils, coconut milk, tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger, and curry powder to the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 5–6 hours.
3. Stir in the spinach for the last 10 minutes.
4. Serve over rice.

Approximate cost: $8 total | $1.33 per serving (serves 6)

25. Crockpot Mac and Cheese

Comfort food in its simplest form pasta, milk, and a block of cheddar, slow-cooked into something creamy enough to rival the stovetop version.

Ingredients

• 16 oz elbow macaroni
• 3 cups shredded cheddar
• 2 cups milk
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 3 tbsp butter
• ½ tsp mustard powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Add the uncooked macaroni, milk, evaporated milk, butter, and mustard powder to the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in the cheese during the last 20 minutes until melted and creamy.
4. Season to taste before serving.

26. Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy

Just a few pantry staples, whisked together and poured over chicken, turn into a rich, savory gravy over several hours deeply comforting for very little effort. Approximate cost: $8 total | $1.33 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken breast or thighs
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 packet onion soup mix
• 1½ cups chicken broth

Instructions

1. Place the chicken in the slow cooker.
2. Whisk together the soup, onion soup mix, and broth, then pour over the chicken.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
4. Shred the chicken in the gravy before serving over rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles.

27. Crockpot Poor Man’s Stew

Earns its name honestly humble ground beef, potatoes, and carrots, simmered until they taste far richer than their price tag suggests. Even better reheated the next day. Approximate cost: $10.50 total | $1.75 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
• 3 potatoes, cubed
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef and transfer to the slow cooker.
2. Add the potatoes, carrots, onion, tomatoes, broth, and Worcestershire sauce.
3. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours, until the vegetables are tender.
4. Stir and adjust seasoning before serving.

28. Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

Three cans of beans and a small amount of ground beef or bacon come together into something hearty enough to be dinner’s centerpiece, with a sweet-savory edge that disappears fast at the table. Approximate cost: $8 total | $1.33 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 2 cans pinto beans, drained
• 1 can kidney beans, drained
• 1 can baked beans (undrained)
• ½ lb ground beef or 4 slices bacon
• 1 onion, diced
• ½ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp mustard
• ¼ cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef or bacon, then transfer to the slow cooker.
2. Add all the beans, onion, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and BBQ sauce.
3. Cover and cook on low for 5–6 hours.
4. Stir well before serving.

29. Crockpot Stuffed Pepper Soup

All the flavor of classic stuffed peppers, without hollowing and stuffing them one by one. Diced peppers, ground beef, tomatoes, and rice simmer together for the same taste with far less fuss. Approximate cost: $10.50 total | $1.75 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
• 2 bell peppers, diced
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• ½ cup rice, uncooked
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef and transfer to the slow cooker.
2. Add the bell peppers, tomatoes, onion, garlic, broth, and seasoning.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
4. Stir in the rice for the final 30–40 minutes, until tender.

30. Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken & Potatoes

Baby potatoes and a can of cream of chicken soup do most of the heavy lifting, turning humble ingredients into something that eats like a proper Sunday dinner with barely any hands-on effort. Approximate cost: $10 total | $1.67 per serving (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken thighs
• 1½ lbs baby potatoes, halved
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 packet ranch seasoning (optional)

Instructions

1. Add the potatoes and onion to the base of the slow cooker.
2. Place the chicken thighs on top.
3. Whisk together the soup, broth, garlic, and ranch seasoning, then pour over everything.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, until the chicken is tender and the potatoes are cooked through.

Thirty dinners, all built the same quiet way: a cheap cut of meat or a bag of dried beans, a slow afternoon, and very little else asked of you. Keep this list bookmarked for the weeks when the grocery budget needs to stretch a little further your slow cooker is more than up to the task.