5 KID-FRIENDLY CROCK-POT RECIPES: EASY FAMILY FAVORITES
When it comes to dinnertime, it’s no secret that things can get hectic. Homework, showers, “Mom, I forgot I need poster board,” school projects—need I go on? Because of this, dinner can fall on the back burner, and you’re scrambling to find something to prepare last minute. Oh, and don’t forget that it has to be healthy, nutritious, and something everyone likes!
To save your future self the stress, a Crock-Pot is your secret weapon. Prepare it, set it, forget about it, and suddenly, you have a meal that the whole family wants seconds of! It’s such an easy, convenient tool that makes mealtime—and nighttime routines—a breeze.
Plus, nothing’s more exciting than finding a new recipe to try out. And trust me, there are lots of them! So today, I’m sharing a few of my go-to slow cooker meals. The best part? Each recipe is kid-friendly, fulfilling, and totally delicious. (And, spoiler: A couple even sneak in some hidden veggies.) Grab your apron and let’s meal-prep together!
5 Kid-Friendly Crock-Pot Recipes: Easy Family Favorites
What Is a Crockpot?
A Crock-Pot is an electric cooking appliance that cooks food at a consistent temperature for an extended period of time. No tossing veggies around in a pan or flipping chicken in the oven—just add your ingredients and let things simmer.
Here’s why I love it so much, though… It seriously makes mealtime effortless. As you let the ingredients sit in the pot, the meat tenderizes, the flavors meld together, and everything comes out richer, juicier, and softer. Plus, it eliminates a lot of those unhealthy habits we all find ourselves relying on! No need for a ton of oil or a deep-fryer—you get all the nutrition and flavor without the added grease.
My favorite part, though? I can meal-prep in minutes, toss the ingredients in, and go about my day. Whether I sit down to do a few Printable Activity Packs with my kids or take the day to clean, reset, and organize—I know dinner’s taken care of. (And I know that it’ll be super yummy.)
So, are you ready to add new family dinner ideas to your rotation? Let’s dive in!
Kid-Friendly Crockpot Meals: Comforting Mac and Cheese
Ingredients for Mac and Cheese:
1 pound of elbow or corkscrew pasta
¾ cup whole milk
4 tablespoons of cubed butter
6 oz of room temperature cream cheese
1 can of evaporated milk
⅓ cup sour cream
1 cup shredded mozzarella
3 cups shredded sharp cheddar
Salt and pepper to taste
½ tsp garlic powder
1 ½ tsp dry mustard powder
Dash of nutmeg
Ingredients for Topping:
1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
1 tablespoon butter
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions:
Step 1: Spray your Crock-Pot with a little bit of non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: Add in your noodles, cream cheese, and butter. Stir to make sure everything is evenly combined—and don’t worry about everything getting all melty just yet!
Step 3: Now add your evaporated milk, whole milk, and seasonings. You want to be quick with this step so you don’t let too much heat out! Now, cook on low for about an hour. If the noodles aren’t al dente yet, just continue cooking in 15-minute intervals.
Step 4: Add your different cheeses and sour cream. Then, stir to make sure everything is nice, creamy, and well combined. Put the lid back on and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. You just want that cheese to melt now!
Step 5: While you’re waiting, mix the crumbly, crunchy topping! Mix your Panko Bread Crumbs, melted butter, and seasonings in a small bowl until combined. Then, cook this mixture on a skillet for about 2 minutes. When it’s fragrant, you know it’s ready!
Step 6: Top your mac and cheese with the breadcrumb mixture, and it’s ready to serve!
Want another family-favorite, kid-friendly recipe? Check out my “Hidden Vegetable Mac and Cheese Recipe!” It’s just as yummy for quick dinners.
Kid-Friendly Crockpot Meals: Protein-Packed Chicken Alfredo
Nothing beats the taste of slow cooker chicken—seriously! And when you combine it with the rich, creamy flavors of alfredo? It doesn’t get any better than that.
Ingredients:
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
8 oz rigatoni, fettucini, or penne pasta
2 cups heavy cream
4 oz cream cheese
3 garlic cloves, minced or ⅜ teaspoon of garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
¾ cup chicken broth
⅔ cup grated parmesan cheese
Optional: Italian seasoning and chopped parsley
Instructions:
Step 1: Spray your Crock-Pot with a thin layer of non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: Add in your chicken, heavy cream, cream cheese, garlic cloves (or powder), and seasonings. Let that cook on high for about 3 hours, or on low for 5 hours. Check the chicken every now and again to make sure it’s cooking all the way through.
Step 3: After your chicken has cooked, pull it out of the Crock-Pot and place it on a plate. Now it’s time to shred! If your little one is more sensitive to textures, I recommend finely shredding it, so it “feels” less noticeable!
Step 4: Once you’re happy with your shredded chicken, add it back to the crockpot! Before you move on, don’t forget to add your pasta and your cheese, too. I’d give this a quick stir to blend everything together. Then, just cook it on high for an additional 20-30 minutes.
Step 5: It’s ready! Add any extra seasonings and garnishes, then get ready to plate and enjoy.
Want another fun take on a classic chicken recipe? Make sure to head over to “Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Vegetables!” It’s a weeknight favorite that even I crave!
Kid-Friendly Crockpot Meals: Hearty Hidden Veggie Ground Beef Tacos
Ingredients:
2 lbs lean ground beef (90/10 or 93/7 works best!)
2 garlic cloves, minced or ½ tsp of garlic powder
1 cup of chopped or blended veggies—try a mix of:
½ cup carrots
¼ cup zucchini
¼ cup red bell pepper
½ cup finely diced onion
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp dried oregano
1 tbsp chili powder
1 cup of water
½ cup low-sodium beef broth
Taco shells or tortillas for serving
Optional: 1 tbsp tomato paste for a thicker texture
Instructions:
Step 1: Start with the veggie prep. Finely chop (or blend) the carrots, zucchini, and red bell pepper until they’re either in tiny pieces or smooth. This helps them “disappear” for picky little ones!
Step 2: Grab 1 cup of water and add your spices. I find this to be easier for evenly coating everything! Set it aside for now.
Step 3: You don’t have to cook the ground beef, but I like to. I feel like it enhances the flavor and gets rid of some of that excess fat! If you wanna go this route, brown your ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Cook it until it’s no longer pink.
Step 4: Toss your ground beef, blended veggies, onion, tomato paste, seasonings, beef broth, and minced garlic. Then, mix it all together until everything’s evenly blended.
Step 5: Cover the Crock-Pot and let things cook on low for 5 hours or high for 2 ½ hours. The mixture should be thick and flavorful!
Step 6: It’s ready! Plate your tacos and assemble them however you’d like. Feel free to top with a squeeze of lime, sour cream, or a bit of lettuce!
Kid-Friendly Crockpot Meals: Satisfyingly Sweet Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Wanna save yourself some time in the morning? This Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal is just the thing you need.
Ingredients:
3 red apples cored and diced (you can also peel, too!)
2 cups Old Fashioned or Steel Cut Oats
3 cups whole milk
2 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp butter
Optional: 1-2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
Optional: fresh cubed apples, additional cinnamon, or a drizzle of maple syrup
Instructions:
Step 1: Spray your Crock-Pot with a thin layer of non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: Honestly? You can toss everything in at once (except the maple syrup, honey, and toppings, of course!). Or, you can place things in a layer. If you choose that route, I recommend adding the apples, then the oats, and then the brown sugar. There’s a method to the madness, here!
Step 3: Add your milk to a cup and slowly stir in your seasonings and vanilla extract. I find that you can actually taste all the flavors better this way!
Step 4: Pour your milk on top of everything in the crockpot. It should be enough to cover almost all of the apples and oats.
Step 5: Cook on low for 7 hours or high for 4 hours. Whatever fits your schedule the best!
Step 6: Once you’re happy with how everything looks (and tastes!), stir everything together. Don’t add your toppings just yet! You don’t want them to cook as the crockpot cools.
Step 7: Once you’ve plated the oatmeal, now you can add the fun stuff. Add a drizzle of maple syrup, a dash of extra cinnamon, or a handful of cubed apples. Enjoy!
Looking for other easy breakfast ideas? Check out “Healthy Breakfast Bowl Recipe” and “Quinoa Breakfast Bowl.”
Kid-Friendly Crockpot Meals: Wholesome Chicken and Veggie Noodle Soup
Chicken noodle soup on a chilly winter or fall day? Sign me up! We’re not going store-bought, though. This recipe is totally homemade, packed with veggies, and bursting with flavor.
Ingredients:
1 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 cups carrots, peeled and sliced
½ cup chopped celery
1 cup diced yellow onion
2 garlic cloves, minced or ½ tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1 ½ tsp chopped thyme
7 cups chicken stock or broth
1 cup water
2 cups wide egg noodles
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
Instructions:
Step 1: Spray your Crock-Pot with a thin layer of non-cooking spray.
Step 2: Add in your chicken breasts, carrots, onion, celery, garlic, thyme, broth, water, and seasonings. Don’t add the noodles just yet! You want the chicken to have time to become tender and absorb all of those yummy flavors.
Step 3: Let the mixture cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 6. Be sure to occasionally check on your chicken, ensuring it’s cooking all the way through! Then, whenever you’re reaching the last hour or so of cooking, add in your fresh peas. If you’re using frozen, you can add them in a bit earlier.
Step 4: Once time’s up, take your chicken out and place it onto a plate. Using a fork, shred and cut the chicken into smaller, bite-sized pieces. Then, toss it back in the Crock-Pot.
Step 5: Now you add those noodles in! After placing them, gently stir the mixture to ensure everything is well-blended. Let it cook for another 30 minutes, or until the pasta is tender.
Step 6: Voila! Your soup is ready to enjoy. Feel free to garnish with parsley, fresh thyme, or a squeeze of lemon.
Save yourself dinnertime stress with these kid-friendly Crock-Pot recipes!
If there are two things I love, it’s kid-friendly recipes and slow cooker meals. And when I can find kid-friendly, slow cooker meals in one swoop? I’m one happy parent! As stressful as some days can be, Crock-Pots do all the heavy lifting. And, best of all, you can find plenty of recipes that fit your taste, family, and budget!
Recipes aren’t all we cover here at Mothercould! If you’re ready to elevate playtime, check out our new book, Playful by Design! This resource guides you through all the top tips for creating a space that ignites your child’s imagination and nurtures their growing independence. From thoughtfully planned play-spaces to toy rotation systems, Playful by Design shows you how to maintain your home and catch your breath. Because, yes, both are possible!
For more kid-friendly meals, sensory play recipes, and arts and crafts ideas, head to the Mothercould blog! Also, don’t forget to head over and join Mothercould In Your Pocket. Here you can find guided play recipes, printable recipe cards, recommended purchases, and pre-made home and travel kits. With the right tools, tips, and community, you can feel confident and supported—every step through your parenting journey!
