30 Easy Kid-Friendly Slow Cooker Recipes

A slow cooker is a fantastic piece of cooking equipment that makes creating fully cooked meals easy. Simply place the required ingredients inside, and cook at a low temperature until it’s ready to go.

Slow cookers are particularly great for busy families, and you can easily set something cooking over the course of the day so that it’s ready for when you get back from work.

But here’s the thing—what are some good recipes for a slow cooker? Are there any in particular that kids will love?

If you’re trying to find some recipes like this, then don’t panic! You’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we’re going to be taking you through a list of 30 of the easiest, kid-friendly slow cooker recipes we could find.

We’ve also included a short Frequently Asked Questions section to help answer other issues you may have left over at the end of this article.

So let’s get right into it and cook up some amazing, comforting food!

1. Slow Cooked Sausage And Onion Casserole For Kids

First up, we have a very simple, comforting recipe that is perfect for a fall or winter evening.

It’s made up of nothing but sausages, onions, flour, stock, chutney, and Worcestershire sauce, for a tasty and easy combination of ingredients. It takes around 10 mins to prep and 5 hours to complete.

2. Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole With Onion And Mushrooms

Our second recipe here differs in that it uses mushrooms as a main ingredient.

Thai recipe also adds some additional meaty flavor with bacon lardons, which you can always swap out for simple bacon strips if you don’t have them at hand.

3. Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole

Pasta is always a sure-fire hit with kids, and that’s what this recipe recommends you serve its stew with.

This one is a little more elaborate to prepare, including red onions, celery, carrots, sweet potato, tomato, and beef stock.

However, the blend of flavors is incredible. If you don’t feel like serving this with pasta, you can always swap it out for bread or a baked potato.

4. Easy Sausage Casserole

For the final sausage casserole recipe on our list, we have this simplistic recipe that takes only 15 minutes to prepare and serves up to six people.

It uses thick pork sausages that will really give you some substance and that will go perfectly with the red pepper, garlic, mixed herbs, and beef stock.

5. Poor Man’s Stew

This recipe ends up being a lot more appealing than its name suggests. This is one of the easiest slow cooker recipes you can make with very few expensive ingredients.

Combine ground beef, a few fresh vegetables, some choice spices, and beef broth to create something simple and delicious.

6. Slow Cooker Roast Chicken

Want to have roast chicken, but don’t want to go through the arduous oven experience of cooking one?

If this sounds like you, then check out this recipe that will take you through everything you’ll need to do to slow-roast a whole chicken. Make sure to follow the steps carefully to ensure that your chicken is safe to eat.

7. Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole

Another great thing you can do in a slow cooker with chicken is make a casserole. This is a great recipe that includes tender chicken pieces, glazed bacon, and a series of delicate and tender vegetables.

8. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

One of the good things about a slow cooker is its versatility. You might consider slow-cooked meals as heavy, comforting, and warming, but you can also make much lighter meals.

This honey garlic chicken recipe is a great, simple recipe that features some sweet flavors and can easily be served over lighter carbohydrates like rice.

9. Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Next up we have a simple, slow cooked chicken cacciatore.

This recipe features skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, kosher salt, ground black pepper, bell peppers, mushrooms, garlic, and a few extra herbs and spices. It has a total cook time of just over 6 hours.

10. Slow Cooker Silverside Beef

Next up we have a recipe that will make the most out of your silverside beef. This is extremely easy and a sure family favorite, no matter what time of the year.

11. Slow Cooker Beef Joint

Next up we have a 4-hour cook time recipe that uses a few simple ingredients to create a tender, succulent slow cooker beef joint.

If you’re looking for an easy way to make a beef joint, with gravy that gets made as you’re cooking, then this is a great option for you!

12. Crock Pot Cube Steak

Next up we have a simple slow cooker recipe that has a long cook time but a great payoff. The list of ingredients here is important, but each adds to the flavor of your cube steak.

Simply place on a low heat for 9 hours and when you get back from a long day you’ll have a perfect, tender steak meal to enjoy over noodles or pasta.

13. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is a type of meat that is becoming increasingly popular in our modern world.

If you want to learn how to make pulled pork without too much effort (while still achieving maximum, succulent flavor) then this is a great recipe for you.

It uses a few simple ingredients and cooking techniques and will be a great hit with your kids, especially when served in burger buns!

14. Mom’s Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Is there anything more comforting than a bowl of slow cooked stew? Check out this recipe for a stew that will warm anyone through the coldest of winter nights.

It features beef chuck as its meat, which isn’t too expensive so you’ll be able to make a lot of portions of this stew without issue.

15. Slow Cooker Beef Stew

If that last recipe was a little too simplistic for you, check out this rich, chunky beef stew recipe!

It features only a few ingredients, but its large list of herbs and spices gives you an incredible kick, including paprika, caraway seeds, rosemary, and thyme.

16. Slow Cooker Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

For our final beef stew recipe, we have a long cook time but a lot of delicious flavors! This is another alternative recipe that uses red potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery for extra flavor.

17. Slow Cooked Pepper Steak

Pepper steak is a great choice for stir-fries, but there is a much lazier way you can make it with a slow cooker.

This recipe features flank steak, kosher salt, red and green peppers, a white onion, garlic, stock, and some extra spices for an artisanal meal that will cook in only 4 hours.

This recipe suggests serving over rice and we would also suggest this!

18. Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

Making ribs can be difficult. The main sensation a good rack of ribs will give you is a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth feeling, but that can be hard to achieve.

However, with a little preparation and a slow cooker, you’ll be able to make perfect ribs every time. For some incredible barbecue ribs, check out this recipe and make sure to follow it closely!

19. Slow Cooker Ribs (Alternate Recipe)

Looking for an even easier recipe than the one we listed above?

Check out this one that uses nothing but pork ribs, BBQ sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and light brown sugar for caramelization.

The prep time for this recipe is extremely quick and after a 4 hour cook time, you’ll have a perfect rack of ribs.

20. Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Wings

Buffalo wings are a surefire favorite for kids! If you’re looking for something quick and fun to make, then this is a great choice for you.

The honey glaze is an incredible addition when paired with slow-cooked meat and will give you a selection of delicious, decadent flavors!

21. Slow Cooker Macaroni Cheese

Did you know that you can easily make Mac N Cheese in a slow cooker?

This recipe makes use of cheddar, parmesan and cream cheese to give you a creamy texture, but then adds bacon rashers for some additional meaty flavor! We’d recommend this one for a lazy Sunday afternoon!

22. Slow Cooker Cambodian Chicken Curry

Slow cookers also offer an incredible way of making curry. This Cambodian chicken recipe only takes a few minutes to prep and blends some light, fragrant herbs and spices to create a dazzling combination of flavors.

Best served over steamed rice if you get the opportunity to make it!

23. Slow Cooked Lamb Curry

Lamb is already a very delicate meat, but slow cooking is a surefire way to make it completely melt in your mouth.

This recipe might have a long list of ingredients, but each of them work together across its 6 hour cook time to create something incredible for you to enjoy.

24. Thai Red Curry Chicken Slow Cooked

Thai red curry is a type of curry that uses red chilies to make the curry paste. This gives a rougher, savory flavor that goes perfectly when combined with the spicy kick of the chili.

This recipe consists of sweet potato, butternut squash, green beans and mushrooms. It’s a great, light curry recipe that can be served over rice and eaten at any time of the year.

It’s a great one to use if your kids aren’t so used to spicy food and you’d like them to experience something new without overwhelming them.

25. Slow Cooker Chicken Stew

So we’ve already added a few recipes for beef stew—but what if you want to use chicken as your base? If this is the case, then check out this slow cooker chicken stew recipe.

It makes use of potatoes, celery, carrots and onion to give you a hearty base, then adds both tomato paste and puree as well as chicken broth and spices to give you a rich selection of flavors.

26. Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole

For our second chicken casserole recipe on this list, we have a huge list of ingredients that all come together to create something incredible.

It mixes a lot of different flavors together and uses Spanish chorizo rings to give you an extra meaty texture.

27. Slow Cooker White Wine Chicken Stew

White wine goes well with chicken—so what about using it as an ingredient for a hearty, creamy stew? This recipe is another comforting stew recipe that will warm you through a cold evening.

The ingredients list may seem a little overwhelming, but the effort of preparing this meal will certainly pay off and your whole family will be delighted!

28. Slow Cooker Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

For the next recipe on our list, we’ve decided to go for a vegan option!

This slow cooker vegan butternut squash soup is delicious and well worth the effort. It serves up to six people, with a prep time of only around 10 minutes and a cook time of 6 hours.

This is a great one to make in a batch and then come back to for additional meals.

29. Slow Cooker Leg Of Lamb

Do you have a special occasion to celebrate, and you’re looking to make an incredible family dinner?

Perhaps you want to make the most of a big leg of lamb. If this is the case, you can do this in a slow cooker too!

Follow this recipe for a lamb recipe that will come out of your slow cooker juicy, tender and cooked to absolute perfection.

30. Slow-Cooker Chicken And White Bean Stew

For the final recipe on our list we’ve gone with another light meal that blends delicate chicken and white beans for an incredible Tuscan-inspired meal.

This one has some extensive guidelines so make sure you follow the steps carefully for a hearty weeknight treat!

Final Thoughts

So that was our list of the 30 best slow cooker recipes for kids that you can try today. We hope that this list gives you a wide enough range of different recipes for you to pick from!

Great slow cooker recipes are all about distinct flavors and strong preparation, so make sure you don’t skip on any of the important ingredients and take your time before setting your meal to cook over a long period of time.

We know that it can be hard to please kids, but our list should give you a lot of options to please even the fussiest in your household!

If you still have some questions, make sure to check out our short Frequently Asked Questions section below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is A Slow Cooker Worth It?

Slow cooking is a great way to stick to a healthy diet and easily make cheap meals. Slow-cooking cheaper cuts of meat allow to maximize their flavor and ultimately allows you to do more with less.

Slow cookers are also perfect for people with busy lifestyles, who may not have the time to cook every night.

What Can’t You Cook In A Slow Cooker?

There are a few things you’ll need to be careful of when it comes to cooking with a slow cooker. Make sure not to ever add too much liquid, as this can cause the pot to boil over when you’re not present—leading to health concerns.

Another thing you’ll want to be careful with is any kind of dairy product. Cooking dairy products over a long period of time can cause them to separate and end up unappealing.

What Is The Point Of A Slow Cooker?

A slow cooker is an electric slow cooker that allows you to cook meals over long periods of time at a low heat.

They are often used by people who live busy lives and want to have full meals prepared and cooked for them by the time they get home after a long day.

However, slow cooking is also a cooking technique that can be used to create unique textures and flavors. By cooking ingredients over a long period of time, especially meat, you’ll make them tender and delicious.

Should You Brown Meat Before Using It In A Slow Cooker?

Browning meat is often recommended before placing it in a slow cooker. This is because if you don’t, then you run the risk of the meat forming clumps, or adding extra grease and fat to your dish as it’s cooking.

This can cause excess greasiness or liquid in your dish which can ruin the overall appearance and flavor. We would suggest following the recipe closely and browning meat in a frying pan before you start cooking.

Why Is My Slow Cooked Meat Not Tender?

This is most likely because you haven’t allowed it to cook for long enough, or added enough liquid. Liquid is an integral part of slow cooking, so you’re going to need to make sure you have the recipe specifications right.