5 Easy Crockpot Recipes for Busy Moms

When you're a mom on the go taking your kiddos to lessons, after-school classes, and sports, it can feel nearly impossible to prepare nourishing, homemade meals for your family on a regular basis. Well good news wondermom - utilizing that crockpot hiding in your pantry can keep your family well-fed with a minimal amount of time or effort.

Instead of opening up another ready-made boxed dinner for your family, try adding these 5 easy crockpot recipes into your meal plan. Your family will thank you for it!

Crockpot Taco Chili

Photo Credit: What the Fork Food Blog

Try making this hearty taco chili recipe, courtesy of What the Fork Food Blog, for those chilly evenings after practice.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• Crockpot
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes with onion, garlic, and oregano
• 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups frozen corn
• Cheddar cheese, shredded
• Jalapeno peppers, sliced
• Cilantro

Directions:

1. Brown the ground beef, drain off the excess fat, and place it into the crockpot.
2. Stir in the taco seasoning, beans, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and frozen corn.
3. Cover the crockpot with the lid, and set it to low for 8 hours.
4. garnish with shredded cheese, jalapeno peppers, and chopped cilantro.

Crockpot Chicken and Noodles

Photo Credit: Crystal and Company

Nothing says loving like this big bowl of homemade chicken and noodles from Crystal and Company.

Ingredients:

• 6 chicken breasts
• Crockpot
• 1 bag (12 ounces) egg noodles
• 2 cans (10 ounces)condensed cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups chicken broth

Directions:

1. Arrange the chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot, and pour two cans of condensed cream of chicken soup over the top.
2. Cover the crockpot with the lid, and set it to high for 4 to 6hours.
3. Cook the egg noodles on a stove top per the directions on the bag, then drain the noodles.
4. Remove the chicken from the crockpot, dice, then return it to the crockpot.
5. Add in the chicken broth, noodles, and salt and pepper to taste.

Crockpot Mac and Cheese

Photo Credit: Cupcake Diaries

Don't just serve your kiddos pre-packaged macaroni and cheese. Try out this super easy recipe from Cupcake Diaries instead.

Ingredients:

• 1 box (16 ounces) penne pasta
• Mixing bowl
• 2 cups milk
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Crockpot
• 3 cups Italian-blend cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• Saucepan
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs

Directions:

1. Cook the penne pasta on the stove top per the directions on the box, drain, and set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the milk, evaporated milk, melted butter, eggs, and salt until smooth.
3. Pour the milk mixture into the crockpot, then add in the Italian-blend cheese and the cooked penne pasta.
4. Cover the top of the pasta with a thin layer of Parmesan cheese.
5. Cover the crockpot with the lid, and set it to low for 2 1/2 hours.
6. In a saucepan, combine the butter and breadcrumbs and cook until brown.
7. Cover the mac and cheese with the cooked breadcrumbs, then cook on low for an additional 30 minutes.

Crockpot Sloppy Joes

Photo Credit: Your Homebased Mom

These savory sloppy joes could be on your family's next menu, courtesy of Your Homebased Mom.

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds boneless chuck roast
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 1 cup green pepper, diced
• Crockpot
• Mixing bowl
• 1 cup onions, chopped
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• Forks
• Hamburger buns

Directions:

1. Cut 3 pounds of boneless chuck roast into 1-inch pieces.
2. Place the meat, diced carrots, and green pepper in the crockpot.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the onions, tomato paste, garlic, ketchup, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar.
4. Pour the mixture over the top of the meat and vegetables.
5. Cover the crockpot with the lid, and set it to low for 6 to 8 hours.
6. Use forks to shred the meat, then cook on low for an additional 30 minutes.
7. Serve on hamburger buns.

Crockpot Beef Stew

Photo Credit: Working Moms Against Guilt

Your family will go back for seconds when you make this beef stew recipe from Working Moms Against Guilt.

Ingredients:

• 5 pounds beef chuck roast
• Crockpot
• Potatoes, chopped
• 1 medium white onion, diced
• 4 large carrots, sliced
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 packet onion soup mix

Directions:

1. Arrange the chuck roast in the bottom of the crockpot.
2. Add in the potatoes, onions, carrots, frozen corn, and mushrooms.
3. Pour a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup over the vegetables, then sprinkle the onion soup mix over the top.
4. Cover the crockpot with the lid, and set it to low for 8 hours.
5. Stir well before serving.

Dinner is now a breeze with these 5 easy crockpot recipes. Looking for way to make your child's lunch more healthy? Try these 10 easy ideas for better bag lunches.

 As an award-winning journalist, author, and artist, Kelly Sundstrom has a passion for helping parents feel  well-prepared, confident, and capable in the journey ahead. As an Attachment Parenting advocate and  homeschooling mother of two, Sundstrom has been a guest speaker on Grassroots TV in Aspen, Colorado,  and encourages families across the country to disconnect from media and reconnect with each other.