If you’re trying to save money without sacrificing comfort, budget slow cooker meals are Pepaw’s favorite way to fill bellies and keep budgets steady.
Pepaw says the slow cooker is one of the best kitchen inventions ever made: “A pot that cooks for you while you live your life.” It stretches ingredients, softens tough cuts of meat, and transforms simple pantry staples into meals that feed a whole family for just a few dollars.
Why the Slow Cooker Is a Budget Saver
Slow cookers shine because they turn affordable ingredients into rich, flavorful meals. Cheaper cuts of meat, such as chicken thighs, pork shoulder, stew beef, and beans, become tender after hours of low, gentle heat. Instead of paying for expensive, pre-prepped meals, you can use basic pantry staples and let time do the work.
Pepaw also loves that slow cookers reduce food waste. A handful of leftover veggies, half a jar of salsa, or the last scoop of rice can all find a second life in the pot. It’s the ultimate “use what you’ve got” tool, perfect for stretching meals without extra grocery trips.
Best of all, slow-cooker meals make big batches, giving you leftovers for lunches or freezer meals later in the week.
Discover Pepaw’s Simple Tricks to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half for everyday savings.
Pepaw’s Favorite Cheap and Easy Slow-Cooker Recipes
Pepaw keeps his recipes simple. No fancy ingredients, no complicated steps. Just good, hearty food that warms the soul. One of his favorites is slow-cooker chicken and rice. Toss in chicken thighs, broth, rice, onions, and whatever veggies you have on hand. After a few hours, you’ve got a comforting dish that tastes like home.
Another go-to is “Dump Chili,” where Pepaw pours in canned tomatoes, beans, onions, spices, and ground turkey or beef. No fuss, just flavor. It feeds the whole family for just a few dollars, and it freezes beautifully.
He also loves slow-cooked beans. With a bag of dry beans, broth cubes, and a few seasonings, you can make a pot that will last several meals, and create soups, burritos, bowls, and sides. It’s one of the cheapest protein sources you can cook.
Check Pepaw’s $20 Pantry Staples for Meals That Last All Week to build cheap, filling meals from basics.
How to Stretch Ingredients Even Further
Pepaw is a pro at making a little go a long way. He adds potatoes, carrots, or cabbage to soups and stews to bulk them up without significantly increasing the cost. Rice and pasta also extend meals while absorbing all that slow-cooked flavor. Just a cup or two can turn a four-serving meal into six or eight.
He suggests using half the meat a recipe calls for and doubling the beans or vegetables. Most folks won’t even notice. Slow cookers blend flavors beautifully, making everything taste as if it had simmered for hours (because it did).
Leftovers are part of Pepaw’s plan, too. Today’s slow-cooked chicken can become tomorrow’s tacos, casseroles, or sandwiches. One pot of food becomes multiple meals when you plan.
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Simple Prep Tricks That Save Time and Money
Pepaw believes in “prep it once, eat all week.” On Sundays, he chops onions, peppers, and carrots to store in the fridge. Then, on busy weekdays, he tosses everything into the pot and walks away. This cuts down on stress and keeps you from resorting to takeout.
He also buys ingredients in bulk, such as dry beans, rice, and large packs of meat, and portions them into freezer bags for future slow-cooker meals. Labeling each bag with cooking instructions helps dinner happen even faster.
Pepaw’s slow-cooker habit isn’t just about saving money; it’s about saving time and sanity on busy days.
