Slow Cooker Family Meals for Busy Nights

Our evenings can be super busy in the week, with lots of after-school activities and kids' sports, and finding time to cook a healthy family meal can be a challenge! For those of you (like me) who haven’t fully converted to the air fryer craze, the slow cooker might just be your new best friend!

Choosing what we eat every night is quite possibly my worst part of being an adult! So having done some research on easy family slow cooker meals, I thought I would share some of those ideas and recipes with you so you have one less thing to think about.

Slow Cooker Meals for Busy Family Nights

1. Marry Me Chicken

This is one of our absolute family favourites this year. One of my children doesn't like sauce that much, but is fine scraping it off. The chicken really does fall apart and melts in your mouth, it’s so good! We normally serve ours with rice and some part-baked bread, but lots of recipes suggest adding pasta in half an hour before serving so it’s a one-pot dish. You can find a recipe for Marry Me Chicken here.

2. Beef Bourguignon

Another big favourite in our house that can be a one-pot meal if you add in potatoes and vegetables. Or you can serve it with rice. This rich, hearty meal is perfect for a cozy family dinner after a busy day. Slow cooker beef bourguignon is a classic comfort food recipe that the whole family will enjoy.

3. Chicken Stew

This is a great one that you can pack full of goodness, and if you cook it for a nice long time, the chicken just melts in your mouth. You can also make this more interesting by adding things like dumplings at the end for a comforting touch. Slow cooker chicken stew is a healthy slow cooker meal that's perfect for busy weeknights.

4. Pulled Pork

One of my own personal favourites, and I love how this always makes extras so you can have it over two nights. Maybe one night you can serve it with chips, and the next night you can have it in bread rolls with some salad. The versatility of pulled pork makes it a hit for busy families. This slow cooker pulled pork recipe is an easy slow cooker meal that’s great for meal prep. This is the recipe for Pulled pork I have tried.

5. Pepsi Ham

This is another great recipe that just falls apart and is super easy as it has so few ingredients! Again, if you cook up a big joint of ham, you can have this for lunch or dinner the next day. The sweet and savory flavors make it a unique dish that the whole family will love. Slow cooker Pepsi ham is a quick family meal that’s simple and delicious.

6. Mac n Cheese

This is great if you need a shorter cooking dish, as some of the nice recipes I have found only need cooking for a couple of hours. Slow cooker mac n cheese is creamy, cheesy, and perfect for a quick and easy meal on a busy night. It’s a kid-friendly slow cooker recipe that’s sure to be a hit. Mac and cheese is also a great meal that you can put in a thermos flask for those busy nights when you need to eat on the go. You can find a recipe for Mac n Cheese here

Conclusion

Using a slow cooker can simplify your meal prep and ensure your family gets a hearty, home-cooked meal even on the busiest nights. These recipes are not only delicious but also save time and effort. What are your favourite slow cooker meals? Share them in the comments below!