In summary: The crockpot casserole recipes include various flavors and styles, such as Spaghetti Casserole, CTaco Crock Pot Hash brown Casserole, Pizza Casserole, Cheddar Chili Mac, and more. The dishes incorporate hash browns, cheese, vegetables, pasta, and meats, creating flavorful and nutritious meals that can be cooked in a slow cooker.
Too often we make meals that the kids simply refuse to touch at the dinner table, this is not only frustrating but, in many cases, ends up with a separate meal being made for one family member, and who has the time for that?
Now with these crock pot casserole recipes that are kid-approved you can be sure that everyone at the table will enjoy the meal, kiddos included, and they are just simple and quick to make as the recipes you already know and love but with some child-friendly edits. Win-win.
And you will be glad to see a lot of vegetables throughout the recipes so you know that at least they have sufficient nutrition to give them the energy they need for their daily adventures.
#1. Taco Crock Pot Hash brown Casserole recipe
I don’t know about you and your kids but my children adore hash browns and would eat them for every meal they could get away with. Thankfully, their favorite ingredient (can we call a hash brown an ingredient?) is now part of supper and has proven highly successful amongst the younger community.
Not only does it have potato throughout the dish, but cheese and a thick creamy sauce bring it all together for the perfect Friday night meal to end the week on a high.
Layer the items in the crockpot with a portion of cheese on the side, be sure to use frozen hash browns so they don’t end up mushy in the dish, and finish with the remaining cheese and cook on low till the meat and potato are cooked and tender and the cheese has melted and smothered the entire dish.
If you have 5 minutes to spare before serving, give the dish a quick broil under the grill to give a nice golden touch and a singe to add that extra flavor we all love.
Who doesn’t love a good old homemade spaghetti dish for dinner? As a kid, I used to love the smell of the tomatoey goodness as the aroma of the meat and simmering sauce wafted through the house hypnotizing me and drawing me to the kitchen.
The most difficult part of this meal is remembering to add the pasta at the last stage of the slow cooking process (which is easily solved with a set timer), and once you have added it you leave it to cook till the pasta is al dente and soaked up the flavorful liquid of the meat.
Dish the goodness that is in the crockpot for everyone and have a bowl of grated cheese on the side for everyone to sprinkle onto their dishes before digging in. I like to mix the grated cheese with fresh chopped herbs for a pop of color too, but this is optional.
You can be sure that when crock pot casserole recipes taste this good and are so easy to pull together, this meal will be a frequent visitor to the dinner menu rotation.
As you get more comfortable preparing your usual takeout meals in the slow cooker you will wonder why you never thought of it before.
It is easy and convenient and the best part is it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to take the whole family out to supper, and we all know we could use a helping hand when making or paying for meals when you have a big family.
Pizza is the one dish I love, but having started a keto-eating lifestyle the bread component is taken out of the equation, and this dish allows me the favorite flavors of a traditional pizza but with the carb negatives omitted, win-win.
Cheese and tomato and your favorite toppings all in one place and cooking slowly in the crockpot is a dish you need to have in your culinary arsenal, so finding these slow cooker casserole recipes was a blessing. I am thankful each time I make it.
And the hubby has given it a thumbs up too so it is a winning dish all around.
Often the recipe in the slow cooker states that the pasta ingredient needs to be added at the end part of the slow cooking time, but not this recipe, which is why I love this dish. Everything is in one place and cooks at the same time, together.
And the layer of melted cheese on top is always a winner in our house. The kids love seeing the strings of gooey cheese hang from the serving spoon to the plate and squeal with delight when it gets long without breaking off.
A classic dish like macaroni cheese will essentially stand the test of time, like many other classics, this vintage dish is a keeper. And the versatility of the meal makes it great to add or take away ingredients as you see fit or to suit the family members or cater to any allergies if there are.
A humble dish that is the ultimate kid-friendly meal.
If you know that the next morning is going to be the start of a manic weekend then you need something to fuel the family, and this slow cooker casserole recipes version of breakfast hits the spot.
This rich dish is packed with tasty ingredients that kids love and layered in the slow cooker just before you head off to bed, topped with the egg mix, and finally cheese, this meal is ready in the morning first thing.
I like to wake up early to switch it off to prevent it from overcooking (not sure if this is possible in the crockpot but I’m not risking a big batch of brekkie to find out) and have brioche buns sliced and ready to go to toast when the kids start coming down for their morning tea.
This is a filling dish and with a slice of toast smothered in butter, you can’t go wrong. My eldest likes to have jam on his toast too for a sweet element to the meal (he is just like me) and to be fair, the sweet and savory work beautifully together.
Try this dish for a winning start to the morning and weekend, and what is great is this is a simple dish to make that can feed an army, so those friends staying over the night is not a problem at all.
Finding casserole crock pot recipes is a dream when they are so effortless to prepare and take no time at all to sort out for the day, and the fact that you can leave it to cook while you are doing other things is like heaven.
Who knew that moms would have the chance to have a cooked meal on the table and have the laundry done at the same time, all the while sipping a hot, well-deserved cup of tea, well now they can?
This dish is my little one’s favorite because he loves anything with sausage in, and top that with potato and he is jumping for joy.
What I do like though is that if the kids are with friends for the evening and I want to have a meal that takes care of itself so that the hubby and I can enjoy a glass of wine on the deck after work and not have to worry about getting dinner ready, I swap out the traditional sausage for smoked chorizo.
They have a nice bite to them to add a bit of spice to the meal, and the smokiness of the paprika elevates the overall meal. Then, throw in some jalapenos into the mix to kick it and you are good to go. A versatile dish that works for the entire family.
You know you have hit the jackpot when you discover casserole slow cooker recipes that have everything in one place at the same time, slow cooking together. These are the types of dishes I look for when trying to find something for the kids, the less fuss the better.
And this is a one-pot sensation that ticks all the boxes.
The chunks of chicken fall apart when you bite into them, they are moist and tender and are packed full of flavor from absorbing the broth, the spices, and being smothered in cheesy goodness.
The children will find it impossible to resist this dish and I always make a double yield because second helpings of this dish have become frequent requests lately, even from the friends visiting.
Now if that is not a win, I don’t know what is.
The ultimate dish to fill those hungry tummies, and it is so quick to make.
In our family, we love desserts, which is probably why my children do too (or is that just all kids, ha) but I can’t bake.
I have tried and failed so many times (if at first, you don’t succeed right?) but I also don’t have the time to sit by the oven and watch a creation rise-or not- or prevent it from burning and so the baked goods have taken a backseat I’m afraid.
So, when I saw these crockpot casserole recipes that have a sweet version I decided to give it one last shot, and it came out brilliantly. I jumped in the kitchen, while no one was around, of course, but more of a victory dance for myself.
And when the kids came home from school and the smell of cinnamon was wafting through the house as a bakery had opened in the kitchen I heard footsteps racing towards the kitchen.
This cinnamon roll attempt went down like a hero and has become a staple in the house when we want something sweet and sticky and pure comfort food. It tastes delicious served warm or cold, but hot with a dollop of ice cream makes a successful appearance now and then too.
Taco night just got a whole lot easier, and tastier in our house, and with a slow cooking sensation like this, it is a wonder not more people have tried these slow cooker casserole recipes at home.
We love eating cuisines from other countries and have traveled quite a lot, so trying the meals at home is something we have come to experience as a family and everyone has an input into what we like or want to try.
Some dishes are more successful than others, for sure, but it is all about the fun and adventure of trying new things.
This recipe has all the makings of an effortless dinner, all you need to decide is if you want it to be served as is, with rice (although it does contain potato), or as my children have come to love recently, in crispy taco shells.
They stuff the mix into the shells, sprinkle more cheese on top, and proceed to eat them as cleanly as possible, but they always have juices and pieces of cheese running down their hands so be sure to have plenty of napkins ready.
It is messy but the kids love it, and if it means they are eating a nutritious meal that has sauce running down their fingers, then so be it.
If you had ever wished your kids would eat more vegetables then you are not alone in your dilemma, parents don’t always know how to get the children to just taste them and see that they are delicious.
I have been trying new and innovative ways (some successful when sneakily smothered in cheese) and these casserole crock pot recipes have been doing the trick of late. I sell the idea (yes, I have become a dinner salesperson, can you believe it) of the meal as a sweet dessert and this gets them interested.
The meal is tasty, I know, and sweet potato is a great vegetable to tweak for suppers, so when dinner is done, I give them a small bowl of this ‘dessert’ and they are none the wiser, and I get them eating one last bite of vegetables. Win-win.
It may sound sneaky, but vegetables are a must, and if this gets them eating I am all about the veggie dessert, right moms?
The kids had no idea what was in this dish but they had clean plates after dinner, and no there was no hidden secret other than the name, and who knew that would sell them.
This cowboy casserole slow cooker recipe creation was a winner without me even trying, it was as easy as anything to make, it smelled and tasted fantastic, and it went down a treat at the dining table.
If all dinner and lunch times were like this I would be living in a dream bubble, so for a simple dish that has the kids excited about supper and asking for seconds, this is the one you want.
My little one had his cowboy hat on, of course, and didn’t blink an eye when eating this dish which is packed with vegetables and beans. I added extra bell peppers and carrots chopped into tiny cubes, not only did it add to the veg count but it added a pop of color making the overall dish great to look at and serve.
The great thing about this recipe is it is so versatile, so you can add vegetables or pulses that you have on hand in the pantry or in the fridge that need using up, or take others out and replace them with ones you know the kids will eat, there is something for everyone.
And all the kids see when they peek into the slow cooker is tomato-based meaty goodness of meal covered in melted cheese, what is not to love?
I love cauliflower, I think it is one of the most underrated and underestimated vegetables out there, and it suits so many eating plans and nutritional lifestyles, it only makes sense that it makes an appearance on your dinner menu rotation.
When you have slow cooker casserole recipes that use frozen ingredients half the job is done, which is why I am such a huge fan of this slow cooking method.
Add to the mix the bacon element and nothing can go wrong, bacon just makes everything taste so much better.
You can serve this as a side dish at a BBQ this summer which will be the star of the show for sure, a true crowd-pleaser of a meal, or my kids like to eat it as is on the sofas outside while the sun sets and we have music playing in the garden.
It is filling, packed with flavor and tasty ingredients, and is impossibly easy to make, a winning meal at our house.
As a family that has us all born in different countries, it only makes sense that we would have diverse culinary interests and have dishes from all over the world influencing what we eat and how we enjoy meals, and this easy crock pot casserole recipes version is one of those dishes.
It is healthy, delicious, and a great nod to my husband’s Balkan heritage where everyone in the country has cabbage in some form or the other with their suppers or lunches. I love pickled cabbage and know that it has a whole host of health benefits making it the perfect accompaniment in a meal when you want nutritious food for the children.
The thing with this dish is they don’t even realize the main component is cabbage, this is how tasty the meal is, and they focus more on the meat and juices and, of course, cheese. If it gets them eating then who am I to remind them of the generous portion of cabbage they just ate that pleases my soul.
An effortless recipe that ticks all the boxes a mom could want, and everything is in one pot simmering throughout the day, so no extra steps are needed or last-minute additions. Once the ingredients are in, they are in, and you have a healthy meal the kids love.
This is one good-looking dish and is sure to impress the family and friends you have coming around this evening.
Chicken Pie is certainly a classic meal that has been around for very many years, but if you are like me, then baking just doesn’t seem to want to be your friend. Until now, with these great casserole crock pot recipes, there is no turning back.
This dish can be made in the oven and the slow cooker, the latter being the most convenient as it requires minimal to no supervision, and you don’t have the worry of it burning.
Make the ‘dough’ (a biscuit mixture of all the ingredients) and place it in the greased cooker (I like to use garlic butter for this to add an extra touch of flavor and richness to the overall dish). Let it cook on low till the biscuit is cooked.
Take 5 minutes before serving to sprinkle a touch more cheese on top and broil under the grill to melt the cheese and add a golden hue to the overall meal. It also adds a nice crisp to the edges for a variation in texture. Quick, easy, delicious.
Sweet corn, mielies as they are known in the country where I was born, or corn on the cob is a great ingredient with high versatility.
It adds color, and nutrition, and is as tasty as anything.
We like to have this with our summer BBQs because it is filling, tasty, and is a crowd-pleaser of a side dish that suits everyone. And if you are making it last minute (we have done this too often because my husband likes to spring on the family that the neighbors are coming around for drinks and a bite to eat) you can use frozen corn instead of fresh and it turns out just as perfectly.
Feel free to add chopped spring onion and herbs for an elevated cornbread and I like that it looks fancier than it is, a nice touch to bring the meal together.
An elegantly simple dish that is perfect for the summer season.
This dish does require a few extra steps but the effort is worth every tasty morsel and makes all the difference in the dish.
You have classic ingredients paired together like beef and mushroom, topped with French onion soup and cheese, how can you go wrong?
We serve this dish with a green salad to keep the meal light in the summer season, and with chunky toasted bread slices slathered in heavy butter for comfort food when you need it the most in the winter evenings.
A humble dish that is a simple meal for midweek dinners that taste great and ideally gets you through to the much-needed weekend. Yes, please.
Wow. A childhood classic that is not going anywhere anytime soon, and thankfully so, because it is so good.
You can seldom go wrong with a classic pairing of cheese and ham, and then you throw in lean chicken meat and your favorite soup mix and you are good to go.
Topped with crumbs makes this just as tasty as if you were to bake it in the oven which is a great option if you have 5 minutes to spare at the end just before serving to crisp up the crumb. And it adds the perfect texture variation needed for a well-balanced dish.
If you have been enjoying using your crockpot for meals during the week then this is a must-try option, the kids and hubby will love the taste and it is like eating an oversized chicken cordon bleu, win-win.
This is my children’s favorite supper meal and for a good reason too.
The dish is packed with flavor and goodness and has all the makings of lasagna but without the carb overload of pasta, and instead, you can get the kids to cut the tortilla wraps with the food scissors which they find a delight to do.
Each layer is filled with quality ingredients and as you eat through the levels you get a more delicious mouthful.
While the food is slow cooking through the morning, readying itself for the afternoon lunchtime meal, you can get the kids to crush a few handfuls of tortilla chips to sprinkle on top of the plates when serving for a nice crunch to the dish.
And some whole ones for the little ones to use as scoops or spoons to eat their food (although I don’t mind a tortilla chip myself from time to time).
I am fortunate enough to have two slow cookers, yes I know, madness, but they have helped me out in so many (what I thought were dire) situations that I now proudly claim that we use more than one crockpot in our home on occasions.
And this is one of those times.
We had family and friends coming over for a birthday celebration and I did not have the time nor the energy to spend the whole day in the kitchen slaving away making food, so both of our cookers came to town.
One had a main meal cooking away nicely and the meaty smell was starting to poke its head out while we set up the buffet table, so I decided to use the other for a sweet treat, and this Peach Cobbler is not only a traditional classic that is never a disappointment, but it tastes exceptional and always satisfies the masses.
If you want a true crowd-pleaser then look no further, this is a winning recipe and is so simple to prepare with minimal supervision.
As both courses simmer away gently you have the luxury to make a cup of tea and put your feet up for 10-minutes before the guests arrive and madness begins.
Meatballs. Ravioli. Cheese and tomato pasta sauce. The ultimate feel-good food.
And this is perfect for meals that need to feed large quantities of people, which was great for when our youngest had his footy teammates over for a bite to eat.
The only downside of this dish is that it may take a little longer than usual to cook because of the double portion but it is worth it. You have a homemade meal cooked to perfection, and all the while you can set the dining table ready for the boys to come home from practice.
A side portion of grated cheese on the side will go a long way because we all know kids love to sprinkle cheese on everything, and it is a great way for them to get involved in the meal process.
Win-win.
This dish has been given the two thumbs up sign from our kids so I know your children will love it too.
A must-have casserole slow cooker recipes option in your collection.
The four main components of a casserole typically include a protein source (like meat or beans), a starch (such as pasta, rice, or potatoes), vegetables, and a binding element (like sauce, cheese, or eggs) that holds the casserole together during baking.
Can I put a casserole dish in my slow cooker?
Yes, you can put a casserole dish in your slow cooker, as long as it fits comfortably and allows for proper heat circulation. This method is often used to cook casseroles indirectly using the slow cooker’s gentle heat.
Knowing you have a fail-proof collection of crock pot casserole recipes that are kid-approved is a blessing every parent should have, and now you can. Not only will weekly meals be that much easier, but you can have peace of mind that supper is sorted while you carry on with your daily activities.
Finding dishes like these make life that much more manageable and there are so many more on our blog so head there now and browse the great collection of recipes for all celebrations and moments.
As a parent, we need effortless dishes that taste great, and now you do.
Born and raised in South Africa and being immersed in the rich culture, Candace soon found a passion for all things food related. Exploring and experiencing new flavors and taste profiles she pursued her career as a qualified chef in silver service specialized in fine dining.
