Sometimes we busy ourselves with errands and household chores that the time just runs away with us and suddenly it’s lunchtime and the kids are nagging for something to eat.
It is all good and well to make a quick toasted cheese sandwich for them with a side order of crisps and a juice box, but that is not going to cut it for hubby when he comes back home from the construction site hungry like a lion and looking for a good, home-cooked plate of food to fill the gap.
You need to think of a dish for dinner, and quick, the last thing you need is a ‘hangry’ husband (yes, angry because he is hungry, and I know we can all relate), but there is still laundry and vacuuming to be done. Now what.
Well, it is simple.
What you need are these don’t starve crock pot recipes to save the day when you need it the most and to have them close to the slow cooker because the crockpot is about to be your blessing in disguise. Trust me, I am speaking from personal experience and the crock pot has come to the rescue many a time, it is one of the best investments I have made in my life.
#1. Beef and Broccoli
Who would have thought that vegetables may be the one ingredient that saves the day, well, in this case, they are.
Broccoli is the one vegetable that my children will eat without a quibble, and when these don’t starve crock pot recipes mean that the kids have clean plates at the end of dinner, I am looking for every dish that has broccoli as the star.
Thankfully, this supper creation is as tasty as it looks, and when you have a great combination of tender meat and vegetables smothered in a rich gravy sauce, you can’t go wrong.
It is as simple as popping everything into the cooker, setting it on low to slow cook throughout the afternoon, and before you know it, dinner is served. Place it on top of fluffy rice for the ultimate feel-good meal that is sure to be a winner around the dining table.
There is certainly something magical about the freshness and zest from limes and lemons and in this case, lime, which is my favorite of the two (not only the color, but it is surprisingly less tart than its counterpart).
And a squeeze on the ready, tender meat goes a long way to elevate the dish.
The meat that has been slow cooking in the crockpot freezes perfectly well for a later date and is great in too many dishes you will be overwhelmed by the choice of what to make for a speedy dinner bite.
I am all about effortless meals, that take no time to put together, and most importantly don’t need supervision (because who has the time, if we are being honest, to sit around in front of the oven for more than 30 minutes), and with a slow cooker, this step is omitted.
Let everything essentially cook itself, and you will be grateful you found these crock pot don’t starve recipes that will soon become a regular feature on the dinner rotation menu.
A lean, healthy version of slow cooker don’t starve recipes is just what you need when the heat of the summer is on you, and the days are spent lazing around in the garden (and so they should be), and a minimal effort meal is all you can muster up.
Well, Rosemary and garlic make everything taste that much better, and the white meat of chicken is perfect for something light yet filling.
Lay the chicken at the bottom of the crockpot, sprinkle a generous amount of the seasoning on top, I like to always add a bit extra because, why not, and finish with the broth.
Leave to simmer gently for several hours and voila, perfectly cooked, tender chicken that is still packed with moisture, unlike the conventional cooking methods where you are left with a dry piece of rubber that was once a chicken breast.
This is such an easy dish that even hubby can pop it on before you come home from work and you don’t need any previous culinary training for it to taste brilliant. A truly flop-proof dish. Shred the chicken to toss in a salad or serve with creamy mashed potato.
#4. Easy Biscuits and Gravy Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
We all know the festive season is one mad event to the next and for a month, if not more, the festivities seem to never end, there is always someone to visit, people to have over, or a hundred meals to make every day for the family and friends. But we love it.
That being said, we do get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday activities and forget that we need to feed the kids in the morning something other than cereal and milk (if we have milk) from time to time.
Preparing this in the evening once everyone has gone to bed and just before turning in yourself, will surely give you the best start to the day in the morning. Wake up while the house is still quiet and the madness hasn’t woken up yet (one of my favorite times of the day, just listening to the nature outside slowly wake up and as the sun slowly rises in the blue summer skies all the while sipping a hot, steaming cup of coffee) and pop the slow cooker on.
I used to laugh when I read odd titles like don’t starve crock pot recipes in magazines or online, now I am all about the odd because it means someone has gone through what we most likely have to and come up with a solution that works. So if it is something unusual I will give it a go.
This recipe is just that and tastes amazing, the kids are filled to the top with delicious breakfast egg and sausage and they can go about their day with full tanks. Win-win.
The hardest part of this meal is letting the kids choose their favorite pasta noodles to have with the meal because one doesn’t like the color, the other only eat long noodles, the struggle seems to be real, but we get there in the end.
And a creamy pasta dish that has lean meat (a great healthy option for those of you who enjoy going to the gym and eating lean) which is smothered in low-fat chicken broth and grated cheese, there is nothing easier to make or tastier.
A fail-proof meal that is a firm favorite in our household, and the kids love sprinkling extra cheese and herbs on their bowls before digging in. Sometimes these don’t starve slow cooker recipes that seem the least possible in the crockpot are the most delicious and this is one of them.
We love this meal, and with no time to spare you can have it too any day of the week. Effortlessly tasty with a touch of elegance from the parmesan.
If you are like me that enjoy looking through foodie magazines and tearing out recipes to try for the future, then you want to try your hand at the crock pot don’t starve recipes that look like this dish, magazine-worthy, but in the comfort of your home.
Not only do you have to leave your haven when the weather outside is looking grey and horrible for days on end, but you can make this simple meal at a fraction of the cost of what it would be to order it at your favorite Mongolian restaurant or takeout.
The dark rich color from the maple syrup and soy sauce combination elevates the dish to another level, and the spring onion and chili flakes pop against the dark, hypnotizing hue. If you are looking for an impressive meal at the last minute when you are reminded by the hubby that his parents will be joining you for dinner, then look no further.
Serve with fluffy rice for a recipe that tastes like you have spent hours slaving away in the kitchen (wink-wink).
This is a portion of comfort food that ticks all the boxes, has a high nutritional value, and is one of the easiest recipes for you (or your hubby who will have no excuse when you show him how quick it is to make this dish) will want to try for the family.
The beans are small so the soaking overnight step is taken out of the equation, and the ham hock simmers gently amongst them during their slow cooking process in the cooker which means the beans take on the meaty goodness the ham hock offers.
I love when meat and pulses cook together, each giving and taking something from the other yet working in harmony to result in a beautiful tasting dish that is a true-crowd pleaser.
Because my children love bread with as many meals as they can get away with, I will say though, that a fresh batch of brioche buns on the dining table with the meal will certainly go down well and everyone loves dipping a chunk into the sauce as they eat.
If you have children then you will know all too well that meatballs, no matter how they are served, make everything ok. I particularly like to get the kids involved in rolling the minced meat into the balls (with gloves on of course), and while doing so we have great conversations and we hear each other’s dreams and goals and crazy ideas which shows the innocence of a child’s thinking in the best way.
This dish is so simple you can add the balls to pasta for a traditional spaghetti meatball meal, smothered in BBQ sauce and popped in a serving bowl with toothpicks for the perfect pre-meal appetizer for guests and family, or sandwiched between a brioche bun with a thick slice of cheese and toasted for my husbands’ favorite work lunch box filler.
There are so many options, and you wouldn’t believe it coming from what we like to call our collection of don’t starve slow cooker recipes, but they haven’t let us down yet.
For a fun family meal to prep together, this is the best choice.
When I think of comfort I somehow always land on cheese. I don’t know if it’s because it goes with everything and every meal, has so many flavor options to choose from or has a richness that soothes the soul.
One thing is for sure, finding don’t starve crock pot recipes that have cheese and potato in them and which don’t require me to stand in the kitchen all day checking that the potatoes don’t turn to mashed potato, is a win in my book.
Serving a generous bowl of these on the dining table among the other feast foods for family gatherings there are always requests for the recipe and second helpings. Be sure to double the portion yield when serving guests because the taste is heart-warming, and when they eat these tender, creamy cheesy covered spuds, there is a sense of coziness in the air from everyone feeling at home.
I always want people to leave our house filled to the brim and never left wanting more, and these hit the spot every time.
I grew up with a similar version of this that my grandmother used to make every weekend if we had the time or the ingredients, but she would always substitute the raisins or sultanas for chocolate chips when we could afford it which was a real treat and tasted fantastic.
She did however make it in the oven which meant that the morning was spent at home going back and forth to check if it was ready, that it wasn’t burning, or that all the egg had cooked and the bread and chocolate had melted seamlessly together.
Thankfully, this crockpot version is much easier, and best of all, you can leave the house to do the grocery shopping and come back to a ready pudding. If that is not what Saturdays are all about then I don’t what is.
A one-pot sensation that is the feeling of home in a cooker, and blissful memories as you tuck into each bite. Perfectly served with cream (whipped or pouring), custard (we like to make our own but the store-bought version is just as good), or my son’s favorite, vanilla bean ice cream.
Our family absolutely loves Indian food, and even more so the butter chicken with its richness, divines, and all-around goodness, but eating out more than once a month can soon take its toll on the wallet if you aren’t careful.
So I decided to try to find a version I could recreate at home, and landed on this, successfully tried and tested beauty.
I have made this meal many times before I had children with schedules that never seem to have a gap for a moment’s peace, but now with our family routines taking up all our time who has the minutes to spare in the kitchen?
But, after many thoughts and prayers to the food angels, I stumbled across this collection of don’t starve slow cooker recipes that have since become my saving grace. Meals that are quick and simple, taste just as good (if not better some of them) than your local takeaway restaurant, and come to save the day when you need that helping hand the most.
You may be busy, but quick food can still taste delicious, and this recipe ticks all the boxes to make a bad day great again.
If you have been looking for the perfect summer menu dish to serve at this year’s annual opening of the summer family BBQ gathering, then look no further.
This has light and airiness written all over it and is so fresh you won’t believe it is a full-fledged meal, it has salad components, healthy, lean protein, and the tart and sweetness of cherry tomatoes to bring it all together.
And while you are setting up the rest of the party decorations and condiments, you can leave this dish to simmer in the crockpot without a care in the world. Then just before the guests arrive you can drain the chicken onto a chopping board and shred it with two forks, pop the meat back into the cooker to soak up even more of the flavor-filled meaty goodness, and then drain everything in the salad bowl to toss with your choice of leaves and drizzle some of the juices over for the perfect dressing.
Beans are not, particularly my favorite and often I pick them out of the dishes or meals I get served, but this one was impossible to do so, and so I had to grin and bear it. After the first few bites, I was pleasantly surprised that they tasted quite nice, and found myself finishing the plate, much to my husband’s astonishment.
So I decided to give it a go at home (I had a spare meal ready as a backup for me just in case, but ended up not needing it), and this was a huge hit at dinner.
I didn’t read the recipe correctly the first time, to be honest, and threw the cooked rice into the crock pot with the rest of the ingredients and it soaked up all the flavors and juices so beautifully that I wouldn’t change it now. You can serve it on the side or with mashed potato too if you like and which works just as well.
A cheap meal that is budget-friendly, and fills the hunger gap.
There is nothing better than a stuffed pasta and tortellini has so many options you can pick and choose as your mood changes, this one happens to have cheese but feel free to use what you have available or that is on special at the store (I like to choose something on sale that is not only cheap for me but pushes my creativity).
And when the starch simmers in a rich sauce like this tomato version, it is the ultimate meal after a long day of attending meetings and setting work deadlines.
If you want to add an interesting twist to the meal, try diluting basil pesto with some olive oil till runny consistency, and drizzle it onto the soup just before you serve. It brings a nuttiness from the pine cones and freshness from the basil leaves to the dish that takes it to another level.
It also looks fancier which is why I always make this when the mother-in-law comes for dinner or friends from my husband’s work (and who doesn’t love a dish that looks like you have spent half the day in the kitchen when you know the secret behind its success is a humble slow cooker, but they don’t need to know that do they).
This is a rainbow in a slow cooker if I ever saw one, and the ingredients in their raw form look good enough to consume even before any slow cooking has taken place, so you can imagine how good it tastes once all the flavors have melded together.
Stew is, and always has been, a staple in my house since I was a little child and I still have it on our dinner rotation menu now that I have my own children causing chaos around the house. It warms your whole body in a way that other meals just can’t, it makes you feel good, and the versatility of the dish allows you to use up pantry and fridge ingredients that would otherwise go to waste.
These humble and simple dishes have been around for centuries, often associated with the lower end of the social ladder, but when they taste this good I am all for being on the lower end. Who wants to eat upper-class food that tastes bland and leaves you hungry afterward when you can have home-cooked meals that fill every hungry crevice in your body till you can’t anymore?
Yes please is all I can say, and once the kids and hubby taste this they will be singing your praises. A winning recipe, and you can be sure there will be no starving at your dinner table with this dish.
Time is of the essence, seemingly every day when kids are involved, and as much as you try to keep up with things you somehow always need that extra hand.
Too often we try juggling a hundred things at once when we have more options than ever before for simpler, more effective methods of doing things, and cooking is one of them.
I don’t know what my life would look like if I didn’t have a slow cooker, most probably piles of bread loaves and jam and peanut butter (and a family less than impressed).
But sometimes you come across a dish that takes 5-minutes of preparation (we all have at least 5 minutes don’t we?) and is a meal that is delicious and ready before you know it. You can get on with things around the house, and as time ticks on as it always does so quickly, you are soon hit with a flavorful aroma that takes over the house.
Drain the saucy ingredients and roll in wraps with homemade garlic and dill yogurt dressing for the ultimate street food but at home.
I love a fancy-looking dish that delivers more than you expect it to, and this is the perfect appetizer option for guests you want to impress (aka work colleagues and the in-laws), and is effortless to prepare so you can add other dishes to the buffet table too.
Shrimps are rich sources of protein which makes this a great cocktail platter option to serve for guests chatting and relaxing in the garden or on the deck as the BBQ gets underway. I always squeeze a generous portion of lime over the top as they head out to be served which lightens each bite, and tastes fantastic if I do say so myself.
Quick and easy to make and a new twist on the don’t starve crock pot recipes I have come to discover and love recently. Simple, elegant, and a crowd-pleaser every time.
Serve in summer as cocktails or in the winter with fresh, creamy pasta, there is something for everyone throughout the year. A sprinkle of chopped herbs to add a pop of color and you have the ultimate meal for any occasion.
#18. Healthy corn and chicken chowder recipe in the slow cooker
A big serving of this thick chowder makes my heart sing.
It is chunky, rich, and packed with flavors and colors to delight the whole family.
My youngest has a thing against green vegetables (I’m hoping it’s a phase because there are so many tasty vegetables that come in green, am I right?) so we use only red and yellow peppers in this recipes but feel free to go wild with the colors, the more the merrier is a great food motto to live by.
All you need to do is throw everything into the cooker, let it works its slow cooking magic, and come home to a ready meal after watching a football training session in the pouring rain.
Tasty, delicious, and easier than ever to make.
A must-try creation that always has the kids leaving the dining table with clean bowls.
We all could use a helping hand in the food department when the month is dragging and you wish it would just be the summer already, so these don’t starve crockpot recipes to save the day when you need them the most maybe just the answer you have been looking for.
The silver lining in a dark cloud that never wants to go away.
And if you enjoy these be sure to check out our blog for more recipes to beat the winter blues or for quick meals when time is of the essence. There is something for everyone.
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.
