10 Easy Crockpot Recipes For Any College Student
Crockpots always amaze with what they are capable of. You can leave for hours, come back and your meal will be cooked ton perfection. For college students this is especially convenient because being low on time and not wanting to cook seem to come hand in hand when attending school. Here are 10 easy crockpot recipes that any college student can conquer.
1. Spicy Turkey Chili
Chili is always perfect on a cool day and you something hearty. This recipe is delicious and easy on time so you can go about on your day without worrying about cooking time.
Ingredients:
- 99% lean ground turkey (can use ground beef if preferred)
- 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 15.5 oz can kidney beans
- 1 15.5 oz can black beans
- Spicy Chili Seasoning Packet
- 1 Jalapeno (optional)
Instructions:
- Spray a frying pan with nonstick spray and cook your meat on medium heat until browned.
- In your crockpot add the can of kidney beans, black beans and diced tomatoes. Mix together and add diced up jalapeno if you want some extra spice to your chili. Then add the cooked meat and again mix together.
- Lastly add your chili seasoning packet and mix it all together in the crockpot. Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
- Then you’re ready to get your spice on and eat!
2. Chicken fajitas
A yummy recipe from Isabel Eats is easy crockpot chicken fajitas, with only 6 ingredients. Make it for taco Tuesday or any day your craving a flavorful meal. You can eat it in a taco, burrito bowl or as a salad!
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. of boneless chicken breasts
- taco seasoning
- 1 10 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 4 oz can diced green chiles
- bell peppers (usually 2 will do, but add as much as you like)
- lime juice
Instructions:
- Place the diced tomatoes and green chiles in the slow cooker. Then place the chicken breasts on top and sprinkle the taco seasoning over them.
- Cover and let it cook on high for about 3 hours.
- Cut up the bell peppers into thin slices and add them into the crockpot and cook for 1 more hour.
- Shred the chicken in the crockpot with either two forks, or remove it from the crockpot and shred with a knife and fork. Place back in the crockpot once shredded.
- Add in the lime juice and mix together.
- Then you’re done. You can either serve it in a taco, as a burrito bowl with rice and other toppings, or as a salad.
Find this recipe below:
3. Shredded Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
A great recipe from The Lazy Dish is this Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken. This four-ingredient recipe is full of flavor and even has a kick. It’s delicious in a hoagie roll, but you can swap it for on a salad.
Ingredients:
- 3-4 large chicken breasts
- 1 (17 oz) bottle of Frank’s Red Hot Wing Buffalo Sauce
- ½ packet ranch seasoning mix (about 2 tbsp)
- 2 tbsp butter
- hoagie rolls for serving
Instructions:
- Spray your crockpot with a nonstick spray. First place the chicken breasts in and cover them in the buffalo sauce. Then top it with the ranch seasoning. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for about 3 hours.
- Once the chicken is fully cooked, use a couple forks to shred the chicken, or place it on a cutting board and cut with a fork and knife. If cutting the chicken on a cutting board, then place the chicken back in the crockpot.
- Once shredded, add 2 tbsp of butter and allow it to melt. Stir until combined.
- Add the chicken onto a hoagie roll, or onto a salad. Drizzle ranch or blue cheese dressing for a little more taste. That’s it, your meal is complete!
Find this recipe below:
4. Honey Garlic Chicken
An effortless, yet delicious meal from Well Plated is their Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken. Its sweet, healthy and you can save yourself from ordering takeout. The recipe only consists of 8 ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ lbs. boneless, chicken thighs or breasts
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp chili pasta
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
For serving (optional):
- Prepared rice
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped green onion
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, chili paste, garlic and rice vinegar.
- Place chicken in the crockpot and pour the mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on low for about 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. If you have time flip the chicken half way through so it gets coated with the mixture on both sides, if not that’s okay because it will still be mouthwatering.
- Remove the chicken from the crockpot and let it cool. Add the cornstarch into the crockpot mixture and whisk together. Cover and cook on high for about 15 minutes until the mixture thickens. Make sure to stir occasionally.
- With two forks shred the chicken and place back into the slow cooker. Stir the chicken in with the sauce to coat it.
- Serve over rice, and top with some green onions and sesame seeds if you would like!
Find the recipe below:
5. Italian Chicken and Potatoes
A 5 ingredient, healthy dinner that can satisfy you after a busy day is this recipe from Skinny Fitalicious. Come back from class or work after a long day and enjoy this classic dinner.
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless chicken breasts
- 1 lb. baby red potatoes cubed with skin on (make sure to wash)
- 2 cups baby carrots
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Spray the crockpot with a nonstick spray and add 1 cup of water.
- Place the potatoes at the bottom and sprinkle with salt. Set the crockpot to high heat.
- Place chicken on a plate and rub on the extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. Then place the chicken in the crockpot over the potatoes.
- Next add the carrots and Italian seasoning. Cook on high for 4-6 hours until chicken is tender, and the carrots and potatoes are soft.
- Then its ready to eat!
Find the recipe below:
6. Baked Ziti
The Recipe Rebel has an inviting recipe which is the “Slow Cooker Baked Ziti”. The pasta is even made in the crockpot which makes it perfect for students low on time and in a rush.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground beef (or ground turkey or Italian sausage)
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- 650 ml jar pasta sauce
- 2 ½ cups water (or chicken broth)
- 375-gram box of penne or ziti (or other short pasta)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
- Cook ground beef and chopped onion in a skillet until browned. Stir in the garlic and salt and let cook for 1 minute.
- In crockpot add beef mixture, tomatoes, basil, parsley, pasta sauce and water. Stir together and let cook on low for 6 hours, or on high for 3 hours.
- Turn crockpot on high and add pasta. Stir until combined and cover and let it cook for 15-30 minutes. Check and stir at the 15 minute mark, cooking time varies depending on how hot cooker is.
- Sprinkle with cheese and cover for 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Serve and enjoy after a long busy day!
Find the recipe below:
7. Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken
With only 3 ingredients there is no excuse not to try this recipe! Kelly Leigh Creates created this easy recipe that any student should be able to tackle.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. boneless chicken breasts
- 1 8 oz can crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 16 oz bottle barbeque sauce
Instructions:
1.Spray crockpot with nonstick spray and place chicken in the crockpot.
2.Combine drained pineapple and the barbeque sauce in a bowl and whisk together. Then pour over meat into the crockpot.
3. Cook on high heat for 3-4 hours or on low heat for about 6-8 hours.
4. It was that easy and now you can enjoy it! Serve over rice if you would like.
Find the recipe below:
8. Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Crockpot
This creamy recipe is from The Frugal Girls and it is a perfect comfort food. Come home after a stressful day to your place smelling delightful.
Ingredients:
- 3 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 23 oz Classico Creamy Alfredo Sauce (about 1 ½ jars)
- 10 oz frozen broccoli (thawed)
- 1 tsp black pepper (optional)
Instructions:
- Spray crockpot with nonstick spray and place chicken in crockpot on high for about 2.5 hours or on low for 5 hours.
- After cooking, drain the juices from the chicken out of the crockpot.
- Then spread the Alfredo Sauce over the chicken and sprinkle pepper (optional), and top with the broccoli florets.
- Cook on high for 1 more hour or until done.
- It’s done, you can serve with a side of pasta if you would like!
Find the recipe below:
9. Crockpot Salsa Chicken
This is a spicy shredded chicken recipe from Unsophisticook, their recipe uses an instant pot, but a crock pot will work just as good! The crockpot just cooks longer than the instant pot, but this is an easy recipe you can leave cooking while you go about your day.
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs.)
- ¾ cup chicken stock
- 1 16 oz container of fresh salsa
- 1 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 lime cut into wedges (optional)
Served Over:
- White rice (or cauliflower rice) (optional)
Instructions:
- Spray the inside of your crockpot with a nonstick spray. Pour in chicken stock and place in chicken.
- Stir the taco seasoning into the salsa and combine well. Then place mixture over the chicken. Cook on high for 2 ½ – 3 ½ hours, or on low for 5-6 hours.
- When chicken looks tender either take two forks and shred apart inside crockpot, or take it out onto a cutting board and shred it.
- Stir the mixture around and let cook for 10-15 more minutes.
- Enjoy the meal over rice, or any other side you would like!
Find the recipe below:
10. Crockpot Baked Potatoes
This has to be one of the simplest crockpot recipes and is such an easy way to cook a potato. All you’ll need for this recipe is 2 ingredients and then any toppings for when the potato is done!
Ingredients:
- russet potatoes
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt
Toppings (optional):
- sour cream
- shredded cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper
- green onions
Instructions:
- Thoroughly wash your potatoes and then dry them off.
- Use a fork to pierce the potato and then rub the potato with olive oil. Sprinkle on some salt after the olive oil.
- Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil for each potato. Make sure the sheets are big enough to wrap the potato in.
- Put the potatoes wrapped in foil into the crockpot and let them cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for about 8 hours.
- It is that easy! Once potatoes feel soft you can take them out and indulge.
