Simple Slow Cooker Recipes Using Cheap Meats

In this article: Easy slow cooker recipes from our frugal readers that use more affordable cuts of meat.

Inexpensive cuts of meat can help reduce food bills, but some of them can be pretty tough. We asked our frugal readers to share their favorite simple slow cooker recipes using cheap meats. You’ll surely find a few options your family and budget will love.

Bachelor Roast

1 medium roast (any size, even the cheap, tough cuts)
1 can Coke
1 16 oz. bottle of ketchup (generic, or whatever is on sale

Put all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook it for several hours until the meat falls apart and your house smells great! The Coke will break down the tough fibers in the meat, so even the toughest comes out tender and tasty. This recipe is good enough to serve to the best company, and leftovers (if you have any) make good BBQ sandwiches.
Lynn in PHX

Three Simple Slow Cooker Recipes: Pot Roast, Bean Soup and Chicken Cacciatore

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

For pot roast, the best pieces are the least expensive. I put the meat in with a little water and some dry onion soup mix if I have it on hand. Otherwise, I use dried onion, salt and pepper. (I keep dried onion in the cupboard all the time. It comes in handy). Then, I plop in potatoes and carrots and cook everything until the meat is well done. The drippings are great for gravy, and the house smells wonderful to anyone coming home after a long day. Leftovers are great, too.

Slow Cooker Bean Soup

I like to make soup in my slow cooker. Soak 1 lb. dry beans overnight and drain. Add the following:

2 ham hocks
1 chopped onion
A couple of celery stalks with the leaves
5 peppercorns
salt to taste
8 cups of water

Cook all day, mix up a batch of cornbread, and you have a filling meal a couple of times over.

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

For chicken, I usually just cover the pieces with those canned tomatoes spiced with peppers, onions or herbs. Real easy. Then make rice and you have chicken cacciatore without the fuss.
Wendy in Kirkland, WA

Slow Cooker Beef, Pork and Chicken Recipes

Quick Onion Pot Roast

This roast needs no prior browning. Browning the meat in the slow cooker forms a lovely brown gravy. Prepare vegetables separately.

1 packet onion soup mix
3 lbs. lean beef pot roast (trim off any fat)
3 tbsp. flour in 3 tbsp. water, mixed to a paste

Sprinkle onion soup mix over the bottom of the slow cooker. Add pot roast. Cover and cook on low for about 10 hours or 5 hours on high. Pour accumulated juices into a saucepan; skim off fat. Add flour-water paste and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until thickened. Serve over sliced meat.

Barbecued Pot Roast

1 tsp. salt
2 lbs. lean pot roast
1/2 cup tomato paste
24 peppercorns
1 small onion, chopped
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Sprinkle salt over the roast and place in slow cooker. Spread tomato paste over meat; imbed peppercorns into paste; top with onions and Worcestershire sauce. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours. Serve meat with accumulated gravy.

Marinated Chicken & Pork

3 lbs. chicken pieces
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 lb. lean boneless pork cubed
3 tomatoes chopped
1 cup dry red wine
1/2 tsp. rosemary
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
3 cups beef broth (Campbell’s)

Place chicken pieces and pork cubes in a large bowl. Mix all other ingredients thoroughly, and pour over chicken and pork. Allow meat to marinate in sauce for about two hours (you could leave it overnight). Transfer chicken, pork and marinade to slow cooker. Cover pot, turn on low and cook for 6–8 hours or until chicken and pork are thoroughly cooked. Serves 6.

Related: 13 Savvy Ways To Save Money on Meat and Poultry

Tarragon Chicken

3–4 lbs chicken
2 tbsp. soft butter
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. tarragon
1 tbsp. dried parsley
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
3 tbsp. vinegar

Gravy:

2 tbsp. cornstarch in 2 tbsp. cold water, stirred until smooth
1 cup accumulated cooking liquid.

Rub chicken with butter; place in slow cooker. Combine seasonings and herbs and sprinkle evenly over the chicken. Add vinegar. Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours. Do not remove the lid during this time. Remove chicken to a hot platter.

Prepare gravy by combining the cornstarch mixture and 1 cup accumulated liquid in a saucepan. Heat and stir until the mixture boils and thickens. Serve over hot chicken. Serves 4.
Trudy C.

Slow Cooker Baked Beans

It tastes like the canned stuff!

1 lb. pkg. dried navy beans
Cold water for soaking beans
Mustard (your choice of type)
1/2 c. molasses
1/3 c. honey
Hot dogs, any brand (you can also use vegan dogs)
1 large onion, chopped, sauteed in extra virgin olive oil until slightly brown

Take the navy beans and place them either in your slow cooker or some large bowl. Add enough water to cover the beans by 3–4 inches. Allow it to sit overnight. In the morning (or whenever), drain the water out and rinse the beans. Now add enough fresh water to cover the beans by about 1–1 1/2 inches. Put the slow cooker on high all day. Get all the other ingredients ready. Slice the hot dogs into 1/4 or 1/2 inch slices (whatever you like) and get all the seasonings together. Now shut off the slow cooker and add all the ingredients. Stir well and let it sit for about 30 minutes to an hour to allow the flavors to mingle. Then serve. (If you really want the flavors to mix, put everything in the refrigerator when you’ve finished cooking and take it out the next night for dinner. Serves 4–6.
EK

Which Slow Cooker Recipe Will You Try First?

These simple slow cooker recipes using cheap meats can certainly help you reduce grocery bills. But they are also easy to make and can help you prepare meals even with a busy schedule. Here are some additional helpful slow cooker articles that can help you save time and money:

• The Best Cuts of Meat for Slow Cooker Meals
• Avoiding Dried-Out Slow Cooker Meals
• 12-Hour Slow Cooker Recipes

Related:

• How To Choose the Right Cuts of Meat for Affordable Tasty Meals
• Cheap and Easy Casserole Recipes: Reader Favorites
• Going Beyond Cheap Recipes To Reduce Grocery Bills

Reviewed March 2024