8 Crockpot Family Dinner Recipes Kids Will Love
Cooking a meal for the family can be a challenging task, especially when you have to consider the tastes and preferences of your kids. It’s essential to prepare a meal that is not only delicious but also easy to make and enjoyable for everyone. One way to achieve this is by using a crockpot, which allows you to cook a variety of dishes with minimal effort and time. In this article, we will explore eight crockpot family dinner recipes that kids will love, including BBQ Chicken, Spaghetti, Mac and Cheese, Chicken Alfredo, Sloppy Joes, Taco Pasta, Meatballs, and Chicken & Rice.
These recipes are perfect for busy families who want to enjoy a homemade meal together. They are easy to prepare, and the crockpot does all the work, allowing you to focus on other activities while your meal cooks. The best part is that these recipes are kid-friendly, so you can be sure that your little ones will enjoy them. From classic comfort foods like Mac and Cheese to flavorful dishes like Chicken Fajitas, there’s something for everyone in this collection. So, let’s dive into the recipes and start cooking!
BBQ Chicken

BBQ Chicken is a classic crockpot recipe that is easy to make and always a hit with kids. This recipe involves placing boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a crockpot with your favorite BBQ sauce and letting it cook until the chicken is tender and falls apart easily. You can serve it with some crusty bread or over rice, making it a complete and satisfying meal. The sweetness of the BBQ sauce pairs perfectly with the smokiness of the chicken, creating a flavor combination that kids will love.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To make BBQ Chicken, simply place the chicken breasts in the crockpot and add the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. When the chicken is cooked, shred it with two forks and serve with your favorite sides.
Spaghetti

Spaghetti is a classic Italian dish that is a staple in many households. This crockpot recipe makes it easy to cook spaghetti for the whole family. Simply add the spaghetti sauce, ground beef or sausage, and tomato sauce to the crockpot, and let it cook until the sauce is hot and the flavors are combined. Then, add the spaghetti and cook until it’s al dente. This recipe is a kid-friendly favorite that is sure to become a regular in your household.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or sausage
- 1 jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To make Spaghetti, cook the ground beef or sausage in a pan until browned, then add it to the crockpot with the spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, and olive oil. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, add the spaghetti to the crockpot and cook until it’s al dente. Serve hot and enjoy!
Mac and Cheese

Mac and Cheese is a comforting, creamy dish that is a kid-friendly favorite. This crockpot recipe makes it easy to cook macaroni and cheese for the whole family. Simply add the macaroni, cheese, milk, and butter to the crockpot, and let it cook until the macaroni is tender and the cheese is melted and creamy. This recipe is a classic comfort food that is sure to become a staple in your household.
Ingredients
- 1 cup macaroni
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To make Mac and Cheese, add the macaroni, shredded cheese, milk, butter, and Parmesan cheese to the crockpot. Cook on low for 2-3 hours or high for 1-2 hours. When the macaroni is tender and the cheese is melted and creamy, serve hot and enjoy!
Chicken Alfredo

Chicken Alfredo is a creamy, flavorful dish that is a kid-friendly favorite. This crockpot recipe makes it easy to cook chicken and fettuccine in a rich and creamy Alfredo sauce. Simply add the chicken, fettuccine, cream, and Parmesan cheese to the crockpot, and let it cook until the chicken is cooked and the fettuccine is tender. This recipe is a classic Italian dish that is sure to become a regular in your household.
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup fettuccine
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To make Chicken Alfredo, add the chicken, fettuccine, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and butter to the crockpot. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. When the chicken is cooked and the fettuccine is tender, serve hot and enjoy!
Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes are a classic comfort food that is easy to make and always a hit with kids. This crockpot recipe involves cooking ground beef, tomato sauce, and spices in the crockpot until the flavors are combined and the meat is tender. Then, serve it on a bun with your favorite toppings. This recipe is a kid-friendly favorite that is sure to become a regular in your household.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To make Sloppy Joes, cook the ground beef in a pan until browned, then add it to the crockpot with the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Serve on a bun with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Taco Pasta

Taco Pasta is a flavorful and fun twist on traditional tacos. This crockpot recipe involves cooking pasta, ground beef, and taco seasoning in the crockpot until the flavors are combined and the pasta is tender. Then, add your favorite taco toppings and serve. This recipe is a kid-friendly favorite that is sure to become a regular in your household.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup pasta
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup taco seasoning
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To make Taco Pasta, cook the ground beef in a pan until browned, then add it to the crockpot with the pasta, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, and shredded cheese. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. When the pasta is tender, add your favorite taco toppings and serve!
Meatballs

Meatballs are a classic Italian dish that is easy to make and always a hit with kids. This crockpot recipe involves cooking meatballs, marinara sauce, and spaghetti in the crockpot until the meatballs are cooked and the spaghetti is tender. This recipe is a kid-friendly favorite that is sure to become a regular in your household.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup spaghetti
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To make Meatballs, mix the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper in a bowl until just combined. Form into meatballs and add to the crockpot with the marinara sauce and spaghetti. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. When the meatballs are cooked and the spaghetti is tender, serve hot and enjoy!
Chicken & Rice

Chicken & Rice is a simple and comforting dish that is easy to make and always a hit with kids. This crockpot recipe involves cooking chicken, rice, and chicken broth in the crockpot until the chicken is cooked and the rice is tender. This recipe is a kid-friendly favorite that is sure to become a regular in your household.
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To make Chicken & Rice, add the chicken, rice, chicken broth, and olive oil to the crockpot. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. When the chicken is cooked and the rice is tender, serve hot and enjoy!






