Fix it and forget it dinners are some of my favorites! These crockpot recipes for picky eaters are palatable to even the fussiest kids.
When you are short on time, but you still want to put a healthy meal on the table for your family, a slow cooker can be a lifesaver!
Not only is a crockpot valuable for busy nights, but it also produces deliciously tender dishes that appeal to the whole family. Crockpot recipes for picky eaters can deliver nourishment that you can feel great feeding to your kids, even if it feels like they turn up their nose at just about everything.
I’ve put together our family’s most enjoyed and go-to crockpot recipes for picky eaters and foodies alike! Each is made up of real food ingredients to fit a healthy primal lifestyle.
No crockpot, no problem! This slow cooker, available on Amazon, is the one I’ve been the happiest with over the years — tried and true!
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1. Sweet and savory slow cooker brisket with mocha
Brisket is a perfect cut for low and slow cooking. I love that I can get a relatively inexpensive grass-fed cut and let the crockpot turn it into flavorful and tender bites that our family loves.
There are endless side dish possibilities to pair with this sweet and savory brisket recipe. Try it with Fennel and Cabbage Slaw, or Roasted Root Veggies. (Roasting frozen vegetables like carrots can work too.)
2. Butter chicken
Butter chicken is a dish that our family never seems to tire of! This recipe from One Lovely Life is easy, delicious, and gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo-friendly. With Indian origin, butter chicken may sound intimidating to picky eaters, but the blend of spices is warm and sweet in a tomato sauce base. Delicious!
3. Thai chicken coconut soup
The combination of lemongrass and ginger in this Tom Kha Kai inspired dish is sure to please. With fresh vegetables gently simmering in a coconut and bone broth base, you can feel the nourishment that this Thai Chicken Coconut Soup provides.
4. Sweet potato chipotle chili
This beanless chile from Cotter Crunch offers a tasty chipotle flavor with both a sweet and a spicy zip. I absolutely love chilis that are full of veggies and quality meat, and this recipe successfully provides the nutrient-density I applaud as a nutritionist.
Use less chili powder and chipotles to tone down the spice for those with sensitive taste buds.
5. Zesty primal chili
This zesty and primally inspired chili recipe uses pork ribs and an abundance of veggies to bring you a bowl of comfort. The sweet potatoes and carrots balance out the chili powder, and provide healthy starch in place of beans.
6. Ultra moist turkey meatballs
Let the crockpot do most of the work. This moist turkey meatball recipe from A Clean Bake takes little hands-on time and the flavor will not disappoint. Try these yummy morsels slow cooked in a simple tomato sauce over a plate of zucchini noodles.
7. Slow cooked tomato soup
What picky eater doesn’t love a simple bowl of tomato soup? This slow cooked version is not only delicious, but incorporates nourishing roasted veggies for added nutrients and flavor. It’s nearly impossible to find a quality, unprocessed, canned or boxed tomato soup, but your family will love this real food version even better.
8. Smokey Paleo BBQ chicken
A home cooked meal doesn’t get any easier than this crockpot BBQ chicken recipe from Paleo Running Momma! Add chicken to the pot, whisk the sauce ingredients, pour on top, and set your slow cooker. We love this recipe served over a baked sweet potato and with a quick green salad.
9. Crockpot seasoned whole chicken
It’s hard to beat a good ‘ole roast chicken! But, what about one you can cook in the crockpot? I love having cooked chicken on hand for Jar Salads, primal chicken pot pie, Crispy Chicken Arugula Salad, and chicken soup. This Crockpot Seasoned Whole Chicken recipe is my favorite way to do this.
10. Carnitas
There’s nothing like slow cooked pork loin or pork tenderloin, and 40 Aprons got this Carnitas recipe just right! Serve it over salad, top with fresh Guacamole for a Crowd, and any other real food fixings you and your family love on Mexican dinner night.
11. Chicken teriyaki rice bowls
Nothing says “picky eater approved” like Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowls! I add soy-free Coconut Secret, or Big Tree Farms teriyaki sauce right into the crockpot with some chicken thighs for a slow cooked tender result. Serve with sauteed veggies and cauliflower rice, or white rice.
12. Beef and broccoli
The ingredients in the Beef and Broccoli recipe from Paleo Leap are so simple and pure that this dish is one you can feel so good about serving to your family — it’s flavors are sure to please. I love the touch of sweetness from the apple, and the addition of broccoli at the very end to maintain the crisp texture and bright color.
Broccoli is one of the best frozen vegetables to cook with, and if you don’t have fresh broccoli, you can substitute frozen.
13. Herbs de Provence chicken
The basics… veggies and meat! With a simple sprinkling of Herbs de Provence blend (typical herbs used in the Provence region of southeast France, such as savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, and oregano), this slow cooked chicken dish quickly becomes full of flavor. We love to serve it with roasted asparagus and top with raw cashews!
14. Slow-cooker spiced pork ramen
Internationally inspired flavors celebrate this delicious Spiced Pork Ramen recipe by Fresh Planet Flavor. This recipe is fun, unique, and colorful — helping those with picky palates to find excitement in trying something new. It’s easy to tone down the spice if necessary.
15. Southwestern slow cooker steak fajitas
Winner, winner, steak dinner! This Southwestern Slow Cooker Steak Fajita recipe is sure to be a family favorite. Quick and easy, with tender meat, flavorful seasonings, and an element of simplicity.
16. Whole 30 bruschetta chicken
Who doesn’t love bruschetta? This Whole 30 approved Bruschetta Chicken recipe from Sustainable Cooks satisfies the lust for tomatoes and garlic without the need for bread. This slow-cooked ingredient combo served over zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, or roasted veggies gets the real food stamp of approval with plenty of tastiness to match.
17. Shredded pot roast
The smell and comfort of Pot Roast is incomparable. Chuck roast is the perfect crockpot cut of meat — fall-apart tender everytime! I love this simple recipe full of wholesome ingredients and my kids always head back for seconds.
18. Stuffed peppers
This clean and fresh Stuffed Peppers recipe from The Clean Eating Couple is a fun recipe for the whole family to make together. Cooking with toddlers through teens — there is something that everyone can help with to pull this tasty dish together. Remember, picky eaters are much more willing to open their mouth when they help to make the food!
19. Beef and sweet potato stew
Classic beef stew with a sweet twist. This Beef and Sweet Potato Stew is full of vegetables, tender meat, and nourishing broth. I like to brown the sweet potato cubes before adding them to the slow cooker, but you can certainly skip this step and let the crockpot do all the work.
20. Chicken and rice soup
Family-friendly for sure, this Crockpot Chicken and Rice Soup recipe from Well Plated is certainly one to add to your next meal plan. One of my favorite things about this recipe is that you can add the rice uncooked (although you do want to rinse it until the water runs clear first).
21. White chicken chili
White Chicken Chili… the creamy texture, a hint of spice, and toppings to pull it all together. The Real Food RDs bring us this delicious recipe with just the right balance that chili should have.
22. Apricot curry chicken
Green curry, coconut, and ginger? Sign me up! Add on the dried apricots, pistachios, and fresh basil toppings, and this Apricot Curry Chicken recipe from Wholesomelicious is beyond amazing! Seriously, a must-try for your family.
23. Brazilian fish stew
I’m a sucker for a good fish stew and luckily my kids think fish is just the best ever since they learned to catch these little swimmers on a fly rod. This Brazilian Fish Stew recipe from Kitchen Sanctuary is easy and so yummy. We love to serve it over rice or riced cauliflower.
24. Sweet and sour meatballs
Meatballs with an Asian flair! I love this Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe from Whole Kitchen Sink for its simple ingredients and minimal hands-on time. The chunks of pineapple are always fun for the kids.
25. Shrimp and sausage jambalaya
Shrimp and Sausage Jambalaya with rich cajun spices simmering in the crockpot is a great way to end the day! This recipe from Just Jessie B is perfect for spicing up, or spicing down. Swap andouille sausage for sweet apple and half the cayenne pepper for a more mild rendition.
Crockpot recipes for picky eaters can help your fussy kids eat healthy
Your crockpot can be one of the most helpful kitchen tools for putting healthy meals on the table for your family. Hopefully this recipe round-up of kid-friendly and picky-eater-approved dishes will inspire you to put your slow cooker to work, introduce your family to new tastes, and nourish your tribe.
Need more recipes for picky eaters? Try these kid friendly casseroles too!
