Set It & Forget It: 3 Delicious Crockpot Meals Under $30 (MM#11)

Our last crockpot meal plan was such a hit that we couldn’t resist making another one! Because honestly, what’s more low-effort than tossing a few ingredients into the slow cooker and letting it do all the work?

These 3 budget-friendly meals are perfect for hot days when you don’t want to turn on the oven, and they’re super adaptable to whatever you have on hand.

Whether you’re juggling back-to-school chaos or just trying to keep dinner simple, this under-$30 crockpot plan has you covered.

Grocery List Needed for the Mini Menu

If you want to see the full shopping list on Walmart in your area, all you have to do is click my Walmart Grocery list and change the zip code to your area. *This is an affiliate link, and I do make a small commission on any purchases, but at no additional cost to you!*

**** Please note, that every once in a while, an item that I pick turns out to be regional. This means that it may be a much higher price in some areas. Always double check the list and if you see an item that is much higher than normal, just adjust as needed.

Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta with Peas

This is all the fun of creamy cheesy flavor but without the alfredo sauce or the block of cheese! This is one of those meals that I love to eat with a slice of French Bread, so if you have a couple extra dollars (already have seasonings maybe?) in your budget, you may want to grab a loaf!

Mississippi Style Ranch Chicken Tacos with Corn

I recently discovered that you don’t have to include the stick of butter for the Mississippi style to work. You can totally just use chicken broth or water! So, if you want the extra buttery flavor, you can totally use a stick of butter, but you don’t have to!

Cranberry Pork Roast with Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans

I am a huge fan of Thanksgiving dinner, and this is totally giving me Thanksgiving in July vibes. You could even swap out the pork for a turkey breast if you like! This is such a comfort food but also totally full of flavor too.

Possible Variations

This week we are using 3 lbs of chicken breasts, but honestly any cut of chicken will work. You could even use chicken instead of the pork loin. Don’t be limited to what a recipe says, instead look around at what you already have.

Check that pantry, fridge, and freezer before going to the store. Using what you already have not only leads to you spending less at the grocery store, but it may also just open your eyes to so many flavor combinations.

What do I mean? Well, if you like a sauce on chicken, you may also like it on pork….so why not try it out? This now gives you two different meals to choose from with the same sauce.

Once you start doing this over and over again, you will realize that ingredients are meant to be swapped and substituted! There is no one use item in a kitchen except for a fire extinguisher! 🙂

Free Printable Grocery List & Recipes

Here is a 1-page cheat sheet that includes the grocery list as well as all the recipes you need to make this budget mini menu work!

Don’t forget to check out our full week menus, as well as join our email newsletter for more fun and affordable meal ideas!