My Top 5 Go-To Crockpot Meals for Busy Homeschool Days

(Quick, family-friendly crockpot meals when the day runs long)

I’m writing this on a rainy dreary day, knowing I’m doing a crockpot meal for dinner and it got me thinking about the craziness of Back to School. I know some of our homeschool days can be really long, especially when the kids have a lot of activities going on like therapy, learning programs, library activities and classes. Other days are just long not because we planned it that way, but because life happens. A math lesson takes longer, a child has a breakdown or we just get caught up in a hands-on project.

Dinner time still comes, and everyone’s still hungry. That’s why I keep a short list of crockpot meals that save me over and over again. 

I love crockpot meals because they are easy to make, Jimmy and Lele will help make them too. Plus they’re  easy to clean up and my family loves them, which is a win for me.

1. Crockpot Chicken Tacos

• How I Make It: Place 1- 1 ½ lbs chicken breasts, 2 tbsp chili lime seasoning or  a packet of taco seasoning, 1 ½ cup chicken broth, ½ cup lime juice, ⅓ cup cilantro. Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours. Shred and serve in taco shells or tortillas with your favorite toppings
• Full recipes here.
• Why It Works: Minimal prep, customizable for picky eaters and leftovers work great for quesadillas or salads the next day. I always double this recipe so it feeds us for a new days.

2. Crockpot Shredded Beef Tacos

• How I Make It: Place 2 lbs of flank steak in the crockpot with 1-1 ½ cup beef broth, taco or chili lime seasoning, and a can of diced green chiles. Cook on low 8–9 hours or high 4–5 hours. Shred and serve with warm tortillas, cheese, lettuce, and sour cream.
• Full Recipe here.
• Why It Works: Feels like a “special” meal but requires almost no hands-on time. Plus it’s a family favorite.

3. Crockpot Philly Cheesesteak Rice Bowls

• How I Make It: Add thinly sliced beef (sirloin or round steak), 1 sliced onion, 2-3bell peppers (any color), 1 ½  cups beef broth, ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce, 2 tbsp Montreal Steak Seasoning and seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic powder). Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours. Serve over rice and top with shredded provolone or cheddar.
• Why It Works: All the flavor of a Philly cheesesteak without needing to stand over the stove. We make some version of Philly Cheesesteaks in our home at least 2-3 times a month, one of my kids is always requesting it.

4. Crockpot Salsa Chicken

• How I Make It: Add 2-3 lbs chicken breasts, 1 jar of salsa,2 cups of chicken broth and 1 pack of taco seasoning. Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours. Shred and serve over rice, in tortillas or as a topping for nachos.
• Why It Works: Just a few ingredients, but it tastes fresh and works for multiple meals. I love to use the leftover chicken for soup too.

5. Crockpot Buffalo Chicken

• How I Make It: Place 4 chicken breasts in the crockpot with 1-2 cups (depending on how spicy) mild or medium buffalo sauce and 1/2 cup ranch or blue cheese dressing. Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours. Shred and serve on buns, over rice or on a salad.
• Why It Works: A fun twist that’s flavorful without being overly spicy (you can adjust heat for kids). We love to make this and use it for leftovers for quesadillas, salad and mac and cheese.

How I Make This Work for Me

• I keep my pantry and freezer stocked with the main ingredients for these recipes.
• If I know it’s going to be a long day, I start the crockpot right after breakfast so I’m not scrambling later.
• Leftovers are planned into the week — one night of cooking can turn into 2-3 nights of dinner.

💗 Mama, dinner doesn’t have to be fancy to be nourishing.
On long homeschool days or long days even in general, the win is a meal that feeds everyone without draining you in the process.

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Love,

Billie-Jo