20 High-Protein Crockpot Meals to Feed a Hungry Family

When your crew is hungry and your schedule is packed, the slow cooker can be your best friend—especially with meals that deliver serious staying power. These high-protein crockpot recipes are designed to be filling, flavorful, and totally family-approved.

Slow Cooker Brats

crockpot brats — Photo Credit: My Everyday Table.

If you have ten minutes and a slow cooker you can make this Wisconsin-style brat recipe. You will appreciate this recipe as the temperatures dip below freezing, and you can get the flavor you crave without freezing over the grill!

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Brats.

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Once your shredded chicken is done cooking in the slow cooker, layer it on some slider rolls with melty cheese and ranch butter over the top. A quick cook in the oven and everything is melty and delicious! Serve with carrots, celery, and extra ranch.

Get the Recipe: Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sliders.

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa

Tacos with beef barbacoa and avocado chunks. — Photo Credit: Recipe Runner.

Make this shredded barbacoa beef in your slow cooker for a homemade take on taco night that no one can resist. This version slowly cooks a tougher cut of beef to transform it into the most tender and saucy taco filling.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa.

Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki

If you are craving takeout at home, try this slow-cooker recipe for chicken teriyaki! You’ll have a flavorful and easy dinner waiting for you – with minimal work. The chicken is coated in a jarred teriyaki sauce for a true dump-and-go recipe! Serve with rice and a veggie and dinner is done.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki.

Crockpot Salsa Chicken

This crockpot salsa chicken is easy, versatile, and incredibly flavorful! Made with just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep, let the slow cooker do the rest of the work. You’ll have flavorful and juicy chicken for tacos, salads, bowls, and more. Perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep, this recipe is as delicious as it is effortless.

Get the Recipe: Crockpot Salsa Chicken.

Italian Beef Sandwiches

An Italian beef sandwich with peppers rings and cheese. — Photo Credit: Modern Honey.

Make these slow-cooker beef sandwiches and pile them with cheese and peppers! This easy recipe delivers authentic Italian flavors in each bite. From the tender beef to the blend of spices. You will want to repeat this recipe often as these sandwiches are even better than your local sub shop!

Get the Recipe: Italian Beef Sandwiches.

Chicken Fajitas

Make these chicken fajitas for a colorful and aromatic weeknight dinner. This recipe is so easy you can set it and forget it until it is time to eat. You can pair chicken fajitas with Spanish rice, chips, and salsa or a side salad for a complete meal.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Fajitas.

Crockpot Pesto Chicken

You’ll need just two ingredients for this flavorful and juicy chicken. It uses budget-friendly chicken thighs to stretch your grocery budget and keep your chicken juicy. Pile this saucy chicken on bread for sandwiches and add a bit of fresh mozzarella and fresh tomatoes for a Caprese-inspired meal.

Get the Recipe: Crockpot Pesto Chicken.

Crockpot Chicken and Gravy

This crockpot chicken and gravy recipe is a great choice for weeknights when you want something comforting, filling, and delicious – without a lot of prep time or work to make it happen. Chicken thighs are cooked in a creamy gravy and served over tender egg noodles with a veggie on the side. It’s the ultimate comfort food dinner!

Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chicken and Gravy.

Shredded Buffalo Chicken

Slow cooker buffalo chicken is a must-make for dinner or game day snacks. This recipe is so easy, you only need five ingredients and a crockpot. Let the chicken cook low and slow in buffalo sauce to make a versatile protein option.

Make sandwiches or sliders, pile it on nachos, or scoop some up with celery. No matter how you serve it, your family and friends are going to LOVE it.

Get the Recipe: Shredded Buffalo Chicken.

Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

A spoon lifting saucy meatballs from a slow cooker. — Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

Make some Swedish meatballs the easy way; in your slow cooker! These saucy shortcut meatballs start with a bag of frozen meatballs and a can of cream of mushroom soup. While they are practically effortless, they taste amazing.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs.

Chickpea Potato Curry

This curry is so delicious and wholesome. With canned tomatoes, coconut milk, and common pantry staples you can make this chickpea potato curry in the slow cooker for a fuss-free family dinner that is even better than takeout. Serve over rice for a filling meal.

Get the Recipe: Chickpea Potato Curry.

Crockpot Birria Tacos

Make some warmly spiced beef birria tacos in your slow cooker. The combination of cozy seasonings, tender beef, and rich chili sauce will have your family coming back for seconds of these easy pan-fried tacos!

Get the Recipe: Crockpot Birria Tacos.

Sesame Chicken

Make this slow cooker sesame chicken when you have a craving for take out, but not the budget. This recipe is so easy and makes the sauciest sesame chicken. Serve it over rice or noodles.

Get the Recipe: Sesame Chicken.

Bourbon Chicken

There is nothing quite like bourbon chicken! This recipe makes it at home, the easy way. It starts with chicken thighs cooked in a yummy brown sugar sauce. Serve this over rice for food court flavor from your crockpot.

Get the Recipe: Bourbon Chicken.

Slow Cooker Lamb Stew

If it has been a while since you enjoyed a cozy bowl of lamb stew, consider this recipe your sign to make it in your slow cooker! This wholesome recipe is packed with potatoes and carrots for a hearty and filling dinner.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Lamb Stew.

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Two bbq chicken sandwiches on a plate, with coleslaw on top.

Make some saucy shredded chicken sandwiches in your slow cooker. This recipe is so delicious and easy that it makes the ultimate weeknight meal. Top them with coleslaw of you like, or even a slice of cheese. This recipe is also great for tailgating parties as it can feed a crowd.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches.

Alabama White BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

A bbq chicken sandwich made with white sauce, with pasta salad on the side. — Photo Credit: Flavorful Eats.

Pop some chicken in the slow cooker with Alabama white BBQ sauce for a great dinner. This recipe couldn’t be easier. Or tastier! This recipe makes homemade BBQ sauce with simple pantry staples for a crowd-pleasing sandwich filling.

Get the Recipe: Alabama White BBQ Chicken Sandwiches.

Crockpot Shredded Beef

shredded beef in a slow cooker — Photo Credit: My Everyday Table.

This shredded beef recipe is so versatile that you will want to make it time and time again. Top tacos with it, make sandwiches piled high with shredded beef, make some epic nachos, or add it to beef stew. The possibilities are endless, and you are sure to enjoy all of the options!

Get the Recipe: Crockpot Shredded Beef.

BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders

A slider filled with shredded bbq chicken and coleslaw. — Photo Credit: The Heirloom Pantry.

These saucy pulled chicken sliders are a quick, easy, and delicious dinner! The crunchy coleslaw topping adds texture, flavor, and color. You can also use the meat for a yummy spin on tacos, nachos, and more.

Get the Recipe: BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders.