Almost every Wednesday during the school year, my kids and I are gone from 7:30am to 5:15pm. It is our music co-op day.
My kids are busy with band, orchestra, choir, color guard, jazz band, and private lessons for various instruments. A couple of my kids also go to another co-op partway through the day and then come back. All combined, they take seventeen classes on Wednesday!
But the fun doesn’t end when we get home. Within about fifteen minutes of walking through the door we are eating dinner in order for most of the family to go right back out the door to Wednesday evening church activities. It’s a very quick turnaround.
Wednesday is definitely our busiest day of the week. But there is one thing I refuse to do in spite of the chaos…resort to takeout or processed foods. It is still a top priority to focus on real, nourishing food – one of the pillars of Kitchen Stewardship®.
Real Food Recipe for Busy Families
Wednesdays at my house require all-in-one Crockpot meals that take ten minutes or less to get started in the morning (it’s total madness trying to get everyone up and ready on time). My go-to solution is roasting a whole chicken or beef roast earlier in the week and then using the leftover meat and broth along with some veggies for soup. I pair it with bread or muffins for a nourishing dinner.
There’s just one problem. My youngest hates soup.
There is no such thing as picky eating in my house (learn more about how we have overcome selective eating HERE). So I do still make soup sometimes. But it has also forced me to get a bit more creative with our Wednesday dinners. I don’t want to make a food I know my child really dislikes week after week.
And that is how my insanely easy Crockpot nachos recipe was born.
Crockpot Dinners to Make Evenings Smooth
Having an easy dinner in the slow cooker on Wednesday (and a prep-ahead breakfast and lunches packed) means prepping a LOT of food on Tuesday…which also happens to be somewhat busy with both gymnastics and soccer. So anytime I can minimize my prep work, I’m all for it.
I still roast a whole chicken or beef roast earlier in the week (in the slow-cooker). Instead of using the meat and broth for soup, I transform it into delicious nachos…that the self-proclaimed soup hater absolutely loves. As does the rest of the family.
Dice or shred the meat when you are cleaning up dinner earlier in the week. Store it in the refrigerator or freezer until you want to make slow cooker nachos.
Crockpot Nachos Kids Love
It only takes about ten minutes in the morning to add broth, meat, black beans (canned or cooked ahead in the Instant Pot), salsa (canned or homemade), and your favorite taco seasonings like chili powder, cumin, garlic, and onion to the Crockpot. That’s the base recipe that I stick to.
But you can certainly make it your own with:
- diced onions
- diced tomatoes
- corn
- diced peppers
- diced green onions
- olives
- jalapenos
Slow Cooker Nachos Recipe for Busy Days
Let’s be honest. The best part of nachos is the toppings. This is another way to make this slow cooker dinner fit your family’s taste preferences. Some great options for nacho toppings include:
- shredded cheese
- sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
- smashed avocado or guacamole
- salsa
- diced tomatoes
- sliced olives
- shredded lettuce
Set-it and Forget-it Crockpot Nachos
While these slow cooker nachos take a little forethought to have the meat on hand (roast chicken, roast beef, cooked ground beef/turkey/chicken/lamb/venison, chicken breasts, or chicken thighs are all great options!), the rest is about as easy as it gets. Just dump everything into the Crockpot and stir. You can truly set it and forget it.
The most delicious nachos you’ve ever tasted will be waiting for you at dinner time. The timing on this recipe is very forgiving. It can be ready in a few hours or cook for the entire day. The nachos will taste great either way.
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Quick-Prep Crockpot Nachos Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow cooker
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These easy nachos are a family favorite for busy weeknights!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. pre-cooked meat of choice, shredded or cubed (chicken, beef, ground meat, lamb, turkey, venison, or pork)
- 1 16-0z. can of black beans (drained) or 2 cups cooked black beans
- 1 15–oz. jar of salsa or 2 cups homemade salsa (canned or fresh)
- 1 cup broth or water
- 1 tsp. sea salt (Use the code kitchenstewardship for 15% off of your first purchase)
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker and stir.
- Cook on low heat 4-10 hours.
- Serve over rice, on tortillas, over lettuce, or with chips with favorite nacho toppings.
Notes
- Optional add-ins: onion, tomato, corn, peppers, jalapeno, green onion
- Optional toppings: guacamole, salsa, lettuce, olives, cheese, sour cream
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2-1 cup
- Calories: 423
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 448mg
- Fat: 8.5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 19g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 26mg
Real Food Ready for Dinner
Finally, we get to the good part. It’s time to serve nachos!
Whether you started your slow cooker nachos first thing in the morning or waited until noon to get them cooking, dinner is ready whenever you need it.
My family prefers to eat this as nachos with tortilla chips. But you can really get creative here, turning the meat and bean mixture into tacos, taco salad, or serving it over rice. It would even make a great filling for quesadillas or burritos. You really can’t go wrong. Just don’t forget the toppings! They really take this meal to the next level.
Easy Crockpot Dinners for Families
While sometimes it seems like my kids would be totally fine with eating nachos every Wednesday, I do like to get some variety. So I have a few strategies for creating easy meals for busy weeknights that my family loves without compromising quality.
- Ask for suggestions. This one may seem obvious, but how often are you stumped on what to make for dinner? Just ask your family. Even if they don’t give you exactly the right type of meal you need, it will help you think of something that does. Maybe you can modify one of the requests to cook in the slow cooker or Instant Pot instead of on the stove. Or turn a favorite hot dish into a cold salad. We like to serve sweet and sour meatballs (cooked in the slow cooker) on homemade buns for meatball subs.
- Get help in the kitchen. Sometimes the biggest barrier is your time. You just don’t have the time to do all of the prep work. This is a great opportunity to invite your kids into the kitchen. Young kids can rip lettuce or chop soft veggies. Older kids can cut up potatoes, brown meat, or make a sauce. If you divide and conquer, you’ll have dinner prepped in no time.
- Don’t be afraid to serve cold food. Salads and sandwiches are easy dinners that can be ready whenever you need them. We love chicken salad or homemade lunch meat on homemade buns paired with layered salad. Make it a day or two in advance. Dinner is ready whenever you need it. A big kid-friendly salad bar is another great option.
Easy Nachos or Tacos Any Night
Crockpot nachos (or tacos, taco salads, or taco bowls) taste great year-round, whether you are having a busy week or you simply don’t want to heat the house or stand at the stove all day in the summer. Put these nourishing nachos on your menu this week! They are sure to be a hit.
Do you prefer nachos, tacos, taco bowls, or taco salads? Which will you make with this simple Crockpot recipe?
