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It's almost Crocktober! Wish you could be sitting down to more yummy meals with the family, but always out of time or new ideas? October is your chance to turn it all around!
Crocktober Challenge | 20 Slow Cooker Recipes in 20 Days
I am sooooooooo excited about this!!! Crocktober 2024 is almost here and I seriously cannot wait!🍁🍂I just love how easy it feels to get dinner done every day. (I started Crocktober here on PPP years ago, but every year it's like coming home to a happy home favorite.)
Many of these recipes I haven't had in awhile so I'm excited to have them again! And now that the slow cooker recipe cards have pictures, it makes me even more excited!
I love that dinner is prepped early in the morning and I can settle into work and taking care of my work, our home and our family the rest of the day.
Success. 🙂
Here are a few videos from the previous Crocktobers if seeing the videos make getting dinner done a wee bit easier. 🙂
See all the PPP Crock-tober videos right over here!
Are you joining us? It's not too late!
Here's what you'll need:
- SLOW COOKER VOLUME 1 BOX – on sale for just $39 on September 29th, for 24 hours ONLY!
- SIDES BOX
OR (BEST VALUE!) try out our new Crocktober Kit!
- Get 1 Slow Cooker Meals Vol 1 (regularly $50)
- Get 1 Whipped Cream Recipe Binder (regularly $39)
- Get 1 Wooden Block Recipe Holder (regularly $12)
- Pay $69 – that's 30% off regular price!
From October 7th through November 1st, I'm challenging you to join me and make dinner in Mrs. Potts (aka your crockpot or slow cooker) every single day Monday-Friday for 4 straight weeks. We're using some of our most popular Crockpot Recipes and making slow cooker meals each day. (I can't wait for the Asian lettuce wraps and Italian Chicken Sandwiches – yum!)
Print your Crocktober Calendar HERE
We'll be using all recipes from the Sides Menu Box and the Slow Cooker Volume 1 Meal Plan – Snag yours here! (Don't worry – if your recipe box doesn't arrive by the start of the challenge you can always use the Free Digital copy that's included) 🙂
Note: the challenge is for four-weeks, but the menu plan actually includes a whopping 12-weeks of slow cooker meals & desserts!
I'll be going live on the main Passionate Penny Pincher Facebook Page each morning making dinner with you between 8 and 9:30 AM Eastern Time each day. (I'm shooting for 9AM Eastern time most days, but have to be a little flexible because of my family's schedule!)
Remember you can always watch the replays on Facebook later in the day as well if you miss me in the morning, and we'll also post all of the Crocktober videos updated right over HERE on Youtube too.
Here's what's on the menu plan for our Crocktober Challenge (we'll be following along with weeks 1-4 from the Slow Cooker Meal Plans Volume 1 and Sides from the Sides Meal Plan HERE)
WEEK ONE – STARTING 10/7/24
- Monday – chicken parmesan
- Tuesday -tortellini soup
- Wednesday – chicken enchiladas
- Thursday – barbecue ribs + best baked beans
- Friday – breakfast casserole + copycat cracker barrel fried apples
- Saturday – leftover buffet + chocolate lava cake
WEEK TWO – STARTING 10/14/24
- Monday – ravioli lasagna
- Tuesday – chicken pot pie
- Wednesday – ham and cheese melts
- Thursday – white chicken chili
- Friday – chicken nachos
- Saturday – leftover buffet + apple crumble
WEEK THREE – STARTING 10/21/24
- Monday – french dip sliders + ranch roasted potatoes
- Tuesday – buffalo chicken lettuce wraps
- Wednesday – vegetable beef and barley stew
- Thursday – chicken cordon bleu + garlic mashed potatoes
- Friday – meat lovers chili
- Saturday – leftover buffet + monkey bread
WEEK FOUR – STARTING 10/28/24
- Monday – taco lasagna + creamed corn
- Tuesday – balsamic glazed pork loin + southern-style green beans
- Wednesday – cashew chicken
- Thursday – open-faced sirloin sandwiches
- Friday – buffalo chicken chili
- Saturday – leftover buffet + mug brownies
I can't wait to spend this month with you ~ we're going to have a fantastic time feeding our family well all month long! Go HERE to snag your menu plans, and leave a comment if you have any questions at all. I'm cheering for you!
Need a new slow cooker?
If you plan on making oodles of Crockpot Recipes with me – or just on your own time! – you might be looking to start with a new slow cooker.
If you're looking for a new Mrs. Potts (like I was this week) you can see a few of our team favorite slow cookers here!
This All-Clad 7-Qt Slow Cooker is my favorite – it was a gift from my whole team a few years ago and I love it even though it's SO much more than I would normally spend!
If you're looking for a slow cooker that does alll the things, this Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 10-1 Slow Cooker might be just what you need! It looks fancy, works well and is only $59.
But honestly I have owned DOZENS of slow cookers over the years and between me and my team – these are our BEST recommendations:
Best Basic Slow Cooker
The go-to housewarming gift 🙂
This Hamilton Beach 6 Quart Slow Cooker is a great beginner slow cooker – it has good 6 Quart Capacity, and while it's simple – it is a trusted name in slow cooking.
Best Small Slow Cooker
Empty nesting or just starting a family? This is the one for you!
If you're looking for a small slow cooker to make recipes for 2-4 people, you can't go wrong with the Crock-Pot Round Slowcooker 4.5 Qt Manual Slow Cooker. It's under $20 at Target right now!
Best Large Slow Cooker
If you love to host gatherings at your house – or just have a brood of your own – you'll want the 8 Quart size.
This spacious 8-Quart Crockpot is perfect for cooking for a crowd –although this Beautiful 8 Qt Slow Cooker at Walmart is so pretty AND has a spoonrest!
Best Programmable Slow Cooker
Set it and forget it – when you can't be in the home all day to start and stop the slow cooker exactly when you need to – a programmable feature is your best friend!
The Crock-Pot 6-Q Programmable Cook & Carry Slow Cooker is the one I use most days (Except mine's an older model) and I LOVE it! It's got the same portable features as the Cook & Carry (below) – but it's also PROGRAMMABLE. I love the extra feature of being able to program it to change over to low heat after a couple hours. I feel like it's the most well rounded crockpot!
Best Portable Slow Cooker
Take that chili on the road! (WITHOUT having a floorboard full of chili by the time you arrive)….
The Crock-Pot 6 Qt Cook & Carry Slow Cooker is really practical & big enough for almost any potluck recipe you can imagine. (The new design is beautiful too!) Take it on the road without worrying about spills. I have owned and loved this crock pot and so has PPP Team Member Jamie!
Slow Cooker That Sautes (and bakes!)
Ninja Possible Pan – The Ninja 4-in-1 of olden days was the one just about everyone on our team used to death. This beauty is the newest model! The nonstick insert lets you saute vegetables, sear meats, and avoid using the stove at all in advance of turning on the slow cooker part of the meal. Boil in it or even remove the insert and pop it in the oven to put it under the broiler for the last 10 minutes! And the spoonrest? The icing on the cake.
Our whole team is curiously eyeing this beautiful gal – let us know if you've tried it!
I can't wait to spend this month with you ~ we're going to have a fantastic time feeding our family well all month long!
Love the Crocktober focus, I just have to throw this recommendation in to the mix, I love my Cuisinart SL, I actually like the smaller size, just enough for 6, but also perfect for my husband and I with leftoverrs. I like it because you can truly cook it on low for up to 10 hours and it will not be overcooked, we have had Crockpot brand pots that overcook. This one has worked so well for many years that I wouldn’t get anything different, Cuisinart PSC-350 3-1/2-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, Silver, 9-1/2 in H x 9.1 in W x 12.67 in L.
The link for the calendar isn’t working.
Thanks for letting us know. We are working on it now!
Does any from the New England Area who works full time (Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm) participate in Crocktober?
Hello from New England.
I haven’t used my crock in years. I’ll be cleaning here up now. I’ve got my meals planned through the end on the year. This gives me more time to focus on Holidays. Se what you just did to me. Now I have to redo October. Well I’m sure my Mrs Potts will be delighted to come out of her dark corner of the cabinet and Start crocking the day away again.
I am impressed. Your meals planned through the end of the year! Wow! Goals.
Enjoy the crockpot!
About the meal planner yesterday cannot wait to try these recipes I’m going to see what I have within my pantry to see what recipes I can make right now I love crockpot meals they make them so easy but also battle with picky kids as they feel everything I make in the crockpot it’s like soups or stews and they do not like soup or stew LOL So I can’t wait to try out these recipes
I promise these are different than other crockpot recipes and I think you will love them! I do try to add kid friendly sides (carrot sticks, homemade bread, cheese and crackers and fresh fruit on soup nights), to help make them a little more kid friendly for sure (and I make them try at least some of the meal!) I have picky kids but my older two now eat almost everything (and the third one is getting better all the time – she loved the lasagna!) 🙂 Hope that helps!
Hoping FB and IG come back but if they don’t will you post something here or on YouTube regarding today’s CP Lasagna meal?? I love your lives so hope IG works soon! I’ve got my Lasagna in my crockpot at the moment.
Regards,
Susan
Hi Susan! You can watch me finish it up over here on tiktok (hopefully things will work better tomorrow!) https://www.tiktok.com/@passionatepennypincher/video/7015337529134140677?ref=c-225898&s-id=174590198&utm_source=postscript&is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1
My crockpot doesn’t have a timer. I only have the option to cook my lasagna 4 or 6 on high or 8 or 10 on low. Which option would be better for it?
I’m afraid either of those will be too long Toni! If you’re not at home where you can unplug, do you by any chance have a timer you could use? I’ve tried one like this! https://amzn.to/3oyzxN4
Good afternoon Laurie, just wondering are you prepping everything before hand? Or is everything being done the same day?
Hi Lydia! I’ll be doing most of the recipes morning of (if they do require much prep work like pre cooking meat, I may do that the night before just to make my mornings go a little more smoothly.) Hope that helps!
What was the book stand you showed you were using for the planner on your counter and do you know the size of it.
Thanks.. looking forward to “crocktober”. I prepped my items for the start tomorrow…I’m reducing them for two on some recipes. ❤️
You can get more info here Ginger! 🙂 So glad you’ll be joining us for Crocktober ~ yay! https://passionatepennypincher.com/bamboo-book-stand/
Here you go Ginger! 🙂 I have the 8×11 one – hope that helps! https://amzn.to/47FXUg5
This link goes to a timer outlet. Is that what you wanted to post?
Whoops! Here’s the correct link, Gail! https://amzn.to/47FXUg5
Hi Laurie! If I remember correctly, you lost some weight on WW some time ago (you look amazing btw). So I was just curious if these are healthy-ish dishes or if they could be tweaked to be lighter? Thank you!
Hi Tiffany! They do include calorie counts, and I usually just eat a big salad alongside the main meal – especially for meals that are carb heavy days! That way I’m eating what my family eats but also still making sure to watch my calories a bit. Hope that helps!
Thanks for the tips, that helps ease my mind that l can still use the plans and watch my weight!
Hi there! Any chance there might be a gluten free variation for crocktober? Thanks in advance!!
Hi Amanda! At this time we don’t have a gluten free variation, but you could probably tweak many of the recipes to make them gluten free! (Or, you can still crock along with us using your own favorite gluten free crockpot recipes)! 🙂 Hope that helps!
Do you do vegetarian meals?
Hi Ceci! At this time we don’t have a completely vegetarian menu plan, but we’re definitely keeping it in mind as an idea for the future! 🙂
Please (please!) strongly consider this! I love your planners & have longingly looked at your recipe boxes… but as a vegetarian family I’d have to change too much to use them.
Thank you for the suggestion! We are always adding those to our list of items to add to our shop. We appreciate your feedback!
Are the recipes PDF so I can save and print them myself? International shipping is so backlogged that it wont arrive until Christmas or later…..
We do have a PDF of the recipes Vikki, yes! 🙂 We’ll be using Weeks 9-12 of the Slow Cooker Menu Plan here! –> https://shop.passionatepennypincher.com/collections/digital/products/slow-cooker-meal-plans-pdf-download
Just bought the slow cooker meal box a few weeks back! Didn’t even know about crocktober but I’m SO excited for this! Just had a baby a week ago so having flexibility with when I can make/prep meals is going to be fabulous! I’M HERE FOR IT LAURIE! Can’t help but notice you’re not doing the desserts for each week?!? ☹️ Would love to see those as a bonus on the weekends maybe!?!
Oh I love that Heather Jo! If I have time I may try and fit in the desserts too – they are so yummy! (Also congratulations on the new baby!)
I love the idea of adding in a dessert each week. Great idea!!
Congrats to my PPP sister on the new baby. Mine are 17 and 13 and I sometimes wish I could snuggle them and smell their sweet baby faces again.
Are you giving ideas for sides for some of the recipes? I have difficulty with knowing what goes with.
Hi Paulette! I typically do bread, salad, or potatoes and just plain veggies as we go through the recipes, but will give tips throughout the month as we go! Hope that helps!
Do you freeze the meals after? That’s a lot of food for a family of four every night.
Yes, you can freeze leftovers if you like Denise, or you could cut the recipe in half when preparing it! 🙂 Hope that helps!
Same here, now that we’re down to two of us. We don’t mind leftovers and one meal will feed us for multiple days, so I probably won’t make a new one every day. I’ve had the crockpot recipes for several years now so will pick and choose what we prefer but is always motivational to watch Laurie make them!
If you are comfortable with the idea, you could also make the whole recipe, but freeze half before cooking, for another day. Or the whole recipe.
For example:
My plan for week one (We are two adults and a 12 year old girl at home)
Lasagna – cook it all – we like pasta leftovers
Minestrone – cook, and freeze the leftovers
Mexican style beef – freeze the recipe before cooking for another day
Pork cacciatore – prep the recipe, put half the porkchops in a freezer bag, dump in half the sauce and freeze, cook the other half
Chicken philly cheesesteak – prep the recipe, freeze half, cook half
Hope this helps you out!
This is a great help. Thank you for sharing how you modify so there’s no waste.
Thank you
Great idea! I am doing this Karin! Can you please share you plan for the other 3 weeks? I want to copy that too. Thank you!
Karin, thanks! It’s just us two and but I cook also for MIL and her sitter. Still, the recipes would be more for even the four of us. I appreciate your thoughts on separating the contents.
We are a family of four as well. My husband and I take the leftovers for lunch the next day,
Love that Kim! 🙂
For those of us with smaller families to feed, Do we make the dish and then freeze ?
Hi Carol! You could either cut the recipe in half when preparing it, or yes, you could totally make the whole recipe and then freeze half! 🙂 Hope that helps!
Thank You
We eat leftovers for lunch the next day!
Love that Tameka! 🙂
Do you have a video for each recipe? Making my first recipe tonight.
Hi Shirley! We don’t have a video for every recipe in the menu plans, but we are cooking our way through this year’s 20 Crocktober recipes! You can catch the ones we’ve done so far in the video section of our Facebook page here! 🙂 Hope that helps, and happy cooking! –> https://bit.ly/37JlfAv
I love the slow cooker recipes!! I wish I had the dessert recipes, they weren’t in the slow cooker pdf I bought earlier this year.
So glad to hear you love the recipes Danielle! 🙂 Hmm, you should have gotten the dessert recipes already emailed to you last month (we did that as a thanks!), but if you don’t see them, you can email us at shop@passionatepennypincher.com, and we can send them over again! 🙂 Enjoy!
i am actually doing week 6 this week.
Slow Cooker Jambalaya
Slow Cooker King Ranch Chicken
Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork
Slow Cooker Beef Gyros
Love that Jodi ~ YUM! 🙂
I bought you slow cooker box recently and am looking forward to starting. What I was wondering is if any of these meals are easy to freeze as there is just my husband and myself?
I think many of the recipes would also work well as freezer meals Sheila! (You can maybe just split them in half ~ put half the recipe in your slow cooker for that day’s meal, and half in a freezer bag to have for another time!) 🙂
I purchased the box of slow crooker recipes but they haven’t arrived yet how do I get the Crocktober menu plan for this coming week?
Hi Sandy! You should have received an email with all the recipes when you purchased your box (it might have gone to you spam folder!), but if you don’t see it, you can email us at shop@passionatepennypincher.com and we can send it to you again. 🙂 So glad you’ll be joining us!
I’m looking to get a new crockpot. What was it about the 5in 1 crockpot that won you over?
Here ya go Chrissy! https://amzn.to/33ptSOo
Are the recipes the same as in the past? I have purchased all three meal plans. Is there anything new this Crocktober? Lovin, the recipes and want to be sure we have them all!!!
These are the same as last Fall Vickie, however we DID add desserts this year! 🙂 (If you purchased the old set, you should have gotten an email with the new dessert recipes included (we did that as a thanks!), but if you’d like the physical cards for the desserts, we have that as an option to purchase as well. You can take a peek over here if you’d like ~ hope that helps! 🙂 –> https://shop.passionatepennypincher.com/
How come 4 meals week three rather than 5?
Just Curious
There are 5 meals plus a dessert recipe each week.
A bit disappointed that this years crocktober costs $39 to even get the recipes. I guess I will follow a previous years plan this year since there is no way we can afford $39 since I am out of work.
You refer to a previous years plan—I just want to make sure you know that these recipes are taken from the slow cooker meal plan and cards and PDFs that came out last year. So if you bought the 12-week plan tin or PDFs last year, this is weeks 5-8 of that same plan. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t think this was four “new” weeks of recipes and costs another $39.
Yes, that’s correct Jo ~ thanks so much for the clarification and reminder! 🙂