Crock Pot Recipes for a Busy School Year

[RealLifeMama]

With out current schedule, I am going to need to employ my crock pot twice a week. That is 8 recipes a month. We like variety, so I am thinking if I had 16 really good ones, I can rotate those.

Chicken crock pot recipes are hit or miss with my family. Only if I am cooking chicken to shred for sandwiches or making chicken chili do they really like it. I can probably get away a non-chicken chili dish once a month. Most recipes I find are chicken, or they are not real food ingredients. (canned soup, etc.)

This is a favorite
Turkey Black Bean Chili
http://newleafwellness.biz/2013/02/13/slow-cooker-turkey-black-bean-chili/

Turkey Sloppy Joes
DD made these Turkey Sloppy Joes yesterday. They were really good. Most of my kids liked them better than our usual ground beef joes.
http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/sloppy-joe-recipe
She made them on the stovetop, but I bet they would be good in the crock pot.



Chicken Taco Soup
1 onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans, rinsed - I use pintos if I can't find organic chili beans w/ no sugar or questionable ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained - I use frozen
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer, (or broth)
2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilis, undrained
1 package taco seasoning, (1.25 ounces) - I use 2-3 tbs homemade
2 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts
Put all ingredients in crock pot, cook on low all day, shred chicken when done.

That is three. I need 13 more!

[2sunshines]

Does your family like pot roast? Super easy in the crock pot and you can also add the veggies right in and get a good meat, potato, veggies and gravy in one.

I also sometimes crock pot a roast and then shred to serve over rice or pasta or potatoes or whatever the starch of the day might be.

[charla]

Vegetable Beef Soup (https://allfood.recipes/easy-vegetable-beef-soup/) - it's not a slow cooker recipe, but it could easily be adapted to that, just brown the grown beef and saute the veggies, then add all to the slow cooker.
I don't know how many slow cookers you have, but I make a whole meal in three crockpots: Roast beef, creamy crockpot mashed potatoes (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/367747125802592998/), green beans.
This is a really easy recipe, but it may not fit your criteria for real food: Crockpot Meatball and Tortellini Soup (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/367747125795171870/).
Poor Man's Stew (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/367747125803744968/)
Crockpot Stuffed Bell Peppers (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/367747125801428719/)Don't cook the peppers too long or they will fall apart.
Meatball Parm (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/367747125801037165/)
Slow cooker Lasagna Soup (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/367747125805085605/)
Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/367747125796332680/) - I usually add 8 oz of cream cheese to this to make it more creamy
Italian Beef Stew (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/367747125792679967/)

[RealLifeMama]

:yes
We like pot roast. And beef stew, which I make almost the same.
Thanks for the reminder.

Charla, those look good. My family would enjoy a lot of those. By "real", I mean no Velveeta, canned cream of or French onion soup, mostly.

[DahliaRW]

I have a really good roast recipe. I'll have to dig and find it.

This Thai chicken curry is good. You could use another type of meat or even just veggies. http://showmetheyummy.com/crockpot-thai-chicken-curry/

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[LoveIsGentle]

I really like this one. http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/bbq-pulled-pork-sandwiches-slow-cooker/

[2TMama]

Subbing....

[Kiara.I]

Barley and Shiitake Mushroom Dinner (http://www.alive.com/recipe/barley-and-shiitake-mushroom-dinner/). It's yummy, and the bonus is that if you sub vegetable broth in for the beef broth, it's vegan (in case you have any vegan or vegetarian friends who might need to be fed sometime...)

[DahliaRW]

Here is the roast recipe. It turns out really flavorful. I rub the seasonings on the roast rather than just dumping it in. http://newleafwellness.biz/2014/07/23/slow-cooker-beef-roast-carrots/

[ashbobash]

Kalyn's kitchen website has some good slow cooker recipes without "cream of" ingredients. You might also search for "whole 30" slow cooker recipes for real food options.

I'm in the same boat this school year! Following along.

[Beth1231]

I washed a whole chicken and dumped two jars of garlic tomato sauce on top. Not exactly sure how that will become dinner,but that was my five minute dinner prep this morning :shifty

[2TMama]

Beth, who knows....may turn out to be a family favorite! :P~ Serving over noodles?

[RealLifeMama]

This is great.
Thanks!

Keep them coming!

[2sunshines]

I washed a whole chicken and dumped two jars of garlic tomato sauce on top. Not exactly sure how that will become dinner,but that was my five minute dinner prep this morning :shifty

To me that sounds like a perfectly acceptable dinner prep method. :yes

How did it turn out?

[bananacake]

White bean chili
Minestrone
Lentil soup
BBQ chicken
Buffalo chicken
Sloppy joes



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[Laurlor]

Last summer when we visited my BFF, she made this recipe of Red Beans & Rice (http://www.food.com/recipe/crescent-city-red-beans-rice-crock-pot-373619). It was SO good and I've been meaning to try it.

[sunflowermom]

:cup I'm going to start using our crock pot more too. :yes

[Virginia]

DH made this the other day and it was delicious:
http://www.familyfreshmeals. com/2014/06/roast-a-whole-chicken-in-the-crockpot.html

[SalH]

I just bagged up 6 slow cooker meals last night to freeze, empty into pot, and cook. One more to do this morning. Just bought a new slow cooker, no idea how good it is or how the family will like the new recipes....


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[SalH]

2 meals down. Both fantastic. :)


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[RealLifeMama]

What did you make?
Freezer to crock would be even more ideal.
I made some I found on New Leaf Wellness. The turkey black bean chili I listed was one, and it was very good. Some others, like the Thai Peanut Chicken, did not come out well.

[bananacake]

Last summer when we visited my BFF, she made this recipe of Red Beans & Rice (http://www.food.com/recipe/crescent-city-red-beans-rice-crock-pot-373619). It was SO good and I've been meaning to try it.

I'm planning to make this tomorrow. Except I don't have sausage and was hoping improv some cajun seasoning. Will it still be good?

[SalH]

What did you make?

Freezer to crock would be even more ideal.

I made some I found on New Leaf Wellness. The turkey black bean chili I listed was one, and it was very good. Some others, like the Thai Peanut Chicken, did not come out well.



So far we have eaten beef ragu, short cut jambalaya and today it's chicken curry.

You can't cook them from frozen because of the risk of food poisoning. Today's hasn't defrosted overnight so I've got the bag in a bowl of water. Worked on the jambalaya.




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---------- Post added at 08:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:01 AM ----------

I'm planning to make this tomorrow. Except I don't have sausage and was hoping improv some cajun seasoning. Will it still be good?



Sausage would add extra flavouring but just adjust your seasoning?


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[Laurlor]

I'm planning to make this tomorrow. Except I don't have sausage and was hoping improv some cajun seasoning. Will it still be good?

Personally, I think the sausage adds a lot to it, but you definitely can improv the seasoning. My BFF who originally made it for me made a bunch of changes to the recipe so I'll share them with you:

--omit ham hock
--instead of powdered chicken stock, she uses 2 boxes of broth
--omit dried chipotle powder
--omit liquid smoke
--omit bay leaves
--saute onion & bell pepper first
--omit salt
--omit butter
--omit Tabasco sauce
--cut up sausage and brown. Add right before serving.

[SalH]

I don't know about chipotle flavouring but I would consider adding paprika generously.


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[ViolaMum]

I don't know about chipotle flavouring but I would consider adding paprika generously.


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Especially smoked paprika if you've got it.

[bananacake]

Last summer when we visited my BFF, she made this recipe of Red Beans & Rice (http://www.food.com/recipe/crescent-city-red-beans-rice-crock-pot-373619). It was SO good and I've been meaning to try it.

I mixed my own cajun seasoning. But I don't see where it says to add tabasco, cajun seasoning and the extra butter :scratch

[Laurlor]

I mixed my own cajun seasoning. But I don't see where it says to add tabasco, cajun seasoning and the extra butter :scratch

I don't see when to add the cajun seasoning either, but I would just do it when you are adding most of the ingredients in the beginning.

"ONCE COOKED: When beans are fully cooked, remove bay leaves (if you can find them all) add butter and stir."

"SPRINKLE with hot sauce and/or more Tony's if you want it spicy like I do." (I'm guessing this is the Tabasco)

[SalH]

How spicy does that turn out to be????


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[bananacake]

How spicy does that turn out to be????


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Way too spicy for my kids, and I cut most of them by half or more. My husband loved it! Kids, not so much :)


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[heartofjoy]

Here's our new favorite:

Red potatoes, cut into quarters
Sliced onions
Smoked sausage links
Frozen cut green beans
1-2 cups broth (chicken)

Put the potatoes and onions on the bottom. Then add the green beans. Put the sausage on the top. Add the chicken broth or even water. Nothing is frozen except the green beans, so maybe 3-5 hours on high? 6-7 on low? Maybe less.

It's really good. The sausage flavors everything.

[Soliloquy]

:cup