The Crock Pot That I'm Scared to Use...

Well...its not the total meal, but its the main dish and the other parts are easy and quick, so here ya go...

Beef tips:
cube some sirloin steak (round steak will work too if it happens to be on sale that week)
brown it really quick in a skillet (just a few minutes, enough to sear it)
in the crock pot...put a can of cream of mushroom soup, an envelope of dry onion soup mix, 3/4 cup of Vernors (yep...the soda), and if you'd like up to 1/2 cup red wine...if you don't want to use wine, just add a bit more vernors(but its amazing with the wine). wisk that up a little until its mixed (it won't be very smooth)
throw the steak in...and cook it on low for the day.
when you get home...either make some egg noodles or rice and a quick veggie or fruit.

I will also vouch for the Fix It and Forget It cookbook, easy and no fancy ingredients. Taste of Home website (http://www.tasteofhome.com/) has a tab for slow cooker recipes. Betty Crocker website also has some recipes. I use my crockpot a couple times a week. Good luck.

K. - fear not! Before becoming a mummy I rarely cooked - but now I am a semi-genius (at the simple stuff). Like some of the other posters I also have Fix-it and Forget It, along with Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly (a healthier version). I went through and highlighted recipes that looked like something i could handle and have several preferred recipes (sesame pork, yum) - I am now on my second crockpot after spending the first 40 years of my life without one. Go get the book and have fun experimenting.

I often just cook with my laptop open in the kitchen, ie this great website: http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

That being said, my favorite thing I make in my Crock pot is the pork chop recipe in the little book that came with it:
1/2 cup brown rice, 2/3 cup white rice (or just whatever)
1/4 cup butter
1/2 chopped onion
just about any mild flavored chopped or sliced veggie tastes good in there (ie mushroom)
1 tsp thyme (divided)
1/2 tsp sage
some salt and pepper (1/4 - 1/2 tsp)
4-6 or whatever boneless pork chops
1 can beef consomme or bullion
2 TB worcestershire
1.2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp paprika

nonstick coating in crock pot (if you want)
toss butter in pan, brown rice
stir in onion, any veggies, 1/2 of the thyme, and all the sage and salt and pepper
put into slow cooker
put chops on rice
combine consomme and Worcestershire sauce and pour on chops
sprinkle remaining thyme, paprika and nutmeg on chops
cover and cook on low for 7-9 hours or high for 4-5 hours

We just ordered The Crockpot Cookbook from Better Homes & Gardens with 5 ingredients or less from Amazon.com. I'm looking for no fuss meals too and so far, love these easy to throw together meals! Nothing like knowing something is cooking for your family while you're at work, waiting for you at home. :)

What a great question and so many great meals. I use mine all the time but one tip I don't see below....any time there are leftovers weather that is leftover ham or chicken hamburger sausage or roast. I put that in a container, label date and freeze, so I can pull it out dump in my crock pot w/ other ingredients and behold a meal. We love Chilli and Minnistrone Soup and those are really left over meats with canned beans. With the Leftovers in the freezer I don't even need to prep the night before I can just put it together in the AM before I head to work. The Leftovers thaw in the Crockpot and it stretches my meat budget.

A great place to find all kinds of crockpot recipes is
www.50plusfriends.com/cookbook/crockpot

For Roast: I just through in a Onion Soup mix packet and a some water. YOu can add carrots, onions, cut up potatoes, etc.
For Stuffed Peppers: Mix 1 lb ground beef uncooked, 1 can diced tomatoes, spanish rice box (rice and seasoning) and shredded cheese. Put in peppers. Cover with pasta/tomato sauce.
Try allrecipes.com. I believe they have a crockpot section too.

K. ; get a roast, add onion soup mix, and then put in some potaoes, kinda cut up not small, just chunked, add carrots if you wish, fresh, put it on low leave it and come home to a nice roast, with potatoes with the nice flavor in it, oh and add water up to about 3/4 of the way , and if you like your meat browned a bit you can sear it on a frying pan to make the outside looked a bit cooked, other wise put it in and leave it, they now make crock pot meals you can buy too at the store, but that is mostly what i do with mine, the onion soup mix is great to keep around too, need a meatloat , not for crock pot, use the recipe on back of onion soup mix box, or if you got sour creme and need french onion dip for your chips, add it to your sour creme , just a bit though for the dip it goes a long way, so have fun, and enjoy , D. s

Hi K.,

My father-in-law, had told me about how he made BBQ chicken.Put a little BBQ sauce in the bottom of the crock pot,put in the chicken,bone in or boneless,put the rest of the bottle of BBQ sauce in,cook on low 8 hours. The chicken will melt in your mouth. Reynolds has come out with crock put liners now,make clean up a breeze.

good luck

C.

Not really a recipe, however if you wander into the dry mix/seasoning section of the grocery store, there are packets specifically for crock pots. We done the Lowery Beef stew and it was really good. They are pretty cheap too, you just have to add a few things.

Roast with carrots-potatoes, Beef Stew, chilli, steak with spanish rice ( I call it swiss steak and rice), you can put chicken or turkey breast in the crock pot too. If you want my recipes for any of this just send a private response. Good Luck..
Kay

Just this morning, I used my crock pot, as a matter of fact! I have a 20 month old son, am due to have our daughter in 5 weeks, and work full time, so, I know what you mean about meals. I am making chili today. I don't know how you guys feel about chili, but, all I did was brown some turkey meat last night and cut up onion and green pepper. This morning, I put the meat, pepper, and onion in the crock pot with two large cans of tomato sauce, one can of paste, one can of tomato with chilis in it, two cans of chili beans, and some salt pepper, chili powder, cumin, and a little red pepper flakes (we tend to like it a little spicey). I just mix it all together and turn the crock pot to low and let it cook all day. Sometimes I make corn bread to go with it. Anyhow, it really takes no time and is good. The other thing we do a lot is pot roast with potatoes and carrots. I also do smoked sausage and saur kraut (not everyone likes that, I know) and then just make some instant potatoes to go with it when we get home. Those are a couple ideas.

My husband just threw in stuff and we had dinner. Ground turkey, macaroni noodles, mixed veggies, a pinch of salt. No recipe, just dump, cook and eat. We used the stovetop and it was FAST. Or, crockpot is an option too.

Hi K. B. I have four children ranging in ages from 4 - 28. I have used the crockpot extensively when I worked full time. For Beef - I put in a roast - rump, brisket, whatever you like the best. Chop up 3 or 4 potatoes, chop up a bag of mini organic carrots, chop up 2 onions, put in a packet of lipton onion soup, two or three teaspoonfulls of minced garlic, place some slits into the top of the meat. Place the fat side of the meat up. Place about 1 inch of water into the crockpot. Put it on low for 6-9 hours (I've even left it up to 12 hours when late, with no problem.). If you want it in 4 - 6 hours, place it on high.

With chicken, do the same as above, only add a few cans of cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup.

Bon appetit!
Anne Marie

The easiest recipe we have is Pulled BBQ pork sandwiches.

It's about a 2lb. pork loin roast, a can of rootbeer and half a small bottle of sweet baby ray's. put the pork in the crockpot, add the rootbeer and BBQ sauce. Cover and cook 8-10 hours on low. At the end, discard the cooking liqid, shred the pork and add the rest of the BBQ sauce. So easy and so yummy! We usually have it with Sweet Potato fries and a veggie or salad.

A really easy one, that I actually have cooking at home right now, is just to throw a couple of frozen chicken breasts in the bottom on the crock, cover with your favroite spaghetti sauce, and cook on low all day. The chicken shreds very easily, and all you have to do is cook some pasta when you get home. For some other great options, you can go to http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/
The author used her crockpot every day for a year. She has a lot of unconventional uses for the crockpot, as well as some stuff you could throw together and allow to cook all day.

Roasts are good, as other people have mentioned. Just google slow cooker recipes and you should find a ton. My crockpot is in storage and I miss it so much. I'm using my inlaws' and it's small and I don't trust it as much. My mom makes incredible burrito meat in the crockpot. The great thing about crock pot cooking is that you can buy tougher cuts of meat, but they get nice and tender from the slow cooking. Good luck. Share if you find anything especially delicious!

i love my crockpot!! put a can of mush soup, potatoes, carrots, and cubed steak in it. let it cook all day!! make a roast! roast meat, onion soup mix and water, vegs. cook all day your house will smell great. use the juice on the bottom of the pot to make gravy. or use one can of tomotoe soup and one can of beef broth(or double each to make a bigger batch) throw in meatballs, carrots, potatoes and whatnot, cook on low all day. when your ready to eat throw in frozen corn or pea's, stir and if you want it ticker to make it more of a stew add some potatoe flakes!! yummy!! you can make so much in a crock pot. or check out his blog http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/
she spent a whole year using her crockpot making everything in it.

I highly recommend getting the cook book, fix it and forget it. It has everything from appitizers to dessert in there, including breakfast meals. I have it and live by it when I use my crockpot, which is about three times a week:) If you want some sample recipes I'm sure I can type some up for you:)

Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings
Throw in:
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2-3 cans cream of chicken soup
1/3 cup milk
chopped onions, celery
handful or two frozen peas
Cook 4-5 hours. Once chicken is cooked thru take it out and cut it up (should fall apart basically) and throw back in.
Tear up 2 packages of biscuits and layer on top. Cook until biscuits are not doughy.
Enjoy! My picky kids (2 and 5) love this!

I love using the crock pot - that is when I am organized and have all the ingredients. Go to the library there are tons of books - in fact I just checked out 5 books there are even ones: 3 ingredient and 5 ingredient books but watch out for sodium levels. good luck. I found (and lost) a fabulous bread pudding recipe looking for it again.

my favorite site is allrecipes.com :) they have some great slow cooker recipes!!!

Get a chuck roast, throw it in the crockpot, then get an envelope of ranch dressing mix and an envelope of brown gravy mix, empty both packets into a measuring cup and mix them with half a cup to a cup of water. Dump the seasoning mixture on top of the meat and cook for 8 hours on low setting, VOILA, the meat tastes delicious!

Hi K.,

I was just surfing the web today for some yummy crockpot recipes that my little 4 year old would like and I came across the Disney recipe website at www.family.go.com. There are a whole bunch of recipes and they sound very good.

M.

I have the recipe book "Fix It and Forget It" and love it!!
It is all recipes for the crock pot. I bought mine from Amazon. The recipes are all very simple with very few ingredients and not the fancy stuff like wine etc.

Enjoy!!!

This is one of our favorites! I mix it the night before then just throw it on in the morning.

Mexican Meat Loaf

1 egg beaten
1/3 cup taco sauce
1 cup coarsely crushed corn chips
1/3 cup shredded Mexican-blend or cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
½ teaspoon salt, optional
2 pounds lean ground turkey
Additional taco sauce or salsa

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into a round loaf; place in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees. Serve with taco sauce or salsa. Yield: 8 servings

LOVE LOVE LOVE my crockpot! Just keeping stock of "ready to use supplies" and recipes w/o a lot of fuss are key for me. You can even prep most recipes @ night, store the crock pot bowl in your fridge, and pop it in to the warming part first thing in the morning, and voila - dinner is served come dinnertime!

Black Bean Crock Pot Chicken - TWO DINNERS IN ONE

8 frozen chicken breasts
1 15 oz. jar of salsa (any flavor/brand)
1 15.5 oz. can of black beans (drained)
1 15 oz. can of corn (drained) or frozen
½ 8 oz. package of cream cheese
1 T of Cornstarch or flour + 2 T water to thicken as needed (10 min prior to cream cheese)

Place frozen (yes, frozen) chicken breasts in the crockpot.

Add the salsa, black beans, and corn.

Cook on HIGH for 4 - 5 hours or LOW for 6 - 8.

40 minutes prior to end time, stir in Cornstarch or flour & water (optional - add in if you want thicker, omit if you want runnier)

One half hour before end time, toss brick of cream cheese on top and let melt in. Stir before serving.

Night One: Serve chicken breasts whole with the sauce over steamed rice (I use 5 minute Rice, or already prepared and then frozen rice, see below), with cornbread on the side.

Night Two: Using two forks, shred chicken and mix with remaining sauce. Place in plastic baggie to either freeze or refrigerate for another meal where you can use the meat as a filling for tacos or burritos (I used mine for enchiladas).

Also, to make serving this even easier, I make large batches of rice and then freeze the extra in quart sized freezer bags. I put a 1/2 tsp of olive oil in the bag and then shake before freezing. This helps the rice when you thaw it out to be moist instead of dry. It took me less than five minutes (including getting out the crockpot and all ingredients) to put this meal together and it was a definite hit!

I buy chicken that's already boneless, skinless & frozen (at Meijer)...throw that in with some cream of chicken soup, cream of broccoli soup, toss in some frozen broccoli, cook on low for the day & you can serve it over noodles.

for a roast, I cut up potatoes, throw in a layer of baby carrots, the roast (even frozen)...a box of beef broth, a package of onion soup mix (dry), and about a box of water...enough to just about cover the roast...cook on low all day.

I've also bought some of the pre-packaged frozen crock pot meals...they're pretty good. I usually add more chicken to the chicken & dumplings. you would need 2 packages for the bigger crock pot, and your family size.

enjoy!
D.

Hi K.:

I have a couple of VERY east recipes for you:

Salsa chicken

4-5 frozen chicken breasts (I buy the big bags at Mejier)
1 can black beans (drained)
1 container salsa (use whatever is your favorite)

Just put the chicken, black beans and salsa in crock pot on low - cook all day (I put mine on at 7am and we usually eat at 6pm). Shread chicken with two forks and serve on flour tortillas with cheese and sour cream (optional). This is also good served over rice...

Pot Roast

1 chuck roast
1 can beef broth
1 can beef consumme
1 can french onion soup

Place all in crock pot and cook all day. You can either serve as a roast with mashed potatos and veggie or slice for french dip sandwichs - with a little cheese. Very good also.

I also have an e-mail sent to me by a friend that has a ton of recipes for crock pot - although some of them requre more ingredients, but I can e-mail it to you if you'd like. Just send me your e-mail and I will send it to you.

Good luck!
H.

Here is a real good and easy recipe, my whole family loves it!!! There is a seasoning packet from McCormicks called Italian Herb Chicken you mix that with stewed tomaoes and tomatoe paste and then pour over chicken and mushrooms if you want. One other tip buy those bags that you put in the crock pot so to make for easy clean up. Hope you try and enjoy!!!

Just a variation of everyone else's I don't use soup packets, i just don't have them in stock. Cut one small onion (just chunk it into large pieces, nothing fancy) in the bottom, Put in 2 large carrots in the bottom. 4 medium potatos(or 1 for each person) sliced 1/4 inch or less. Put the beef roast on top, salt and pepper it (about 1 tsp salt and 1/4 pepper, you can add garlic if you want) 1/2 cup water (i usually use beef buillion) turn it to high for 5 hours or low for 12 hours.

The thing to remember is that if you want tender meat then use a less lean piece. Use the liquid in the bottom to make gravy, just put it in a pot and bring to boil, then make corn starch and water (use cold water to prevent lumps and stir it in when the juice is boiling... I generally add salt and pepper to the juice and maybe for buillion cubes) you only need about 3-4 tbsp of the cornstarch water to get it thick, just simmer it until it is as thick as you like.) Good luck.

It should have come with some recipes in the booklet that came with it. They are usually simple and easy.

"Fix it and Forget it Cookbook" - a great resource!

The Fix it and Forget it cookbook is great and one recipe that I like from it is a roast with an onion soup packet and cream of mushroom soup. Then I add egg noodles about an hour before it is supposed to be done. Also, have done white chicken chili, creamy chicken tortilla soup or just bbq chicken. For the soups, I p[u the chicken and chicken broth in and set it cooking for 6 hours, then the chicken just falls apart (even if you put it in frozen). Then add the other soup ingredients. For the bbq, put the chicken in with bbq sauce and cook 6 hours. Serve on buns.

One of our favorite crock pot meals is to spray the crock with Pam and then peel and slice potatoes thinly (a mandolin slicer works great for this) and layer the potatoes in the crock with salt and chopped onion (I use onion powder because its easier) and garlic powder, until the crock is half full.

Next mix up your favorite meatloaf (meat, crumbs, egg, ketchup, salt, pepper, onions or onion powder) and press it down firmly on top of the sliced potatoes. Squirt ketchup over the top and spread evenly, until its completely covered.

Cover and cook on low 8 hours.

I usually serve this with a canned veggie, like peas or corn. You could also make a salad instead.

Soup is also an easy thing. For vegetable soup I use a large can of V-8 as the base then add meat. You can use leftover roast, browned hamburger, or use uncooked stew meat (its already all cubed up-its sold at the store for this purpose) I usually like beef. Then add peeled cubed potatoes, sliced carrots, onions, celery or whatever other veggies you like. Don't forget some seasonings too. Cook on low 8 hours and your good to go. Split pea soup is awesome too. Cheap, tastes great, and good for you too.

Scalloped potatoes out of a box mix are easy, just mix them up according to package directions, except in the crock pot. I add cubed ham, browned hamburger, or smoked sausage cut into slices. I also add a can of drained green beans, but frozen broccoli is great too (dump it in frozen) Then cook on low about 3-6 hours. Just give it a stir every so often, it takes a little longer if you use frozen veggies.

I have 5 growning boys, and 8 crock pots and use them all the time. I know how busy it can get especially with a new baby. I don't have time to write any more ideas down right now so if you want more ideas just send me a message and I will get some more to you.

This is a recipe that I thought I would hate until I tried it. Turkey breast, one can of french onion soup and one can of whole cranberry sauce. That's it. Cook it all day. The sauce makes a very good gravy.

I love my crock pot! I have a cookbook called "Fix-It and Forget It" (both the original and the lite version) and have used several recipes out of both. Two of my favorites are as follows:
Easy Pot Roast
3-4lb chuck roast
4 medium potatoes, cubed
1 lb baby carrots
2 celery ribs, sliced
1 envelope onion soup
3 cups water

Put roast and veggies in slow cooker. Add onion soup and water. Cover and cook on Low 6-8 hours.

Brown Sugar Chili

1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 T prepared mustard
1 medium onion, chopped
2 14 oz cans kidney beans, drained
1 pint tomato juice
1/2 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
1 t chili powder

Brown ground beef and onion over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and mustard.
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook on high 2 hours. If convenient, stir several times during cooking.

With this one, I usually prepare the meat the night before or over the weekend when I have more time. And if I want to start it early, I put it on low.

Good luck and enjoy!

Here is a super simple recipe:

Take chicken breasts (frozen actually work best) and throw them in the bottom of the crock pot. Dump 1 can (for 1-3 breasts or 2 cans for 4-6) of cream of chicken soup on top. If you like sour cream, you can also add 8 oz of that, but not necessary. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Then I cook minute rice in the microwave and serve the chicken/gravy over rice. Since you are not big veggie eates, maybe serve some apple sauce with it too. Good luck!

I have a recipe page i can send you for crock pots if you contact me back with an email. i have tried alot of them and there yummy. Theres a debs potatoe soup recipe its to die for and a lasagnia one.

You take your ground beef and what i like to do it make my spegatti sauce with it. or you can rown it with onion and green pepper drain add oregano tomatoe paste and sauce dn some others i don't remember the meat recipe because i use my spegettie sauce i brown the meat than add 7 herb ragu. Than you take lasagna noodles and break them to fit the pot. You than take 2 cups of mozzerella cheese 1 in half cup or one small container of small curd cottage cheese and a half cup of parmisian. Mix all three cheeses together. Layer meat, cheese noodles, meat cheese noodles. Leaving noodles hard and also make sure theres meat sauce on the last layer i would make a littl more than a pound of meat like a pound in half. cook in slow cooker for 5 hrs. i think the direction says in the recipes its awesome my kids love it. let me know if you want them plus you can go on tastfully simple and get a crock pot recipes there too or food network.

I like doing roasts in mine.I add a packet of beef onion soup mix and some water.I also throw in a pork loin sprinkled with some salt and pepper and it turns out great.They also have frozen crockpot meals available too.With chicken or western style pork ribs I just coat it with bbq sauce.

Good Luck!