Classic Crockpot*

Some might say that crockpot cuisine is classically cold weather comfort food.  Which I would agree with.  But I think that the summer is a perfect time to dust off this old faithful friend as well.  It doesn’t heat up the house like the oven or stove and can be utilized to make tantalizing ribs, pork chops, chicken tacos, etc.  Which are all typical summer food (or can be just as easily as burgers & corn on the cob).  Below is a list of my top crockpot recipes, come warm OR cold weather.  (Note: I have recently acquired some great crockpot recipes from some of you that I have yet to try, but fully intend to so.  But since I have not actually tried them yet, I’ve left them off for now.)

You’ll find that I prefer recipes that require little to no prep work, basically just dumping everything together.  I’ve heard that it’s best to leave the lid on the crockpot & go, not stopping to stir it every so often, as that lets out the steam heat that’s cooking the food.   A good tip: use very flavorful ingredients so the finished product doesn’t just taste like overdone mush. 

I’m also a big proponent of crockpot liners.  Change your life!  

http://www.reynoldspkg.com/reynoldskitchens/en/product.asp?prod_id=3200

No Peek Beef

1-2 lbs. stew meat (or roast, cut into 1 inch pieces)

10 oz can cream of mushroom soup

4 oz can mushrooms, drained or fresh sliced mushrooms

1 envelope onion soup mix (I sometimes use Beefy Onion; Onion Mushroom would work well too)

½ C red wine or water (I use wine)

Combine all ingredients in crockpot.  Stir together well.  Cover & cook on low for 8-12 hrs or high for 5-6 hrs. (Mixture will be saucier if cooked on low; fresh mushrooms will also create more water, thus saucier.)  Serve over rice or noodles.

Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

about 4 potatoes, peeled or not, sliced thin (I do not peel)

onion flakes or diced fresh onion (onion flakes!)

family-size can cream of mushroom soup

leftover ham or 4 oz. pkg cubed ham

¼ C milk

Spray crockpot (or use liner).  Combine soup & milk.  Layer ½ of potatoes, ½ onions, ½ soup mixture, ham, rest of potatoes, onions, & soup.  Cook 7-8 hrs on low or 4-5 hrs on high.  (Will be creamier and saucier cooked on low, which my husband always prefers.)

Chicken Tacos

1 ¼ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (can use breasts but will be drier)

1 envelope taco seasoning mix (I use Pampered Chef’s Southwest Seasoning Mix

which has better flavor, in my opnion)

1 T packed brown sugar

4.5 oz can chopped green chiles

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

10 oz can enchilada sauce (I use more authentic, mild brands rather than Old El

Paso, etc)

4 medium green onions, sliced

Taco shells

Shredded lettuce

Chopped tomato

Spray crockpot (or use liner).  Place chicken in crockpot; sprinkle with taco seasoning mix & brown sugar.  Toss to coat.  Mix in green chiles, corn & ½ C enchilada sauce.  (Refrigerate remaining enchilada sauce.)  Cover & cook on low for 6-7 hrs.  Use forks to shred chicken.  Stir in green onions.  Cover & cook on low for 15 more minutes.  Heat remaining enchilada sauce & serve chicken in taco shells with lettuce, tomato & warm enchilada sauce.

Barbecue Beans & Polish Sausage

2 cans great northern beans, rinsed & drained

2 cans black beans, rinsed & drained

1 large onion, chopped

1 C BBQ sauce

¼ C packed brown sugar

1 T ground mustard

1 T Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp chili powder

1 ring fully cooked smoked Polish sausage (I use the low fat or turkey kind)

Spray crockpot (or use liner).  Mix all ingredients except sausage in crockpot.  Place sausage ring on bean mixture.  Cover & cook on low for 5-6 hrs.

French Dip Sandwiches

Beef roast (your choice but I prefer boneless arm roasts)

1 pkg Italian dressing seasoning mix

1 pkg Au Jus seasoning mix

10.5 oz can beef broth (not condensed)

1 C water

Hoagie buns

Cook roast with next 4 ingredients for 10-12 hrs on low in crockpot.  Remove any fat or bones; shred beef.  Use broth for dipping, if desired.

Italian Chicken

2-6 chicken breasts (can be thawed or frozen)

1 bottle Italian dressing (not light or fat-free as oil in regular helps to

infiltrate chicken for more flavor during cooking)

Place chicken in crockpot (use liner if preferable).  Poor dressing over chicken.  Cover & cook on low for 6-8 hrs.  (If using frozen chicken, meat will tend to be a bit drier when cooked.  But sometimes ease wins out anyway!)

Country-Style Ribs

1 ½ lbs boneless pork ribs

1 medium onion, sliced

2 C tomato juice

½ C packed brown sugar

¼ C cider vinegar

¼ C ketchup

2 T Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp ground mustard

¼ tsp chili powder

Places ribs & onion in crockpot.  In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients.  Pour over ribs.  Cover & cook on low for 5 ½ - 6 hrs.  (VERY saucy, so works well to serve with mashed potatoes.)

Sweet ‘n’ Sour Pork Chops

8 oz can crushed pineapple, undrained

1 C honey BBQ sauce

1/3 C finely chopped onion

2 T chili sauce

4 bone-in pork loin chops, ¾ inch thick & 8 oz each

In small bowl, combine the pineapple, BBQ sauce, onion & chili sauce.  Poor half into greased (or lined) crockpot.  Top with pork chops & remaining sauce.  Cover & cook on low for 4 ¼ - 5 ¼ hrs.  (Works well to serve with rice for the sauce.)

Chili (my sister-in-law’s recipe)

3-4 regular size cans tomato sauce (not small, not huge)

3 12 oz. cans tomato juice

1 sauce can of water

2 cans light kidney beans, rinsed & drained

2 lbs cooked hamburger, adding onion & garlic powder during cooking (I used

lean ground turkey & it worked really well)

1 medium onion, chopped

Sugar to taste (1/8  - ¼ C)

Chili powder, no more than 1 tsp

Combine all in crockpot & cook on low for 7-8 hrs.  (I halved this recipe for just Jake & I and it was perfect – enough for a couple bowls each & just a few leftovers.)

For those that care (this means you, Haley!), the recipes for No Peek Beef, Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes & Ham and French Dip Sandwiches are from Mama S.  (Or at least adapted from; every good cook changes it up a slight bit to make it her own, though with my mom’s recipes, I do that very, very little.)

*I use this term generically for all slow-cooker appliances though a “Crockpot” is technically a brand name like “Kleenex”.