Looking for tried and true crockpot recipes
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Looking for tried and true crockpot recipes
Now that I am a full-time student, plus still working part-time, I don't get home until 6-6:30 4 nights a week. We don't really like to eat out, so I'm trying to cook ahead and freeze meals or use my crockpot. I have recently tried some crockpot recipes that haven't turned out so well and have been pretty expensive. I had a horrible $6 pork tenderloin experiment that ended up in the trash. Even the dog wouldn't eat it and we had pb&j for supper instead.
I already do roast, chicken noodle soup, chicken and dumplings, and BBQ brisket in the crockpot, but would like more recipes that you can vouch for. We mostly eat chicken, but some beef and pork recipes would be okay.
If you have any to share, please post on the recipe board, but leave a note here telling me to look there. Any help is much appreciated not only by me, but my family too! 
Melanie has an awesome chicken taco meat recipe on the recipe board. I'll try to bump it up. We also do chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, with a bottle of BBQ sauce dumped in for BBQ chicken sandwiches. Great easy dinner with a salad on the side. This can also be done with pork or beef for a different flavor.
Have you tried the "Fix it and Forget It" crock cookbook? Since I got that a couple of years ago I use my crock ALL the time! It has a billion recipes in it and I've only had one that really didn't suit my taster. It's a spiral paperback book that is/was a bestseller.
I love my Fix It and Forget It cookbook, too.
Oven fried chicken is great in the pot.
The Fix It book is great, although I don't use mine as often as I should. And, the chicken recipe I mentioned before should be credited to Andi. Sorry about that.
That reminds me. I should dig mine out and make something, for Monday! I have to work all day, so no time to cook.
I am also a big Fix-It & Forget-It fan!
 Fix It and Forget It!
I also recently tried a Lemon Chicken crock pot recipe that was YUMMY! I can't remember what book I got it out of but will check and post later.
I love my Fix It book, too! I think Sweet/Sour Chicken is my favorite!
Oh, I found it! It was in Fix It and Forget It, page 181.
Lemon Honey Chicken
1 lemon
1 whole roasting chicken, rinsed
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup honey
1. Pierce lemon with fork. Place in chicken cavity. Place chicken in slow cooker.
2. Combine orange juice and honey. Pour over chicken.
3. Cover. Cook on Low 8 hrs.. Remove lemon and squeeze over chicken.
4. Carve chicken and serve.
VERY easy to make and delicious!!
I've been happy with every recipe I've tried from this book. 
Oh, c'mon ladies....pleeeeeez. "TRIED and true"--I have a couple of crockpot cookbooks with recipes that sound good, but turn out not-so-well. Also,I read the reviews of "Fix It and Forget It" and I don't think I'll buy it. Lots of recipes that use processed foods (cream of X soup, Velveeta, etc.) and lots of variations on the same theme such as 11 recipes for meatballs alone. I would like real recipes with fresh ingredients like veggies, fruits, and/or spices and marinades made from scratch and just thrown in the crockpot to cook all day. So dig out those cookbooks and post some specifics, if you can please. TIA!
Thanks so much Trina! We were posting at the same time.
Sorry, don't make things from scratch at our house!
How about beef stew? We eat used to eat that alot.
You can put the potatos and carrots in or make them seperate. Can't freeze potatos though. Can eat with rice or noodles.
Baby carrots and small red potatos cut the work. You don't have to peel small red potatos or baby carrots. Small
red potatos don't have to be cut and cook quicker. Plus there is vitamins in the potato skin.
I just use the recipe on the beef stew packett McCormick makes.
Turkey Chili - Again I follow the recipe on the mcCormick packet...
I used to like things spicy. I would put some vindaloo paste it. (indian)
My girlfriends husband makes a big lasanga every week. Vegetable or Meat. Nothing quicker and tastes good as italian - cheese and tomato sauce over anything. pasta - chicken - tortelli - pasta shells - raviolli.
My sister in law used to make two seasoned rice everytime she made it. One for the refriderator. You can make it in the microwave. Just put a damp dish towel under the dish because it does spill over. I never figured out how to make it without it spilling over....
I know others who make brocelli for the refrigerator. What every your family is crazy about. My husband wants brocelli every night. (I don't like brocelli)
Other people I know cook two chickens at a time when they cook. One for the fridge.
Here are some of mine.
Place boneless chicken breasts (I buy the big bags at Sam's and even put them in frozen) in single layer on bottom of crockpot. Sprinkle one package of taco seasoning on top. Cook on low all day. At time of serving shred with fork. Serve in flour tortillas with condiments of your choice.
Pork Roast
Sprinkle all over a pork roast one envelope of dry onion soup mix, place in crock pot. Pour a jar of applesauce all over. I have also added sliced green apples on top...very good! Cook all day on low. (i then take the left overs and shred them and top with barbecue sauce for pulled pork sandwiches later in the week)
Beef Roast
Layer sliced potatoes and carrots on bottom of crockpot. Put roast on top. Pour on top one jar of prepared beef gravy. Cook all day on low. (I sometimes use the gravy mix, sometimes just a can of beef broth and then add a little more seasoning. (I like Paul Prudhomme's beef spice mix) If I use the jarred gravy, I always look for ones without added junk)
I have found as far as fresh veggies and stuff. It's easier to have the meat cooking all day and then just steam my veggies in a steamer (I have a great microwave steamer) for 5 minutes. We kind of like our veggies al dente and the crock pot really cooks them! I also buy bag lettuce for a salad. (My kids love salads).
I make alot of soups in my crockpot too. In fact, I usually clean out the fridge of the left over meats/veggies and make a big pot, sometimes tossing in brown rice or pasta. Then will freeze in individual batches.
I would like real recipes with fresh ingredients like veggies, fruits, and/or spices and marinades made from scratch and just thrown in the crockpot to cook all day.
I have to say that I don't think I have seen many recipes like this at all. Most people use crock pots because they are busy and want to throw something in fast in the morning and come home to dinner being done. You might be asking for allot on this one. LOL
Most of the crock pot recipes I use are made from scratch. Many of them are from Fix It and Forget It. I posted two chicken recipes in the Crock Pot section on the Cooking/Recipe board. When I get a chance I'll post more of the recipes that I've tried that were successful.
I'm on a crockpot kick right now and made four new recipes in it last week - two winners and two losers. Here are the two that we liked. BTW, I got both out of Quick Cooking magazine's slow cooker section.
Cabbage Kielbasa Supper
8 cups coarsely shredded cabbage
3 medium potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 can (14 1/2oz) chicken broth
2 lbs kielbasa, cut into serving size pieces
Combine the cabbage, potatoes, onion, salt, and pepper in crockpot. Pour broth over all. Place sausage on top (crockpot will be full, but cabbage will cook down). Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
Note: I plan to chop a tart apple and add to the cabbage next time I make this to give it more of a German flavor.
No-Fuss Swiss Steak
3 lbs round steak, cut into serving-size pieces
2 tbs vegetable oil
2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2 inch slices
2 celery ribs, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 3/4 cups water
1 can tomato rice soup, undiluted
1 can condensed French onion soup, undiluted
1/2 tsp pepper
1 bay leaf
In a large skillet brown meat in oil over medium-high heat; drain. Transfer to slow cooker. Add carrots and celery. Combine the remaining ingredients; pour over meat and vegetables. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Discard the bay leaf before serving. Thicken cooking juices if desired.
Note: I am going to try this recipe with a pot roast sometime. The thickened juices made a flavorful gravy.
Oh, I forgot to add a dish that you can freeze that I just tried this past week. When I made it, I doubled the recipe and made two - one we ate that night and one I froze for another night. This recipe also came from Quick Cooking magazine. It was labeled as a dish that freezes well.
Black Bean Tamale Pie
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 c chopped onion
1/2 c chopped green pepper
1 can (15oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 c salsa
1 pkg (8 1/2oz) cornbread/muffin mix
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
sour cream and slices ripe olives, optional
In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion, and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in beans and salsa; set aside. In a bowl, combine the corn bread mix, milk, egg, and 1 cup cheese. Pour into a greased 9-inch pie plate. Bake at 375 degrees for 5-6 minutes.
Spoon beef mixture over crust, leaving a 1/2 inch edge. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 1-2 minutes longer or until cheese in melted. Serve with sour cream and olives if desired.
Note: I used a Mexican cornbread mix for the crust for a more savory flavor rather than the sweet flavor a muffin mix would give the crust and the next time I make this I plan to add a small can of corn to the beef/bean mixture.
This is my VERY fresh and simple Beef Stew recipe:
Buy pre-cubed stew meat (we use a large package -around $7 worth)
Place meat in crockpot with 3 TBSP Flour - toss to coat.
Add about 7 whole carrots (peeled or not- your choice) sliced in large chunks *note: if you are in a BIG hurry, throw in a bag of baby carrots instead - I prefer the taste of the large ones most of the time, but I have used both
Add 5 Yukon Gold potatos (Skin on), cubed (large cubes as they will cook a long time)
Pour a can of Swansons Onion-seasoned beef broth over the top.
Add a stalk of celery or two just for flavor (you can cut it up in the stew if you want, but no one in our house likes cooked celery, so I just leave it in for cooking and then toss it)
I cook on low all day, or on high for 5.5 hours or so. I add in a bag of frozen mixed veggies about halfway through, but if you are cooking on low, you can add them at the beginning.
I serve this with bread and butter or homestlye egg noodles (the kids prefer the noodles, as one of them picks out the potato pieces, lol!)
Hope this helps! I think I will try some of the other crock pot recipes listed here myself. School is starting Sept. 6 here and with Field Hockey, Gymnastics, homework, and teens part-time jobs I could SCREAM
I make this all the time and we LOVE it!!
SPAGHETTI:
1 Pound Ground Beef or Ground Turkey
(I cook it before I put it in the Crockpot)
1 Package of Spicy Turkey Sausage adds a lot of flavor to the sauce.
(I brown it before I add to the crockpot, it will finish cooking in the CP)
1 Medium Onion, chopped
1 Lg Can of Tomatoes Sauce
1 Sm Can of Tomato Paste
2 Cans of sliced Italian Stewed Tomatoes (undrained)
1 Lg. can of Mushrooms (undrained)
1 cup of water
1 T Fresh Oregano
1 T Fresh Basil
3 T Fresh Parsley
(If you don't have fresh Oregano, Basil and Parsley then use about 2 - 3 T Italian Seasoning.
2-4 T Chopped fresh Garlic
(depending on how much you like garlic)
Cook ground meat w/ onion, drain fat. put the meat in the Crock Pot. After you brown the sausage add that to the Crock Pot. Add tomato sauce, paste, stewed tomatoes, mushrooms and spices. Pour in 2 cups of water. Let this cook covered on LOW all day, at least 5-6 hours.
If it seems a bit thick just add a little more water. Serve with Garlic Bread and a yummy salad. ENJOY!!!!
You can cook it on the stovetop as well but let it simmer for 11/2 hours to let the taste come out and stir it constantly so the bottom doesn't burn.
I also make CHICKEN TACOS:
Put 4 Lg bonless Skinless Chicken Breast in the CP add 1 Package of Taco Seasoning 1-2 cans of Mexican Stewed Tomatoes let it cook all day then shred up the chicken. It is soooooo yummy!
You can also use a beef roast and do the same thing for Beef Tacos. Pluse there are so many things you can do with thte leftovers.
CP CHICKEN:
I put a whole Chicken in the CP add a can of Chicken Broth some Italian seasoning, Salt Pepper, garlic, carrots, celery, onion and Potatoes. Let it cook all day and the meat just falls off the bone.
I have a few other recipes but they are made using products from a company called Homemade Gourmet. Hope some of those work for your family. Let me know what you think of them if you try them out.
Here's another one I do in the crockpot. Very yummy!
Take a whole chicken, put several wedges of Laughing Cow cheese under the skin. Salt and pepper really well. Cook all day on low.
It's funny, I was just thinking about this before I came across it. Ditto Pam - Most recipes call for canned soup (full of sodium) envelope soup mix (same), honey or BBQ Sauce (loaded with calories).
Can anyone point me to recipes that don't use anything that comes out of a can or a jar?
Annie2 has a recipe on the recipe board that fits the bill, but that's all I can find.
Ame
Ame,
Chicken in a Pot
Lemon Honey Chicken
I'm going to post more but haven't had a chance as of yet.
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