How can crockpot recipes taste good?

JoRocka

tomatoey wrote: »

Kruggeri wrote: »

Ideally my meals that I prepare for my family, especially during the week when I'm at work, accomplish both of those things. Why do they have to be mutually exclusive?

There are lots of good slow cooker recipes. Your comments about chicken, onion and a can of soup tell me that you haven't spent a lot of time looking into different ideas for the slow cooker. People have given a lot of suggestions here for meals that are tasty, and don't require a ton of up front prep work. There are lots more good ideas on Pinterest and other sites. But if you aren't interested in the convenience, then no, I might not feel it necessary to have a slow cooker either.

They don't have to be exclusive, right, sorry - I was trying to work out what the tradeoff might be (from people who've actually used a crockpot, vs. recipes). And it sounds like, yes, you can get a great or good-enough dish out of a crockpot, if you do the same kind of preparation as you would otherwise. And you're right, there are suggestions for meals with less prep too, true. But since I already have a good thick-bottomed, heavy pot to use for stews etc., and a good casserole dish, I personally don't see the point of getting a crockpot (for myself).

so you're saying a crock pot doesn't involve a recipe??

if you don't want one- don't get one- but don't rag on people who use one- you make it sound like those of us who have one are inept and have poor taste in food.

Seriously? I eat pretty well- and I use my crock pot weekly- from beans- to chicken to applesauce to desserts.

Get down off your high and mighty none crock pot using horse. It's just silly.

jgnatca

You've heard of grass widows? I've got a starving husband. My new lifestyle means I may not be around for suppertime, and the way we've negotiated chores is I'm the designated cook. (There are compensations. I haven't touched laundry in fifteen years). He's been making do with peanut-butter sandwiches and single serve meals but he's been looking a little peaked.

So the slow cooker is brought out once a week. He's getting cheaper home-cooked meals once in a while.

jenluvsushi

I make ribs in the crock pot that are delish. I also make chili, carnitas, oatmeal, baked potatoes, sweet potato casserole and a plethora of other things. Skinnytaste.com has some great recipes for the crockpot/slow cooker. Another easy thing to do is throw a bunch of chicken thighs in there at night before bed. When you get up in the am, they are ready to get into your lunch box. I do not have a lot of time to cook so this little device helps me a lot.

Gordo1981

I enjoy Slow cooker roast, with a little butter and onion soup mix and just enough liquid to cover the bottom of the slow-cooker

tomatoey

JoRocka wrote: »

tomatoey wrote: »

Kruggeri wrote: »

Ideally my meals that I prepare for my family, especially during the week when I'm at work, accomplish both of those things. Why do they have to be mutually exclusive?

There are lots of good slow cooker recipes. Your comments about chicken, onion and a can of soup tell me that you haven't spent a lot of time looking into different ideas for the slow cooker. People have given a lot of suggestions here for meals that are tasty, and don't require a ton of up front prep work. There are lots more good ideas on Pinterest and other sites. But if you aren't interested in the convenience, then no, I might not feel it necessary to have a slow cooker either.

They don't have to be exclusive, right, sorry - I was trying to work out what the tradeoff might be (from people who've actually used a crockpot, vs. recipes). And it sounds like, yes, you can get a great or good-enough dish out of a crockpot, if you do the same kind of preparation as you would otherwise. And you're right, there are suggestions for meals with less prep too, true. But since I already have a good thick-bottomed, heavy pot to use for stews etc., and a good casserole dish, I personally don't see the point of getting a crockpot (for myself).

so you're saying a crock pot doesn't involve a recipe??

if you don't want one- don't get one- but don't rag on people who use one- you make it sound like those of us who have one are inept and have poor taste in food.

Seriously? I eat pretty well- and I use my crock pot weekly- from beans- to chicken to applesauce to desserts.

Get down off your high and mighty none crock pot using horse. It's just silly.

What's this about recipes? No, I just mean I can't tell from the recipes themselves whether they turn out in people's kitchens, that's why I made this post, to see what people thought. So people use them in a bunch of ways, ok, it's just not for me.

VeryKatie

My favourite crockpot chicken recipe is cubed chicken with salsa, mushrooms and carrots. Then when it's done, stir in a half cup of peanut butter and you have satay stew. So good over rice

But I kind of agree you almost have to double the spices when using the slow cooker. Just needs something a little extra. And usually, I find chicken is the worst kind of meat to put in there. But chili is amazing!

Jennloella

I have a Ninja slow cooker, it has a stovetop and roast setting, so I can sear meats, then put the lid on and slow cook, and can also slow cook then turn the stovetop setting on to boil the sauce to thicken it (like for broccoli beef stirfry) I don't think I ever just put stuff in and let it go anymore.....

catic32

If you like oatmeal you can make a great steel cut oats breakfast in the crock pot. As other people posted - its' just another method of cooking: great for pulled pork, ribs, soups, chili things like that.

Tigg_er

We use the crock pot quite often and have had very tasty meals. Still requires prep but what the heck then you can just let er go and all ready at the end of the day.

DebiW1211

there are a lot of really good recipes out there now a days that are neither tasteless or bland. I own a ninja cooking system and I use it a lot of days for cooking things but I don't have time to make when I get home everything is good but the secret is to make sure To preseason any meat before placing it in the pot. You can brown meat in the ninja before adding other ingredients. One of my favorite recipes is a spaghetti recipe in my ninja cookbook. I use homemade spaghetti sauce. I make pulled pork, lamb stew, I've slow cooked tougher pieces of beef, split pea soup, shredded chicken for lettuce wraps, fish, etc etc

tart_of_darkness

Nothing can taste good. Life is a swirling void of entropy that is worthless and senseless.

Francl27

catic32 wrote: »

As other people posted - its' just another method of cooking: great for pulled pork, ribs, soups, chili things like that.

It's pretty much what I use it for as well. Right now I have a chicken tortilla soup cooking for lunch... but I pretty much use my crockpot 4x a year, if that. For veggie soups I'd much rather use the stove.

I did make skinnytaste's turkey meatball in the crock and it was pretty good though, but it turned out mushy... so it will be done in the oven next time. For most things, I can't imagine that it wouldn't turn out better if cooked in the oven or on the stove.

Elsie_Brownraisin

Maybe not use the tinned soup?

I'm British and find the obsession with plonking tins of creamed/condensed soup into stews and bakes baffling.

I have nothing to add recipe idea wise that hasn't been covered by other posters, I like my slow cooker. It's just the idea of Campbell's condensed mushroom cooked all day with pork or chicken makes me want to yack.

Francl27

Elsie_Brownraisin wrote: »

Maybe not use the tinned soup?

I'm British and find the obsession with plonking tins of creamed/condensed soup into stews and bakes baffling.

I have nothing to add recipe idea wise that hasn't been covered by other posters, I like my slow cooker. It's just the idea of Campbell's condensed mushroom cooked all day with pork or chicken makes me want to yack.

Haha yes. In France we use little packages of flavoring in water instead. I only make things with chicken or vegetable broth here, if I see a recipe using cream of whatever I just move on...

mrsKOrtiz

It all depends on what exactly you are cooking.

sheldonklein

I own one that one never used. However, I've been persuaded to try it for the Turkish Lima Bean stew that I was planning to make today. The rare dish that calls for nothing but long, slow cooking.

MeRoHa

If you go to Food Network and search on their website or use the Food Network phone application there you can search for recipes. If you search slow cooker and the main ingredient you want to use or type of food there are a lot of options. My family has particularly enjoyed the Chicken Sausage Gumbo. I switched out the sausage they suggested for a very good apple chicken sausage. The second time I made the recipe I also threw in several colors of bell peppers that were not listed in the original recipe. A major tip for using the slow cooker. Use fresh and good quality ingredients to start with and leave in for the time recommended. For example when cooking pork or beef roast. After the recommended cooking time you may want to take the meat out so that it does not over cook.

quilt938

I only cook certain things in my slowcooker- recently tried steel cut oats and like the consistency. I cook taco soup and chili in mine (I cook the meat with onion before putting in the crockpot), roast and roasted chicken have been good, pork roast or chicken with a jar of pepperoncini peppers and sliced sweet onion is delicious, and I've done one with boneless skinless chicken breast that's frozen - put the frozen bscb in crockpot, add jar of salsa (or can or two of ro-tel tomatoes depending on how much chicken), can of black beans and sometimes frozen corn and let cook all day while I sleep (I do this one following night shift) I like how it all simmers together. I'm not a fan of canned cream soups so I don't do those- made ONE attempt with pasta in a slowcooker and it was yucky

ArmyofMom

Adam2k10 wrote: »

cblue315 wrote: »

I gave up on my Crock Pot years ago. I bought one of those oval roasters. Mine is Nesco Brand. I love it. And you can brown things in it. Yes, do the prep work. You will have good results.

I tend to use a different piece of equipment depending on what I'm cooking.. I seem to have compiled a good range of different kitchen equipment over the past few years. From slow cookers to mini ovens, from george foremans to griddles.. and every prepping thing inbetween. It's something of a hobby.
My point is, every piece of equipment can reach its full potential if used correctly. On the turn of a coin, if not used right.. you might as well microwave.

harlequin0318 wrote: »

I refuse to put my chicken in the crockpot, because I can't make it turn out to be tasty or whole - it always ends up shredded. So I now only use the crockpot for soups and chili

If you ball up aluminum foil and place the bottom of your crock pot then place the seasoned whole roasting chicken on top you will get a nice rotisserie style chicken.

attemptingfierce

I use my crockpot for things like soups and chilis, I work two jobs so it's nice to be able to put stuff for say chicken chili in my crockpot in the morning and have dinner ready for my boyfriend and I without having to prepare it when I get home. You just have to find recipes that sound good (I make chicken taco chili from skinnytaste.com a lot, I love it.)

Tingababoo

I've tried MANY crockpot chicken recipes from Adobo to BBQ Honey Mustard and what I've noticed is no matter what you put in it from Soy Sauce to BBQ Sauce, it all turns out tasting the same! Its OKAY, not bad but a little on the salty side and each dish tastes very similar.

One Recipe I fell in love with is Turkey Chili:
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/10/crockpot-turkey-white-bean-pumpkin.html

I actually like this more than traditional Chili cooked for hours over a flame! And I'm a HUGE Red Chili fan, not so much love for white chili. For those who are not Pumpkin Fans, have no fear, the Pumpkin taste is not noticeable, perhaps it just acts like a sweetener. I used fresh Pumpkin puree. Give it a try! It won't last long in the crockpot for sure!