Crock pot tips and recipes

here are my fav (and whole 30/paleo approved)

For all these recipes, if you prep them and put them in the crockpot the night before and have it marinade in fridge overnight it tastes MUCH better


Chili

1.5lbs of grass fed ground beef

1 green pepper

1 large yellow onion

1 red pepper

1 yellow pepper

1 tsp of chili powder

1 tsp of cumin

1 tsp pepper

1tsp kosher salt

1 cup of pure pumpkin

1 cup beef broth


chop onion and peppers (set aside)

brown meat in pan

drain grease

cook onions and peppers in pan for 5 minutes

Add meat and pepper mix to crockpot

add spices, broth and pumpkin

Stir

cook in crockpot on low for 6 hours


Chicken Soup:

4 large chicken breast

5 cups chicken stock

3 cups chopped carrots

3 cups chopped celery

2 large yellow onions

*add mushrooms or other vegies you like


Place chicken on bottom of crock pot

Add stock and vegies over chicken


Cook on low for 2-2.5 hours (time varies for crock pot. Mine is done by 2 hours). Remove chicken and shred. Return to crockpot and cook on warm for 1 hour.


Hot Chicken

3 large chicken breast

2 cups coconut milk (unsweet, plain)

1 cup hot sauce (check ingredients, no sugar. I use aldi brand)


Place chicken on bottom of crock pot

Add milk and sauce


Cook on low for 2-2.5 hours. Remove chicken and shred. Return to crockpot and cook on warm for 30 minutes.

Cook a whole defrosted chicken...rinse it, take out the stuff inside the chicken, rub whatever dry seasoning on that you prefer, I use mrs dash, place on top of 5 balls of wadded up foil. This keeps the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the crock pot..I usually set it on high and go to work, so I'm not sure on exact hours probably 6? By the time I get home the chicken is falling off the bone! No added oil, butter or even stock, just your chicken and dry seasoning. You can serve it with veggies, next day as tacos, or on top of a salad or whatever...very easy and you'll have yummy chicken to be creative with for a couple of days

Turkey tenderloin in parchment...crock-pot style

Season turkey tenderloin as you prefer.. . I enjoy soaking in buttermilk overnight with paprika, red pepper flakes, rosemary. Discard of soak.
Wrap in piece do parchment, seam side up and tied on the sides ( I use floss)
Lay flat on bottom of crockpot and cook on low 4 hours. Enjoy.

If you pre-cook your veggies and brown meats before putting them into some recipes then your recipes will have better flavor and everything won't always kind of taste the same. I know that defeats the purpose of crockpottery. I rarely do that but it does help.

I love my crockpot.

Chicken Spagetti--put 2 chicken breast in crockpot frozen or not, pour a jar or 2 of sauce (whichever brand of spagetti sauce you like) over the top, let cook on low 8-10 hours. Shred chicken when done.


Taco Junk--
1 lb ground turkey---cooked and drained
1 can whole kernel corn (rinsed and drained)
1 can great northern beans rinsed and drained
2 4 oz packages ranch salad dressing dry mix
1 10 oz can rotel tomatoes and green chilies
1 16 oz Jar salsa (hot, medium, or mild)

Brown meat, drain. Dump all ingredients into crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8. Serves 16 (1/2 cup servings)



Taco Soup
1/2 lb lean ground turkey cooked-drained
2 14.5 oz cans mexican stewed tomatoes
1 15 oz can pinto beans
1 15 oz can kidney beans
1 can whole corn or 1 1/3 cups frozen whole corn thawed
1 package taco season mix
1 medium onion chopped
30 oz water
pepper to taste

brown meat and onion in skillet, drain, put all ingredients in crockpot. Cook on low 6-8 hours serves 12 (1 cup serving size)



Super Easy Chicken
4-5 Frozen skinless boneless chicken breast
1 package dry italian dressing mix
1 cup warm water or fat free chicken broth

place chicken in bottom of crockpot, sprinkle dressing mix over chicken then pour water or broth over chicken. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours.

---You can put whole chicken and turkey in frozen or thawed without precooking. But ground meat will not cook through in a crockpot you need to at least "grey" the meat, cook it thru.