Why are EASY slow cooker recipes so COMPLEX?

AJL_Daddy
AJL_Daddy Posts: 525 Member
edited November 13 in Recipes
Some of the ingredients, ugh. Not everyone lives near a Whole Foods. I live in Bumwater Minnesota, the ingredients I can find are lacking.

So anyway, long story short, I leave for work every day at 7:15. My wife is a Stay-At-Home-Mom, and her + the kids sleep til 8:30-ish. Then after making beds, tooth brushing, etc., she's lucky to get to the kitchen before 9:15-9:30. So I like to throw supper in the slow cooker before I go to work. It's so easy.
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But, you google recipes, and the easy AND HEALTHY ones all have ingredients I don't have access to. Or take too long to prepare.

So can anyone help me out with this quest? I want easy and healthy recipes, little prep time, that I can just throw in the crock pot quick and walk out the door.

Thanks!

Replies

  • PowerfulHunt
    PowerfulHunt Posts: 281 Member
    Slow cooker steak chili:

    http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/12/23/recipe-slow-cooker-steak-chili/

    You only have to buy steak, onion, beans & diced tomatoes. The rest are simple spices.

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  • softblondechick
    softblondechick Posts: 1,275 Member
    "Little prep time", that is the key. I prep all my veggies on Sunday afternoon. Wash, chop, put in containers in the fridge. Ready for salads or stir fry. On Saturday, the chopped veggies all go into the crock pot. I add can of tomatoes, and decide is this chili, spaghetti or soup...no fancy ingredients.
  • crosbylee
    crosbylee Posts: 3,455 Member
    On Pinterest there are recipes for slow cooker meals that you can prep ahead of time and put in the freezer. Pull it out to thaw the day before, in the fridge, then put in the cooker and set.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    edited February 2015
    All a slow cooker does is delay the eating time... but just look up 5 ingredient slow cooker recipes. They're always simple and don't have many ingredients to gum them up with tons of calories. Like I was searching around my house for something to make one day, too lazy to get the groceries I really needed. So I dumped in 2 cans of beans, a can of tomatoes, a can of mushrooms, 3 tbsp. of chili, some garlic, and some salsa and got a nice veggie chili out of it. It took about 5 minutes.
  • crystalflame
    crystalflame Posts: 1,049 Member
    Haha I feel you. I have to read a recipe through before I start and maybe do prep the night before to make sure the "easy" slow-cooker recipe won't make me late for work. Always remember you can substitute or leave out ingredients if they don't work for you:
    -One of these recipes calls for dates; you could substitute with raisins if you needed to.
    -Another calls for peach salsa; any mild or fruity salsa would work.
    -Your beans and grains can be swapped out for less expensive/more available items, or items you like better. Don't have quinoa? Use lentils or beans. Don't like chickpeas? Use white or pinto beans.

    Cut up veggies and mix spices the night before to save time in the morning. Browning the meat isn't necessary, but it improves the flavor and consistency.

    Moroccan chicken #1: http://www.aspicyperspective.com/2013/09/slow-cooker-chicken-moroccan-chicken.html
    Moroccan chicken #2, packets available on Amazon: http://completerecipes.com/Slow-Cooker-Moroccan-Chicken.html
    Soy Balsmaic Chicken (I recommend using 1/2 cup soy sauce instead of 3/4 cup, and definitely low sodium): http://eezyrecipes.com/soy-balsamic-slow-cooker-chicken/
    Pork Roast with Sweet Potatoes: http://www.foodiewithfamily.com/slow-cooker-peach-salsa-pork-roast-with-sweet-potatoes/
    Quinoa Chicken Chili: http://sweettreatsmore.com/2012/10/slow-cooker-quinoa-chicken-chili/
  • NeedMoreJava
    NeedMoreJava Posts: 11 Member
    Anyone have non chili recipes to share? I'm looking for more ideas as well.
  • tekkiechikk
    tekkiechikk Posts: 375 Member
    this is silly, but with all recipes, I judge whether or not I'll make it based on its typed length-- more than a couple inches worth of ingredients, then forget it.

    I also live in a PA version of "Bumwater" and can't get a lot of those whole foods ingredients. But I've found that you can generally substitute, including spices. And the fewer the ingredients, the easier they tend to be.

    Maybe experiment and come up with your own version... what does your family like? Start with a protein and go from there. The worst that can happen is it turns out to be a disaster and you order pizza lol. Good luck.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    I bought a book by Company's Coming called "5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes". They have everything from drinks to chicken to beef to dessert in them. Plenty of non-chili recipes. Maybe see if you can get something like that. It was $10.
  • sw0312
    sw0312 Posts: 30 Member
    For the MOST tender Pork roast you will ever have:

    Any cut of pork roast will do - I usually do 3-4 pounds.
    - add the pork to the slow cooker (you can sear or not I have not found there to be a big difference)
    - season with salt and pepper (to taste), a teaspoon or more of red pepper flakes, and 3 tablespoons of dried Thyme
    - cover roast with sliced red onions
    - cover all with apple juice so it is submerged (I use frozen juice and add water)
    - cook on low for 8 hours or so.

    Ingredients:
    Pork
    Red onion
    Apple juice
    Salt
    Pepper
    Thyme
    Red pepper flakes

    This is also great the next day when you shred the pork and add BBQ sauce.
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    I'm a stay at home mom, I wish I could sleep till 830 hahahah. On Sundays I chop up chicken, shrimp, veggies, whatever, put in freezer bags with seasonings, rice, whatever meals I'm doing and freeze em. Most nights I cook dinner from scratch, but on a night I don't want to I just plunk one of those in the slow cooker and turn it on. Takes 2 minutes, and prepping it all takes about an hour one day.
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    sw0312 wrote: »
    For the MOST tender Pork roast you will ever have:

    Any cut of pork roast will do - I usually do 3-4 pounds.
    - add the pork to the slow cooker (you can sear or not I have not found there to be a big difference)
    - season with salt and pepper (to taste), a teaspoon or more of red pepper flakes, and 3 tablespoons of dried Thyme
    - cover roast with sliced red onions
    - cover all with apple juice so it is submerged (I use frozen juice and add water)
    - cook on low for 8 hours or so.

    Ingredients:
    Pork
    Red onion
    Apple juice
    Salt
    Pepper
    Thyme
    Red pepper flakes

    This is also great the next day when you shred the pork and add BBQ sauce.

    Also good with a can of sauerkraut...even my non-kraut loving kids eat it this way.
  • lacarinita
    lacarinita Posts: 1 Member
    edited March 2015
    One of my favorite fast slow cooker meals is Pepperoncini Beef. High in sodium I'm sure but I splurge once in awhile... To keep calories in check you can serve with quinoa or brown rice instead of making into sandwiches as in recipe. Put meat and pepperoncini in slow cooker in low for 8 hrs. Here's the recipe. http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2011/01/peperoncini-beef-sandwiches-slow-cooker.html?m=1
    She has tons of easy prep slow cooker recipes.
  • hjy319
    hjy319 Posts: 269 Member
    My go to slow cookers meals are:

    Southwest chicken mix:
    Boneless/skinless chicken breasts
    Jar of salsa
    Can of black beans
    Bag of frozen corn
    Some taco seasoning

    Cook all day, shred up chicken and serve on tortillas or over rice

    Basic beef roast:
    Package of stew meat or any cut of roast
    Baby carrots
    Potatos (cut into chunks)
    Mushrooms
    Water to cover all indgrients and a pack of beefy onion dry soup for flavor

    Cook on low 6-8 hours (until meat done)


    Bbq chicken or pork

    I use pork shoulder roast or boneless skinless chicken breasts
    Bbq sauce

    Cook on low til meat done then shred
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