Do you have a slow cooker sitting on your kitchen counter top, but you hardly ever use it? If so, now is the time to put it to use. A slow cooker offers a break from baked or fried meals, and it does not take a lot of effort to prepare a slow cooker meal. The added bonus is that these meals are just as delicious and hearty as other home cooked meals.
Even someone who is new to cooking can prepare a slow cooker meal.
The following are 12 meals that you can prepare in a slow cooker. Chicken, pork, vegetarian meals as well as chili, stews and even dessert can make tasty and comforting slow cooker meals.
Turkey And Potatoes
This is a delicious meal that can be made during the holidays or any time you are looking for a filling meal for your family. You will need:
3 to 4 large turkey legs
2 sweet or baking potatoes, cut into chunks
3 ½ cups of water
3 cups of cooked, long grain rice (white)
1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup onion, chopped
1 pinch of meat tenderizer
3 cans of condensed chicken and mushroom cream soup
Garlic powder for taste
Salt and pepper for taste
Stir the cans of soup, water and onion together in a bowl until smooth. Place turkey legs in slow cooker, pour mixture over turkey legs and cook for 3 hours. Add potatoes and seasonings when ready. Cook for 2 hours, slice meat off bone and serve over warm rice.
Cream Corn
You will need:
2 packages of frozen corn kernels
1 cup butter
½ cup cream cheese
1 cup milk
½ Tbsp of sugar
Salt and pepper
Mix all ingredients together in slow cooker. Cover and cook for up to 6 hours on the low setting.
Maple Sugar Ham
You will need:
1 bone-in spiral ham
2 cups pineapple juice
½ cup maple syrup
14 cloves (whole)
1 cup packed brown sugar
½ tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
Mix wet ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Rub ham with maple sugar and black pepper. Place ham in slow cooker with cloves. Pour mixture over ham and cook for 4 hours on low, while basting every hour.
Vegetarian Chili
You will need:
2 sliced carrots
½ onion chopped
1 chopped green bell pepper
1 zucchini sliced thinly
2 sliced celery stalks
1 can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
½ red bell pepper, chopped
1 tsp salt
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can whole peeled tomatoes, juice included
½ Tbsp oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
Mix vegetables together in slow cooker and add seasonings. Add water to make the chili as thick or thin as you like, cover and cook for up to 8 hours on low, or up to 4 hours on high.
Mashed Potatoes
You will need:
2 pounds of red potatoes, cut into chunks
½ cup sour cream
4 cups chicken bouillon
1 cup butter
½ cup softened cream cheese
Salt and pepper for taste
Fill a pot with potatoes, chicken bouillon and salt water. Boil until potatoes are tender, and mash potatoes with sour cream and cream cheese. Transfer with reserved water to slow cooker and cook for 3 hours. Add butter before serving.
BBQ Chicken
You will need:
One pound chicken breast
1 can of Manwich
Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray, and add chicken breasts. Pour Manwich over chicken and cook on low for up to 8 hours.
Stewed Chicken
You will need:
Leg quarters or drumsticks
1 cup chopped onion
1 bag of egg noodles
Salt and pepper
Place chicken in slow cooker and add enough water to cover the bottom of the pot. Add onion and cook on high for 4 hours. Add egg noodles during the last 10 minutes. Serve immediately.
Pulled Pork
You will need:
4 pounds pork shoulder
1 cup beef stock
1 cup of BBQ sauce of your choice
1 tsp onion powder
Garlic powder to taste
Combine the dry ingredients, and rub on pork. Let sit. Sear meat, and add wet ingredients to slow cooker. Add pork to slow cooker. Cook on high for 8 hours.
Onion Stew
You will need:
1 Whole Chicken
1 onion, quartered
Salt and pepper
Place all ingredients in slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on high.
Salsa Chicken
You will need:
Chicken breasts
Salsa
Place chicken breasts in slow cooker and cover with your favorite salsa. Cook on high for 4 hours and add to tortillas or salads.
The Kitchen Sink
You will need:
Any meat
Any marinade
Simply add to ingredients to slow cooker and cook until done.
Cake
You will need:
1 Box of cake mix
1 Can of fruit with juice
Pour ingredients into a greased slow cooker. Cook for 2 hours or until a skewer or toothpick comes out clean.
These are some of the recipes you can make in your slow cooker. Experiment to see what new recipes you can create!