What do you make in your slow cooker?

[ottawafamilyof4]

I've noticed that many people use a slow cooker on vacation. The slow cooker recipes I have are not ones I would want to use on a busy Disney vacation because they are just as involved as preparing a regular meal (browning the meat, chopping and browning the veggies, adding the spices and then transferring to the slow cooker) so I think of it as just shifting the time of day when I spend 30-45 minutes preparing dinner (with the advantage of producing a more tender product). I get the impression that others see the slow cooker as a way to produce a relatively effortless meal and I'm curious about what you are making that is so fast. I'm still not sure whether I'm up for actual cooking at Disney, but I sure could use some fast recipes for the everyday grind. Thanks!

 

[lizzytizzy]

 

[shalom]

Don't be surprised if this thread gets moved to the cooking board!

I don't take my slow cooker on vacation, but I do have some slow cooker recipes that are pretty much "throw it all in there and walk away." I think some people on vacation get the prepared veggies, where the store has peeled and/or chopped them, and have the butcher cut the meat as well. We eat a lot in the condo on vacation, but we also eat a lot more prepared food than we do at home, frozen lasagna and the like, which is more expensive than cooking from scratch, but less money (and often less hassle) than eating out.


Corned Beef in Beer

Just what it says! Rinse a slab of corned beef, plonk it in a casserole, open the packet of spices and sprinkle over, add any extra herbs or spices that you like, pour a can of beer over it, and cook.


Cranberry Pork Roast

1 boneless rolled pork loin roast (2 1/2 to 3 lbs)
1 can (16 oz) jellied cranberry sauce
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup cranberry juice
1 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp ground cloves
2 Tbs cornstarch
2 Tbs cold water
Salt to taste
Serve over noodles or mashed potatoes

Place pork roast in slow cooker. In a medium bowl, mash cranberry sauce; stir in sugar, cranberry juice, mustard and cloves. Pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until meat is tender

Remove roast and keep warm. Skim fat from juices; measure 2 cups, adding water if necessary, and pour into a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Combine the cornstarch and cold water to make a paste; stir into gravy. Cook and stir until thickened. Season with salt. Serve with sliced pork.
4-6 servings

You don't have to make the gravy -- you can just have the meat with the juices, and buttered noodles as a side. I always make the gravy, but if hubby or the kids make it when I'm gone or sick, they don't.


Four Can Chili

1 (16-oz) can tomatoes, undrained, cup up
1 (15-oz) can chili without beans
1 (15.5-oz) can pinto beans, drained
1 (15.5 oz) can dark or light red kidney beans, drained
1/4 cup prepared barbecue sauce
1/2 tsp chili powder

TOPPINGS
4 oz (1 cup) shredded cheddar cheese)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup dairy sour cream

In slow cooker, combine all chili ingredients; mix well. Cook on high setting for 2 to 4 hours to allow flavors to blend. Or, cook 1 hour on high setting; reduce heat to low setting and cook 8 to 9 hours. Serve with toppings.
4 (1 1/2 cup) servings

I can double that in my crock pot without a problem. I think. Haven't made it in years. We don't care enough about chopped onion on our chili to bother (or just get it out of the freezer, since I freeze extra chopped onion enough we usually have some), and you can get the cheese already shredded if so inclined.

 

[amomma23]

I use a lot of recipes from www.thecountrycook.net. She has several slow cooker meals that are mostly just "dump and cook" kind of recipes. Just made the pot roast for tonight's dinner. I skip adding the veggies and just cook some frozen peas or something to go with it.

 

[TrustedTraveler]

We can't bring our crock pot on the plane but I did buy a crock pot for the pool home we rent and use it typically twice a week, once for beef stew and once for a pork loin roast.
I buy the already peeled carrots and new potatoes I don't have to peel.
It's turned on in time for us to still make it to rope drop, then we come home mid-afternoon for a swim, rest and dinner before heading back to the parks for an evening of fun.

Thanks shalom for the great recipes. can't wait to try them.

 

[happy2012]

@ home I do the easiest & yummiest chicken recipe.
*2 cans of cream of chicken soup
*about 1 & 1/2 cans of H2O
*lemon pepper to taste [about 3TB,too much will make it too salty,less is more can always add more later]
*whisk it up
*add frozen chicken
[add any veggies if you want, I don't always, b/c I'll serve them on the side w/ butter, so it's not too much lemon pepper flavor]
*cook on low all day
*Serve over rice

 

[merrybee]

Here are my two favorites that are super easy and the hubby loves:

Beef Short Ribs
1 package beef short ribs
1 can beer
2 bay leaves
2 beef bouillon cubes
Montreal steak seasoning

Pour beer into crock pot. Add bay leaves & beef bouillon cubes. Season short ribs with Montreal steak seasoning and add to pot. Cook 8-10 hours on low.

Pork Chops with Gravy
1 package of pork chops
1-2 cans cream of chicken soup (depending on how much gravy you like.)
1 package dry onion soup mix

Pour cream of chicken into the pot, add the onion soup mix and stir to combine. Place pork chops on top of gravy. Cook for 8-10 hours on low. (If gravy seems too thick, add some water or beer to get your desired consistency.)

I usually serve with a side of rice or egg noodles for these. Add a microwave bag of your favorite veggies and you are set!

 

[momto2js]

We drive to Disney so I take my slow cooker and I have all the "prep" work done at home and frozen in crock pot liners. Then I just put the liner with all the stuff in the pot in the morning and dinner is done when we get back.

 

[happy2012]

Here are my two favorites that are super easy and the hubby loves:

Beef Short Ribs
1 package beef short ribs
1 can beer
2 bay leaves
2 beef bouillon cubes
Montreal steak seasoning

Pour beer into crock pot. Add bay leaves & beef bouillon cubes. Season short ribs with Montreal steak seasoning and add to pot. Cook 8-10 hours on low.

Pork Chops with Gravy
1 package of pork chops
1-2 cans cream of chicken soup (depending on how much gravy you like.)
1 package dry onion soup mix

Pour cream of chicken into the pot, add the onion soup mix and stir to combine. Place pork chops on top of gravy. Cook for 8-10 hours on low. (If gravy seems too thick, add some water or beer to get your desired consistency.)

I usually serve with a side of rice or egg noodles for these. Add a microwave bag of your favorite veggies and you are set!

Love the 1st one & I do the same w/ the 2nd w/ either beef or pork but cream of mushroom soup instead of the chicken. I'll try it ur way too!

 

[happy2012]

We drive to Disney so I take my slow cooker and I have all the "prep" work done at home and frozen in crock pot liners. Then I just put the liner with all the stuff in the pot in the morning and dinner is done when we get back.

THIS is such a fantastic idea, even for home.

 

[southbound]

This links to spam!

 

[southbound]

These are some great recipes, thanks everyone!


Another easy one is to take some curry sauce (buy already mixed in a jar) add some chicken, onions, and peppers and voila. Serve with rice and flatbread like garlic nan. Or if you have more time, skip the jar of curry sauce and add a can of diced tomatoes, half a can tomato paste, pataks (or similar) curry paste - about 4 tbsp, onions, green peppers, and cut up chicken breast and again, serve over rice. Add s&p to taste.

This recipe can be done in the crock pot on low or made in a pot if you have about an hour.

 

[southbound]

Wow! That was fast... the post that I mentioned linked to spam was deleted faster than I could remark on it. LOL

 

[isla bonita]

I take chicken brests, powderd taco, half of a small jar of salsa and make chicken tacos. You can put it on tortilla chips or, soft or hard taco shells.
Very easy and tasty.

 

[Suzanne033]

Here is a recipe I make at least once a month because it's so easy and SOOOO delicious. (As a matter of fact, I made it today.)

INGREDIENTS
1 Whole Chicken
4 Baking Potatoes
3 Tbls Seasoning Salt

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Place a crockpot liner in the crockpot (LOVE THESE)
2. Place scrubbed and washed potatoes in the bottom of the crockpot in a single layer
3. Sprinkle the Seasoning Salt over the entire chicken
4. Place the chicken BREAST SIDE DOWN on top of the potatoes
5. Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours

This SUPER EASY recipe makes a delicious, moist chicken. Even the breast is moist because it is cooked breast side down.

 

[ottawafamilyof4]

wow, these are great ideas! Thanks everyone.
I'm interested if there is a cooking thread. I couldn't find it.

 

[shalom]

I'm interested if there is a cooking thread. I couldn't find it.

There is a cooking forum under "Creative Communities"

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=121

It's not terribly active, but there are some good threads.

 

[franc]

This is a fantastic idea, I never would have thought of using a slow cooker on holiday. I'm from the UK and so can't take my slow cooker on holiday, how much would a cheap one cost me in the US?

 

[zandorian]

Less then $20usd

edit forgot about links

 

[franc]

Less then $20usd

edit forgot about links

Thanks. I might get one then, as we have one week with free DDP and then two weeks in a condo. I'm an early riser, so 10 mins prepping veg some mornings will be no problem.