3 Qt crock-pot is it too small?

[lisaross]

I've had this in my closet for a few years and am now deciding to try and use it - is it too small to feed myelf, husband and two kids?

Now can you share with me a VERY SIMPLE RECIPE and i'm not from the cooks, so i need an exact recipe

thanks

lisa

 

[TenThousandVolts]

We got a little crock pot like this and I use it for side dishes- like slow cooked beans. It is way too small to cook up our entree. I also have used it as a "fondue" type server for parties.

 

[katerkat]

I used a 5 qt to make this recipe, and I think it can be done in a smaller one easily - it barely filled a quarter of the thing. It made 6 servings, but we keep portions small so you might want to double and freeze the leftovers.

2 chicken breasts
2 tbsp butter
1 can (10.25 oz) condensed chicken soup
1/2 cup orange juice
1 tsp tarragon or rosemary (I actually used marjoram bc I didn't have the other spices)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Rinse chicken breasts and pat dry; place in crockpot. In saucepan, combine remaining ingredients and heat until smooth and hot. Pour over chicken breasts. Cover and cook on low setting for 8-10 hours.

If you want, you can thicken the sauce up a bit with corn starch (in water!) before serving.

Served with rice or mashed potatoes and veggies. It also shreds well to use in sandwiches as leftovers.

 

[katerkat]

Oh, and I think my 5 qt is too small for roasts and big hams. It's good for soups and smaller recipes - and a whole lot easier to move and store than my huge oval one - but I do need the bigger one as well.

 

[westcliffemom]

I use my 5 qt for everything for my family of 5 (two teen boys included). I even make roasts, etc. I just got a 3 qt on Black Friday and it's too small for my family.

 

[Earstou]

I've used a 3qt crockpot for years for my family of 4. We aren't big eaters, but we always have enough for at least two meals. Sometimes with a roast or a corned beef, I don't get enough potatoes and carrots in for a full second meal, but it's close.
One of my favorite recipes is:
ROUND STEAK WITH RICH GRAVY
2 to 2 1/2 lbs. round steak
1 (1 1/2 oz.) package onion soup mix
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup water

Cut steak into 5 or 6 serving-size pieces. Place in crockpot. Add dry soup mix, water and condensed soup. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
5-6 servings. From Crockery Cookery by Mable Hoffman

Usually I add potatoes to this. Can also put on high for half the time. I also usually go the longer time (8 on low or 4 on high) so that the meat is really tender.

 

[lisaross]

The round steak sounds good....i've never bought round steak, but i'll keep my eye out for it - if i use potatos do i just peel and put them on top of the steak or under?

thanx

lisa

 

[Earstou]

I usually peel and cut my potatoes and throw them on top.

 

[OhioFamily]

I've used a 3qt crockpot for years for my family of 4. We aren't big eaters, but we always have enough for at least two meals. Sometimes with a roast or a corned beef, I don't get enough potatoes and carrots in for a full second meal, but it's close.
One of my favorite recipes is:
ROUND STEAK WITH RICH GRAVY
2 to 2 1/2 lbs. round steak
1 (1 1/2 oz.) package onion soup mix
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup water

Cut steak into 5 or 6 serving-size pieces. Place in crockpot. Add dry soup mix, water and condensed soup. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
5-6 servings. From Crockery Cookery by Mable Hoffman

Usually I add potatoes to this. Can also put on high for half the time. I also usually go the longer time (8 on low or 4 on high) so that the meat is really tender.

This is my favorite recipe too!! Even my husband loves it and he's a chef. We do use one more can of soup (total of 2) and throw some potatoes and carrots in the mix...yummy!!

 

[daisyduck123]

You will find a lot of crockpot discussions/recipies on the cooking forum....you've got to go to "The Creative Community" forum.

Then go to the sub-forum - "Cooking".

Lots of crockpot discussions going on there.

 

[aynt79]

I would definately get a bigger one, you'll have much more that you can do with it.

For a super easy recipe: Place some chicken breasts in the crockpot(frozen/thawed, doesn't matter), pour a jar of salsa on them. Cook 3-4 hours on low for thawed, add a couple hours for frozen. We usually either eat them just like that with a side dish, or shred them up and make chicken tacos out of them.

I also like to cook small (4-5 lb) whole chickens in it as well.

 

[KC-CT]

Try this website for tons of crockpot recipes
http://saksfamily.no-ip.com/crockpot.html

Karen

 

[Nolcrest]

Here's a recipe specifically for a 3qt crock pot. I just made it last week for dinner and I thought it was delicious. I will definately make this again - maybe even as an appetizer sometime.

Bavarian Meatballs:

1 package (38oz) frozen cooked Italian meatballs
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 can (12oz) beer or nonalcoholic beer
12 hoagie buns, split
3 cups (12oz) shredded Swiss cheese

In a 3 qt slow cooker, combine the 1st 5 ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours or until heated through. Serve with toothpicks for an appetizer. Or for sandwiches, place 6 meatballs on each bun bottom. Sprinkle each sandwich with 1/4 cup cheese. Place on baking sheets. Broil 4-6 inches from heat 2-3- minutes or until cheese is melted. Replace bun tops. Serves 12.

Recipe from Simple & Delicious Magazine Jan. 2007

 

[clh2]

I actually have both a 3 qt and a 5 qt. I use both of them about equally. Just depends on how much we are cooking.

I did see a 5 qt at the store this weekend, and it was programable. I liked this idea, and you could have it on one setting for a certain amount of hours, and then have it change to a "keep warm" setting until you would get home from work.

My next crock pot will be programable, but I just can't justify it right now, with 2 crock pots in house that work perfectly fine.

 

[lisaross]

i'm going to try the roundsteak one next week - you guys didn't tell me how many choices of roundsteak there is................i'm sure its not a big deal - top or bottom? Also if you are not home and it cooks an extra hour or so on low will it make a huge difference?

lisa

 

[nbodyhome]

I use both my large one and small one. Large for veggie soup, ribs, etc. The smaller one for items like goulash, or the other day I made a dessert with it (sort of like a lava cake, but with the lava underneath - it was a huge hit!) I think I'll make the goulash tomorrow, thinking about it is making me hungry.

Link to cake recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/41657

Link to Goulash recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/22651

and actually, I expect this much soup could make it into the crockpot, I just like to double/triple the recipe for my large crockpot:

http://www.recipezaar.com/42645

I love my crockpots! I'll probably get a third eventually - in case I'm making soup, ribs, and dessert on the same day!