The weather is getting colder, and my life is not getting any slower! When I was working on my family menu for last week I decided to make dinner easy for myself and make crockpot meals all week. I gathered a few of my favorite recipes and put together a yummy dinner time menu for my family.
Day 1: Crockpot Chili
1 Pound of Ground meat of your choice (beef, turkey, chicken) or no meat at all is fine too)
1 Cup onions, diced
1 Cup celery, chopped
1 Cup of green bell pepper, diced
1 (15 oz can) Kidney beans, drained
2 (15 oz can) of Bush chili beans
1 (26 oz can) Tomato sauce
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 Tablespoon Chili Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Parsley
1 Teaspoon Salt
3/4 Teaspoon Dried Basil
3/4 Dried Oregano
1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper
Directions:
1. Cook the meat in a pan with the celery, onions, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, and bell pepper. Drain when the meat is fulled cooked.
2. Place the meat mixture into the crockpot. Add all of the remaining ingredients. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
Day 2: Fish Chowder
2 pound Fish ( I like catfish, cod, or tillapia)
8-10 strips of bacon
8 small red potatoes, chopped
1 medium onion, diced
2 Cups water
1 Tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1 Teaspoon salt
1/2 Teaspoon pepper
1 Can Evaporated Milk
Directions:
1. Cook bacon until it’s done (I put mines on a cookie sheet and cook in the broil)
2. Layer your ingredients starting with the fish on the bottom, then the potatoes, bacon, onions, garlic,and seasonings on the top.
3. Pour in the 2 cups of water
4. Cook on high for 3-5 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.
5. Add the evaporated milk during the last hour.
Day 3: Crockpot Pizza Casserole
1 Package of Egg Noddles
1 1/5 Pounds of Ground Meat (turkey, chicken, or beef) or 2 (15 oz) cans of beans
1/2 Cup onions, chopped
2 (15oz) bottles of Pizza Sauce
4oz Mushrooms
2 Teaspoons Italian seasoning dry mix
1 package of pepperoni (turkey is fine)
2 Cups of shredded Mozzarella or Italian Cheese
2 Cups of shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions:
1. Cook noodles according to package directions.
2. Cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is done. drain your meat.
3. Stir in pizza sauce, mushrooms and Italian seasoning
4. Drain your noodles.
5. Coat crockpot with cooking spray (homemade recipe here) .
6. Spread a third of the meat sauce in the bottom. Cover with a third of the noodles and pepperoni. Sprinkle with a third of the cheese. Repeat layers twice.
7. Cover and cook on high for 20-30 minutes or until heated through and the cheeses melt.
*Check out this Pizza Casserole recipe that I posted a few months back.
Day 4: Crockpot Mongolian Beef
I found this recipe for Crockpot Mongolian Beef over at Six Sisters Stuff.
Day 5: CrockPot Balsamic Pot Roast
2 Pound Roast of your choice
1 Onion, Chopped
1 8 oz Can of Tomato Sauce
1/2 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
1/2 Cup Beef Broth
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Minced Garlic
Seasonings of your choice ( I used Black Pepper, Paprika, Garlic Salt, Basil, Parsley)
Directions:
1. Rub your roast with your the dry seasonings of your choice.
2. Heat up the olive oil in a frying pan. Sear each side for 3-4 minutes
3. Layer your onions and potatoes on the bottom of your crockpot, place your meat on top.
4. Mix together the tomato sauce and the balsamic vinegar, pour over the meat
5. Saute the beef broth with the left over juices and garlic in the frying pain then pour over the meat and vegetables.
6. Cook on high for 4-5 hours and on low for 6-8.
Day: 6: Crockpot Fajitas
I don’t have a picture of the fajitas because they disappeared before I could get one but I figured I share my recipe anyway.
2 Pounds of Carne Asada
1 Onion, sliced
2 bell peppers, sliced
2 Tablespoons of Ketchup
2 Tablespoons of my Homemade Fajita Dry Mix
1 Tablespoon of minced Garlic
1/2 Cup Beef Broth
Directions:
1. Mix all of the ingredients in your crockpot, EXCEPT for the broth and the ketchup.
2. Mix the ketchup and the broth together, pour it over the meat.
3. Cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 7-8 hours
Day 7: Chicken Taco Soup
1 1/2 Pounds of Skinless, Boneless Chicken (I used chicken tenders because they were already cut down to size)
8oz Can Tomato sauce
16oz can Chili Beans
15oz Can Black Beans
15oz Can Corn
1 Onion, diced
12 oz bottle/can beer
2 10oz Cans of Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
2 Tablespoons Taco Dry Mix (Or one store packet)
Directions:
1. Mix all of the ingredients in your crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 5 hours.
* Serve with Shredded Cheese, Sour Cream, and Tortilla Chips (Optional)
For easy clean up I have invested in these Crockpot Liners. They aid in keeping the crockpot clean while cook which makes my crockpot easier to clean out when I’m done and get it ready for the next time I use it.
Planning Crockpot meals in advanced helped my evenings go a little bit smoother last week. Do you own a crockpot? What are some of your favorite recipes?