Crockpots are one of those items that always seems to grace the pages of every wedding registry of the newly engaged. Once the shiny new crockpot is carefully unwrapped at bridal showers and taken home though, it unfortunately is many times put away into the depths of the kitchen pantry; never to be seen again.
Crockpot cooking is a short-cut idea that sounds amazing, but in reality many people are not sure where to even begin using it. Utilizing a crockpot effectively can make delicious dinners that much simpler, but the trick for learning to love the crockpot is to know how-to start and how-to plan for slow cooker cooking.
- First: Meal plan! Slow cooker recipe books, many blogs, Pinterest, and cooking websites are all great resources for finding the ideal crockpot recipes for yourself and your family. Knowing ahead of time what recipe is going to be made and what ingredients will be needed allows for a much easier time when putting together the crockpot meal throughout the week.
- Second: Prep! If making chicken breasts or pork loin in the crockpot then the entire piece of meat can go into the pot whether it is fully cooked or not. However, if ground meats such as beef, turkey or chicken are being used, then make sure to brown the meat ahead of time. Onion and garlic should usually be sautéed in olive oil before being added to the crockpot, and veggies typically need to be chopped and prepped too.
- Third: Work Ahead! One of the best ideas for putting together a crockpot meal while still having quick mornings is to complete all of the recipe directions the night before and to then simply place the removable crockpot bowl into the refrigerator. This way the entire meal is prepped and ready to begin cooking before you even get out of bed the next day. Talk about time management at its best!
- Fourth: Freezer Prep! Another good idea for quick crockpot prep is to chop large batches of onions, green peppers, garlic, carrots, celery, or any vegetable you may prefer. Separate vegetables into serving sizes and place into freezer for future use. This way all of the chopping prep work is finished and it is easy to pull the veggies out of the freezer in the exact amount needed for each specific recipe. This also makes for an easy way to get in those extra vegetable servings as well, because if the vegetables are already prepped and ready-to-go, it is a much easier decision to include them in dishes.
Knowing what needs to be done and completing the preparations ahead of time will set you up for crockpot success and will make you more likely to pull that slow cooker out of the pantry and put it to good use!
Crockpot meals truly can change one’s life in the sense that it makes evenings much more stress-free. In this day and age, life is very busy keeping up with everyone’s activities and events, but having the right plan in the kitchen can make for a simpler time. Feel free to mix-up recipes to fit your family’s needs and tastes as well by adding or substituting ingredients such as chicken in place of beef, black beans instead of pinto, sweet potatoes instead of russet potatoes, and so on and so forth.
Here are a few of my own favorite crockpot recipes:
And here are some more crockpot recipes that have caught my eye:
- Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili with Green Chilies via Jeanette’s Healthy Living
- Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup via Add a Pinch
- Crockpot White Bean Chicken Chili via Dashing Dish
And here are two great recipe round-ups that are filled with plenty of healthy slow cooker meals:
- 77 Healthy Crock-Pot Recipes via Greatist
- 38 Healthy Slow-Cooker Recipes via Fitfluential
Conversation Time.
- Are you a fan of the crockpot/slow cooker? What are your favorite meals/recipes to make using your crockpot? (Feel free to link-up if the recipe is yours or online!)
- What is one of the best appliances/kitchen gadgets you received for your wedding? Which ones do you use the most or the least? If you are not married, what kitchen items would you register for?
- Do you have any crockpot tips of your own?
i LOVE my crockpot! i’ve never done any freezer prep before though i like that idea!!
Linz @ Itz Linz recently posted…30 Weeks Pregnant | Baby Registry
I love doing the freezer prep, especially for browning large batches of meat and chopping veggies. It makes for such quick and easy throw together recipes! 🙂
I love my Crockpot! In fact, I’m using it today for Tex Mex Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Yum yum!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted…Grain Free Coconut Flour Pancakes
Oh wow, Tex Mex Chicken Lettuce Wraps sounds so good! Is this a recipe of yours?
Those chicken and dumplings (as well as everything else) look so good! Great tip prepping and freezing the veggies ahead of time to just pull out when you need them. Thanks so much for featuring my Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili with Chilies.
Jeanette | Jeanette’s Healthy Living recently posted…Easy Herb Spiced Roasted Chicken Recipe
Thank you so much Jeanette! I just love so many of your recipes, it takes restraint just to pick one at a time to make! 😉 I can’t wait to give your chili recipe a try!
I need to use my crockpot more – I do love it when I do. All of these recipes look delish!
Coco (@Got2Run4Me) recently posted…Running In Copenhagen
Thank you so much! I definitely utilize my crockpot a ton, but it does take an effort to find new recipes to try. Crockpots are my best friend, but they can get boring if I don’t put a little research into my meal planning lol! 🙂
whoop, just what i needed! I have been trying to use the crockpot more and just LOVE how easy it is. We have guests coming this week, so I needed some new recipes!
Amanda @runtothefinish recently posted…Half Marathon Race Check list – #Bestfoot link up 7
Ahh yes! I use crockpots for a lot of dinner parties because then I am not rushing around to finish cooking while the guests arrive. The crockpot is doing all the work for me !;)
I love my crockpot and want to use it all the time and then I forget to plan ahead. Great tips. I think I need to make the dumpling recipe.
Carrie@familyfitnessfood.com recently posted…Believe – Week 3 of the Move, Nourish, Believe Challenge
I have come to realize that if I don’t plan ahead for the crockpot, I probably won’t use it. Who wants to chop a million veggies or brown meat before leaving for work in the morning? Not many! That is why I have found that prepping ahead sets me up for more crockpot success!
These all sound very good. The prep is the key to making the process easy. I have wanted to try the enchiladas ever since you made them on Living Dayton. Looks great!!!
Yes you definitely need to make the enchiladas! Dad would love them, (especially since they include beef, ha ha)!
Love the idea of freezer food prep! I have some carrots & celery I can do that too if they’re not used up soon. Love the crock pot and Ninja blender/food processor. Unfortunately, since we didn’t have a wedding we never received gifts, but my husband & I already had kitchen gadgets. He even had an espresso machine, lol. I sold it since I love the Keurig & it was just collecting dust!
kim recently posted…My Secret Life of Crafts
I actually do that a lot! Any leftover veggies that need ate or cooked before they go bad, I typically just chop and freeze to add to future meals. I did this for Yukon gold potatoes recently and I can’t wait to see how they work from the freezer. Ahh an Espresso machine is definitely on my want list! I would literally make one every morning! 🙂
If I could get my morning and evening routine to include more time, I could totally meal prep and knock out an awesome crock pot meal for the next day! I think my time management skills need improvement first 🙂
Sarah @ Sweet Miles recently posted…OOFOS Footwear PROMO CODE
Ha ha I feel yah! Evenings and mornings are so precious, which is why I have found that prepping ahead like chopping large batches of veggies and then freezing helps me. If I don’t have a plan, I probably won’t make a crockpot meal and that always leaves me kicking myself at the end of the day! 😉
I think the crock pot is my favorite kitchen appliance – I’m using mine for the 2nd day in a row! Yesterday was an asian chicken soup and today is a fiesta beef dish.
Thanks for the great recipes – pinned several to try soon!
Kim recently posted…Time to Make a Few Changes
I usually use my crockpot at least twice a week as well! Both the asian chicken soup and fiesta beef recipes sound amazing! 🙂
Great post! I have been looking for great crock pot recipes since I just got one for Christmas this year!
Kelsey at The Primal Yogi recently posted…Take Me Back Tuesday – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Thanks so much Kelsey! I am always on the lookout for good crockpot recipes, so as I find more I will try and post/share them. I think everyone loves a good slow cooker dish! 😉
This is so helpful! I just recently broke my crockpot out of storage and am actually using it today. I don’t really know the rules of the road yet though so I appreciate these tips 🙂
Whitney @ To Live & Diet in L.A. recently posted…The Best Vegan Restaurant in Los Angeles (For People Who Aren’t Even Vegan)
Ahh yes! You will love it! I think sometimes people forget they even own a crockpot, but once they start using it, they don’t remember how they ever lived without it! 😉
Love this list!! My crockpot has saved me lately! They are PERFECT with a little one!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted…Squash, Carrot, and Lentil Stew
Oh I can only imagine how desperate I will be for crockpot recipes once I have kids! It is definitely a lifesaver for busy nights!
Love my slow cooker! I usually use it once or twice per week!
Erica @ For the Sake of Cake recently posted…A Day in the Life
Ahh me too! I use mine at least once or twice a week as well! 😉