Recipes: Slow Cooker

Sharing some of my favorite "slow-cook"  recipes.

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

I found this recipe online and could not believe how good and easy it was.  Perfect for simple entertaining. I added chopped onion and garlic and used Stubbs Spicy BBQ Sauce.  I shredded the chicken towards the end of the cooking time and added it back into the sauce.  It was delicious on whole wheat buns!  The second day we turned the left-overs into BBQ Chicken Quesadillas with green onion, cilantro and cheese.  http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/zesty-slow-cooker-chicken-barbecue/Detail.aspx


Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder Tacos

• 1 medium sized pork shoulder
• 1 white onion sliced
• 1 clove garlic chopped
• 1/4 cup peach preserves
• 1 small can diced green chili
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• salt and pepper
• garlic and onion powder

Season the shoulder w/ salt and pepper.  Add a little oil to a large fry pan and brown the shoulder on all sides.  Place the shoulder in the slow cooker.  Add the onion, garlic, cumin, peach preserves and diced green chili's. Cook on low 8-10 hours.  When it is tender, remove from crock pot and shred.

We serve this with fresh hot corn tortillas, a squeeze of lime, shredded cheese and shredded broccoli slaw as a crunchy topper.  The kids like to eat it as a quesadilla. 

Lentil Soup

• 1 turkey kielbasa sausage, diced
• 1 onion chopped (can use frozen in a slow cooker)
• 2 carrots chopped
• 2 celery chopped
• 2 tsp chopped garlic (jarred is fine)
• 1/4 cup lentils
• 1/4 pearl barley
• 2 cans petite diced seasoned tomatoes
• 1 box chicken stock
• 1 can pinto beans
• 1 can chili beans
• 1 can kidney beans
• (or any combo of beans that you have)
• lots of seasonings - onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper

Add all ingredients to slow cooker and cook on low 8- 10 hours.   At the very end, you can stir in fresh baby spinach. This freezes nicely.

Pot Roast

I personally like the ease and simplicity of Martha Stewart's recipe. 

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/slow-cooker-pot-roast

Slow Cooker Pork Chops

• 4-6 thick cut pork chops, bone in
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can cream of celery soup
• 1 pouch Lipton onion soup mix
• 1 sliced onion
• 1/2-1 cup water or broth

Season chops w/ salt and pepper. Brown-in a little oil and place in slow cooker.  Add sliced onions.  

Mix the cream of mushroom and cream of celery soup w/ the Lipton soup mix and water.  Pour over chops and cook on low 8-10 hours.  Makes an excellent gravy.  Serve over mashed potatoes.

This is a heavy meal - so we usually serve with a light salad)

Chicken Tortilla Soup

• 3-4 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped. (any leftover chicken works well, or a rotisserie from the deli)
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 jalapeño seeded and chopped
• 1 tsp chopped garlic
• 1 bag frozen bell peppers (in the freezer section next to vegetables)
• 1 box chicken stock
• 1 can fire roasted tomatoes or diced tomatoes or whatever you have 
• 1 can black beans
• fresh cilantro
• fresh limes
• 1 bag corn tortillas chips
• shredded cheddar cheese

Add the chicken thru black beans to your slow cooker.  Cook on high 4 -6 hours,  Serve in bowls w/ a squeeze of lime, fresh cilantro sprigs, crumbled tortilla chips and cheese.