topic Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed. in Kitchen

Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

SouthernBee — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 05:21:24 GMT

Just DH and I. I have a 4.5 Quart Crock Pot. I have multiple health issues and can not stand or be on my feet to cook. I have never been good using the Crock Pot for meals. Just use the Crock Pot to keep food hot for serving.

I do good with soups or chili. Never liked the taste and texture of chicken cooked in the crock pot and felt that I was doing something wrong. Never liked a roast cooked in the crock pot and prefer to use my pressure cooker.

It has been very expensive using meal delivery and cost for tips. I use very few spices due to stomach issues.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

AuntMame — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 09:43:08 GMT

With Crockpots a lot depends upon what you like, what foods you prefer. I like beans and bean soups so I've found a few Crockpot recipes that work for me. I have a copy of the old cookbook "Fix It & Forget It" which has a lot of great Crockpot recipes. However many are high in sodium since they rely upon pre-made canned soups and other pre-made foods. I've tailored them to suit me better.

I'm with you on the chicken. Chicken doesn't seem to do well in Crockpots. It dries out.

I did find a Mississippi Roast variation that DH loves. Although, depending upon the cut, it can taste better in a pressure cooker.

I've found that I've had to experiment a lot with the Crockpot to find recipes that work for us.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

Imaoldhippie — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:09:44 GMT

@SouthernBee ............try these websites. Recipesthatcrock.com. & themagicalslowcooker.com.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

piperbay — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:35:17 GMT

A recipe I make often in the crockpot is with chicken. I'll fillet the chicken breasts,

season them and lightly brown them. On bottom of crock pot, I'll cut up onions, potatoes, a little celery.

The chicken is placed on top and I'll pour a can of cream of celery soup mixed with a can of water. Cook for about 4 hours on low. Chicken is tender every time.

A favorite recipe website of mine is called spend with pennies dot com

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

SouthernBee — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:16:42 GMT

@AuntMame : Thank you.I totally agree and understand.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

SouthernBee — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:19:32 GMT

@Imaoldhippie : Thank you. Will check the websites. I am making my grocery list for delivery on Saturday.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

SouthernBee — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:25:03 GMT

@piperbay Thank you. This recipe sounds interesting. Is it more like soup or something to serve over rice or noodles.

Last week a friend suggested that I try using chicken tenderloins instead of chicken breast.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

cindyNC — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:36:41 GMT

I got tired of using my crockpot....maybe because it's so big and heavy. I've started "slow cooking" things in the oven. Easier to control the amount of liquid that cooks down.

Should probably just look for a smaller slow cooker. It's really tough when you have a special diet. I remember back when slow cookers came out, most of the recipes included a can of soup.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

SouthernBee — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:54:17 GMT

@cindyNC : I totally agree and understand. I am having to reduce my sodium due to feet and leg swelling.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

LizzieInSRQ — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:10:20 GMT

@SouthernBee wrote:
@piperbay Thank you. This recipe sounds interesting. Is it more like soup or something to serve over rice or noodles.

Last week a friend suggested that I try using chicken tenderloins instead of chicken breast.

Thighs are even better for crock pot

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

SouthernBee — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:20:00 GMT

@LizzieInSRQ : Thank you. Adding them to my grocery list.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

Marp — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:37:04 GMT

Funny you should mention the Fix-It and Forget-It cookbook @AuntMame.

I recently bought a butane burner for emergency use and needed a place to store it. As I moved things around I "discovered" that long forgotten cookbook and have been paging through the various sections for the past few days, more looking for ideas and inspiration than recipes.

Most of the recipes are easily adaptable for pressure or stovetop cooking.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

PinkyPetunia — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:23:15 GMT

I think chicken breast gets stringy/dry in the crock pot. I prefer boneles skinless chicken thighs. Turns out better. If you don't like the crock pot taste, slow cook meals in the oven instead.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

LindaSal — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:33:09 GMT

@SouthernBee I use my crockpot for a lot of meals and I have never had my chicken come out dry. I wonder if you are putting in enough water or broth? The crock pot needs some moisture while cooking for long hours. They have many cookbooks for crock pots available, you should look on Amazon. I do add spices to most recipes but nothing that is too hot and I never add salt even if the recipe calls for it.

I will however tell you that once I had a generic brand crock pot and it only had one setting. Now this is going back some years but the setting was way too high and the meals did not come out as planned. I realized then I had to research and buy a higher end brand. The one I have now is the brand name "Crock-Pot". It's a digital program slow cooker and I love it, I've had it for about 20 years and everything comes out wonderful.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:41:56 GMT

There are all kinds of recipes online and crockpot cooking Facebook groups you can access. Also put "crockpot" in the forum search bar. You'll probably get a lot of hits.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

piperbay — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:52:04 GMT

@SouthernBee wrote:
@piperbay Thank you. This recipe sounds interesting. Is it more like soup or something to serve over rice or noodles.

Last week a friend suggested that I try using chicken tenderloins instead of chicken breast.

@SouthernBee It makes a gravy and I serve it over rice.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

Iwantcoffee — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:56:21 GMT

Hello, @SouthernBee, I found this recipe on the forum that house_cat posted without chicken or beef for crockpot

CROCKPOT LENTIL SOUP

INGREDIENTS for the crockpot:

2 cups butternut squash (peeled and cubed)
2 cups carrots (peeled and sliced)
2 cups potatoes (chopped)
2 cups celery (chopped)
1 cup green lentils
3/4 cup yellow split peas (or just use more lentils)
1 onion (chopped)
5 cloves garlic (minced)
8–10 cups vegetable or chicken broth
2 teaspoons herbs de provence
1 teaspoon salt (more to taste)

add at the end:

2–3 cups kale (stems removed, chopped)
1 cup parsley (chopped)
1/2 cup olive oil – rosemary olive oil or other herb infused oil is delicious
a swish of sherry, red wine vinegar, or lemon juice to add a nice tangy bite

INSTRUCTIONS

Place all ingredients in the crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or low for 7-8 hours.
Place about 4 cups of soup in a blender with the olive oil. Pulse gently until semi-smooth and creamy-looking (the oil will form a creamy emulsion with the soup). Add back to the pot and stir to combine. Stir in the kale and parsley. Turn the heat off and just let everything chill out for a bit before serving. The taste gets better with time and so does the texture, IMO!
Season to taste (add the sherry, vinegar, and/or lemon juice at this point) and to really go next level, serve with crusty wheat bread and a little Parmesan cheese.

https://community.qvc.com/t5/Recipes/Crockpot-Lentil-Soup-it-s-what-s-cookin/m-p/5969065/highlight/true#M129644

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

Imaoldhippie — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:58:28 GMT

@SouthernBee ...........I hope you will find something there that will work for you. I cut most recipes in half since there are only 2 of us. Everything has worked out well.

Good luck

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

Sooner — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 14:07:11 GMT

I don't know if this would work for you, but how about an induction burner (can find some good buys at Amazon) that keeps a low constant temperature and light weight cookware.

We do a lot of rice with tomato juice or sauce or broth and chicken veggies in a one pot meal--stove top on low simmer or in the oven.

Pork tenderloins cook quickly in the oven or a crock pot, pressure cooker or oven with rice or lots of carrots, potatoes and onions.

And if you have a store that has rotisserie chickens get at least two at a time and freeze the meat for quick meals. We throw the bones in a pot for broth (good crock pot version).

Get a very light weight roaster, throw meats and veggies in and put in the oven. Add some juice or broth and it's hard to go wrong with that. Even better, get a thermometer with a probe and wire to go in the oven and it will beep when the temperature reaches done! A friend of ours buys skin on and bone in chicken breasts and throws them in a roasting pan, puts them in the oven, then skins and bones them and bags up for later.

Best wishes, and also does your area have Meals on Wheels? It is a popular option for those in need of no-cook! And a really cheap Crock Brand slow cooker is so light weight, SO easy! And also the 3-qt crock pot.

Re: Good Basic Crock Pot Recipes needed.

rockygems123 — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 14:12:18 GMT

@SouthernBee

As @AuntMame suggested I really like Fix it and Forget it, found 2 different versions on Amazon.