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Are you too busy to cook? Your slow cooker is the answer for fast, delicious meals that taste like you've spent hours in the kitchen. My favorite slow cooker recipes are the all-in-one meals that include proteins, carbs and veggies, but a roast also does well for some of the most tender meat you've ever had. I try to plan at least one slow cooker meal a week, and these are a few of my absolute favorites:
Mississippi Pot Roast
This popular recipe is all over the Internet, and for good reason — it's delicious and easy! It also pairs well with a variety of simple side dishes or as a juicy meat sandwich.
Serves 8
3-4 pounds chuck roast
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Salt & pepper to taste
1 (1-ounce) packet Ranch dressing mix
1 (1-ounce) packet beef gravy mix
1 stick butter
8 pepperoncini
1/4 cup pepperoncini juice from the jar
1 cup beef broth
Place roast in the bottom of a greased slow cooker (you can brown it first in a skillet with a little olive oil if you prefer). Sprinkle seasonings and season packets over the meat. Place a stick of butter on top, then the peppers. Pour pepperoncini juice and broth over all. Cover and cook on high for 6 hours or low for 8 hours. Shred meat with a fork and remove any fatty pieces. Serve with veggies, mashed potatoes, noodles, rice or in a sandwich roll.
Shepherd's Pie
Shepherd's pie is one of my favorite comfort foods, but it can be time-consuming when made with fresh vegetables, gravy from scratch, and homemade mashed potatoes. I love this easy slow cooker version because it gives me the same flavors in half the prep time. Of course, I prefer homemade mashed potatoes, but the Bob Evans brand works well with this recipe (or you can buy instant mashed potatoes, follow the box directions and add a little butter and sour cream to the mix).
Serves 6-8
24-ounce package frozen mixed vegetables
3 pounds ground beef, cooked
1/2 cup onion, diced
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 package brown gravy mix or onion soup mix
Salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
1 (32-ounce) family-size container of Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes or other kind of mashed potatoes, room temperature
Pour all ingredients (except cheese and potatoes) into a greased slow cooker. Stir until well mixed, then flatten out with a spoon. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours. Sprinkle cheese over the meat mixture, then spread mashed potatoes evenly over all. Cover and cook on high for an additional hour, then serve hot.
Chicken And Rice
It doesn't get any easier than this quick, weeknight dinner recipe.
Serves 4
2 (5.6-ounce) packages Knorr Cheddar Broccoli Rice
1 pound raw chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks
1 cup diced carrots
1 (10-ounce) box frozen broccoli spears
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
32 ounces chicken broth
Mix all ingredients in a greased slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or until chicken is completely cooked. Stir rice and chicken mixture halfway through the cooking process to prevent sticking.
Vegetarian Chili Mac
For the vegetarians in the family, this hearty dish is both delicious and satisfying.
Serves 6
1 onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes (plus juice)
1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chili peppers
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups vegetable broth
1 (8-ounce) box macaroni
2 cups shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, divided in half
Toppings: Chopped scallions, sour cream
Add all ingredients (except cheese and macaroni) together in a greased slow cooker. Stir until blended, cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours. Stir in pasta and cook another 15-20 minutes until pasta is soft. Stir in 1 cup of cheese until melted. Serve with remaining cheese over top, a sprinkle of scallions and a dollop of sour cream.
What's YOUR favorite thing to make in the slow cooker? Let us know in the comments below.
