I just bought a cheap crock pot and I need ideas on what to cook?

Question

I'm looking for simple ideas because I don't want to spend a lot of time...hence the pot. I don't want anything plain though so I guess I'm interested in what spices to use with what food for a crock pot. Thanks.

Answer 1

I am making this today, to have something easy and fast on hand to eat while the trick-or-treaters are coming!

1 lb. hamburger, browned w/ 1 small yellow chopped onion

Add to crock pot, and combine with beef broth, tomoto juice, carrots, shredded cabbage, and a little salt to taste.

Cook on low all day, and enjoy!!

It's easy and delicious!!!

Answer 2

I like everyone else's ideas. I have a couple to add.

Our favorites in the crock pot are chili (whatever recipe you like on the stove) and a few other simple things:

Beef Stew
cheap boneless beef, cut into bite-size pieces
potatoes, peeled and chopped into large pieces
baby carrots
onion, chopped
other options: fresh mushrooms, fresh or canned tomatoes

The key to good crock-pot beef stew is the layering: from bottom to top you should put the potatoes, carrots, (mushrooms), onion, (tomatoes), then beef on top. I don't add any liquid at all. Salt & pepper the top, cook on low for 8-10 hours.



BBQ pork sandwiches
1/2 or whole pork loin
1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce

Pour BBQ over pork in crock pot, cook on low for 10-12 hours, then shred with two forks. DELICIOUS!

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Crock-pots are extremely versatile! You can use them for corned beef, Brunswick stew, and pot roasts with vegetables. I've even seen some lovely recipes for cakes.

Here is one I use for soup:

Leftover meat (any kind but fish), cubed. If you have hamburger, brown or crumble it.
Vegetables (any kind)
1 envelope instant garlic mashed potatoes
1 can canned tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 onion
1 bay leaf
to taste, more garlic, sage, rosemary, oregano, and basil
Water to about an inch below the rim.

Stir everything together.

Let simmer on low while you're out. By the time you're ready to eat, dinner will be waiting.

For variety, try adding mushrooms, salsa, or even hot sauce.

Enjoy!

Answer 4

Crock pot mac & cheese - can't get any easier.
Boil your noodles and place them in the crock pot with 4 cups of shredded cheese. I have found that two of the cups should be mozzeralla, but the other two can be whatever kind you want. Add two tbs of butter. You can add a little garlic or a little salt and pepper or even hot sauce if you want to liven it up a bit. Pour a pint of heavy cream over until it starts to seep up over the noodles. Stir and bake for 4 -6 hours.

Answer 5

the real beauty of a crock pot is the low cook temp over long times, leading to more tender meat. You can buy lower grades (tougher) of meat and they will get so tender as to fall off the bone.

Things that are GREAT in a crock pot:
Spaghetti sauce
Chili
Beef stew
KC style BBQ
Pork loin & sourkraut

It isn't the particular spices per se; it has to do with the spices that do better when they have time to combine to enhance the flavor. good luck!

Answer 6

At your grocery store, in with the Soap Opera magazines at the check out stands there are usually little recipe books of the same size in there for specifically cooking with a crockpot.
You can pretty much make anything in one. The easiest is putting chicken legs, or ribs cut up in one with some bbq sauce and letting it simmer all day.
Or a pot roast -meat, onion, carrots and potatos with a packet of french onion soup mix on top with about 1 cup of water in the bottom, some garlic salt and some pepper...maybe some cayenne pepper to give it some spice.

Answer 7

Crockpot Beef & Gravy


This is a really tasty recipe that can be prepared in minutes and you will love the aroma waiting for you when you get home.

2 pounds stew beef
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
4 tablespoons oil
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cups water
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Cut stew beef into cubes. Combine flour, salt, pepper, paprika & onion powder. Coat beef cubes with flour mixture. Brown beef in 4 tablespoons oil & place in crock-pot. Pour the remaining ingredients over beef in crock-pot. Stir. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.

Answer 8

Mushroom Chicken

4 boneless or bone-in chicken breasts
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1-8 oz container of sour cream (regular or light)
2/3 cup sherry
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 tsp garlic salt
pepper to taste

Mix together everything but the chicken in a bowl. Put everything in a crock pot and cook for 5 hours on high or 2.5 hours on low.

Serving suggestions: Mashed potatoes with sauce as gravey or red potatoes, vegetable, and Hawaiian rolls.


Chile Colorado

2 large top sirloin steaks, cut in bite size pieces
2 tsp crushed garlic
2 tbs oil
1 large can of La Victoria Enchilada Sauce

Heat oil in skillet on medium-high heat. Add garlic and steak. Cook until steak is brown. Add enchilada sauce, cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Uncover for 10-15 minutes to thicken sauce. Serve with flour tortillas, beans and mexican rice. Makes 6-8 servings.

Roast

1 roast 4-5 lb
1 package lipton onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can water

Place in crockpot on low for 8-10 hours. Makes its own gravey. Serve as a roast with potatoes and vegetables or buy package Au Jus sauce and french rolls and make french beef dip sandwiches.


BBQ Beef Sandwiches

1 roast 3-4 lbs
1 jar BBQ sauce
Rolls

Place roast and bbq sauce in crock pot on low for 8-10 hours. Serve on rolls.

Answer 9

chili-
cooked ground beef with some garlic and chili seasoning
chopped onion
chopped green pepper
chopped celery
1 big can diced tomatoes (don't drain)
1 can tomato juice
1 can kidney beans (drain and rinse)
1 can tomato paste
chili powder
leave on low till you get home, best chili I ever had, you can make noodles for it too if you want, top with some shredded chez and sour cream! YUM!

or pot roast-
whatever roast you want
1 pkg onion soup mix
some paprika
some chili pepper flakes
some onion powder
and some garlic powder
and about 1 cup of water- mix all the seasonings and water and pour over roast, throw in some whole potatoes and carrots (I prefer whole potatoes instead of cutting them up because when you cut them up they end up tasting more like everthing else in the pot)

Answer 10

You can make a great pot roast. But remember when adding liquids, use half the amount.