Chicken and Red Potatoes

Okay, I'm on a slow cooker kick.  It's been a busy week, and I needed recipes that worked for me while I was gone.  I really like this dish, but if the chicken cooks too long, it gets a little dry.  However, the broth/gravy that cooks with it, solves that problem nicely.  This dish is a winner in my house!

4 boneless chicken breasts

3 T flour

2 T oil

4 red potatoes, quartered

2 c baby carrots, halved lengthwise

1 can diced chilies

1 (4 oz) can mushrooms, drained

1 can cream of onion soup

1/4 c milk

1/2 t chicken seasoning

1/4 t salt

1/4 t pepper

Place flour in plastic bag.  Add chicken, one piece at a time, and shake to coat.  Brown chicken in oil in a skillet.  Meanwhile, place the carrots, potatoes, mushrooms and chilies in a greased crockpot.  In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.  Pour half of the mix over the veggies.  Add chicken to the slow cooker; top with remaining soup mixture.  Cover and cook on low for about 4 hours, or until chicken is done and veggies are tender.  Enjoy!

Forgotten Jambalaya

I'm always, always on the lookout for crockpot recipes.  We enjoyed this dish -- even my kids who aren't too crazy about spicy stuff. 

1 can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 can chicken broth

1 6-oz can tomato paste

1 medium green pepper, chopped

3 celery ribs, chopped

5 garlic cloves, minced

3 t dried parsley

2 t dried basil

1 1/2 t dried oregano

1 1/4 t salt

1/2 t cayenne pepper

1/2 t hot pepper sauce

1 lb chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes

1 lb smoked sausage, sliced

1/2 lb uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

Hot cooked rice

In a slow cooker, combine the tomatoes, broth and tomato paste.  Stir in veggies and seasonings.  Stir in chicken and sausage.  Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until chicken is tender.  Stir in shrimp.  Cover and cook 15 - 30 minutes longer or until shrimp turn pink.  Serve with rice.

Slow Cooker Roast with Gravy

I love easy recipes, and I love my crockpot. One of my favorite things is to start dinner in the morning, and not have to think about it for the rest of the day. This roast would be good with green beans, carrots, and mashed potatoes. Last night I made it with roasted potatoes and carrots. It was a winning combination!

4 - 5 lb chuck roast

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

1 package dry onion soup mix

1 1/4 c beef broth

In a slow cooker mix the soup, onion mix and broth. Place the roast in next. Cover and cook on low 8 - 9 hours or on high for 3 - 4 hours.

Slow-Cooker Veggie Soup

This is great on cold winter days. We like it with corn bread, corn muffins or best bread machine bread.

1 lb ground beef (or use beef roast), cooked
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato soup
3 c water
3 beef bouillon cubes
2 potatoes, peeled & cubed
2 onions, diced
3 celery ribs, sliced
2 carrots, sliced
1/2 t basil
1/2 t oregano
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1 1/2 c frozen veggies

Place all ingredients in a crock pot, cover, and cook on low 6 - 8 hours.

Hot Spiced Cider

My favorite winter drink that we all expect my mom to make at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

1 quart apple cider
1/2 t whole allspice
1/2 t whole cloves
1 - 3" stick cinnamon

Put spices in cheesecloth or a tea ball and put in cider. Heat in a crock pot and serve hot.

Sweet & Sour Cocktail Sausages

Mix the following in a saucepan over low heat and simmer 15 minutes:

2 c brown sugar

1 1/2 c ketchup

1/4 c mustard

1 t salt

2 T Worcestershire sauce

2 t vinegar

1/2 c chopped onions

Add either cocktail sausages or sliced smoked sausage and simmer until meat is heated through. Transfer to a slow cooker to keep warm.

White Chili -- Southwest Style

One of my most-requested dishes.

2 lbs boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 onions, chopped and divided
4 -- 15.5 oz cans Great Northern beans
4 c chicken broth
3/4 c salsa
2 t cumin
1 t oregano
1/4 t red pepper
8 oz Chile peppers, chopped
garlic powder to taste
cooking oil

Cook chicken and one onion in oil until done. Drain and place in a slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and cook 4 - 6 hours on high or 8 on low. (This may be prepared on the stove top in a much shorter time.) Serve with tortilla chips, salsa, sour cream and shredded cheese.

French Dips

My great friend, Tamara, taught me this yummy dish.

1 beef roast
3 packages Lipton Onion Soup Mix
3 beef bullion cubes
3 C water
Rolls/Buns of your choice

Brown roast in oil. Place it and the other ingredients in a slow cooker and cook for 8 - 10 hours on low. I usually do this the day before serving it. Let your meat cool, shred it, then place it back in the juices and warm it up. Serve on toasted buns with some of the broth to dip the sandwiches.

BBQ Crockpot Chicken

We like this served with rice.

2 T vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves minced garlic
3/4 c ketchup
2 T Worcestershire sauce
2 T vinegar
2 T brown sugar
1/2 c water
salt and pepper to taste
10 - 12 chicken legs

Combine sauce in a bowl while you brown legs in hot oil. Place the browned chicken in slow cooker. Pour sauce over and cook on high for 3 - 4 hours.

Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese

I found this recipe somewhere without the ham. My guys like it added to it, and it makes a great main dish.

8 oz elbow macaroni
4 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 12-0z can evaporated milk
1 ½ c milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 t salt
¼ t pepper
4 slices American cheese
1 package of cubed ham (optional)

Cook the pasta according to package; drain. Mix the cooked pasta, 3 cups cheddar cheese, evaporated milk, milk, eggs, salt and pepper in a greased slow cooker. Sprinkle with 1 c cheddar and arrange American slices on top. Cook, covered, on low for 3 – 4 fours. Do not remove lid or stir while cooking.