The Magical Slow Cooker » Recipes » Dinner » Back to School Slow Cooker Dinners
bySarah Olsonon | Updated 28 Comments
It’s already that time again! Get that crockpot out and ready for these back to school slow cooker dinners!
Do you have a hard time figuring out what to make for dinner every night? It’s time to get back into the routine of school again, why not make dinner something to look forward to. If you need side dishes too, see my side dish category.
I have been doing this blog for over 8 years and had the time to make a big collection of recipes that are tried and true. Though there may be a few recipes your kids may not like I think you will find a few they will love!
I broke these recipes down into four categories; chicken, beef, pork and vegetarian. Put a few of these recipes on the menu for the start of the school year and you won’t be disappointed.
Try one of these easy chicken recipes:
Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy (pictured) – Perfect comfort food, great with mashed potatoes.
Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken – Yes, I ‘m giving you a recipe for plain chicken, but imagine the possibilities! Salads, tacos, casseroles and more can be made with this chicken.
Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Spaghetti – Forget boring pasta night with this recipe!
Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken and Red Potatoes – Who doesn’t love ranch flavor on everything?
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Chicken and Pasta – This pasta is kid-friendly!
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole – You will love this one-pot meal.
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken – This meal is very decadent, we love this over rice.
Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Fajitas – This meal will make you feel like your dining out!
Slow Cooker Pepper Steak – This meal has peppers and onions in an Asian inspired sauce.
Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole – Tater tots, ground beef and green beans in a creamy sauce.
Slow Cooker Garlic Beer French Dips – The alcohol cooks out of this, so safe for the kids. Pile this meat on French bread, add swiss cheese and dip in the Au jus from the slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Classic Pot Roast Dinner – All this meal needs is a bag of dinner rolls for serving, the gravy is made at the same time as the roast and vegetables.
Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Baked Potatoes – The meatloaf and baked potatoes are cooked at the same time!
Slow Cooker V8 Chili – this chili is packed with vegetables from the V8 vegetable juice.
Slow Cooker Pork recipes that we love:
Slow Cooker Ham and Beans (pictured) – this recipe is a classic and wonderful with cornbread.
Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Ribs – A unique recipe for country-style ribs.
Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Sesame Pork Loin – Pork loin cooked in a brown sugar sesame sauce. Pair this with white rice and a salad.
Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs – These ribs are coated in a homemade rub and slow-cooked to perfection.
Slow Cooker Baked Potato Soup – This recipe makes a big batch, tastes even better the next day.
Slow Cooker Cuban Pork – This roast has a citrus and garlic flavor, great recipe if you want a change from barbecue pork.
Slow Cooker Meatless Recipes:
We love to do a night or two without meat! Saves on money and better for your health.
Slow Cooker Zucchini Bolognese – Load of zucchini make up this easy pasta sauce!
Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce – This recipe is great for pasta or even pizza sauce. Makes enough to freeze some for later
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili – My husband didn’t even realize that there was no meat in this, it’s that good!
Slow Cooker Cajun Vegetarian 15 Bean Soup – You won’t believe how much flavor this soup has, great with cornbread on the side.
Slow Cooker Tomato and Feta Pasta (pictured) – This is the Tik Tok famous recipe that I tweaked for the slow cooker and added my own spin on.
It should just cover the meat and vegetables. Don't overfill your slow cooker, or it may start leaking out the top, and the food won't cook so well. Half to two-thirds full is ideal – certainly no more than three-quarters.
Choose from dozens of delicious freezer meals including casseroles, baked pasta dishes, gumbo, pot roast, slow-cooker soups and stews, and more. You guests will never guess that you just popped that Turkey-Noodle-Poppy Seed Casserole out of the freezer.
Most slow cooker meals take 8-12 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high, but there are also recipes for slow-cooked meat that take up to 24 hours. If you want to avoid overcooking your dish, follow the given guidelines as closely as possible.
The low heat used in slow cooking destroys fewer nutrients than high-heat cooking. Meat and other ingredients are also cooked more safely since any remaining bacteria are killed off by the steam and tightly sealed pot. Slow cooking is also an excellent way to cook legumes, which are a staple in many healthy diets!
The only difference between the HIGH and LOW setting on a slow cooker is the amount of time it takes to reach the simmer point, or temperature at which the contents of the appliance are being cooked at. The LOW setting takes longer than the HIGH setting.
Place firm, slow-cooking root vegetables like potatoes and carrots at the bottom of the crock and pile the meat on top. Set the heat level: A general rule of thumb is that cooking on the low setting (170 degrees F for most models) takes about twice as long as cooking on high (280 degrees F on most models).
Can you freeze cooked rice? Yes, you can freeze cooked rice. Cool it as quickly as possible by placing it in a shallow container in the fridge. Once the rice is completely cold, transfer it to freezer bags in desired portion sizes, flatten to about 3cm thick and expel as much air as possible before sealing tightly.
Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on for 12 hours? Yes, you can use your slow cooker for longer than eight hours, as long as you keep an eye on it. Many slow cookers do have an automatic shutoff after 24 hours.
Can you put meat straight into a slow cooker? Meat can be added directly unseared and not browned. However, browning meat and caramelising the beef is a great way to add depth of flavour and improve the visual appearance of the final dish.
What are the disadvantages of a slow cooker? Slow cookers only apply heat to the bottom of the crock, which cuts down on their ability to reduce liquids and brown foods, and develop flavor the same way a Dutch oven or pressure cooker can.
So, in conclusion, slow cookers are great. They're a convenient, cost-effective, and versatile kitchen appliance that can be used to make a wide range of delicious meals with minimal effort. Whether you're cooking for your partner or entertaining guests, a slow cooker is nice to have in any kitchen.
Collagen makes meat tough when cooked quickly, but when slow-cooked, it breaks down into gelatin, giving you that juicy, tender mouthfeel. Fattier — and cheaper — cuts of beef can also be good for slow cooking, because the fat helps to ensure the beef won't dry out while adding extra flavour.
Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low. However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting.
"Those latches are only designed to carry-out food somewhere to avoid spillage." If there is a locking lid feature on your glass lid, that is only to prevent spills when you're toting the Crockpot to your potluck, not for when you're cooking.
Preheat the cooker and add hot liquids, if possible. Preheating the crock before adding ingredients or cooking on the highest setting for the first hour will ensure a rapid heat start and will shorten the time foods are in the temperature danger zone.
Hobby: Flower arranging, Yo-yoing, Tai chi, Rowing, Macrame, Urban exploration, Knife making
Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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