Anyone Have Easy One Pot/crockpot Type Meals That Are Easy

My family loves a good pot roast. And the bonus is that you can use if for several meals if you cook enough. We use left over roast for beef stew and french dip sandwiches. Just throw the roast in the pot. Add carrots, potatoes, onion, maybe a little celery. Sprinkle in a whole package (envelope) of McCormick Beef Stew Seasoning. Cover with water and let it go. Serve the roast with the veggies for dinner. Save the seasoned water for stew or au jus to use the next day.

www.thosecrazybeans.blogspot.com

Hi E.,

I have an online crock pot cook book - anyone that would like a copy can email me at ____@____.com and I will email a copy.

N.

I too usually go online. Aren't crockpots great?! My kids have been in the kitchen since they were about 2- "washing" dishes, tearing salad, ect. While my nephews lived with me, they paired off with my kids 2 days a week and planned/ prepared simple meals solo. My 11 year old loves to concoct things and cook his "specialty"(sloppy joes from scratch)or biscuits and gravy. If you teach them carefully what things to be careful of, how to handle sharp knives(and keep them sharp!)the kids will be fine!

Easy Mexican Chicken

have taco fixins like shells, cheese, sour cream, lettuce and taco sauce on hand to serve.

1 can of chicken broth (or substitute 2 chicken boullion cubes and 2 cups of water)
1 packet taco seasoning
2-4 chicken breasts: frozen or thawed, skinless or skin-on, boneless or bone-in

put the taco seasoning and chicken broth in the crockpot and stir together. Add the chicken breasts and cook on low all day. When ready to serve, remove chicken from crockpot and de-bone/remove skin as needed. Then with 2 forks, shred the chicken meat. Reserve 1/2 c. of the broth mixture to store any leftover meat. It will keep the meat from drying out during re-heating.

G'Morning E., I have a book book with crock pot recipes only. But I googled some for you.

http://southernfood.about.com/library/crock/blcpidx.htm

http://familycrockpotrecipes.com/

http://www.a-crock-cook.com/

I love to use my crock pot to! Wal-Mart carries some great crock pot dinners in the frozen food section also. Not that expensive either.

As for your little girl helping, let her. Corbin is 4 and he puts silverware in the dishwasher and puts them away when finished. He can get my mixer, or spoons. He likes to stand on a stool to help rinse plastic ware. Let her do little things. Yup it is easier to do it alone but not near as much fun. Tia (10 now) used to help me mix up cakes mixes and puddings. She had the most fun. We ate a lot of chocolate chips making cookies too. I have a wooden plaque in my kitchen window, it says " Nana's kitchen where Grand kids are Spoiled, and Memories Made"
Happy Crocking.. :)

God Bless
K. Nana of 5

How about a Pork chili? there is a little prep time but you can do it the night before.

1 package PORK stew meat, cut even smaller (bite sized)
1 tablespoon oil
1 jar favorite salsa
2 can pinto beans
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon minced onions (dried)

While cutting the pork into smaller pieces, heat large saute pan with oil, brown pork for about 5 min. (you can do this the evening before then refrigerate) Dump browned pork into crock pot and dump the rest of the ingredients on top, mix. Turn crockpot to low and go. Serve in a bowl with flour tortillas on the side, cheese, etc. OR spoon ontop of chips for a Nacho.

A couple easy favorites:

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
3-4 chicken breasts
cook: 6-8 hours

1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 can of cheddar cheese soup
3-4 chicken breasts
cook: 6-8 hours

1 jar of chili sauce
1 can of beer (any kind)
1lb piece of meat (doesn't have to be expensive)
cook: 6-8 hours
**you can't taste the alcohol--I don't like beer--it just adds some flavor

Chicken Fajitas

Chicken Breast
a can of salsa
your choice of bell peppers

throw them all into a crock pot. 6-8 hours on low or 4-6 on high.

Serve with tortillas, sour cream, and tortilla chips. It's so easy and yummy. The chicken just falls to pieces.

by the way, I get a lot of my recipes on allrecipes.com I love that website.

BBQ Chicken sandwiches: cook skinless, boneless chicken breasts in crock pot for 6-8 hours til its falling apart then add bbq sauce and cook for another hour.
My daughter is 3 years old and I let her help out in the kitchen with some cooking, mixing and pouring ingredients that are not hot. I also sometimes let her pretend that shes washing some dishes.

If you are familiar with Tastefully Simple, we just came out with a great little crock-pot recipe book with our new fall/winter line that is only $1.99. The recipes are all really easy to make without a ton of ingredients. If you are interested you may find me at tastefullysimple.com/web/cseever!

Hi E.!
Boy you got some great responses for recipes. I love my crock pot as well. I use mine in the summer a lot as well so I don't have to fire up my oven. A site I like is: http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/. As far as the little ones, I would enlist their help now. My 4 year old knows how to tear lettuce for a salad & can clean baby carrots using the colander to rinse. I have had him in the kitchen with me for as long as I can remember. He used to sit in his bouncy seat & when he got older, I let him sit on the counter (supervised at all times). Be sure all knives and graters are out of reach as well as the stove being far away. He now has a step stool that he uses to help rinse the dishes as well. His 2 year old sister likes to help out too. Good luck on your tasty recipies.

Crockpot Chicken
3 chicken breasts (1-2 lbs)
jar of salsa ( I use medium Hyvee brand)
package of taco seasoning

(throw above ingred. into crockpot..cook on slow 8-10 hours or on high 4-6 hours). After it cooks, shred chicken.

Right before serving…add to crokpot:
4 oz. of sour cream
1 TBSP of lime juice
1 TBSP chopped cilantro (fresh)

STIR all together including chicken.

Serve in taco shells or tortilla’s. Add red peppers or anything else you think sound good.

Also, a friend forwarded an email to me that has links to tons of crockpot repices. If you want it email me & I'll forward it to you!

Pulled Chicken:

1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
12 oz. BBQ sauce
1/2 c. Italian dressing
1/4 c. Brown sugar
2 T Worcestshire sauce
Hamburger buns or sandwich rolls

Place chicken in crock. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over chicken. Cook on high 3-4 hours (I have also cooked on low 6-8 hours). Shred chicken and serve on rolls. I have also eaten the chicken "as is" without shredding or using rolls and it is very tasty!

As for part 2 of your request, my son is 2 now and has been "helping" me in the kitchen for some time. He is very good at dumping dry ingredients into bowls, stirring, and putting my ingredients on the counter for me. He also likes to stand by me and watch me cook or use his bowls to "cook" at the same time.

In the freezer section, they have frozen crockpot meals that are pretty tasty. All you do, is open the package and pour into the pot. Chilli is also a good meal to make in the crockpot. Our son is 3 and we let him help in the kitchen. He knows to stay away from the oven & stove. I think if you teach your kids early enough the dangers in the kitchen, then they'll be fine at any age in the kitchen.

check out www.50plusfriends.com/cookbook and click on the crockpot recipes.
I love using my crockpot!

We cook BBQ pork or beef in the crockpot. I buy pork roast and beef roast when it is one sale at the grocery store. I cut them into large chunks and salt and pepper them. Then add a can of pop and a bottle of cheap BBQ sauce. I cook it on high while we are getting ready in the morning then turn it down to low as we head out the door. When we get home I shread the meat with two forks. You can do all sorts of great stuff, BBQ sandwiches, top salads or potatoes. Depending on the size of your family and your raost we usually have leftovers.

My 3yo loves to cook. He makes mac and cheese and scrambled eggs. He loves to stir. We have very specific rules when he is in the kitchen. He understand that the stove is HOT and know where he has to put his hands if he wants to help. He also like to wash fruits and veggies. My suggestion get those kids in the kitchen.

We mainly do things like roast or brisket, but I am in a group on cafemom.com, called crockpot moms. People list all kinds of recipes, so it is very nice to get some different ideas. I just get an email daily that shows all of the activity, and if I see anything interesting, I look at it. Hope this helps. Thanks

don't have any crockpot ideas but maybe you can find a cookbook for the crock pot. My comment is more on when is your child old enough to start cooking. My kids have been helping out in the kitchen since they were old enough to stand on a chair and strong enough to hold the cake mixer or stir with a spoon, especially with baking. That is a good start as most of the things they do are pouring in ingredients into the bowl and mixing with a spoon. My kids started cooking ramen noodles, mac n cheese and stuff like that at around age 7, Of course I didn't let them drain the noodles so they wouldn't get burnt but they could put water on the stove to boil and add the noodles, then when the noodles were done I would drain them, then they would stir in the cheese and stuff. Depends on how mature your kids are but if you are supervising them, they can do quite a bit.
By the time they were 12 they could cook on their own and cook just about everything we can cook including bbq on the grill. The earlier you teach them the more interested they will be about cooking and want to learn more things. If you wait too long they will lose interest and not want to cook at all. Girls tend to want to cook at age 3 or 4 and get really excited to help with anything including hand washing the dishes.

My 8 year old son cooks noodles, spaghetti, likes to stir the meat for the spaghetti, bakes, and can put pizza in the oven or cook himself any microwave type foods. He doesn't cook as much as my oldest did at that age but he isn't as interested and also knows that the older ones will cook him food when they cook themselves something but he knows enough where he can find something for himself that he can cook.

It is so nice to call home and tell the kids I am running late and to start something for dinner. They usually come up with a better dinner than I had planned. Oldest likes to cook stir-fry and rice so usually when he cooks that is what he chooses most of the time.

The earlier you teach them to cook, and clean up after themselves the more you have time to do other things. I am amazed at how many teenagers don't know how to cook or wash their own laundry. Then they make comments that they want to live with us hehe. I tell them if they lived with us there are a lot of chores to be done and they will learn to do their laundry and clean bathrooms and everything involved in keeping up a house. I have no doubt in my mind that our kids will know how to live on their own and won't need anyone to show them how to do any basic living skills. Before they get to drive we tell them they have to know some basics in mechanics before they drive too. Change a tire, pump gas, hook up jumper cables for the battery, change oil, check oil and other fluids.

Kids want to learn so encourage them and let them help you with many things. It will make things easier when they get older.

I make chili in mine. I just brown the hamburger then add it into the crock pot with chili beans, kidney beans, Bush's chili magic and ro'tel tomatoes then the seasoning and turn on low and let cook all day. I use one can of each unless I'm making a double batch..you can go spicy and get the hot chili beans and ro'tel and seasoning or mild. It's really good and makes the house smell ymuuy!

Hi E., White Chili is one of my families favorites (we just had it last night!). I also take it to all kinds of functions and it always gone. We eat it with cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips, it's yummy!

Fix – and –Forget White Chili

Ingredients

12 oz skinless boneless chicken breast halves (cubed)
1 Tbsp cooking oil
3 – 15 oz cans Great Northern beans or navy beans, rinsed and drained
2 – 4 ½ oz cans diced green chile peppers, undrained
1 medium onion, copped
2 ½ cups chicken broth
1 ½ tsp cumin seeds
¼ to 1 tsp cayenne pepper
¼ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp bottled minced garlic (3 cloves)
Sour cream (optional)
Avocado slices (optional)
Fresh thyme sprigs (optional)

Directions

In a large skillet, cook chicken in hot oil just until lightly browned.

Place beans in a 3 ½ to 4 quart slow cooker; mash slightly with a potato masher.

Add chicken to slow cooker. Stir undrained chile peppers, onion, chicken broth, cumin seeds, cayenne pepper, salt and garlic into mixture in slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low heat setting for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 3 ½ to 4 hours

HI E.,
Better Homes and Gardens has a great cookbook for crock pot cooking. Cook Once, Eat Twice. You make a big meal one day, and then have enough leftovers to create another meal. The recipes are side by side on two pages, so really easy. Most of the serving sizes are for 6, so having 3 kiddos that is a good size. There is also a section with 5 ingredient meals too, the chicken stroganoff is one of our faves! Hope you find this helpful!

My newest, fav recipe is Beef n Noodles...2lbs chunked beef (tips, stewmeat, etc) 1 can cream of mush soup (can be sub with other cream soups) 1 package onion soup mix and 1 can sprite. Cook 8 hours on low, serve over noodles. If you use fat free soup and diet/zero sprite, it is very healthy and low fat, too! I got it from a Weight Watchers recipe site.

I have one kiddo that I can hardly keep out of the kitchen. He was making things completely on his own at age 8. My middle one does not have much interest, although I do make him do some cooking, but I don't push him in the kitchen yet either. He's currently 11. I think it depends on the kiddo, their interest, and their skill level. I do think it is a needed skill; but there is no hurry if there is not any interest. Maybe special Sunday dinners or something that they can take part in when you all have the time.

E., I use my crock pot for all sorts of things...pot roasts, chili, taco soup, just google crock pot recipes and you will find more than you can ever use.
What I really wanted to comment on was your question about when to start allowing your children to help in the kitchen. The answer is NOW!!!! Now don't do this when you are in a hurry...it will just lead to frazzeled nerves and irritated kiddoes but do let them help. Our 20 month old grandson "helps" in the kitchen at almost every meal. (His Mother has WAY more patience than I did, I will admit it!!!)
She has some fantastic pictures of him working on made from scratch biscuits!! He has the cutest little apron on, she gave him a little toy rolling pin to roll out his bit of dough and there is flour EVERYWHERE!!! But what wonderful memories!!! And he is already old enough to know that he is eating something that HE helped to make!!! Get some plastic bowls, measuring cups etc so that you dont have to worry about glass breaking, start with simple things, helping to wash the veggies, break up the lettuce for a salad, hold the mixer while you are baking a cake. You and your children will both have a great time and...think of the benefits when they LOVE to cook when they get older!!!
R. Ann

I have a great recipe at home that I'll send you tonight. It requires a little prep time (cutting up the veggies), so I do most of it the night before and put it in the fridge. It's a meatball stew so it's hearty and my husband loves it.

As for kids in the kitchen, I let our daughter "help" me and she's only 2. She loves to watch me cook. She stands on a step stool by the counter that's near me, but not right next to the stove. I let her play with the measuring spoons, or the cookbook (obviously ones I'm not actually using). We have one of those spice racks that has four sides and spins, and I've just left the inner lid on all of them so she loves to take all of them out of the rack, unscrew the outer lid, "smell" the spices, put the lid back on and and put the container back in the rack. That will keep her busy for at least 20 minutes. Things I actually let her do: stir whatever I'm mixing together - eggs with a whisk are good because she actually can stir them up enough on her own. I'll also measure something into a cup or spoon and let her hold onto it with me to pour it into the bowl. We have a Pampered Chef chopper, so I'll put onions or whatever in it and chop it up a bit then let her pound on it to her heart's content.

It's difficult when I'm trying to rush to get dinner made after work to let her do much, so that's why I let her play with stuff in there and then when I do have time on the weekends, I let her help more and it seems to work well. Good luck!

I bought the book: http://www.amazon.com/Big-Book-Casseroles-Recipes-Serious...
Love it...they give you adjustments to make that can make them crockpot friendly! I make in the am, throw in at night... Never gone wrong with one of their dishes.

Here's an index of crockpot recipes with hundreds of different recipes. A crockpot is a super-helper for busy moms. http://southernfood.about.com/library/crock/blcpidx.htm

To answer your imbedded question about kids helping in the kitchen, I had my daughters "helping" in the kitchen when they were only 3-4 years old. Obviously I didn't have them chopping with sharp knives etc. right away, but there is plenty your daughter can safely do with you in the kitchen! Youngsters love to crack eggs, measure & mix ingredients, making cookies, etc. and even washing up afterwards! I had a step stool for them so they could reach into the sink.
Yes, it may not always be as fast & easy as doing it yourself, but it's worth any extra effort.

I also read your other post about bonding with your daughter & would suggest that doing things together in the kitchen is a great way to strengthen your relationship with her! There are lots of simple, fun recipes that you can make with her, or better yet let her make herself (with your guidance). Share special time with her in the kitchen!
Grandma D.

Hi E., I just wanted to give you an FYI...I saw one recipe that called for one can of beer. I have read in several websites that it take 12 to 14 hours of cooking for all of the alcohol to cook out. Since you have kids I know how important it is to make sure that they dont get anything bad into their little bodies.

I sell Avon and I am ordering one for myself this week, it's a Rival Crockpot Recipe box and cards for $14.99 with recipes for crockpots. www.youravon.com/slatson, you can order on my website and have it delivered to you or, if you're in St Louis, I can deliver it, and give you a discount. item #052-359

If you send me your email address I can forward you a email that I have. It has all kinds of crock pot recipes. They're separated by Beef, Pork, Chicken, Breakfast recipes, desserts, etc.

Send me an email letting me know you're the one looking for the crock pot recipes and I'll send the link back to you.

____@____.com

I have a very "picky eater" friend that I forwarded this to and she's found some recipes that even she'll eat!

Look up the Crock Pot mom~Stephanie O'Dea. And kids can help in the kitchen at a very young age. It may slow you down and you may have to move things to a table instead of on your counter top, but the fun memories you make will be worth the extra bit of hassle. Also, there is a lot for a child to learn while cooking. Measuring is math, stirring is large muscle building, reading a recipe is sequencing.

we use Kettle Beef as the basis for many dishes. Here's the recipe: 2 cans beef broth, 1/2 bunch celery & 1 onion chopped small, garlic (or garlic powder), S&P, & however much beef stew meat you want to use. Cook this on HIGH for a couple of hours until tender & the broth is fragrant. If you can do this first, your meal will taste better. But you can add the whole recipe (as follows) all at once, too.

From this basis recipe, you can make the following dishes:

*beef vegie soup: add 2 cans Italian diced tomatoes, 1 large bag of frozen vegies (any flavor, style...I use stew vegies or Italian blend), some cilantro or parsley, & some Italian seasoning. A sprinkle of Parmesan when serving.
Sometimes I also add a few mini pasta while the meat is simmering. Just depends on my mood.

*chili: add tomatoes & beans as you would for any chili. Your choice. Add 1 pkt of chili seasoning or just add 1/2 jar of chili powder, a few tsp of cumin, some oregano, lots of garlic, S&P to taste. I also add either a small can of green chilies or a fresh pepper if I have it (any pepper: jalapeno, poblano, serrano...any will work). Sometimes, I even have been known to add a bottle of beer!

*kettle beef & rice: make your beef first as directed above & just pour over some fresh cooked rice! Vegies or salad on the side & you're done!

*German kettle beef: add caraway seed to the kettle beef & serve over egg noodles. A little beer or red wine works great in this version. Vegies or salad for the side.

*Spicy Rice Soup: add a fresh pepper or can of chilies to the Kettle Beef as it's cooking. For the soup, add a pkt of rice mix (Zatarains dirty rice, Mahatma's yellow rice,etc), one large bag of frozen vegies (I use the kind with okra in it), 3 cans of Italian diced tomatoes, thin with water so the rice will not soak up all the broth, & lots of garlic, S&P, & even a little lemon pepper. Yum! Oh, & this version does need to cook longer to get that rice cooked.

Lots of easy ways to create variations on the basic Kettle Beef recipe. I make it different every time! & get those kids in that kitchen....my boys were helping by age 2!

McCormick spices make envelopes that have one-dish meals. You prepare everything in one baking dish. Use their spices and your fresh meats. I use these all the time. They are great. Also, check out the spice envelope section of your grocery store for crock pot envelopes. They have all different kinds of things you can make using your crock pot and their spices.

Hi E.! I love my crockpot too! I actually got this great cookbook called Crockpot Best Loved Slow Cooker Recipes. I got mine at Target, but it looks like you can order one from Amazon for about $8. It's full of great recipes and all types of food, so your family won't get sick of you cooking this way! :)

As for your other question, I have an 18-month-old so I'm not sure how long you wait for her to help in the kitchen. I'm just trying to keep her busy in the tupperware cabinet while I cook!

Enjoy!
Hilary

E., sorry for the lateness of this response. This is what I do - teach people how to cook healthly meals in less than 25 minutes! Of course using the crockpot is awesome too and I have some recipes you will love. I have a Wicked Good Slow Cooker Sauce" that you just put pour 1/3 cup of over your meet - Beef, Pork, Chicken - whatever your preference. Your meat will be fall apart good!

For other quick suggestions visit my website or give me a call. www.terid.mywildtree.com. Our foods are 100% Natural and contain No MSG, No Preservatives, No Artficial Coloring or Preservatives. Check out the skillet meals that are quick and yummy - the Cheddar Herb is my favorite:-)

this is something my husband loves to eat and so easy ,, take any fresh veggies plus polish saugage cut up and steam all together , so good for u and easy ,, we like to do squash potatoes and the meat ,, u can use onions or peppes or orka or just any old veggie

I use mine for just about everything. One thing I don't think I saw mentioned was ham & beans. I throw in chunks of ham, uncooked navy beans, water, seasoning salt & garlic powder and cook on low all day. My husband always insisted the beans had to be soaked and cooked on the stove but I proved him wrong with this one. I also make stew, chili, roast, ham. Just about anything can be done in the crock-pot. Allrecipes has a lot of good ideas also. Enjoy!

I love crock pot meals too and know you can find several used Crockpot cookbooks at the Goodwill Store for very cheap, google on the computer too and you will find tons. Another idea I will mention is Pampered Chef now sells what we are refering to as the "NEW AGE" Crockpot. It is from the stoneware collection and is called the Deep Covered Baker. You can use it in the oven, MICROWAVE or freezer! The best part is you can beat Rachel Ray with dinner with this baker. You can microwave a 4lb chicking in 24 minutes... even add potatoes to it! Unlike defrosting meat in the micro this holds all juices in and cooks evenly just like in the oven. Seeing is believing and I could even show you! Not only that, but I have about 40 recipes that I give out with this product for the oven and the microwave! I just cooked pork ribs w/ mine in the microwave and they were amazing!!! I also do a great dump cake in the microwave w/ it also! LOVE IT!!! (can you tell? LOL)

Good luck,
K. B.
www.pamperedchef.biz/B.
Consultant #587705

Good Morning E.,
I have a website for crock pot meal, www.50plusfriends.com scroll down to the cook book click and then scroll down to crockery pot cooking. There are other heading also, desserts, cooking for a crowd etc. Plus you can just time in crock pot meals on the search engine and it will bring up lots of sites to check out.
You didn't say how old your daughter is, but I would certainly find something she can do to help, this is also a good project to do together and sounds like she wants to help. Can she read and help you follow the directions (teaches her how to follow written instructions) letting her measure some things, stirring, I am teaching my granddaughter and it funny how stirring even takes teaching, they want to just stir in the middle. She can get plates ready, help with clean up also. once she learn a few things she will be a great help in the kitchen, although once they learn it then they want to go play then it becomes a require helpers job. I just went on line and found some beaded bracelet directions and we went and picked out the beads and made this really cute ring/bracelet she loves it, and we had so much fun making it. She also loves it when I have time to play pretend with dolls, school, play house, etc. especially when we make our dolls talk to each other, and in the conversation of the dolls you learn alot about what she is feeling because the doll can say things she feels that she can just come into the kitchen and tell you. Hope this help give you some ideas.

I just go online and find great stuff. Pork tenderloin in the crock is easy and leaves great left overs. There is also The Crockpot Cookbook!