Crock Pot Dinners

Pulled pork
Roast-carrots-potatoes-onion
Chili
Pork-sauerkraut
BBQ beef

I loathe the chicken salsa stuff--just me.
Did you see on FB the 22 crockpot dinners for $150 with stuff from ALDI?

Carnitas, refried black beans without the refry. All my beans, black, pinto, etc. Beef, noodle soup, short ribs stew.

One of my favorites for pulled pork: Put a 3-4 lbs pork shoulder/ pork tenderloin seasoned with salt and pepper into the crock pot. Pour a liter of root beer over the top of the meat until it is covered completely. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Take out the meat when it is easy to cut and pull apart. Yummy and easy!

You can make baked potatoes in the crock! Wrap each in foil, put in dry crock and cook on low all day. Freaking fabulous!!!

I put b/s chicken breasts in with a jar of salsa, can of rinsed black beans, can of drained corn. Cook on low all day. Last 1/2 hour add a block of cream cheese. Yummo!

Oh, I forgot my dump cake: In bottom of crock, spread around 1/2 can crushed pinapple, 1/2 can cherry or blueberry pie filling, 1/2 box of yellow cake mix, sprinkle cinnamon, repeat. Slice up a stick of butter and lay it on top of cake mix. DO NOT STIR IT! Cook on low 2-4 hours but check it to make sure it doesn't burn if your crock runs hot. You can serve as is or with ice cream.

Here's a whole meal for you. lol Oh, I have had up to 7 crock pots and do my entire thanksgiving meal in them. Good luck!

My two favorites involve beef, so I'm hoping for some chicken recipes!

Italian Beef:
2 to 3 lb roast (I usually buy bottom round)
1 packet Italian dressing (dry)
1 packet Au Jus Gravy
5-8 pepperoncinis and juice (I usually buy a small jar and use about 1/3 to 1/2)
Cook on low for about 8 hours, shread the beef and serve on rolls or buns.

Pot Roast:
2 to 3 lb roast (I usually buy bottom round)
can of sliced potatoes
can of sliced carrots
jar of sliced mushrooms
1 onion chopped or quartered (depending on whether or not your family will eat the onions)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 packet onion soup mix
4 oz soda (I like Dr. Pepper)
8 hours on low, and you're good to go

Pasta!
1 jar pasta sauce
1 jar water (use the pasta sauce jar)
1 box pasta (don't even have to cook it!!!!)

3 hrs on High.
Done.
Pinterest is fantastic for stuff like this! It's now the only way I make spaghetti and meatballs!

And of course, you can add meatballs, cheese, veggies....whatever else you want in there. I usually do a package of pre-cooked meatballs with mine too.

Here are the current crock pot favorites at our house
Italian Sausage
1 package italian sausage links browned on top of stove just for a few mins
1 red bell pepper cut into slices
1 green bell pepper cut into slices
1 large yellow onion cut into wedges
1 can diced tomatoes
salt and pepper
italian seasoning (you can do individual or just the mix)

put onions in bottom of crock pot, next put sausages on, then peppers. dump can of tomatoes over the top and then sprinkle salt and pepper and italian seasonings. cook 6-8 hours on low. done when sausages are at 165 degrees. serve either on french rolls or over noodles or rice.

taco ranch chicken
4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 package dry ranch dressing mix
1 package dry taco seasoning mix
1 can chicken broth
put chicken in bottom of crock pot, pour chicken broth over it. sprinkle taco mix and ranch mix over. cover and cook on low for 6 hours. pull chicken out and shred put back into broth and stir. cover and cook for another hour. its wonderful on buns as a sandwich. or on taco shells or use left over for enchiladas. we love it and usually get to totally different meals out of one batch.

I do a whole chicken every week one one of the nights I teach after work. My husband will serve half of it and put half in the fridge. When I get home, I add water, celery, onion, carrots, a bay leaf, some seasonings and leave it on low all night. In the morning I strain it and voila! homemade broth. The leftovers become fajita filling or BBQ pulled chicken for another meal.

Spare ribs are good - rub with your favorite rub, throw under the broiler for a few minutes on each side, then dump in with 2 cans of small red beans (rinsed), a jar of red pepper jelly, half a bottle of steak sauce. You get sweet and spicy ribs with baked beans. Yummy!

Brown some chicken breasts and pour your favorite jar of salsa in, cook on low all day or high for 4 hours. Easy meat for shredded chicken tacos.
Fixings are easy, put out bowls of lettuce, shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, etc.
And serve carrot sticks, you have a complete meal at that point :)
Glad you asked this, I look forward to the other responses!

Oh, and I had to edit this and add on that we live in SoCal, we haven't even worn a jacket yet, so you certainly aren't late to the party in my opinion, lol.

last night it was about as simple as you can get- threw some frozen boneless skinless breasts (i know, the chicken no gourmands eat any more but SO EASY) with some sweet baby ray's BBQ sauce first thing in the morning and came home to dinner. i've also done an incredible vegan chili lots of beans, veggies and crumbled tempeh that won raves.
i love crock pots. you can be as creative and innovative or simple and no-fuss as your needs and wants dictate.
:) khairete
S.

hit the Better Homes & Gardens website....lots of great crockpot recipes.

Always use a Reynold Wrap Crock pot liner bag. Makes clean up so easy.

Pulled Pork
The pulled pork we do is 1 large white onion sliced, placed in bottom of crock pot, 2 or 3 shredded carrots, 2 to 3 lb pork roast salt and pepper. 1/4 cup of water. (Garlic is an option)
Cook on low 6 to 8 hours. Shred with 2 forks, serve on Kaiser rolls with pickles and raw white onions, you can add a tangy BBQ sauce.

Pot Roast
2 to 3 2 1/2lbs, Beef Roast - salt and pepper
Brown in a skillet on both sides.
Slice Onion and place at bottom of pot, 2 cloves of garlic, cube 3 potatoes, 3 carrots.
Place browned roast on top. of vegetables.
1 can of whole peeled tomatoes, 1 tsp Worcester sauce. 3 TBL Water, cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Pulled pork is the only thing I find works in the crock pot.

Crock pot stew is the best. I've also done pulled pork which was crazy simple to do. I'm a big steel cut oatmeal fan but who has time to cook it in the morning? I usually do it in the crock pot overnight and then put leftovers in the fridge to microwave the following couple mornings. I do the same thing with cooking dry beans. No need to soak them first and its easier to cook them in the crock pot without over cooking them and turning them to mush.

Ok..I am gonna let you in on a big discovery found awhile back. It is soooo simple and sooooo yummy if you like pork.

I have always loved Hawaiian Kalua pulled pork. It is one of my favorite things to eat til I have to be rolled away from the table.

Everyone in my family loves it and we have served it to large groups and it is a hit.

Kalua Pulled Pork
6 lb pork butt roast
1 1/2 Tbs Hawaiian Sea Salt. ( I couldn't find it so I grabbed Himalayan Sea Salt at Target and it works great!)
1 Tbs. Liquid Smoke (I use the Mesquite kind)

Pierce the roast all over. Place in a crock pot. Pour the salt and the liquid smoke over the roast. Let cook for 16-20 hours.

Take out the meat and shred. Pour drippings over the meat to the wet consistency that you like.

We serve it with rice. Yummmmmers!!!

I do lots of soups and chili in my crockpot. allrecipes.com is my favorite website. You can find so many tried and true recipes on there.

Look for the Fix It and Forget It Cookbooks. I love them! Great recipes.