There are a host of cookbooks devoted to the art of slow cooking in a crock. You’ll be amazed at what you can actually cook in a crock pot—everything from meat and potatoes to bread and desserts. Many of these recipes do require more time and effort and more specific timing. Often, you’ll need to time and add items throughout the process. These are more advanced recipes and will appeal more to the advanced crock pot cooks.
For beginners or the chronically lazy (those folks I dearly relate to and love), here are a couple of very basic starter recipes.
Roasted Meat
Take most any cheap cut of meat from round steak to pork chops to chicken thighs or legs. Dump the meat in the crock pot. Add a couple of tablespoons of butter or margarine, a can of Campbell’s cream soup (chicken, mushroom, broccoli), or barbeque sauce (about a cup). Crock pots hold in the moisture, so you don’t need to add water. If you’re really worried about the lack of liquid, feel free to add about ¼ cup of water. Turn the crock on low at breakfast time and you have tender meat when you get home from work.
Turkey Breast
Put a turkey breast in the crock pot. You need a large size crock pot, or the fowl will not fit. Sprinkle with favorite seasonings—salt, pepper, lemon/pepper and so on. Toss in a lemon or onion to the side is you want. Cook all day on low. The meat will be tender and juicy at dinner time. Serve with favorite side dishes or slice for sandwiches.
Baked Potatoes
Wrap potatoes in foil as you would to cook in the oven. Place in crock pot. An alternative is to put a few balls of tin foil in the bottom of the crock and place unwrapped potatoes on top of the foil. Prick the potatoes with a fork, so they do not build up steam and blow out. Turn the crock pot to low. Within 8 to 10 hours, you have delicious baked potatoes that aren’t really baked but taste like they have been baked. Just serve with butter or any favorite toppings.
Baked Apples
Slice apples in fairly large chunks. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Add a dash of ground cloves if desired. Cook on low. Depending on the crispness of the apples, you’ll have chunky apples or more of a applesauce at the end of the day. In either case, you have a wonderful sweet treat, and the kitchen smells great when you walk in.
Yummy Dip for Chips
Brown a pound of hamburger or sausage and add to crock pot. Add a jar of Cheese Whiz or cheddar cheese. Some people like to cook and drain spinach to add to the dip. To spice this up, add various seasonings like a pack of store taco seasoning or sprinkles of chili powder or garlic. Since this one is really precooked, just leave on low. It’s ready in an hour or so but can simmer all day. Serve with chips of nachos.