https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:31:22 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1769716 Tue, 17 Jan 2017 20:43:49 +0000 Anonymous 1769716@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love crockpots because they use very little electricity and don't heat up my kitchen in the Summer. Also, I always presoak beans overnight and then cook them in the crockpot on low for 8 hours.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1769706 Tue, 17 Jan 2017 20:02:26 +0000 sylvie55 1769706@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I second Minimalist on the beans -- no presoaking, 4 hours on high and they're done. You can salt them before they cook and they don't get tough. Add sautéed onions, garlic or whatever at any time during the cooking process. About the only other thing I use my crockpot for is this super-easy&nbsp;ropa vieja/taco filling:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://recipecircus.com/recipes/Magnolias/CROCKPOT/Slow-Cooked_Flank_Steak.html" rel="nofollow">http://recipecircus.com/recipe.....Steak.html</a></p> <p>Unfortunately, I find that everything cooked in the crockpot has a certain sameness to it.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1769493 Tue, 17 Jan 2017 05:13:03 +0000 Emily K 1769493@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Does anyone use Instant Pot? &nbsp;I just heard about it and it sounds fantastic. &nbsp;(It's a pressure cooker that has multiple programs and temperatures to allow slow-cooking and even has sauté capability. &nbsp;The newest version is supposed to be blue-tooth compatible. Sounds almost too good to be true if it all works as described.)</p> <p>In the course of researching Instant Pot, I also found this super-handy article about adapting recipes for different cooking methods: &nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/the-instant-pot-is-a-hit-but-what-if-you-have-a-recipe-that-wasnt-designed-for-it/2017/01/09/8a64390e-d377-11e6-9cb0-54ab630851e8_story.html?utm_term=.2c4bbfda2316">https://www.washingtonpost.com.....e-a-recipe</a></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1769427 Tue, 17 Jan 2017 00:36:32 +0000 Lucy 1769427@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I use mine mainly in winter. I love it for soup and stock - it makes the best chicken stock overnight. I find any casserole style dishes work well, I just decrease the liquid by about one third. A whole chicken on a bed of onions is also lovely. It is a very convenient thing to own, I think, even if only used once a week or so. &nbsp;<br />I also enjoyed this morrocan lamb dish - yum!<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eatdrinkpaleo.com.au/moroccan-lamb-casserole-slow-cooker-recipe/">http://eatdrinkpaleo.com.au/mo.....er-recipe/</a></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1769421 Tue, 17 Jan 2017 00:16:46 +0000 Rambling Ann 1769421@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz, the FDA in its unrelenting assault on Americans' freedom to think for themselves has required for a while that the crockpot temperatures be higher than then they used to for "safety" sake. It makes it too hot, actually, and if I had an older one, there are times I'd prefer it.</p> <p>Janet,&nbsp;easiest ever meat for tacos and such: 1 big jar of salsa and a hunk of meat. Turkey breast would be good. I've done whole chicken and cheap pork butt roasts this way. Don't bother browning it. Shred and put on whatever. &nbsp;The pork makes a great base for posole.</p> <p>I use mine a lot in the summer to cook tomato sauce from garden tomatoes. I chop the tomatoes, cook overnight with the lid ajar, then run them through the canner in the morning when it's cooler. Repeat for weeks on end.&nbsp;</p> <p>Pretty much any braising, stewing or simmering recipe will work. The easiest variations are the cooking liquids. Beer for wine or tomato sauce. Sometimes vermouth is good. Around here, I use a lot of hard cider, add a chopped apple to the onions and celery.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1769306 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 16:27:34 +0000 Sara L. 1769306@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love my crockpot! &nbsp;I use it more during soccer season when my kids have soccer practice 3-4 times a week and I need dinner to be ready when I get home from work. &nbsp;I spend a few hours on a weekend packaging various meats, vegetables, and sauces/spices in freezer bags. &nbsp;Then on busy mornings, I just pull a bag out of the freezer, dump it in the crockpot, and dinner is ready when I get home. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1769130 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 00:45:49 +0000 Anonymous 1769130@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here's a pic of the soup. It's delicious, and we have enough left for tomorrow night. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1769127 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 00:39:05 +0000 Jules 1769127@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for the onion confit and soup recipes JAileen and BC! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1768972 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 13:24:53 +0000 Gail 1768972@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have two crock pots, one is 30 years old the other larger one is about 5 years old. I used them a lot when my kids were home but now they are gone they aren't used a whole lot. I love the way pulled pork comes out and chilli is great too. I'm going to try some of the recipes that fabbers have posted as I'm totally in rut cooking wise.<br />&nbsp;I've never used my rice cooker for slow cooking I can barely use it for rice as I have forgotten how , I bought it when we lived in Tokyo 25 years ago and the instructions are in Japanese lol.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1768936 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 04:56:21 +0000 Carla 1768936@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do slow cooker something or other at least 1 X per week. Recently got a new one, when old one died. No high tech stuff, just high-low for cooking, and 'keep warm'.</p> <p>Best lamb shanks! Also cheap roasts, and baked beans. The trick I find is to be sparse with the liquids. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1768912 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 02:27:15 +0000 Anonymous 1768912@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is the minestrone I plan to make tomorrow:</p> <p>Slow Cooker Minestrone<br /> By yummy mummy kitchen<br /> Published 01/04/2017<br /> Vegetarian Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup<br /> This wholesome minestrone loaded with vegetables is an easy one-pot meal.<br /> Ingredients</p> <p>1 yellow onion, peeled and diced<br /> 4 cloves garlic, minced or crushed<br /> 3 carrots, sliced into coins<br /> 3 celery stalks, sliced crosswise<br /> 2 cups butternut squash cubes (or peeled potato)<br /> 26 oz. diced tomatoes<br /> 1 (32 oz.) box vegetable broth<br /> 1 teaspoon dried thyme<br /> 1 bay leaf<br /> 1 teaspoon sea salt<br /> dash red pepper flakes<br /> ½ cup pesto<br /> 5 oz. baby spinach<br /> 2 cups cooked small pasta<br /> 2 (15 oz.) cans cannellini beans, drained<br /> Instructions</p> <p>Place the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, butternut squash, tomatoes, vegetable broth, thyme, bay leaf, salt and red pepper into the slow cooker. Set to low for 8 hours.<br /> When the vegetables are tender and you’re just about ready to eat, stir in the pesto, spinach, pasta, and beans. Cover and cook on high until spinach has wilted. Season to taste with salt and pepper if necessary.<br /> Yield: serves about 6<br /> Prep Time: 10 mins.<br /> Cook time: 8 hrs. 00 mins.<br /> Total time: 8 hrs. 10 mins.<br /> Tags: soup, stew, Italian, vegan, vegetarian, healthy<br /> Comments<br /> You do not have permission to add comments. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1768893 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 01:17:34 +0000 JAileen 1768893@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Onion Confit<br /> 1/4—1/2 c butter<br /> 1/4—1/2 c olive oil<br /> 1—3 T demi glace<br /> 3 T sherry and or port<br /> 1 T brown sugar<br /> 7—9 large onions sliced, enough to fill crock pot<br /> thyme, bay leaf</p> <p>Put everything in the crockpot and stir. Put crock pot on high till you go to bed. Stir before going to bed. Turn crock pot down to low for overnight. Turn crock pot back up to high for another couple of hours in the morning. Time about 18 hours all told.</p> <p>Note: Onions may vary as to water content. The onions used in this recipe are regular cooking onions. Don't use sweet onions. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1768892 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 01:16:40 +0000 L'Abeille 1768892@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Re: chicken in particular, and meat in general: Bone-in cuts don't dry out as much. Boneless skinless chicken breasts are the most popular cut overall but suffer in the slow cooker. I get bone-in chicken thighs and peel off the skin while they're still frozen. That makes the best chicken curry, tagine, or paprikash. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1768887 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 01:10:31 +0000 Laurinda 1768887@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The convenience of a slow cooker's set-it-and-forget-it is appealing, but I'm on team cook-it-fast in a pressure cooker.</p> <p>Kenji Lopez-Alt has an interesting feature&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.seriouseats.com/2016/10/why-pressure-cookers-are-better-than-slow-cookers.html">Why Anything Slow Cookers Can Do, Others Can Do Better</a></p> <p>The science of how these appliances cook is fascinating:&nbsp;&nbsp;<i>A Dutch oven with its lid cracked, placed in a 225°F oven, will reach equilibrium at around 180 to 190°F—hot enough to produce a few lazy bubbles, but not a rolling simmer.* In a Dutch oven set in the oven, you also get pockets of heat, both right next to the edges of the pot and at the surface of the liquid. On a stovetop, a Dutch oven will get a little hotter—between 190 and 212°F, depending on how hard it's simmering. The temperature a slow cooker maintains can vary greatly from brand to brand, but I've found that in most cases, on the "low" setting, you're hitting a range that is a little bit below that of a Dutch oven in the oven. More importantly, because you are heating through a thick ceramic insert, that energy comes very gently from the bottom, and, to a very slight degree, from the sides of the pot. There are no hot spots.<br /></i>&nbsp;{. . .}<i><br /></i> </p> <p><i>This may seem like a good thing, but in practice, it means that a slow cooker cooks, well, more slowly, and in most cases never&nbsp;achieves the same results as foods cooked in a Dutch oven. Vegetables remain firmer. Meat remains tougher. Dried beans do not tenderize as well, and starches and gelatin are not as activated, leading to thinner results.</i></p> <p><i>By contrast, a pressure cooker at high pressure cooks at around 250°F.</i></p> <p>&nbsp;He then compares his results for cooking pea soup, tomato sauce, and beef stew with these methods, and also points out that crockpots excel at keeping foods warm for serving, cooking stuffing or bread pudding, and -- carmelizing onions. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1768877 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 00:25:42 +0000 Jules 1768877@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd love that onion confit recipe. I have done caramelised onions in the crockpot - it worked well in that it didn't require as much active attention as stove top.<br /> I look for simple recipes that truly do well in the crockpot for a long time and compare well with stove top or oven versions. My favourite is pork shoulder with salt and pepper and a can of green chilies. But in general I have yet to have bad pork shoulder from the crock pot. The meat is delicious on its own and can be used for a bunch of purposes (tacos, pulled pork, ramen). It is a large quantity and not low-fat.<br /> I also use it for dried beans (I do soak first) and chicken broth, again can be done overnight without requiring attention.<br /> I haven't had much luck with chicken (over cooks in just a couple of hours). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes/page/2#post-1768862 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 22:01:52 +0000 Janet 1768862@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kerlynn, you hit on the reasons why I would do slow cooking in a crockpot rather than stovetop. Plus, in our weird kitchen (that we will renovate hopefully next year), we only have two burners on an induction cooktop, so I'm all about using alternatives to burners until we have a newer (gas!) range. </p> <p>So many great suggestions! I'm on my phone so it's hard to respond individually, but I am taking notes. Thank you all very much! </p> <p>I'm not a big cook. I'm getting better and find it more enjoyable than I used to, but I'm not one of those people who is happy for hours in the kitchen. I admire those who are! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768855 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 21:36:04 +0000 JAileen 1768855@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I almost never use my slow cooker. I'm in the pressure cooker camp. A friend borrows the slow cooker for her Christmas party to put glogg in it. </p> <p>I do use it to make onion confit. The confit is a superb savory jam-like spread to put on toasted french bread with cheese, such as chèvre. It cooks down to about 25 percent of its original volume, and it seasoned with thyme. Unbelievably good. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768854 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 21:34:46 +0000 kerlyn 1768854@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We love our crock pot for chili, pulled pork, beans, etc. &nbsp;I like that it doesn't heat up the kitchen, and I feel safer leaving the crockpot on than I would the oven or a stovetop burner.</p> <p>Meredith, I'm going to try that brisket recipe. &nbsp;Brisket tacos sounds perfect for this coming week!</p> <p>My Mom used to put an inexpensive cut of meat, like a chuck roast, in the slow cooker. &nbsp;After 8 hours or so, it was so tender and falling apart. &nbsp;Amazing what that long, slow cooking can do!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768852 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 21:11:30 +0000 Anonymous 1768852@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have used mine for all sorts of things. Now that I'm on a vegan diet, I don't cook meat in it. Tomorrow I'm going to make a vegan minestrone soup recipe that has a ton of veggies in it. Chili and spaghetti sauce are great in the crockpot. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768848 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 20:57:11 +0000 Emily K 1768848@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do agree with Angie's comment, in general. &nbsp;Nearly anything that can be made in a crockpot can be made using a pot on the stove-top or an oven-safe pot (like Le Cruset) in the oven on super-low. &nbsp;Using methods other than the crockpot allows use of more flavor-building techniques and is preferable, in my opinion. &nbsp;And, my favorite recipes, crockpot or not, have considerable ingredient lists and commensurate prep time--be forewarned, the stew recipe I mentioned earlier is like that--I would have written it out for you except that there are, like, 30 ingredients.&nbsp;</p> <p>Janet, your purposes might also be well-served simply by making large recipes from which to eat or freeze, and by using the strategy of devoting two hours of prep and cooking on Sunday to making a week's full of healthy, grab-and-go meals. &nbsp;Mel Joulwan, who writes an eponymous blog and has a couple of *fantastic* cookbooks out, uses that technique a lot. &nbsp;She's got a lot of good recipes on her website--I made/enjoyed so many of them that I felt I *owed* it to her to purchase the books as they came out :-)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768815 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 17:52:23 +0000 L'Abeille 1768815@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz, I'm pretty sure the newer ones are safe at the "keep warm" setting. That (food safety and temperature) is why the newer ones cook hotter; there was a worry that with a very slow warm up phase, food (especially meat) could spend too long at a temperature that would allow bacteria to grow, before reaching the safe cooking temperature that kills them. It is safer to bring the food more quickly to a bacteria-killing temperature, and then maintain it at that level with the keep-warm function. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768809 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 17:06:49 +0000 Suz 1768809@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One question -- is the "keep warm" business safe? &nbsp;(I mean from bacteria growth.)&nbsp;</p> <p>I wish I could figure out how to make my current rice cooker work the way the old one did. It shuts off automatically when it thinks it is "done" and I can't program it to go back on until it cools down so it is far less flexible than my older machine was, despite being (admittedly) a bit better for rice. I do love the rice cooker, though -- it is a brilliant appliance, and I never thought I would use one before we bought it!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768791 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 15:49:29 +0000 K2 1768791@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I make a super easy Tex mex chicken dish that always gets compliments. I use chicken thighs, thrown in a jar of apricot jam,use the jar to measure A jar and a half of salsa and add a package of taco seasoning. Great with brown rice. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768781 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 15:14:24 +0000 L'Abeille 1768781@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Why I use a slow cooker is because I am gone for 8-10 hours and I want to eat when I walk in the door. Or alternatively to cook something overnight.</p> <p>This was actually easier with the old ones that didn't cook at such a high heat. My new one cooks hotter but after 4 hours switches to the keep-warm setting which is close enough. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768774 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 14:39:40 +0000 RobinF 1768774@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't use mine as often as I would like, I'm usually gone from home on work days for 10 or 11 hours and most recipes are shorter than that. But on weekends I like to cook chicken breasts to use for the week. I just put them in the pot with some water and salt and pepper and cook until falling apart, then shred them and store in the fridge to use in soups, tacos, etc. I think they're better for us than the canned chicken which we were using.</p> <p>That oatmeal sounds yummy!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768772 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 14:27:33 +0000 kerry 1768772@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love my slow cooker and use it more than I thought I would. We mostly do meat dishes in it though. I like it most because I can sauté/brown items right in the cooker before putting it on to slow cook - no extra pans, cleans up easy. </p> <p>One of our favourites is a pork shoulder - after cooking we shred the meat for tacos, pulled pork sandwiches etc. </p> <p>I highly recommend the William Sonoma Slow Cooker cookbook - everything we've tried has been delicious and it uses real ingredients. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768770 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 14:15:55 +0000 cindysmith 1768770@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One of my favorite things to do with my Crock-Pot is to throw some chicken in it (life a few boneless skinless breasts) and toss a bottle of Italian dressing over them (you could substitute barbeque sauce or whatever strikes your fancy)</p> <p>Another one is the chicken, a bag of frozen cut broccoli, and some Velveeta.</p> <p>I dont kitchen well, so I love these girls</p> <p><a href="http://thefrugalgirls.com/5-ingredient-or-less-slow-cooker-suppers" rel="nofollow">http://thefrugalgirls.com/5-in.....er-suppers</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768726 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 07:01:15 +0000 minimalist 1768726@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>These days, my slow cooker is used almost exclusively for...beans.<br /> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/dining/how-to-cook-beans-recipes-tips.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.nytimes.com/2016/0.....-tips.html</a><br /> <a href="http://theplate.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/08/heirloom-beans-are-a-thing-but-do-they-really-taste-better-than-bulk-beans/" rel="nofollow">http://theplate.nationalgeogra.....ulk-beans/</a></p> <p>(Blue Apron times are inaccurate even for experienced cooks, btw.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768702 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 04:08:58 +0000 anne 1768702@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I bought one about 4 years ago when I first went back to work. It didn't prove that good as most recipes cooked for less time than I was away for. That one broke and I didn't miss it too much.</p> <p>However DH recently bought some rice cookers which also function as slow cookers and I have been using them some of the time. They are great when you are going to arrive home and want to eat straight away (e.g after a late dance class or a Saturday family outing - I never feel like cooking after these)<br />Also my understanding is that they don't heat the kitchen up as much as an oven or a stovetop&nbsp; (I have noticed the whole kitchen can heat up just from boiling something on the stovetop.) That's a significant reason in my book.</p> <p>Here is one recipe I saw on facebook and have tried. It was easy, went down well with the family and I've put it on the meal plan for this week <br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a46066/slow-cooker-garlic-parmesan-chicken-recipe/">http://www.delish.com/cooking/.....ken-recipe</a></p> <p>Not perhaps relevant for you, but if I was going to buy another slow cooker, I would buy a really big one, with a pan that you could fry on the stove top with (to save on washing up). That's because we feed largish numbers regularly. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-favorite-slow-cooker-recipes#post-1768682 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 01:42:07 +0000 Echo 1768682@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I use a slow cooker because in a regular pot the heat comes only from the bottom. Many things can get overheated that way or cause things to be overdone on one side, no matter how low one leaves the heat. Additionally, some things are better when they are cooked low and slow. It breaks down the collagen and fat in meats and enhances the flavours in many soups, sauces or chilis. It is convenient to be able to set the slow cooker and have a meal ready when one comes home.</p> <p>We make beef roasts in ours, and we just made a chicken burrito filling (chicken breasts, a large can of Rotel, taco seasoning and a block of cream cheese added at the end) for tonight. I also agree that curry in great in a slow cooker.&nbsp; </p>