A lot of times when we think of using the slow cooker, it’s because we’re leaving the house early and won’t be back until dinner. Slow cookers are great for those days, but not all recipes will work.
You need to use a recipe that can take the heat for that long and still hold up. Soups, stews, large pieces of meat (especially if it has a bone) all do well.
Another tip is to make sure you’re using a slow cooker size that’s right for the amount of food. It should be about 3/4 full or more if you want to cook it all day. Less than that, and the slow cooker will cook too hot, leading to overcooked food.
Here’s a list of recipes that you’ll have success with.
African Pulled Beef Sandwiches
All Day Beef Stew
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Beef and Bean Topped Baked Potatoes
Beef Shwarma
Calico Bean Soup with Smoked Sausage (aka Mixed Bean Soup)
Chicken Enchilada Soup
Chicken Fiesta with Black Beans
Honey Mustard Chicken
Thai Chicken Curry Soup
Easy Shredded Taco Beef
Garlic Chicken with More Garlic
Pumpkin Black Bean Chili
Pulled Pork
BBQ Peach Pulled Pork
Beans for the Freezer
Chicken Cock-a-Leekie Soup
Chicken Minestrone Soup
Chicken Vegetable Soup
Ham and Bean Soup
Sauerkraut and Smoked Sausage Soup
White Chicken Chili
Brianna says
My slow cooker is itty bitty (1.5 quarts) and it says not to put uncooked meat in it. If I’m making some sort of chicken or beef dish and have to cook the meat ahead, wouldn’t it be overcooked by the time I get home in the evening? (Also, I’ve never actually used my slow cooker because I feel like having to cook the meat ahead defeats the purpose).
Tiffany says
I think your cooker must be more for warming things than actually cooking. Since it says not to cook uncooked meat in it, I don’t think I’d use it for that either. But you could add the cooked meat later. I use rotisserie chicken in recipes sometimes and add that at the end of cooking.
Amanda says
Have you got any meatless Crockpot recipes? Thank you!