Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post ThursdayHave you discovered the joys of slow cookers? If not, there's nothing quite like throwing together a meal, putting it into a slow cooker, then coming back hours later to a fragrant, delicious meal. Here are six slow cooker recipes to get you started, including Slow Cooker Baked Ziti and Slow-Cooker Chipotle Chicken Macaroni and Cheese. Enjoy!
SLOW COOKER LASAGNA
This is from Lauren Allen, whose site, Tastes Better From Scratch is one that you really, really should check out. Seriously. I’ll wait…
This yummy recipe makes 5 servings, and can be viewed on Lauren’s site here.
Ingredients
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound Italian sausage (I use hot)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 large onion, chopped*
1 tsp Italian seasoning
2 Tbsp parsley
2 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1 (29 oz) can tomato sauce
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups water
1 (8 oz) package regular lasagna noodles, uncooked
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1-1/2 cups cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef, Italian sausage and onion. Add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, and water. Stir and simmer 15-20 minutes. (You could make the sauce in advance!)
Spread a fourth of the meat sauce into the bottom of your slow cooker. Arrange a third of the noodles over the sauce (break the noodles to fit, if necessary). Combine the mozzarella, cottage cheese and parmesan cheese; spoon a third of the mixture over noodles. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining meat sauce and sprinkle with extra mozzarella cheese, if desired.
Cover and cook on low for about 4-5 hours or until noodles are tender.
Recipe Notes
*You could substitute 1-2 Tbsp dried minced onion
SLOW-COOKER BEEF & BROCCOLI
This comes from Delish, and begins, “The tender beef melts in your mouth.”
Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves 4-6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 lb. sirloin steak, thinly sliced
1 c. low-sodium beef broth
1/2 c. low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 c. brown sugar
3 tbsp. sesame oil
1 tbsp. sriracha
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 green onions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
2 tbsp. cornstarch
2 c. broccoli florets
Sesame seeds, for garnish
Cooked jasmine rice, for serving
Directions
In a large slow-cooker, add steak. Add beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, Sriracha, garlic, and green onions.
Cover and cook on low until beef is tender and cooked through, 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
When the steak is tender, spoon a few tablespoons of the slow-cooker broth into a bowl and whisk with cornstarch. Pour into slow cooker and toss with the beef until combined. Add broccoli and cook, covered, 20 minutes more.
Garnish with sesame things and green onions and serve over rice.
SLOW-COOKER CHILI MAC ’N CHEESE
This is from Judy Kim on Delish, and begins, “Put in a little bit of prep in the morning, come home to an insanely delish dinner.”
Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4.
According to Delish, “Judy Kim is a NYC-based food stylist, recipe developer, and photographer. She also writes recipes for her website The Judy Lab.”
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. ground cumin
1 tbsp. cayenne
2 lb. lean ground beef
2 28-oz. cans crushed tomatoes
15 oz. kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 lb. small pasta, such as macaroni or fusilli
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Scallions, jalapeño, avocado, cilantro, and sour cream, for garnish
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic and cook until softened. Add chili, cumin, and cayenne until fragrant, 1 minute. Add ground beef and cook until browned.
Transfer beef mixture to slow cooker along with tomatoes and kidney beans and season generously with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low, 6 hours.
When ready to serve, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Add pasta and cheese to slow cooker and stir until melted. Serve with scallions, jalapeños, avocado, cilantro, sour cream and cheese.
SLOW COOKER BEEF AND VEGETABLE TZIMMES
This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The recipe begins, “Honey-sweetened tzimmes is a classic dish for Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). Toss all the ingredients into a slow cooker in the morning before heading out to temple and you'll return home to a fabulous, no-fuss holiday meal.”
POINTS® Value: 8; Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 24 min; Cooking Time: 480 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
7 oz frozen chopped onions, about 2 cups
3 pound raw lean beef brisket, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces (boneless)
2 large garlic clove(s), minced
2 medium sweet potato(es), peeled and cut into bite-size chunks
1/2 pound baby carrots, cut in half if large
8 small uncooked new potatoes, cut in half (unpeeled)
1 cup Dole Pitted Prunes, or other brand
4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, divided (from 2 small lemons)
5 tsp honey, divided
1 1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup canned beef broth
Directions
Place onion, beef, garlic, sweet potatoes, carrots, new potatoes, prunes, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of honey in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add salt, pepper, cinnamon and broth; stir well.
Cook on low setting for 7 to 8 hours. About 5 minutes before serving, stir in remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and remaining 2 teaspoons of honey; cover and cook on low for 5 minutes. Yields about 1 1/2 cups of solids and gravy per serving.
Notes: You can substitute dried apricots for the prunes if you prefer.
For a thicker gravy, spoon 1 tablespoon of flour into a cup and stir in 1/4 cup of the tzimmes liquid until the mixture is lump-free. Add the flour mixture to the slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 10 minutes. (Adding the flour does not affect the recipe’s POINTS value.)
SLOW-COOKER CHIPOTLE CHICKEN MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is from tbsp., and begins, “Everything you love about classic mac and cheese made better with chicken, chipotle chile and pepper Jack cheese. Throw it all in your slow cooker for the ultimate cheesy dinner.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups whole milk
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 package (16 oz) penne pasta
4 cups shredded pepper Jack cheese (16 oz)
8 oz Kraft™ Velveeta™ original cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium poblano chile, chopped
3 cups shredded deli rotisserie chicken
1 tablespoon chopped chipotle chile in adobo sauce
2 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup Progresso™ plain panko crispy bread crumbs
Directions
Spray 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, beat whole milk, evaporated milk, 1/4 cup melted butter, the salt and pepper with whisk. Add pasta, 3 1/2 cups of the pepper Jack cheese, the Velveeta™ cubes and poblano chile. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until pasta is cooked but not mushy.
When pasta is cooked, stir in chicken and chipotle chile. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup pepper Jack cheese over top. Cover; cook about 20 minutes or until melted.
Meanwhile, in 6-inch skillet, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add bread crumbs; stir to coat. Cook and stir 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle over pasta.
SLOW COOKER BAKED ZITI
This is from Ashley Fehr, “a high school teacher turned food blogger” in Canada. Her food blog, The Recipe Rebel is really nice. Check it out!
This recipe begins, “This Slow Cooker Baked Ziti is actually made completely in the crockpot -- even the pasta! It is so much easier than the traditional version but packs all of the same flavor!”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes.
To view this online (and to read Ashley’s notes on the recipe), click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef, turkey or Italian sausage
1 onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 (28oz) can diced tomatoes
1 650ml (around 22 ounces) jar pasta sauce (about 2 1/2 cups)
2 1/2 cups water or chicken broth
1 375g (about 13-14 ounces) box Penne or Ziti (or other short) pasta (about 4 cups)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion until browned. Stir in garlic and salt and cook 1 minute.
Add beef mixture, basil, parsley, tomatoes, pasta sauce and water to a 4qt (or larger) slow cooker. Stir.
Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
Add pasta and stir until combined. Cover and continue cooking for 20-45 minutes (depending on how hot your slow cooker is) -- check and stir at the 20 minute mark.
Sprinkle with cheese and cover for 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted.
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