I love using my crockpot year round to whip up one of these easy Crockpot Meals — they make busy weekdays with three kids more manageable! I know we all love these Dump and Go Slow Cooker Recipes because we can throw it all in and hit the road! But I wanted to come back and show a few more of my favorite crockpot recipes, because even though some have a little prep required, it can usually be done the night before or even prepped and stashed in the freezer for easy mornings and more delicious, home cooked dinners.
Tips for Making these Easy Crockpot Meals:
Prep what you can the day before. If there are a lot of vegetables to be shopped or meat to be cooked, this can often be done the day before. Sometimes, with many soups or stews, you can prep the entire meal in the slow cooker, then simply pop the insert in the fridge overnight. In the morning, all you have to do is pop it in and turn it on. Crockpot recipes sometimes need a little oomph at the end of that long cook time — try adding freshness with some finely chopped fresh herbs or green onions to bright up the flavors. You can also use a little splash of something acidic (depending on the recipe of course!), a squeeze of lemon juice, a spoonful of ketchup, or splash of balsamic vinegar often does the trick. Know your crockpot. All crockpots and slow cooker cook differently. I have had a few in my day (I have 3 that I use regularly!) and they all cook differently. Some are hotter, and some are cooler. The larger the slow cooker, the longer it will take to heat and cook, so that is also something to keep in mind.
The Best Easy Crockpot Meals:
And a few easy Crockpot Desserts to round out your meal!
My favorite crockpots and slow cookers!
Most often, I’m using a 2.5 quart casserole style crockpot that I love. It is wider and shallow, so you don’t have to stack everything up and it cooks more quickly. It is the perfect crockpot for someone cooking for 1-4 people and not doing large meals. I also have a 4 quart crockpot that I use when I want to do a larger cut of meat, like a pot roast, or a big batch of soup. It’s everything I love about my 2.5 quart in a slightly bigger size. I do have a 6 quart Hamilton Beach slow cooker that is great for cooking for a large group of people, but I do find it’s a little cooler and sometimes large chunks of meat have to be cut down into smaller pieces for it to cook by dinnertime.
Can I let my crockpot cook longer than the recipe says?
This is a tough one, and it really depends on the recipe and type of meal you’re making. Some recipes can be left a little longer (we all know how valuable those long workday cook times can be!), but others are best if you stick to the recipe. Things like chicken breasts and lean meats I prefer to cook for a short period of time (sometimes only 1.5-3 hours), so they stay juicy and are never overcooked. Other recipes, like a larger piece of meat, a soup that does not have pasta added at the beginning (pasta cooks relatively quickly in the slow cooker), sauces and chilis can often be left longer and will be just as good. If you have a crockpot that will automatically switch to keep warm when the cook time is up, and you can set the exact cook time (rather than select simply 8 or 10 hours), these are the best ones for making crockpot meals while you are out of the house. These are the ones we come back to again and again! Create an account easily save your favorite content, so you never forget a recipe again. Register Now Tag @thereciperebel or hashtag #thereciperebel — I love to see what you’re making!
