Dinner time blues? Get back to school with Not Your Mama’s Slow Cooker Recipes.
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Sure, meal planning makes getting on the table much easier, but I admit, it’s difficult to schedule the opportunity to lay out what your family is going to eat when, go to the grocery store to get exactly what you need and then most of all, put it all together for that perfect dinner that everyone loves…
Nobody got time for that…and face it, that’s not the times that most of us live in. So I’m sharing some of the best recipes to make your school nights easier – all made in the slow cooker!
However, what we do have our a few minutes here and there to make our world rock a little better, especially during back to school time. So we’ve got a few tips for meal planning and recipes with the slow cooker that you may have never thought about. And takin’ a look at these slow cookers, it’s worth reconsidering if you think that these babies are only for roast and chili night.
Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
2015-09-05 06:59:18
Serves 4
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
4 hr
Total Time
4 hr 15 min
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
385g
Servings
4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 425
Calories from Fat 78
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 9g
13%
Saturated Fat 2g
12%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 193mg
64%
Sodium 879mg
37%
Total Carbohydrates 11g
4%
Dietary Fiber 3g
11%
Sugars 3g
Protein 72g
Vitamin A
20%
Vitamin C
159%
Calcium
8%
Iron
21%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast halves (or chicken thighs, approximately 6-8)
- 1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 red, orange and green bell pepper, julienned
- 1 large yellow onion, halved and sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 3/4 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
- In a bowl whisk together chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, salt and pepper. Evenly sprinkle seasoning over both sides of the chicken breasts.
- Now pour the tomatoes into the bottom of a slow cooker and spread into an even layer. Top with peppers and onions. Then add garlic and lastly, the seasoned chicken.
- Cover and cook on HIGH heat 3 - 4 hours or low heat 6 - 8 hours, until chicken has cooked through and peppers are tender. (Depending on your slow cooker, you can do less heat for sliced fajitas or more for shredded.)
- Remove chicken and cut into strips or shred. Gently toss a little of the broth onto fajitas for more flavor. Now serve warm in warmed tortillas with sour cream, guacamole, cheese and salsa.
Notes
- Back to school is easy with these standy that takes no time to prep or cook!
mamachallenge | Real Solutions for Real Parents | Dallas Blog https://www.mamachallenge.com/
Slow Cooker Lasagna
2015-09-05 07:02:42
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
4 hr 30 min
Total Time
4 hr 45 min
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
1766g
Amount Per Serving
Calories 4055
Calories from Fat 1664
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 188g
289%
Saturated Fat 96g
480%
Trans Fat 4g
Polyunsaturated Fat 9g
Monounsaturated Fat 62g
Cholesterol 727mg
242%
Sodium 8602mg
358%
Total Carbohydrates 304g
101%
Dietary Fiber 16g
64%
Sugars 41g
Protein 274g
Vitamin A
94%
Vitamin C
23%
Calcium
347%
Iron
94%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef (or turkey or chicken)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 6 ounces cottage cheese (or ricotta cheese)
- 6-7 ounces Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 12 ounces lasagna noodles, uncooked
- 16 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Brown ground beef, onion and garlic in pan.
- Add sauce, salt and oregano.
- Spoon a layer of meat sauce onto the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Add a double layer of uncooked lasagna noodles and top with cheeses. (You can break noodles to cover.)
- Repeat with sauce, noodles and cheeses until all are used up.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
mamachallenge | Real Solutions for Real Parents | Dallas Blog https://www.mamachallenge.com/
Slow Cooker Lemon Rosemary Chicken
2015-09-05 07:11:00
Serves 4
Prep Time
7 min
Cook Time
4 hr
Total Time
4 hr 7 min
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
236g
Servings
4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 385
Calories from Fat 186
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g
32%
Saturated Fat 6g
29%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
Monounsaturated Fat 8g
Cholesterol 132mg
44%
Sodium 125mg
5%
Total Carbohydrates 9g
3%
Dietary Fiber 3g
10%
Sugars 2g
Protein 42g
Vitamin A
5%
Vitamin C
75%
Calcium
5%
Iron
16%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken
- 4 lemons
- 2-3 heads garlic
- Fresh rosemary and other favorite herbs
- Poultry seasoning
Instructions
- Cut garlic and lemons in half. Save one half lemon, a few slices of lemon (cut wide) and garlic head and set aside.
- Lay in bottom of slow cooker so they lay flat.
- Clean chicken, rinse and pat dry.
- Season chicken with poultry mix, all over (both inside and out) as well as salt and pepper.
- Lay chicken onto garlic and lemon and stuff garlic into cavity of chicken.
- Cover chicken with lemon slices and rosemary.
- Cook chicken for around four hours on high (or until 165 degrees.)
- Turn off slow cooker, let chicken rest for 15 minutes and then remove from slow cooker to serve.
- Use reserve sauce to be served over chicken.
mamachallenge | Real Solutions for Real Parents | Dallas Blog https://www.mamachallenge.com/
Slow Cooker Breakfast Egg Casserole
2015-09-05 07:19:13
Serves 6
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
2 hr 30 min
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
190g
Servings
6
Amount Per Serving
Calories 356
Calories from Fat 226
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 25g
39%
Saturated Fat 12g
58%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 9g
Cholesterol 427mg
142%
Sodium 940mg
39%
Total Carbohydrates 3g
1%
Dietary Fiber 0g
1%
Sugars 2g
Protein 28g
Vitamin A
19%
Vitamin C
1%
Calcium
36%
Iron
13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
- 20 ounces shredded hashbrowns (you can use frozen or fresh)
- 4 ounces chopped ham, 8-10 slices of bacon, or 1/2 roll of crumbled sausage
- 8 ounces shredded cheese
- 12 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 onion, chopped finely
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- Cooking oil or cooking spray to coat pan
Instructions
- Whisk eggs, milk, and seasonings in a bowl. Set aside.
- Grease slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Layer half of hashbrowns with half cheese, half meat and 1/4 onions.
- Then repeat hashbrowns, meat, cheese and onion.
- Pour eggs over the top of the layers.
- Cook for 2-3 hours on high or 4-5 hours on low.
- Sprinkle more cheese, meat and onions for garnish and serve.
mamachallenge | Real Solutions for Real Parents | Dallas Blog https://www.mamachallenge.com/
Yes, these slow cookers are THAT cool.
Crock Pot Smart WiFi WeMo 6-Quart Slow Cooker
Crock Pot iStir Automatic Stirring Slow Cooker
LOOKING FOR THAT GREAT MEAL PLANNER FEATURED ON FOX GOOD DAY?
It’s from Carrie Elle and she’s extended her line for all kinds of special diets! SHOP CARRIE ELLE
Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:
Follow Autumn {mamachallenge.com}’s board FOOD: Crock Pot on Pinterest.
trying it find the meal planner that you showed on Fox 4?
I need to up my back-to-school game with some new slow cooker recipes — thanks for the ideas!
I saw Autumn on Fox News on Saturday and had to look her up on the Internet. She is awesome and this recipe for fajitas in a crockpot–genius!! You have a fan in Plano, TX!