Another thing that we all have in common is dinner. We all eat it and someone has to cook it. Thank goodness for inventions like to crock pot. Dinner is so simple to make when you use a crock pot. All you need to do is toss in the ingredients and turn it on. A crock pot does all of the cooking for you. By the end of the day when it is time for dinner your meal is done and waiting to be served.
Just about anything can be cooked in a crock pot. From meats to vegetables to sauces to meal opportunities are unlimited. Here are healthy crock pot meal ideas that your family is sure to love!
The first meal idea for crock pot cooking is a meat and vegetable meal. Chicken is always a favorite, no matter how it’s cooked. What you’ll need are several split chicken breasts, potatoes, and one package frozen or fresh broccoli. You’ll also need water, two to three chicken bullion cubes, butter, salt, pepper and minced onion. Lastly, you’ll need some shredded cheddar cheese.
First, thaw the chicken. How many pieces you use depends on the number you’ll be feeding and the size of your crock pot. I usually use eight to ten pieces, but then again I also cook to feed seven. The chicken is the first thing that gets placed into the crock pot. Next you add the broccoli. Then the potatoes, cubed. Once that’s in you add water until it reaches the top of the food, generally two to three cups. Before you toss in the bullion cubes, a small amount of butter, and one tablespoon minced onion. Shake on some salt and pepper and give it a stir. Place the lid on the crock pot and turn on to high. Leave for three hours then stir. Stir once an hour until dinner time. Once the meal is cooked serve the chicken with the broccoli and potatoes as a side dish. Top with shredded cheese for a meal your family will want again and again!
Roast is another great meat to cook in a crock pot. You can make a whole roast meal easily. All you’ll need is a roast, potatoes, carrots, butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder, an onion, water, and two beef bullion cubes. Start by placing the thawed roast in the pot. Next add the potatoes, cubed. Toss in small, fresh baby carrots and add water until it reaches the top of the food. Add the bullion cubes, salt, pepper, and onion, chopped. Sprinkle on some garlic powder and stir. Top with two table spoons butter and place the lid on the crock pot. Turn on and set on high. Let cook all day. Stirring occasionally. Serve the roast with the potatoes and carrots as a side. This is a healthy and delicious meal!
Pork chops can also be cooked in the crock pot. Cook pork chops with the ingredients you’d use for chicken or roast. You can add any type of vegetables you choose to. Once the meal is cooked completely use the veggies as a side and top the pork with a sweet honey barbeque sauce. Another delicious meal.
Lastly, you can make a delicious spaghetti sauce in your crock pot. Add two to three jars of store bought spaghetti sauce to the crock pot. Place one pound of ground beef, or sausage in there too. Place it in raw as it will slow cook in the sauce. Add one diced onion, salt, pepper, butter, and whatever other spices you usually use. Slow cooking the meat in the sauce gives the meat extra flavor. Adding the spices lets the natural flavors of them cook into the sauce. Cook your spaghetti on the stove. It only take twenty minutes or so. Do this right at dinner time. Place the cooked spaghetti onto plates and pour on the meat sauce. Top with shredded cheese for an extra twist. Slow cook spaghetti sauce is amazing.
These are all easy and healthy crock pot meal ideas. Cooking in the crock pot is convenient. Food that cooks slowly has flavor and retains the essential nutrients. Serve meals that are good for you and delicious too. Thanks for reading and take care!
