Crock Pot Recipes

Fall has arrived! With fall brings school days, theater rehearsals and more and more cold dreary days. This to me means more crock pot meals. I love my crock pots and my giant roaster in the fall and winter. This is just a small collection of some of my favorite recipes for the crock pot and roaster.

Soy Garlic Chicken
6 pieces of chicken, bone in
1 (8oz) can of tomato sauce (I tend to substitue spaghetti sauce when needed)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 cloves of garlic, minced

In a small bowl combine tomato sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic. Whisk well. Pour over chicken in crock pot. Cook on low 4 to 5 hours.

Maple Mustard Chicken
6 pieces of chicken, boneless (I love using thighs for this recipe)
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup whole grain mustard
2 Tbsp quick cooking tapioca
Hot brown rice

In a small bowl combine maple syrup, mustard and tapioca. Whisk well. Pour over chick in crock pot. Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours. Serve over brown rice.

Apricot Pork Roast
I keep at least 3 or 4 jars of apricot perserves in my pantry during the fall and winter. I use them for everything from this recipe to my grama's drop cookies.
1 (2 to 3lbs) boneless pork loin roast
1 jar (12oz) apricot preserves
1 cup vegetable broth
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water

In a small bowl combine preserves and broth. Whisk well. Pour over pork roast. Cover and cook 6 to 7 hours. Remove meat to serving platter. Keep warm. Skim fat from cooking juices. Transfer to a small saucepan. Bring liquid to a boil. COmbine cornstarch and water until smooth. Gradually stir into pan. Bring to a boil. Serve over pork.

Picante Beef Roast
1 beef bottom round roast (3lbs)
1 jar (16oz) picante sauce
1 can (15oz) tomato sauce
1 envelope taco seasoning
3 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup water

Cut roast in half and place in crock pot. In a large bowl, combine picante sauce, tomato sauce and taco seasoning. Whisk well. Pour over roast. Cook on low 8 to 9 hours. Remove meat to serving platter. Skim fat from cooking juices, transfer 3 cups to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth. Gradually stir into pan. Bring to a boil. Serve over roast.

BBQ Chicken and Beans
8 pieces of bone in chicken parts
4 cans of chili beans in sauce
4 cans of corn
1 bottle of BBQ sauce

In crock pot pour in beans, then corn. Place chicken over corn and pour entire bottle of BBQ sauce. Cook 4 to 5 hours on low. Serve with Macaroni and Cheese with Salsa.

Macaroni and Cheese with Salsa
1 box elbow macaroni
1 jar cheddar cheese sauce
1 jar mild salsa

Boil macaroni till tender. Drain and stir in jar of cheese sauce and salsa. Serve with BBQ Chicken and Beans.

Roast with Winter Veggies
This is the simplest seasonal recipe in my arsonal. I have made it with beef, pork and whole chickens. My family loves it served with fresh hot rolls!
Any 3lb roast or whole chicken.
6 red potatoes, washed and cut into chunks
4 sweet potatoes, washed and cut into chuncks
2 lbs of carrots, washed, peeled and sliced into chunks
1 large leek, washed and sliced thinly
4 cloves of garlic, minced
5 cups of similar broth

Put all ingedients in the roaster, set roaster to 300 degrees for 5 to 6 hours.