Crock-pots are one of those appliances where it seems like people fall into two categories: you are either a die-hard fan who uses it constantly, or it is in a constant state of storage, shoved in the back of the pantry or cabinet collecting dust. I generally fall into the second category myself, but when the cooler temperatures come around, some warm, slow-cooked food does sound amazing. Yes, you do have to be premeditative with your planning and prepping, but at the end of the day you can have a slow-cooked meal full of flavor that has been cooking for hours with minimal effort! Cooking your meals at home is always cheaper than eating out. Cooking with a crock-pot instead of the oven can also help keep your kitchen cooler, which in turn can save you money on utilities!
Save yourself the stress and time of cleanup, and don't forget crock-pot liners! These can generally be found in the same aisle at the grocery store as the ziplock bags and tin foil. Reynolds Kitchen liners are probably the ones you spot most while you are shopping, but I am a strong advocate for store-brand products, and I have been using the Food Lion brand with no issues at all. Using your crock-pot for dinner is the general go-to because you can throw everything in at breakfast time and have a complete meal by the end of the day. But here are three recipes that are not only tasty and easy but also a bit off the beaten path. Hopefully these ideas will help inspire more use out of your crock-pot!
For Breakfast: Breakfast Casserole
Planning breakfast for a large crowd can feel overwhelming. Of course, this need normally arises when you are hosting for a holiday or have overnight guests—those times when you do not want to be stuck in the kitchen for longer than necessary. A breakfast casserole can be pretty versatile to the preferences of your group. The other benefit to a breakfast casserole cooking in a crock-pot versus a traditional casserole in the oven is that you can set it and forget it the night before, so you don't have to wake up before all the masses to put everything together and preheat the oven. Anything you would put in an omelet can be thrown into the crock-pot the night before for a nearly labor-free, warm breakfast of goodness first thing in the morning.
Prep Time: 20 minutes // Cook Time: 8 hours
Ingredients:
- 1 dozen eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 package frozen hash brown potatoes (32 oz.)
- 1 lb breakfast meat (sausage or bacon, uncooked)
- 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar or colby jack work best)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional vegetables: An array of veggies can be added as well—tomato, spinach, onions, peppers. Dice them and keep to an average of 1/2 cup per item.
- Optional spices and herbs: A 1/4 teaspoon of dry mustard would add an extra kick. I like adding 2–3 tablespoons of parsley personally.
Instructions:
- Prep the crock-pot with a liner.
- Layer frozen potatoes, breakfast meat, your choice of diced veggies, and 1 cup of shredded cheese in the crock-pot.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese over the top evenly.
- Beat the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and selected herbs and spices together.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the cheese in the crock-pot.
- Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours, or until the eggs are set and thoroughly cooked. Start this at midnight and wake up to a delicious breakfast!
For Lunch: Mac and Cheese
Crock-pot meals for lunch probably are not the first thing that comes to mind, but they can be a huge help if you have a large social gathering, play-date group, or potluck lunch. Yes, the kids would probably be content with the basic boxed powdered cheese, but a bowl of hearty mac and cheese is always a crowd-pleaser for all ages. The biggest thing you need to watch out for when cooking any pasta in the crock-pot is that it does not become overcooked and mushy! The type of pasta you use will determine how quickly it cooks. Fusilli, a pretty common corkscrew-shaped pasta, may be your best bet since it takes longer to cook. I have used standard elbow noodles with just as good results.
Prep Time: 15 minutes // Cook Time: 3 hours
Ingredients:
- 3 1/2 cups milk
- 1 can evaporated milk (12 oz) (Note: Do not substitute with condensed milk. The consistency may be the same, but it is way too sweet, and you will end up with candy cheese—not ideal.)
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard or mustard powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 box of pasta (16 oz)
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (16 oz)
- 8 oz Velveeta cheese, cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions:
- Prep the crock-pot with a liner.
- In a bowl, beat the milks, melted butter, mustard, salt, and pepper with a whisk.
- Add the mixture, pasta, 3 1/2 cups of the cheddar cheese, the cubed cheese, and the parmesan cheese into the crock-pot.
- Cover and cook on low heat. It will generally take 2–3 hours to cook completely. Check on the mac and cheese every 30 minutes or so and stir well to ensure even cooking. Be sure not to overcook the pasta.
- Stir until the mac and cheese is combined and creamy. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese on top. Cover and let stand until melted, about 15 minutes.
Optionally, if you want to give your mac and cheese that extra crunchy crust on top, add toasted bread crumbs: In a saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add 2/3 cup panko bread crumbs and stir to coat. Cook and stir about 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Sprinkle over the mac and cheese and enjoy the warm cheesiness!
For Dessert: Candy Bar Fondue
With Halloween right around the corner, you are most likely going to have a lot of extra candy lying around the house that would be ideal to get rid of quickly. You can gather it all up and make a candy bar fondue! The setup is simple enough but will still wow your guests, or even your kids, for a special family treat.
For smaller batches, or to create different flavors at one time, place candy in a mason jar. Place the jars inside the crock-pot and add an inch of water to the bottom of the crock-pot; this will turn your crock-pot into a double boiler. I would recommend still using a liner in case there are any spills. Making fondue is also a fun project to gift to others. Once you have melted the combined items in a mason jar, you can carefully remove the jar to cool, place a lid on top, and gift it with a bag of pretzels or other food items to share a fondue night with others!
Once you are ready to dip, the options are pretty much endless. Some of the most common items used for dipping are fruits like strawberries, apples, or bananas; bite-size pieces of pound cake, brownies, or rice crispy treats; and pretzel sticks and graham crackers, which also make for perfect vessels to dip.
Prep Time: 10 minutes // Cook Time: 2 hours
Ingredients:
- Milk chocolate
- Marshmallow or marshmallow creme
- Caramel cubes
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Your candy of choice: Milky Way, Reese's Cups, or other candy bars (Note: Stay away from candy with nuts or cookies inside to keep the consistency smooth.)
Instructions:
- Prep the crock-pot with a liner.
- Place all the ingredients in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until melted and smooth, stirring every 30 minutes. Stir until combined. Dip your treats and enjoy!
Final Crock-Pot Tips
Just some final life hacks regarding the maintenance and use of your crock-pot:
Although crock-pot liners will help with cleanup, it is always good to check the actual interior casing element under the ceramic container. Inevitably, something will slip down between the two parts and bake on repeatedly with each use. The easiest fix I have seen is to remove the ceramic container, fill a small bowl with ammonia, place it in the cooker, cover with the lid, and leave it overnight. Scrub off any lingering residue the next morning, and you should be good to go!
Another tip I have used is to catch drips of condensation before they reach your food by placing a towel or a thick paper towel under the closed lid of your crock-pot. This is useful for foods that tend to get soggy from condensation when cooked in the crock-pot.
Crock-pots are also great to use during cold-month holiday parties or gatherings. Making a large batch of hot apple cider or even hot chocolate will be a crowd-pleaser for sure! I have seen some people use the double-boiler method with jars to even make non-food projects like body scrubs, body butters, and even to melt crayons and wax! How about you? Do you have any crock-pot hacks or unconventional uses? I would love to hear all about them!