How to cook 7 Cozy Slow Cooker Recipes For Lazy Saturday
Simplify your weekend with Cozy Slow Cooker Recipes For Lazy Saturday. This guide provides seven distinct, easy-to-follow comfort food ideas perfect for your Crock-Pot. Discover your new favorite set-it-and-forget-it meal.
Ingredients
- For the Pot Roast:
- 3 lbs beef chuck roast
- 1 lb baby carrots
- 1.5 lbs Yukon gold potatoes cubed
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 2 cups beef broth
- For the Creamy Tuscan Chicken:
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil drained and chopped
- 5 oz fresh spinach
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- For the Pulled Pork:
- 4 lb pork shoulder (Boston butt)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce plus more for serving
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
Instructions
Recipe 1: Classic Pot Roast
Pat a 3-4 lb chuck roast dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Sear on all sides in a hot, oiled skillet and place in the slow cooker. Add 1 lb of carrots, 1.5 lbs of cubed potatoes, and 1 chopped onion around the roast. Pour in 2 cups of beef broth, 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, and add a few sprigs of thyme. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours until the meat is tender.Recipe 2: Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Place 2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Add 1 cup of chicken broth, 1/2 cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and 4 cloves of minced garlic. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. In the last 30 minutes, shred the chicken with two forks. Stir in 1 cup of heavy cream, 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan, and a large handful (5 oz) of fresh spinach until wilted. Serve over pasta or rice.Recipe 3: Hearty Beef Chili
Brown 2 lbs of ground beef in a skillet with 1 chopped onion and drain the fat. Transfer to the slow cooker. Add two 15-oz cans of kidney beans (drained), one 15-oz can of black beans (drained), one 28-oz can of diced tomatoes, one 6-oz can of tomato paste, and 2 cups of beef broth. Stir in 1/4 cup of chili powder, 2 tsp of cumin, and salt to taste. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Serve with cheese, sour cream, and cilantro.Recipe 4: BBQ Pulled Pork
Place a 4 lb pork shoulder in the slow cooker. In a bowl, mix 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce, 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1 tbsp of smoked paprika, and 1 tsp of garlic powder. Pour the sauce over the pork. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Remove the pork, shred it with two forks (discarding excess fat), and return it to the slow cooker to mix with the juices. Serve on buns with coleslaw.Recipe 5: Chicken Noodle Soup
To the slow cooker, add 1.5 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, 2 sliced carrots, 2 sliced celery stalks, 1 chopped onion, and 8 cups of chicken broth. Season with thyme, a bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Cook on low for 6 hours. Remove and shred the chicken. Return the chicken to the pot, add 4 oz of uncooked egg noodles, and cook on high for another 20-30 minutes, until noodles are tender.Recipe 6: Swedish Meatballs
Combine 1.5 lbs of ground beef/pork mix with 1/2 cup of panko breadcrumbs, 1 egg, and seasonings. Form into meatballs and brown them in a skillet. Place meatballs in the slow cooker. In the same skillet, make a gravy with 1/4 cup of flour, 4 tbsp of butter, and 4 cups of beef broth. Pour the gravy over the meatballs. Cook on low for 4 hours. Stir in 1/2 cup of heavy cream or sour cream before serving over egg noodles.Recipe 7: Macaroni & Cheese
In the slow cooker, combine 16 oz of uncooked elbow macaroni, 4 cups of milk, one 12-oz can of evaporated milk, and 1/2 tsp of salt. Stir well. Top with 4 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese and 1 cup of shredded Gruyere, but do not stir in yet. Cook on low for 2.5 to 3 hours, stirring once halfway through. Stir everything together until creamy just before serving.
Notes
Slow Cooker Tips:
- Sear Your Meat: For deeper flavor in recipes like pot roast and pulled pork, always sear the meat in a hot skillet before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Don't Overfill: For best results, your slow cooker should be between 1/2 and 2/3 full.
- Dairy at the End: Add ingredients like cream, sour cream, and cheese in the last 15-30 minutes of cooking to prevent them from curdling.
- Lid On: Avoid the temptation to lift the lid, as it releases heat and can significantly increase the cooking time.
