4 Easy Crock Pot Recipes

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Sometimes it feels like there aren’t enough hours in a day to do everything we need to do. Cooking with a crock pot or slow cooker is a fast way to throw together a hearty, healthy, delicious meal while saving precious time and energy.

Here are 4 quick and easy budget-friendly crock pot recipes that will make your life easier and keep your family happy.

Simple Beef Stroganoff

You will need:

• 3 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• ½ cup water
• 1 package (1 oz.) dry onion soup mix
• 2 pounds beef stew meat

1. Combine soup, water, sour cream and onion soup mix in crock pot. Add beef and stir until well-coated. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.

Note: Beef Stroganoff is traditionally served over noodles, but you can serve it over rice if you prefer. This dish goes great with a green salad.

Island Shrimp with Rice

You will need:

• 1 package (12 ounces) frozen shrimp, thawed
• ½ cup fat-free, reduced sodium chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons sweet and sour sauce
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• ½ cup pineapple chunks, drained
• ½ cup diced tomatoes
• 2 cups cooked white rice

1. Combine all ingredients in crock pot except for peas, pineapple and tomatoes. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.

2. Add peas, pineapple, tomatoes and rice. Cover and cook on low an additional 5-10 minutes, and serve.

Picnic-Style Baked Beans

You will need:

• 1 pound dried beans of your choice
• 1 pound of bacon
• 5 hot dogs, sliced into circular pieces
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 cups of ketchup
• 1 cup of your favorite barbeque sauce
• 2 cups dark brown sugar

1. Soak and cook the beans according to package directions. Refrigerate until ready for use.

2. Cook bacon in a skillet until crisp. Drain on a paper towel, cool and crumble. Save 3 tablespoons of bacon fat in skillet, and add hot dogs and onion. Cook over medium heat until onions are tender.

3. Combine cooked beans, bacon, hot dogs, onions, ketchup, barbeque sauce and brown sugar in crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.

Note: 1 pound canned, pre-cooked beans may be substituted for dried beans to save time, if desired. This kid-friendly dish can be served with soft bread or buns on the side, and works great as a side dish for any gathering.

Simple Southwestern Stew

You will need:

• 2 pounds ground turkey (or beef)
• 1 can tomatoes and chilies, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 2 cups instant white rice
• 1 can ranch-style pinto beans
• 1 bag (16 oz.) frozen yellow corn
• 1 quart chicken broth
• ½ cup scallions, diced
• 1-2 cups water, to preferred consistency

1. Add ground turkey or ground beef, onion, diced tomatoes and chilies, broth, water, corn and spices to crock pot for 3-4 hours, until meat is cooked.

2. Add instant rice and cook 40 minutes, then add beans for 10 minutes, and serve.

Note: This dish can be garnished with shredded cheese and diced green onions, and is great served with tortilla chips on the side.

Cooking with the crock pot will make your house smell wonderful all day long. There’s really not much better than coming home to the scent of a savory slow-cooked dinner, is there? No matter what your family is in the mood for tonight, there is something here for everyone, so give one of these easy recipes a try today.

Pauline Greenwood is an avid blogger and contributor to JustaPinch.com. She enjoys sharing about cooking experiences and her favorite meal ideas such as crock pot recipes.

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