SLOW COOKER GARLIC CHICKEN

SLOW COOKER GARLIC CHICKEN 
adapted from Recipe Girl
Original recipe in black adaptations in red
Serves 4-6
Prep time 30 minutes 
Cook time 4 hours

3-4 pounds bone-in chicken pieces 2 pounds large chicken tenders
Kosher Salt Sea Salt 
Freshly ground black pepper
1 medium sweet onion sliced 1 large Vidalia onion, sliced
8 large garlic cloves, halved 8 large garlic cloves, quartered
several sprigs of fresh thyme
1 cup dry white wine
1/3 + 1/4 cup all-purpose flour Wondra
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, ground with mortar & pestle
1/4 cup Coconut Oil

  • Sift together the 1/4 cup Wondra with salt, pepper and ground red pepper.
  • Dredge the chicken in the Wondra mixture. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. 
  • Cook the chicken quickly until it turns golden brown , flip and then remove to paper towels to drain.
  • Combine the onion, garlic and thyme in a 5 to 6-quart slow cooker and season with salt and pepper. Top with chicken. 
  • In a small bowl, whisk together wine and flour until smooth and pour it over the chicken and into the slow cooker.
  • Cover and cook until the chicken is tender- 3 1/2 – 4 hours on LOW.
  • Serve chicken topped with sauce. 
  • Serve over rice or potatoes.

TEXAS RED CHICKEN

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 cup sugar
1 medium Vidalia onion, diced
2 cups homemade chicken broth
1/2 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce

  • Whisk together the ketchup, BBQ sauce vinegar, soy sauce, broth and sugar.
  • Place chicken pieces in slow cooker.
  • Add onion pieces.
  • Pour ketchup mixture over top.
  • Cook on low 6-8 hours.
  • Remove chicken and shred – add back to sauce.
  • Serve over Rice or on buns.

ITALIAN BEEF STROGANOFF

ITALIAN BEEF STROGANOFF
28 ounce can Contadina crushed tomatoes
8 ounce can Contadina tomato sauce
1 MAGGI beef seasoning cube
1 large Vidalia onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 1/2 pounds chuck roast or chuck eye steak*, cut into stew sized pieces
2 cups cooked wide egg noodles
1 cup sour cream
fresh parsley

  • Layer beef chuck pieces, garlic and onions in bottom of slow cooker.
  • Whisk together tomatoes and sauce.  Microwave for 3 minutes until HOT!  Add beef cube and stir until dissolved.
  • Pour over meat and onions.
  • Cook 8-10 hours on low OR 4-6 hours on high.
  • Pour meat through colander so it is separate from the sauce.
  • Stir sour cream into sauce. 
  • Fold noodles into sauce mixture.
  • Fold beef back in.
  • Sprinkle with parsley.
  • Enjoy.

*these 2 pieces of meat are actually from the same cut, but I base it on which one is currently on sale.  This week I saved 50 cents a pound by using 2 steaks instead on 1 roast.

SPICY PINK LEMON CHICKEN

4 to 6 chicken breasts
1 (6 oz.) can frozen pink lemonade, thawed
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon APPLE CIDER vinegar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water

  • Arrange chicken breasts in the bottom of a slow cooker.
  • Combine the lemonade concentrate, brown sugar, ketchup and apple cider vinegar until well blended.
  • Pour over chicken breasts.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours depending on thickness of meat.  If in a hurry you can use tenders and cook for half the time.
  • Remove chicken pieces from crockpot and keep warm.
  • Transfer liquid to a saucepan and simmer over medium heat.
  • Whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until well blended.
  • Gradually add the cornstarch mixture to the lemonade mixture, stirring constantly.
  • When thickened, serve over chicken. 

CHICKEN CHILI

QUICK & EASY CHICKEN CHILI
3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, frozen
2 cups homemade chicken broth, frozen
1 can cream of potato soup
1 jar dried beef, chopped
1 Williams chili mix package
1 can chopped green chilies
  • Place frozen chicken breasts on the bottom.
  • Pour green chilies over chicken pieces.
  • Top with cream of potato soup.
  • Top with frozen broth.
  • Sprinkle chili seasoning mix on top of chicken broth.
  • Top with beef pieces.
  • Slow cook on high for 2 hours. Reduce to low for 6 hours. Or cook on low 10 hours.
As the slow cooker heats up, the broth will melt absorbing the chili seasoning mix which will then be absorbed by the potato soup and by the end of the day you have a huge bowl of wonderful yummy goodness perfect for a crisp fall evening. Serve with cheddar cheese biscuits.

SLOW COOKER BLACK BEAN CHILI

SLOW COOKER BLACK BEAN CHILI
1 pound chuck steak, cut into 3/4 inch chunks**
15 ounce can tomato puree
15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 KNORR beef tub
2 cups hot water
medium red onion, chopped (reserve some for garnish)
1 bunch green onions, sliced (reserve some for garnish)
sour cream
grated cheese

  • Combine hot water and KNORR beef tub until well blended.  Pour into slow cooker.
  • Add tomato puree, chili powder, garlic, salt and pepper to taste, blending well.
  • Add beef pieces, red onion and green onion.
  • Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours.
  • Top with sour cream, grated cheese and onions for garnish.
  • I served them over grilled hot dogs for hubby and Monday night football.

**We had grilled rib eyes the night before and I got a great price on buying the family pack so we grilled them all and then I cut the remains into 3/4 inch chunks for the chili.  I have to say the charring added some great flavor.

TWISTED PEPPER STEAK IN GRAVY


1-2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 pounds round steak, trimmed of fat and cut into 3 inch slices
1 medium onion, chopped
1 red pepper, sliced into thin strips
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 can diced tomatoes with juice
1 can beef consomme or
a scant 2 cups hot water with 2 teaspoons beef granules
Roux

  • In a large skillet heat olive oil
  • When hot, brown the beef slices, drain and transfer to the slow cooker
  • In the same pan combine the consomme, onions, tomatoes and juice, brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic and soy sauce.
  • Bring to a slow boil.
  • Pour over beef.
  • Cover and cook on high for 1 hour
  • Reduce the heat to low and cook 3-4 hours until beef is tender
  • Add the red pepper
  • Cook 1 more hour
  • Return heat to high
  • Using a large pasta claw remove the meat and peppers to serving bowl
  • Add Roux
  • Stir into the gravy and cook until desired thickness
  • Pour over meat in serving bowl and toss to coat
  • Serve over white rice or noodles

TERIYAKI CHICKEN – SLOW COOKED

I have a stack of recently tried recipes on my desk that has collected a layer of dust.  I guess it’s time to get them posted versus dusting them.  I split the recipe into thirds since there are just the 2 of us and it fit perfectly into a small crock pot.

TERIYAKI CHICKEN

12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup soy sauce

6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

3/4 teaspoon ground ginger

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

5 teaspoons cornstarch

5 teaspoons cold water

  • Place chicken in crock pot.
  • Whisk together the sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and pepper.
  • Pour over chicken.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or until chicken is tender.
  • Remove chicken to a serving platter, keeping it warm.
  • Pour soy sauce into a sauce pan and bring to a boil.
  • Whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth,
  • Gradually add cornstarch mixture to the soy sauce mixture, cooking until thickened.

SLOW COOKED BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAPS

You want quick and easy?  You got it!
You want something super, duper tasty!  This is it!
This may be my new favorite meal.  It took very little effort and it was SO good!  I’ve actually made this several times and it seems to get better and better. 
My favorite is Frank’s buffalo wing sauce.  It’s a good flavor and it works perfect in this. 
I spooned a bit of light ranch over mine because I am a condiment junkie.  Hubs thought his was fine as it was.  Blue cheese would be good too.
Buffalo Chicken Wraps Recipe

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Franks Buffalo Wing Sauce
3/4 cup ranch dressing, light
10 – 100 calorie whole wheat tortillas
Lettuce

  • Place chicken and salt in the crock pot.  
  • Cover and cook for 6 – 7 hours on low.  
  • Remove chicken and empty crock pot of water. 
  • Shred the chicken and add back to the slow cooker.  
  • Mix ranch and buffalo wing sauce in a small bowl.  
  • Add the sauce to the chicken and stir.  
  • Serve on tortillas with lettuce.

Total calories = 2755 calories
10 servings = 276 calories per wrap

**I didn’t measure how much meat went on the tortillas but I THINK that we got 10 wraps out of this.

Mongolian Beef & Broccoli in the Slow Cooker

We like to put meat and sauce on a pile of veggies rather than rice or noodles.  I figure, for the most part, rice is just there to catch the numminess of the sauce, right?  So I LOVE broccoli, and we steam a bunch of it and put our meat and sauces over broccoli. You could do this with any veggies.  Add more if you’d like. I’m not a carb hater, trust me, I love my carbs. I just choose them wisely and want to get the most out of them.  So in this awesome meal, we gladly skip the rice.
Don’t be scared off by the list of ingredients.  These all come together to make an incredible meal. Seriously. I’ve made this several times and we love it.  I totally end up eating way too much of it. 
Mongolian Beef and Broccoli Adapted from A Year of Slow Cooking1 1/2 pounds steak, something cheap3 cloves of garlic, minced
4 sliced green onions
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup cooking sherry
1/2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoon molasses
1 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
1/2 tablespoon peanut butter
3 tablespoons splenda (or sugar)
1/4 cup cornstarch (to dredge meat)
1 pound broccoli

  • Slice your meat in thin strips and toss in a Ziploc bag with cornstarch. 
  • Add all of the liquid and dried spices to your crock pot, add the peanut butter, and mix well. 
  • Add the garlic, the sliced green onions and regular onion. 
  • Put your meat on top, and toss to coat.
  • Cover and cook on low for 3-5 hours. The steak is thin and has very little fat, and will cook quickly. The meat is done when it is no longer pink and has reached desired tenderness. Mine was done in about 4 hours. 
  • Steam broccoli on stove top for 6 – 8 minutes with 1/2 cup water until desired crispness. 
  • Serve mongolian beef over steamed broccoli.
Total calories = 1485 calories
4 servings = 371 calories

QUICK & EASY CHICKEN CHILI and CHEDDAR CHEESE BISCUITS

QUICK & EASY CHICKEN CHILI
3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, frozen
2 cups homemade chicken broth, frozen
1 can cream of potato soup
1 jar dried beef, chopped
1 Williams chili mix package
1 can chopped green chilies
  • Place frozen chicken breasts on the bottom.
  • Pour green chilies over chicken pieces.
  • Top with cream of potato soup.
  • Top with frozen broth.
  • Sprinkle chili seasoning mix on top of chicken broth.
  • Top with beef pieces.
  • Slow cook on high for 2 hours. Reduce to low for 6 hours. Or cook on low 10 hours.
As the slow cooker heats up, the broth will melt absorbing the chili seasoning mix which will then be absorbed by the potato soup and by the end of the day you have a huge bowl of wonderful yummy goodness perfect for a crisp fall evening. Serve with cheddar cheese biscuits.

Hubby likes the biscuits a bit more done and the rest of us like them a little lighter! Either way they are really yummy.

CHEDDAR CHEESE BISCUITS
2 1/2 cups Bisquick
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons celery seeds
1 egg, room temperature
1 cup milk 
  • Combine Bisquick and seeds and mix well.
  • Add cheese and mix again. 
  • Whisk egg and milk together. 
  • Gradually add egg mixture to Bisquick mixture and mix until well blended. 
  • Drop by spoonfuls onto a well greased cookie sheet or use a mini-muffin pan.
  • Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

BBQ Cola Meatballs

Welcome to Healthy Meals on Our Krazy Kitchen.  I like to focus on real, everyday, satisfying meals that you don’t have to feel guilty about enjoying!
I find meatballs adorable. They are like little mini meat loaves with a scrumptious sauce all around them. What’s not to love?  I’ve made meatballs different ways.  I’ve baked them, I’ve pan fried them. These, I did in the crockpot. (and the oven).  They were baked first, then I threw them in the crock pot.  
Then I made a delicious BBQ sauce with a unique sweetener. COKE! I thought that was awesome when I first saw it!!  I got this recipe from Kel from Between the Lines.  I’m always looking for new ways to prepare everyday food so when I saw this, I knew I had to try it!
Doesn’t that look awesome!!! They held together great so gently stirring wasn’t a problem. We ended up eating every last bit of the sauce!! They were made with ground turkey so they weren’t greasy at all.  I ate 7 of them and was quite full!! 
We ate this with a delicious Spaghetti Squash Mac and Cheese.  This was a fantastic meal!  Healthy and filling!

Barbecue Cola Meatballs

Adapted from Between the Lines

Meatballs:
1 1/2 lbs. ground turkey
1 1/4 cups bread crumbs (I used panko)
1 egg
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
1 (1 oz) package dry ranch style dressing mix

Sauce:
3/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup barbeque sauce
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup cola
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup green or red pepper, chopped
1 tsp. seasoning salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

In a large bowl, mix together the meatball ingredients until well blended. Shape into meatball and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes at 375 turning them over half way.

Mix up the sauce ingredients in slow cooker. Remove meatballs from baking sheet and place in sauce in crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, then remove lid and cook for an additional 15 – 30 minutes before serving. Mine made 40 meatballs.

Total calories = 1922 calories
40 meatballs = 48 calories per meatball with sauce

7 BBQ Cola Meatballs + Spaghetti Squash Mac and Cheese = 582 calorie dinner
Check out the spaghetti squash mac and cheese and more healthy recipes at Debbi Does Dinner Healthy