FALL GO TO SLOW COOKER MEALS ~ BLOG 366.326

I LOVE fall. I also LOVE to cook. BUT, at this time of year I’m often looking for those meals to cook themselves so I can be outside playing. That’s where my slow cooker GO TO recipes come in. I have a handful of recipes that require only a few ingredients from your pantry or freezer, but make the most scrumptious meals in the end. It also helps me clean out the freezer and pantry for a new season as well as being photo ready and company worthy! 😀

Each dinner starts with a protein, enough to feed four people twice over so you have leftovers for another day or a second freezer ready meal for another night. As for the sauce, look to your pantry if you’re not in the mood to make it from scratch.

Most of them pair well with buttered noodles, mashed potatoes or rice and a quick salad or vegetable for a complete meal.

BLACK BEAN SALSA CHICKEN
2 pounds, 6 to 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Ancho chile pepper, to taste

2 cans seasoned black beans, rinsed ad drained
1 LARGE onion, sliced and diced (reserve some for garnish)

16 ounce jar chunky salsa
1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

  • Sprinkle onions in the bottom.
  • Generously season chicken thighs with ancho chile pepper, FRESH ground salt and black pepper to taste.
  • Arrange chicken thighs in a single layer in the slow cooker.
  • Top chicken with black beans.
  • Pour salsa over and around chicken.
  • Cook on LOW 3 to 4 hours.
  • Top with cheese and allow it to melt just before serving.
  • Serve chicken with sauce from the slow cooker.

TERIYAKI is one of the MOST popular of Asian chicken flavorings. It is a marinade and yet, also a glaze at the same time that is super popular in many forms on every grocery store shelf. BUT, I find it best made from scratch! The secret is the combination of the mirin with the brown sugar and “soy” sauce base though I substitute the Bragg’s liquid aminos for the soy sauce which has virtually the same flavor and much less sodium.

CHICKEN TERIYAKI OR ORANGE CHICKEN
2 pounds 6 to 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
21 ounce jar PF CHANG’s or PANDA EXPRESS teriyaki Sauce SEE NOTES FOR HOMEMADE SAUCE

  • Arrange chicken in a single layer in the slow cooker.
  • Generously season with FRESH ground seal and black pepper to taste.
  • Pour sauce around chicken.
  • Cook on LOW 2 to 3 hours or HIGH 1 to 2 hours.

NOTES –
HOMEMADE SAUCE:

1/4 cup Bragg’s liquid aminos
2 tablespoons Mirin
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cloves garlic FINELY minced
Zest and juice of 1 LARGE orange

  • Mix all together, blending well.

CHICKEN TIKKI MASALA
2 pounds 6 to 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
12+ ounce jar Tiki Masala Sauce

  • Arrange chicken in a single layer in the slow cooker.
  • Generously season with FRESH ground seal and black pepper to taste.
  • Pour sauce around chicken.
  • Cook on LOW 2 to 3 hours or HIGH 1 to 2 hours.

RED OR GREEN CHILE CHICKEN
2 pounds 6 to 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 Vidalia onion, halved and sliced

FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
12 ounce can green Chile enchilada sauce OR red enchilada sauce
Lime wedges, shredded Cheddar cheese, chopped cilantro, jalapeno slices, for garnish

  • Arrange onion slices on bottom of slow cooker.
  • Generously season the chicken thighs on both sides with FRESH ground seal and black pepper to taste.
  • Arrange chicken thighs in a single layer over the onions in the slow cooker.
  • Pour sauce around chicken.
  • Cook on LOW 2 to 3 hours or HIGH 1 to 2 hours.
  • Shred chicken and mix with sauce from the slow cooker before serving.
  • Serve with warm tortillas and lime wedges as well as your favorite Mexican garnishes.

BUTTERMILK RANCH PORK CHOPS
4 bone-in 1-1/2 inch thick pork chops
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
12 ounce bottle Hidden Valley Ranch Buttermilk dressing

  • Season chops to taste with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Arrange in a single layer in the slow cooker, overlapping as necessary. DO NOT STACK.
  • Add 1 cup of buttermilk ranch dressing.
  • Cook on LOW 4 to 6 hours for shoulder chops or 2 to 2 1/2 hours for loin chops.
  • Remove chops from the slow cooker.
  • Whisk in the remaining dressing and pour over the chops to serve.

TERIYAKI WINGS
3 pounds PLUMP chicken wings
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
21 ounce bottle PF CHANG’s or PANDA EXPRESS teriyaki sauce

  • Generously season wings with FRESH ground seal and black pepper to taste.
  • Add to the slow cooker.
  • Pour sauce over wings, tossing to coat well in sauce.
  • Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours or HIGH for 1 to 2 hours.

NOTE: If you like them crispy heat your oven broiler to high and remove wings from the slow cooker arranging them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Broil 2 to 3 minutes per side until the skin is brown and crispy. BE CAREFUL NOT TO BURN THEM. The sugars from the sauce will caramelize and burn easily. Return to the slow cooker and toss in the warm teriyaki sauce.

BEEF BARBACOA
3-4 pound flat cut beef brisket, trimmed of most of the fat cap
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
8 ounce jar or package mix of prepared Barbacoa sauce

  • Generously season beef with the FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Add the beef to the slow cooker.
  • Pour sauce around beef.
  • Cook on LOW 8 to 10 hours. Transfer the beef to a clean cutting board or rimmed baking sheet.
  • When it is cool enough to handle, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
  • Return the meat to the slow cooker and stir to combine with sauce.
  • Serve on warm tortillas or on fluffy buns.

NOTE: Barbacoa sauce is NOT always easily found. Your favorite BBQ sauce makes a great alternative for this recipe.

GREEN CHILE BEEF CALDILLO ~ BLOG 366.194

I saw this recipe on facebook and it looked oh so good!!! I just had to try it and am extremely pleased by the results.

GREEN CHILE BEEF CALDILLO

This thick, spicy, and flavorful dish becomes the MOST satisfying soup or stew you’ve ever had.

3 tablespoons avocado oil
1 1/2 – 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
FRESH ground sea salt and pepper, to taste
1 LARGE onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound tomatillos, husked and chopped
3-4 green chiles (such as poblano or Anaheim), roasted, peeled, and chopped
1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional for extra heat)
4 cups beef broth
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
FRESH cilantro, chopped for garnish
Lime wedges, for serving (optional)

  • Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
  • Season the beef with salt and pepper.
  • Add the beef to the pot in batches, browning on all sides.
  • Transfer the browned beef to a plate.
  • Add the onion to same pan, cooking 3-5 minutes until softened.
  • Add the garlic, cooking for an additional minute until fragrant.
  • Stir in the chopped tomatillos, green chiles, and jalapeño (if using), cooking 5-7 minutes until the tomatillos start to break down.
  • Return the browned beef to the pot. SEE NOTE
  • Add the beef broth, ground cumin, and dried oregano, bringing the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
  • Simmer, partially covered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the beef is very tender.
  • Taste and adjust the seasoning to taste with additional salt and pepper if needed.
  • Ladle into bowls.
  • Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges and warm tortillas on the side.

NOTE: At this point I usually use the slow cooker for 4-6 hours.

WEEKNIGHT CHICKEN ENCHILADAS ~ BLOG 366.110

Everybody loves a Costco chicken! I buy one regularly to use for lunches, salads and casseroles as well as make my own bone broth. The chopped chicken pieces are the answer to these quick and easy enchiladas. I also started using Golden Blend tortillas which are half corn and half flour which have much more flavor in my opinion.

WEEKNIGHT CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
8 Golden Blend tortillas
2 cups chopped chicken pieces
1 bunch green onions, chopped (save a few pieces for garnish)
1/4 cup chopped FRESH cilantro
1 can salsa verde enchilada sauce
4 ounce can chopped HATCH green chiles
1 + 1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
sour cream

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Spray baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl mix together the chicken pieces, majority of the onions, cilantro, green chiles, 1 cup of cheese and just enough of the enchilada sauce to blend everything.
  • Spread each tortilla with sour cream.
  • Divide chicken mixture evenly amongst the tortillas.
  • Roll tightly and arrange in baking dish.
  • Pour remaining enchilada sauce over top.
  • Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
  • Bake 30 minutes.