A crockpot is an incredible tool that allows you to have delicious hot meals and comfort food all winter, without having to spend all day in the kitchen. Ideal for a busy college student! Often I’ll put on a meal before I leave home for the day and then when I come home there’s a slow cooker beef stew or a pot roast waiting for me. This is when slow cooking is absolutely perfect! Nothing like coming home to a homemade comfort food you don’t have to make when you are tired from work.

Crock pots are often left in the back of your kitchen cupboards. But a crockpot, also sometimes called an instant pot, is ideal for cooking for events like Thanksgiving or game day. It’s also great for simple recipes and comfort food overall. If you’re having a lot of people over, you can easily use this to make one of the dishes and free up space on your cooker or in the oven. Then you’ll have more space for other delicious food! Don’t let the slow cooker put you off. You just need to know a couple of easy recipes.

One of the great things about a crockpot is the ability to set the timer for just the right time. Heading out all day and have a four hour meal to cook? Easy. Just set the timer so that it’ll be done just as you arrive home, in time to serve up to guests not long after.

There are truly so many simple recipes and delicious recipes you can make with a crockpot. Some amazing crock pot recipes would be bbq chicken that you can use on a bbq chicken pizza, crockpot chicken for chicken salads and soups, easy slow cooker soups, etc.

Here are some of my favorite slow cooker recipes that your family will love. Some of them are some dishes you already know, but an easy slow cooker version of them. All of these are simple recipes you’d love!

7 Easy Crockpot Recipes

2-INGREDIENT CROCKPOT SALSA CHICKEN OR HARISSA CHICKEN

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 pound chicken breasts (about 4 chicken breasts), uncooked (skinless, boneless)

• Salt & pepper to taste

• 1 1/2 cups chunky salsa

Instructions:

1. Place chicken in crockpot and cover with salsa

2. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or until the chicken is done

Crockpot Pork Chops

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 3 tablespoons and 1-1/4 teaspoons chicken broth

• 1/2 clove garlic, minced

• 3/4 teaspoon paprika

• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

• 3/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning

• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil

• 1 thick cut boneless pork chops

• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place olive oil, chicken broth, garlic, paprika, garlic powder, poultry seasoning, oregano, and basil in a large bowl and whisk. Once mixed, pour this into the slow cooker.

2. Use the tip of a knife to cut slits into the pork chops and season lightly. Then place them into the crockpot, cover, set to high and leave for four hours.

3. Baste with the sauce occasionally.

Crockpot Short Ribs

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds bone-in beef short ribs

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

• 1 tablespoon canola oil

• 4 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 cup beef broth

• 4 fresh thyme sprigs

• 1 bay leaf

• 2 large onions, cut into 1/2-inch wedges

• 6 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• 2 cups dry red wine or beef broth

• 4 teaspoons cornstarch

• 3 tablespoons cold water

• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Season ribs with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.

2. In batches, brown the ribs on all sides. Then transfer to a slow cooker.

3. Add carrots, broth, thyme and bay leaf.

4. In the same skillet, cook the onions by stirring over a medium heat for 9 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato paste. Stir and cook for another minute. Add in the wine and bring to a boil. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the liquid reduces by half.

5. Add this to the slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. When the meat is tender it’s ready.

6. Drain the cooking juices in a saucepan. Skim the fat off and remove the thyme bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Mix the cornstarch with water until smooth then add to cooking juices. Bring it all to a boil until it thickens. Serve over the ribs and vegetables.

Shredded Balsamic Beef

Makes between 6 and 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup low-sodium beef or chicken broth

• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

• 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• 3 cloves garlic, smashed

• 1 (3-pound) beef chuck roast

• Kosher salt

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• Freshly ground black pepper

• Rolls, for serving (optional)

Instructions:

1. Add the broth, vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire, and garlic to a crockpot and stir.

2. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Add it to the crockpot and spoon some of the juice over. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. When the beef is knife tender, you’ll know its done.

3. Shred the beef in the cooker by using two forks.

Crock Pot Chicken Thighs

This slow cooker chicken recipe makes three servings

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

• 6 bone-in or boneless chicken thighs

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 1/2 c. low-sodium soy sauce

• 1/2 c. ketchup

• 1/4 c. honey

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tsp. freshly minced ginger

• 2 tbsp. Sriracha

• Juice of 1 lime

• Cooked rice, for serving

Instructions:

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Season the chicken thighs and then sear in the skillet for three minutes per side. They should look golden. Pop them in the slow cooker.

2. Whisk together soy sauce, ketchup, honey, garlic, ginger, Sriracha, and lime juice. Pour this over the chicken and toss to ensure it coats all of the chicken well.

3. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. It’s done when the chicken is no longer pink.

4. Serve over rice.

Slow-Cooker Shrimp Boil

Make 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay

• 2 large ears yellow corn, husked and cut in to 1-inch pieces

• 1 1/2 pounds large, deveined, shell-on shrimp

• 8 ounces kielbasa, halved lengthwise and cut into 2-inch pieces

• 3 cloves garlic, lightly smashed

• 2 bay leaves

• 2 medium yellow onions, cut into eighths

• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

• Crusty bread, for serving

• 3 pounds very small red bliss potatoes (each about 1-inch in diameter)

Instructions:

1. Add the potatoes, garlic, bay leaves, onions, 2 tablespoons of the seafood seasoning and 4 cups water to a slow cooker. Stir, cover and cook on low for four hours.

2. Switch to high and uncover. Stir throught the corn, shrimp, sausage and the remaining 2 tablespoons seafood seasoning.

3. Cover again and cook until the shrimp is opaque and sausages are warmed right the way through. It should take 30-45 minutes. Stir through the parsley and lemon juice to really bring out the flavors.

4. You can serve this one straight from the slow cooker with fresh bread.

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pulled Pork

Ingredients:

• 3 pound pork roast

• 1/2 cup honey

• 1/4 cup soy sauce

• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 Tablespoon lime juice

• 2 teaspoons minced garlic

• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

• 2 Tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions:

1. Place honeyhoney, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lime juice, garlic and ginger in a bowl and whisk until well mixed.

2. Put pork into the crockpot and then pour the sauce over.

3. You can cook on high for three hours or low for four-six.

4. Remove the pork and pour the cooking juices into a saucepan. Heat this over a medium heat, slowing adding the cornstarch. Stir and let simmer until it thickens.

5. Shred the pork and pour the sauce over before serving.

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