Menu Planning – A Week of Slow Cooker Meals

An article by Joanna    3 Comments

This week we are breaking out the slow cooker and giving it a good workout – hopefully this helps my lackadaiscal attitude on dinner, as well as giving me extra time to finish roasting and pureeing pumpkin, making applesauce and apple butter and shelling gallons of walnuts. We are also taking more of a peek into the Paleo diet this week, thanks to my research on “natural flavorings” – yuck!

Here are the recipes we will be using this week:

Chicken Cacciatore in the Slow Cooker
3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken
14 oz diced tomatoes
6 oz tomato paste
1 cup chicken broth (we freeze our broth)
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup fresh or 4 oz canned mushrooms, sliced
1 tsp salt
2 clove garlic, minced (I add a pinch of salt while mincing)
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp parsley
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup water

Starting with chicken, place all ingredients in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 7-9 hours or high for 3-4 hours. For best results, measure the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer – it should be at least 165 degrees.

Slow Cooker Chili
2 pounds lean ground beef or buffalo or turkey (or a combo)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
14 oz diced tomatoes
6 oz tomato paste
2 (15 oz) cans black beans, rinsed and drained (or 2 cups rehydrated)
2 green bell peppers, chopped
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup fresh or 4 oz canned mushrooms, sliced
1 cup chicken broth
4 tbs chili powder
1 tsp dry oregano
1 tsp dry thyme
1 tsp dry cumin
1 tsp salt
2 cups water

First, brown meat. Then add to slow cooker with remaining ingredients. Cook on low 7-9 hours, or cook on high 3-4 hours.

Roast Chicken in Slow Cooker
Whole chicken (we can usually buy these for $3-4 at the grocery store, or $7-10 grassfed)
2 carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, sliced
1 tsp basil
1 tsp salt
1 cup water
1 tsp oregano
1 clove garlic, minced

Placed chicken in slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 7-9 hours or high for 3-4 hours. For best results, check internal temperature – it should be at least 170 degrees.

Brinner in Slow Cooker – not Paleo
1 pound frozen tater tots
1/2 pound diced Canadian bacon or ham
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
6 eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 tbs flour
1/4 tsp vanilla

Starting with tater tots, layer tater tots, meat, and cheese. Repeat layers twice more, ending with cheese. In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, flour and vanilla, and beat with whisk. Pour over layers in crockpot. Cook on low 5-7 hours. Internal temperature should be 165 degrees.

What are you having for dinner this week?