Crockpot Shredded BBQ Chicken

In a search for a different way to cook chicken that was healthy and we could add to our weekly meals as a protein I came across this recipe.

It was simple and easy since I could throw it into the crockpot. I was also able to find Organic BBQ Sauce and pretty clean Italian Dressing (Newman's).

The chicken came out perfect, had lots of flavor and worked great in our portioned out dinner meals. We paired it with quinoa with kale and veggies (Corn, broccoli or carrots).

This was the only picture I got. So, I'll add better pictures next time I make it.

Crockpot Shredded BBQ Chicken

2 lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 cup BBQ Sauce
1/4 cup Italian Dressing
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
Salt to taste


Season chicken breast lightly with some sea salt and place in your crockpot.

In a mixing bowl combine BBQ sauce, Italian dressing, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Stir until well combined.

Pour over chicken, cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours.

Once time is up, you can serve the breast whole, or shred with 2 forks. If shredding, recover and let cook in sauce for about 10-15 more minutes to soak up all that delicious flavor.

Crockpot Taco Soup - Freezer Meal

Crockpot Taco Soup

1 onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans, rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed
1 Bag Frozen whole kernel corn, no need to thaw
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
12 oz chicken or vegetable broth
2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilis, undrained
1 package of taco seasoning (1.25 ounces)
2 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts


Preparing: combine all ingredients in a ziplock bag. Flatten down so there is little to no air. Freeze.

Cooking Method: cook in crockpot on Low for 6-8 hours or High for 4-6.

Garnish with cheddar cheese, sour cream, &/or crushed tortilla chips

Crockpot Applesauce

I found this recipe on Pinterest but it was for just making a small batch for 4 people to eat for snack. I just took the recipe and made a bigger batch. I also didn't use a caner or a pressure cooker. I've read several places that people put the "food" into the jars hot and then leave them on the counter to seal themselves. I did this and they sealed. I was shocked but SO excited because I love things to be simple.

Crockpot Applesauce
Made 7 Small Jars

Apples - Peeled or not peeled and chopped up
4 Lemons - Juiced
2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
4 Teaspoons Vanilla
4 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
1 Cup Water

Place all ingredients into your crockpot (my crockpot is a 7-quart) if your crockpot isn't this big I would follow the original recipe below and times it by however much you want to make.

Cook in crockpot on low for 4-6 hours. Low on my crockpot is pretty much high and it took about 5 hours to cook.

Once apples are cooked place them into your blender but be sure to only fill blender about 50% so you don't make a mess when blending. Once blended pour into your jars and put the lids on tight. Leave the jars on the counter and they should seal themselves. This happened within about 3 hours for my jars.

Original Recipe:
4 Large Apples
1 Lemon - Juiced
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Water

3 Ingredient Crockpot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

This is a VERY simple recipe with only 3 ingredients (unless you add extras). You can just throw it all in the crockpot and enjoy a really good dinner and a great smelling house.

Since this recipe is so simple you could easily make it your own by adding other things to it.


3 Ingredient Crockpot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

4-6 Boneless Chicken Breasts (They can be frozen)
1 Bottle Barbecue Sauce
1 20 oz. can Pineapple Chunks, drained

Directions:

Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray for an easy cleanup!

Place fresh or frozen chicken breasts in the crockpot and cover with sauce. Empty can of drained pineapple chunks on top.

Cook on High for 2-3 hours or Low for 4-6 hours. Shred chicken with two forks while still in the crockpot so the chicken will be well coated with sauce.  Serve over rice or however you'd like to eat it. You can also top with uncooked pineapple when serving.



The original recipe called for Archer Farms Hawaiian Style Barbecue Sauce but I don't buy that brand or that BBQ sauce so I used one that we do buy that doesn't have crap in it. You can use whatever BBQ sauce you like.


You could also add green peppers and onions if you'd like.

This is what I used instead of BBQ Sauce since it's what I had on hand.

Twitter Crockpot Chicken and Rice

I am having to give this a name myself because I got this recipe from Women's Health magazine. They had this small section where they posted people's recipes from Twitter. Literally the tweet only had the ingredients with no name for the recipe and no "real" instructions.

It looked so easy I said "what the heck we'll try it". It actually is really healthy and it turned out great. It has gone onto our "make again" recipe list. It's super easy you just dump everything into the crockpot and walk away.

It made enough for Chad and I plus one serving for lunch the next day. So I'd suggest doubling or tripling this recipe. I will probably add in a veggie next time too like corn or something.

Twitter Crockpot Chicken and Rice

1 lb Chicken Breasts
2 Cans Black Beans
1 Can Diced Tomatoes
1 Cup Brown Rice (I used white because I didn't have brown - I didn't use instant rice)
1 Packet Taco Seasoning
1 Cup Water (I ended up using 2- 2 1/2 Cups because the rice needed more to cook)


Put everything in the crockpot on low for 6 hours.


**You could add a lot of other things to this recipe to make it your own. We topped it with sour cream and a little shredded cheese.**

Paula Dean's Creamy Mac N' Cheese

I got this recipe from my mom but I think it came from my cousin Tina or her friend Michelle...not sure. It is however, sooooooooo yummy!!! My mom said it was a Paula Dean recipe so I hope that's correct haha!

Paula Dean's Creamy Mac N' Cheese
1 Cup Whole Milk (I use fat free because that's what we have in the house)
1/2 Teaspoon Dry Mustard
1/2 Teaspoon Salt (I use sea salt)
4 Tablespoons Butter (1/2 Stick)
1 Can Condensed Chedder Cheese Soup
3 Eggs, beaten
2 1/2 Cups (About 10 ozs) Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
2 Cups Uncooked Elbow Macaroni
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper

Pre-cook noodles for about 7 minutes - You don't want them to be all the way done.

In the crockpot mix everything BUT the noodles. Once noodles are done drain and mix into the crockpot.

Cook for roughly 3 hours on high then 2 hours on low. My crockpot is on steriods I think and high burns it....low is like high and high is like turbo high lol. I can't ever cook it for the 3 hours. So just watch it so it doesn't burn.


I have recently changed up this recipe. One change was by choice and the other was due to me trying to make it without actually looking at the recipe.


Change #1: I have started to add a little less Cheddar and started adding Gruyere Cheese. It gives it a much better taste.


Change #2: I no longer add eggs as they give it a curdle like texture without them it's very creamy. I discovered this by accident when trying to make the recipe from memory and forgot the eggs.

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

I made this last 4th of July for our family swim party. Reminded me of the creamed corn we had in Texas at the BBQ places.

I got this recipe here: Allrecipes (This website is awesome if you need to make food for get togethers because you can change the serving size to whatever you need and it'll change the ingredients to make that amount. I changed it to 35 for the 4th of July and it came out perfect with leftovers!)

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 4 Hours
Servings: 12


1 1/4 (16 ounce) Packages Frozen Corn Kernels
1 (8 ounce) Package Cream Cheese
1/2 Cup Butter
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Tablespoon White Sugar
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

1.In a slow cooker, combine corn, cream cheese, butter, milk, and sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

2.Cook on High for 2 to 4 hours, or on Low for 4 to 6 hours.

Perfect Pulled Pork

Perfect Pulled Pork

Ingredients:

5 lbs boneless pork butt shoulder

1 ½ tsp smoked paprika

2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup water
Soft sandwich buns

Directions:
Combine all seasonings in a small bowl and rub evenly over roast. Place meat in a 6-quart slow cooker. Add water. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours or until pork is very tender.

Place pork on large cutting board or platter and let rest for 10-15 minutes. Pull, slice or chop to serve. Serve in buns with barbecue sauce.

Serves 16-20


Who doesn't LOVE the crockpot!?! It's a meal in one if you find the right recipes. I've also learned to love my rice cooker. I now combine my rice and broccoli into my cooker so they cook together. It's so awesome! I never thought to use my rice cooker for anything other than rice. I found recipes online and am slowly trying new things out.