Do you find that you hit 4:30pm and realize you have no idea what you are making for dinner? Do you think you could squeeze a few minutes out of your morning routine to prep dinner and have it be ready by the time you get home from work or, if you work from home, have it be ready when dinner time comes around?
You have probably heard about meal prepping. I am going to talk about meal prepping freezer meals and using a slow cooker to cook them all day.
We all know that buying in bulk means you often pay less per unit (ie pound, ounce, or toilet paper roll). I shop flyer sales for meats and buy in bulk. That might mean 4 lbs of ground beef or 8 large chicken breasts. I use zipper freezer bags with space to write the contents and date with a permanent marker.
There are 4 of us. As a rule we will each eat 6 to 8 oz meats per meal. That is about .5 to .75 of a large chicken breast. I never mind leftovers so I will do 1 chicken breast for each human I am feeding. I cut them to desired size (a cube will work, or a tender) and divide them evenly in the zipper bags.
And this is where the fun begins!
I find I make certain cuisines most frequently – Mexican, Greek, Italian (very similar), Asian, and Indian (primarily curry). These seem to satisfy all of the humans. And I have the stuff on hand. If you want ideas for seasoning combinations and sauces to make I have pages on the site for them. I cut up vegetables and add them at this time as well. Because the meat is cut up into bite sized/thin strips I know it will cook quickly but I add simple directions anyway.
If I know a day will be busy (I work from home plus homeschool and care for my 80 year old mom so really all days are) I will take out a bag from the freezer at night and put in the fridge. The next morning I will dump all of the contents into the crock pot and turn it on low. Most of my dishes I can finish with a salad/raw veggies and a starch (pasta or rice).
Sometimes I use my crockpot to get a second meal out of leftovers (see chili made from taco meat for example). On this day I used the leftovers from a roasted pork butt and made pulled pork by slow cooking it in a container of store bought barbeque sauce. I look for low sugar bbq sauces because they can be very high in sugar!
What else can you use a slow cooker for? Here are some of the best ways (and I have truly done every single one of these things!):
- Casseroles: Use the crockpot to make casseroles with layers of ingredients like pasta, sauce, cheese, and vegetables. This allows the flavors to meld together for a delicious dish.
- Soup and Broth: Create rich and hearty soups or broths by simmering ingredients for an extended period. This is particularly convenient for bone broths and hearty vegetable soups.
- Oatmeal or Breakfast Porridge: Prepare a warm and comforting breakfast by cooking oatmeal or other grains overnight in the crockpot. Wake up to a ready-to-eat meal in the morning.
- Dips and Appetizers: Make party-ready dips, like spinach and artichoke dip or buffalo chicken dip, in the crockpot. It keeps them warm throughout your gathering.
- Desserts: Use the crockpot to make desserts such as cobblers, puddings, and even cakes. Experiment with different recipes designed for slow cookers.
- Mulled Beverages: During the colder months, make mulled cider or wine in the crockpot. The slow infusion of flavors enhances the taste of your favorite beverages.
- Homemade Sauces: Prepare homemade sauces, such as marinara or barbecue sauce, by letting the ingredients simmer and meld together slowly.
- Batch Cooking: Take advantage of the crockpot’s large capacity to batch cook meals. Freeze the leftovers for convenient, ready-made meals in the future.
- Keep Food Warm: Use the crockpot as a warming station during parties or gatherings. It’s great for keeping dishes warm without overcooking.
Looking to buy a slow cooker? Check out some of these recommendations!
