How To Get Started With Slow Cooking

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Slow cooking is a tried and true method of ‘hands-free’ cooking that’s perfect for feeding a crowd, weeknight meals, hosting holidays, and everything in between! Whether you’re looking for appetizers, dips, main dishes, soups, or sides, these truly are the BEST family favorite Crock Pot Recipes!

The Crock Pot has been my ‘ride or die’ kitchen appliance for years now, words can’t express how much I rely on this tool! No matter what you’re making, I promise it’ll be better if you cook it in a Crock Pot!

I like to refer to the Crock Pot as ‘hands-free cooking’ because the recipes can all be prepared ahead of time and then slow cooked throughout the day. By using the Crock Pot you’re able to cook dinners or host parties on your own schedule without having to babysit the stove. This is particularly nice around the holidays when you really want to be spending time with family!

What Are The Different Types Of Crock Pots?

• 8 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker – This is the Crock Pot you’ll want for cooking larger pieces of meat, such as pork ribs or chicken thighs, as well as large servings of soups and chilies.
• 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker – This is your go-to family-sized Crock Pot, perfect for any recipe that you’re serving to a smaller group of people.
• 3.5 Quart Casserole Manual Slow Cooker – This is perfect for side dishes such as green beans or dips like queso.
• 1.5 Quart Triple Buffet Style Slow Cooker – This is what you’ll want for serving warm dips to a crowd, you can make multiple dips and keep them warm for everyone to enjoy.

Crock Pot Appetizers and Dips

The Benefits Of Using A Crock Pot Or Slow Cooker

• You get to set it and forget it!
  • Most slow cooker recipes are so easy to make because you just load the cooker with your ingredients, set it to low or high, adjust the time and GO. It’s that simple. Some recipes may require that you sear your meat prior to cooking so that your dish will turn out with the best results possible. Other than that, things really are, set it and forget it.
• You get to leave your house while your dish cooks!
  • We’re all busy, and this benefit might just be my favorite. I really appreciate the fact that I can load up my crock pot with all my ingredients, then head out to tackle the day. You can also cook your dish overnight if needed, but it’s going to be hard to resist once you wake up in the morning.
• You don’t have to wash a ton of dishes!
  • One-pot meals are super easy for “after supper cleanup duty” which is always a plus in my house.
• You can turn inexpensive cuts of meat into something outstanding!
  • This is what I call a “cheap and cheerful” benefit of using a crock pot. I don’t know how many times I’ve purchased an inexpensive or on-sale piece of meat and turned it into something spectacular with the help of my slow cooker. This method of cooking produces deep, rich flavors along with amazing sauce and gravy.

Slow Cooker Meatball Recipes

Crock Pot Main Dishes To Feed A Crowd

Slow Cooked Soups and Chilis

Family Favorite Crock Pot Side Dishes