Skip links

A Year of Slow Cooking

Header Right

Sign up for the newsletter and get recipes and articles sent directly to your inbox!

Lazy Chicken CrockPot Recipe

Thursday, April 8, 2021

Sometimes the very best dinners are the ones where there really isn't a recipe.

 Lazy cooking is my most favorite way to use the crockpot slow cooker. For this particular recipe I used frozen chicken pieces and a jar of pasta sauce, but you really can use anything jarred you'd like -- in fact, they even now sell simmer sauces in the grocery store just for this reason.

 Put the meat in the pot. Add the sauce. Plug in the pot. Turn it on.

 Leave house to go do your thing, and come home to dinner.

 #youarewelcome

I make this recipe or a variation of at least once a week! I love easy and simple crockpot recipes! Dump and Go, and get on with your day!



Day 20.

 This is the easiest crockpot recipe ever. All you need is frozen chicken pieces and a bottle of marinara sauce.




For this recipe:

--frozen chicken pieces (rule of thumb is 1/2 pound per person)

--bottled marinara sauce

cook on low for 8 hrs, high for 4. Shred chicken with forks; serve over hot pasta.

Other Variations:
use bbq sauce! 
or your favorite salad dressing! 
or any of those ready-made marinades or sauces such as sweet and sour, curry, teriyaki, etc.

If you have gluten allergies, PLEASE read all labels carefully and contact manufacturers when in doubt.

This technique works great with beef, lamb, pork, and hardy vegetables.

 The Verdict.

 OH STEPH. How is it that this can even be considered a "recipe"? You must have really lost your marbles this time.

  ---->  Okay. so here's the thing. I don't believe cooking should be a complicated, drawn-out process. I think cooking is so you can Eat Food. 

 I am not the kind of girl who is going to have a Zen Moment chopping an onion, I'm just not.

 I like to cook because I like to eat and because I like to give the kids something other than frozen Tater Tots. If it was just me on my own?

 I would eat take out each and every night. Seriously. BUT. I'm trying to raise healthy humans and healthy humans need to eat food other than food from a Delivery Guy.

 if you are a Food Snob you probably think this isn't "homemade". Whatever.

 This is Crock-Pot food at it's finest.

 (imagine me sticking my tongue out....)

 :-) 

PS. Since this post was written (eons ago!) I have now created THOUSANDS of crockpot slow cooker recipes. These are the Very Very best ones. Enjoy!


Easter Recipes for the Slow Cooker

Monday, March 29, 2021


If you're hosting, or bringing along something to share this year, I've got you covered. The crockpot slow cooker is your friend. Use it! And enjoy your family. 

here are 25 plus ways to use your crockpot this Easter as you entertain your family and friends. There are ideas here for appetizers, side dishes, main course, and even dessert. ENJOY!


 


Happy almost-Easter! 

We host Easter each year (except for when I'm pregnant or have a newborn, which means we haven't done it for the past two years. 

But that's not my fault because other people have offered, and I'd just be an idiot to not accept the offers. 

So, I still stand by my declaration that we host Easter every year...) and I love it.

Adam usually puts something on the barbecue, our family helps out by bringing side dishes or beverages, and I line up a bunch of crockpots on the countertop. 

There are too many of us to all sit around the table, so we kind of eat in shifts. 



The kids run around in circles because it's fun for the uncles to "chocolate them up" and the Easter egg hunt out back results in squished flowers, mud tracked indoors, and eventually tears when the egg-grabbing turns a bit too competitive. 

It's certainly not a scene Norman Rockwell would have chosen to paint--- but he should have.

Because honestly? The day couldn't possibly be any better.

and I can't wait.

If you're hosting, or bringing along something to share this year, I've got you covered. The slow cooker is your friend. Use it! And enjoy your family. 

here are 25 plus ways to use your crockpot this Easter as you entertain your family and friends. There are ideas here for appetizers, side dishes, main course, and even dessert. ENJOY!


Main Courses:
Honey Glazed Ham  (this is what we're having!)
Maple Ham
Citrus Ham (aka Christmas Ham)
Mint Glazed Lamb (this is what we're having!)
Lemon and Rosemary Lamb
Traditional Leg of Lamb 
Leg of Lamb with Prunes

Side Dishes:
Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Cream Cheese
Company's Coming Potatoes AuGratin
Roasted Vegetables
Best Brussels Sprouts, ever!
Cinnamon Glazed Carrots
Pecan-Topped Baked Sweet Potatoes
Honey Lentils
want more? here you go!

Appetizers:
Apricot-Balsamic Brie
Cranberries and Candied Pecans Brie
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Crab Dip
Roasted Garlic
Taco Dip
Tomatoes with Goat Cheese
want more? here you go! and dips, too!

We have dessert covered thanks to Zest Bakery, but if you don't:
 cheesecake
oreo cheesecake
creme brulee
peanut clusters
rocky road
rice krispies treats (hey, the REAL rice krispies are going gluten free in about a month. score!)
holiday pears (not for kids)
want more? here you go!

but whatever you do: DO NOT HARDBOIL YOUR EGGS IN THE CROCKPOT.
you're welcome!
:-)


If you're entertaining, and need a bit of help getting the house in order, no worries. I've got you covered with that, too!



Adam doesn't like pictures of the kids on the Internet, so this is the best you'll get!
Happy Easter!




Mongolian Beef CrockPot Recipe

Saturday, February 20, 2021

Mongolian Beef is one of those classic Chinese food dishes you just can't get enough of. 

I like to make it at home, in a "Take Out/Fake Out" way to save us from extra oil, fat, and (in our case) gluten.

 This crockpot recipe uses a homemade Hoisin sauce but if you have a bottled favorite you can use that instead.

 Originally posted in 2008 during my Year of Slow Cooking.

homemade from scratch Mongolian Beef

How to Make Homemade Mongolian Beef from Scratch

[scroll down for printable recipe card]

Day 157.

Ever since I made Chinese Lemon Chicken, I've wanted to make Mongolian Beef. 

 Yesterday, I gathered enough guts to give it a go.

The results were phenomenal.

I gave myself a pat on the back.

This is an excellent crockpot meal. Since we are gluten free, I needed to play around a bunch of sauces and flavors because we can't use packaged Hoisin sauce. 

 If you can use hoisin sauce, you might want to simplify.

 But my concoction worked, and surprised Adam and the kids---one of whom has never had "real" Mongolian Beef.


The Ingredients to Make Homemade Mongolian Beef

serves 4 
(2 adults, 2 kids -- if you'd like more, double the ingredients)


Hold on to your hat!

 There are a lot of ingredients --- don't get mad!

 (updated: I've discovered that a few companies are now putting out a gluten free variety of Hoisin sauce. Feel free to use that if you don't want to make your own! And if you aren't gluten free, just ignore me! ;-)  )

 FOR THE MEAT:

2 pounds flank steak
3 cloves of garlic, minced
4 sliced green onions--one is for garnish
1 teaspoon dried minced onion (or 1/2 fresh onion, diced very small)

 THIS IS THE SAUCE -- if you have bottle Hoisin, go ahead and use it here instead
(approx 2 cups -- 18 ounce to 20 ounce bottle)

1/2 cup soy sauce (I used La Choy)
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup cooking sherry
1/2 tablespoon white wine vinegar (optional--I forgot to add it!)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon molasses
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 tablespoon peanut butter (if allergic, use black bean paste)
3 tablespoon brown sugar

 AND THEN: 

1/4 cup cornstarch (to dredge meat--don't add to sauce mixture)
1 teaspoon red chili flakes --- optional -- if you don't like things spicy, you can add at the table if you'd like.



The Directions to Make Homemade Mongolian Beef


--slice your meat in thin strips and toss in a Ziploc bag with cornstarch.

--add all of the liquid and dried spices to your crockpot, and the peanut butter, and mix well.

 Add the garlic and three of the sliced green onions. If you are using fresh onion, add that now, too.

--put your meat on top, and toss gingerly to coat.

Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Flank steak is thin and have very little fat, and will cook quickly. 

There isn't a lot of liquid in this dish, so if your crock tends to cook hot, please check it after 3 hours.

The meat is done when it is no longer pink and has reached desired tenderness. 

I cooked our meat in a 6qt oval slow cooker and it was done after 4 hours on low.

Serve over steamed or fried rice, and garnish with freshly sliced green onion.

Make Mongolian Beef at home with this gluten free family friendly recipe from ayearofslowcooking.com. Much healthier and less expensive, too!

The Verdict.

This serves enough to feed 2 hungry adults for dinner. 

If you have a large family, you're going to need more meat and double the sauce.

Delicious. This is so good---before this year I would not have attempted to make something so "complicated" in a crockpot. 

  But really, the only complicated thing was figuring out what flavors would work and assembling the ingredients---the actual cooking and food preparation was a snap, and the kitchen was clean and mopped at 12noon.

We had all of the ingredients on hand for this meal, except for the meat and the green onion. 

 Much better for our wallets, than take-out, and much, much, much less greasy than take-out. 

 And it was gluten-free!

 enjoy!


Want More Take Out Fake Out Favorites? Here you Go!!


Homemade Take Out Fake Out Classic Recipes -- from scratch

 


Homemade From Scratch Mongolian Beef Recipe

Homemade From Scratch Mongolian Beef Recipe

Yield: 2 adults, 2 children
Author: Stephanie O'Dea AYearofSlowCooking.com
You can easily make homemade mongolian beef without added grease or gluten or sodium. This recipe is for the CrockPot Slow Cooker but you can easily adapt it for use on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot. The sauce is so yummy, you'd be able to make a rubber shoe taste good!

Ingredients

Ingredients needed for homemade Mongolian Beef
  • (updated: I've discovered that a few companies are now putting out a gluten free variety of Hoisin sauce. Feel free to use that if you don't want to make your own! And if you aren't gluten free, just ignore me! ;-) )
  • FOR THE MEAT:
  • 2 pounds flank steak
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 4 sliced green onions--one is for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon dried minced onion (or 1/2 fresh onion, diced very small)
  • THIS IS THE SAUCE -- if you have bottle Hoisin, go ahead and use it here instead (approx 2 cups -- an 18 ounce - 20 ounce bottle)
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce (I used La Choy)
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 1/4 cup cooking sherry
  • 1/2 tablespoon white wine vinegar (optional--I forgot to add it!)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon molasses
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 tablespoon peanut butter (if allergic, use black bean paste)
  • 3 tablespoon brown sugar
  • AND THEN:
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch (to dredge meat--don't add to sauce mixture)
  • 1 teaspoon red chili flakes --- optional -- if you don't like things spicy, you can add at the table if you'd like.

Instructions

How to Cook Mongolian Beef in the CrockPot Slow Cooker
  1. --slice your meat in thin strips and toss in a Ziploc bag with cornstarch.
  2. --add all of the liquid and dried spices to your crockpot, and the peanut butter, and mix well.
  3. Add the garlic and three of the sliced green onions. If you are using fresh onion, add that now, too.
  4. --put your meat on top, and toss gingerly to coat.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Flank steak is thin and have very little fat, and will cook quickly.
  6. There isn't a lot of liquid in this dish, so if your crock tends to cook hot, please check it after 3 hours.
  7. The meat is done when it is no longer pink and has reached desired tenderness.
  8. I cooked our meat in a 6qt oval slow cooker and it was done after 4 hours on low.
  9. Serve over steamed or fried rice, and garnish with freshly sliced green onion.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
​