All American Pot Roast -- 10 Ways to Slow Cook

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Pot Roast is usually one of the first dishes new slow cooker owners prepare.

If you find that the meat isn't quite as tender as you'd like near dinnertime, remove it from the pot, and cut it into a few pieces before returning it to the pot for a little while longer.

Tough or dry pot roast is a sign that it simply hasn't cooked long enough. You want the meat to relax, and soak up the cooking liquid -- it should literally cut apart with a fork when it's time to serve.

TRADITIONAL POT ROAST

serves 6

1 tablespoon garlic powder

2 teaspoons dried basil

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 (4-pound) pot roast, trimmed

6 red potatoes, washed and quartered

2 onions, cut into wedges

1 bunch of celery, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 cup carrots cut into 1-inch pieces

2 cups beef broth

Use a 6-quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, basil, salt, and pepper. Rub the spices into the meat, taking care to cover all sides.

Place the meat into the insert. Nestle all the vegetables around the meat. Pour in the broth. Cover, and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or until the meat has relaxed and pulls apart easily with a fork.

ACK! I have been making my pot roasts *wrong* all these years! I never knew how simple it could be to actually make a super tender pot roast without spending a ton of money on expensive meat!

Psst: you look like someone who really likes crockpot recipes. You really should sign up for my Top 10 Slow Cooker Recipes mailing list.

Different Variations:

When I can find chuck roast on sale for right around $2/pound, I buy it. It might not be on meal plan or on my weekly grocery list, but I'll snatch it up anyway to shove into the freezer.

I look at chuck roast as sort of a blank canvas. If I'm in a sweet mood, I can slather it with cranberries or maple syrup, or make it salty with soy sauce. I can even cut it into little pieces and have it simmer away in an Indian-inspired masala sauce.

Here are some other great pot roast recipes that utilize either a chuck or rump roast --- I think you'll be pleased with the different ways you can serve it!

3 Packet Roast (this is the easiest pot roast recipe, ever. It can be a bit salty; look for low-sodium packets at the store.)

Jalapeño Pot Roast (in case you are feeling spicy!)

Java Roast (don't throw out the end of the coffee, make it into a delicious sauce!)

Sweet Mustard Roast (a family favorite)

Red Wine and Cranberry Roast (a wonderful recipe that tastes fantastic on pork tenderloin, too.)

Old Fashioned Pot Roast (this is what to make on a Sunday dinner for company)

Eyes Closed Pot Roast (so simple you can make it with your eyes shut)

Tex Mex Pot Roast (we just had this last week!)

Cranberry Dijon Roast (uses pantry staples, the sauce is so good you can drink it in a tea cup)

I hope this helps decide what's for dinner this week!

10 Different Ways to Slow Cook the All American Pot Roast (chuck or rump roast)

Cheers to the best year, ever!

--steph

Slow Cooker General Tso's Chicken Recipe

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Make your take out at home, with this Fake Out recipe for General Tso's Chicken made in the crockpot slow cooker! The sauce is a wonderful duplication and the chicken isn't breaded and fried, making this a much lighter and healthier dish!

When I began my everyday slow cooking challenge in 2008, I really didn't think I'd come up with recipes or new uses for the slow cooker.

I just figured I'd post what I made in the pot and people would click over to see if I really did it or not.

Once readers started commenting and emailing me ideas, I got really into the whole challenge and decided that I should not only use the crockpot everyday, the stuff I posted should be brand-new every day.

and that's when I had a mini panic attack.

you see, I like take-out. A lot.

Those late-night Jack in the Box commercials? They were pretty much written for me in mind.

I get sucked in, and I want what's being marketed RIGHTTHISVERYMINUTE, even if I'm full and have already flossed.

and don't get me started on infomercials...

I really shouldn't watch TV.

anyway.

the good news is that I now have an arsenal of Take Out Fake Out recipes and when I'm hunkering (hankering?) for fast food or takeout, I can whip something up myself and cook it all by myself in my very own slow cooker.

and so can you!

The Ingredients.

serves 4

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken, cut in 1-inch chunks

4 garlic cloves, minced

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon dried ginger

2 tablespoons soy sauce (I use La Choy because we are gluten free)

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (add more to taste at the table if you'd prefer more heat)

1 (16-ounce) package stir-fry vegetables (to add later)

The Directions.

Use a 4-quart slow cooker.

Put the chicken into the bottom of your crockpot and then add the garlic, brown sugar, ginger, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes.

Toss the chicken to fully coat with the sauce ingredients.

Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours, then add the frozen vegetables.

Re cover and cook on high for an hour, or until the veggies are fully hot and the chicken has reached desired tenderness.

Serve with white or brown or fried rice.

Make this take out classic at home in your very own crockpot slow cooker! This is a gluten free version that is easy to make and requires no deep frying. The sauce is PERFECT! recipe from ayeaofslowcooking.com

The Verdict.

The kids and Adam love this sauce, which makes me love it even more than they do.

This isn't the traditional General Tso's chicken you order from a local takeout joint, because the chicken hasn't been breaded and deep fried.

This is a good thing!

Not only is this not laden with gluten, it's better for your wallet, your waistline, and your heart.

a few of our other favorite takeout fakeouts:

falafel (yes! really! falafel!)

tamales (traditional, steamed in corn husks)

hot and sour soup

Thai coconut curry soup

Slow Cooker Mulligatawny Soup Recipe

Sunday, January 3, 2021

This is the World Famous Mulligatawny soup recipe that was featured in the famous "soup nazi" Seinfeld episode. You can make this totally awesome soup at home, in your pajamas, in your very own slow cooker.

According to a CNN article , the real life "soup nazi" featured in the famous Seinfeld episode is reopening his soup stand.

I read that he had closed it because of possible franchise opportunities.

There's no need to wait in line for hours and risk getting yelled at.

You can make Kramer's favorite soup at home, in your pajamas, in your very own slow cooker.

And it's easy.

I assumed there would be a ton of ingredients, be difficult to assemble, and too much work to want to make often.

I love it when I'm wrong.

The Ingredients.
serves 6

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (frozen is okay)
1 cup peeled and chopped apple (mine were fuji)
1 cup chopped carrots
1 (15-ounce) can fire roasted tomatoes
1 tablespoon dried minced onion flake
1/4 cup raisins
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons curry
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups chicken broth
1/3 cup long grain white rice (to add later)

The Directions.

Use a 6-quart slow cooker. Put the chicken thighs into the bottom of your cooker, and add apple, carrots, the whole can of tomatoes, onion flakes, and raisins. Then add the lemon juice, spices, and broth.

Stir to mix the spices.

Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours. If you'd like, shred the chicken with two big forks, and stir in the uncooked rice. Flip to high for 30 minutes, or until the rice is tender. If you live in a high altitude, the rice will take longer and you might want to consider using instant or already cooked rice---it's up to you.

Ladle into soup bowls.

The Verdict.

Gosh this is good. The curry and nutmeg pairs so nicely with the sweetness of the raisins and the apple. The end result is sweet but still savory, and my kids LICKED THEIR BOWLS. My dad loves this soup, and I'm so happy to be able to make it now whenever he'd like.

The ingredients are pretty much pantry staples in our house, which is a total bonus.
I'm not a good counting calories or points person, but this has got to be pretty light.

If you'd like the nutrition breakdown, many of my readers love the free counter at sparkspeople or my fitness pal.