Super Easy Crock Pot Recipes to Help Save Time in the Kitchen

Since it’s the holiday spirit of giving, I wanted to share some fantastic crock pot recipes with you! Because, as busy moms we’re always looking for ways to save time. But we also want to feel good about the meals we serve our families. So to help you spend more time with your families, and to be proud of the meals you’re feeding them, be sure to follow along for my “12 days of Crock Pot Cooking” holiday series. In addition, with all the time you’re saving in the kitchen, you’ll not only have more time with your family, but you’ll also be able to finally catch up on your favorite Netflix shows:)

Therefore, for the next 12 Days, I’m going to be sharing different crock pot recipes to help save you time in the kitchen!

The 12 Days of Crock Pot Recipes

Day 1: The Most Mouth Watering Crock Pot Ribs Recipes

Day 2: The Best Crock Pot Pulled Pork Recipes

Day 3: The Coziest Crock Pot Chili Recipes to Warm You Up

Day 4: Crock Pot Meatballs that are Crowd Pleasing Good

Day 5: Simple and Easy Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

Day 6: Crock Pot Roast Beef Your Family Will Rave About

Day 7: The Most Delicious Crock Pot Ham Recipes

Day 8: The Perfect Crock Pot Pork Roast Recipes

Day 9: The Most Family Pleasing Crock Pot Pork Chops

Day 10: Crock Pot Potato Soup That Will Warm You Up

Day 11: The Best Crock Pot Chicken In The Kitchen

Day 12: The Most Finger Licking Crock Pot Chicken Thighs

You’re going to love these next 12 days of tasty recipes!

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But today I’m going to talk about crock pot basics in case you’re new to crock pot cooking.

Crock Pot Cooking Basics

What is a crock pot?

Crockpots are helpful pieces of kitchen equipment. Also referred to as a slow cooker, it’s used to slowly cook a delicious meal in a matter of hours. Some crockpots have fancier features but the basic ones usually have at least a low, high, and warm setting.

Why is crock pot cooking useful?

Saves time in the kitchen–moms can work on other things while dinner cooks; or even be out of the house
Crockpots are easy to use and don’t take up a lot of space
Moms can easily serve a healthier meal; therefore, avoiding less healthy options or stopping to grab fast food
Versatile–you can cook a variety of meals in crock pot; they can even cook appetizers, desserts and things like oatmeal
Saves money–crock pots allow you to cook in bulk and freeze leftovers
They make large meals–great for family cooking
Easier cleanup–Making a one pot meal in your crockpot usually results in less dishes to clean

As a kid growing up in the 90’s, I remember my mom cooking in her crock pot. Whenever mom pulled her crockpot out of the cabinet I knew I was going to love dinner. Above all, our favorite crockpot meal that mom made was her BBQ pulled pork. Not to mention, those snowflake potato rolls she served with the pulled pork were the best! My sister and I would do our homework on the living room floor while watching Oprah after school, eagerly awaiting dinner. So today, memories of mom’s crockpot meals, and the smell of dinner cooking in the kitchen, make me think of family togetherness and the love and security of my childhood.

What items do I need to cook with a crock pot?

Firstly, you’ll need an actual crockpot to cook your meal. In addition, other useful items to help you prepare the meal and store leftovers are those such as:

Crock pot
Cutting board for chopping/prepping veggies
A good set of knives
Food storage containers for food prep and for leftovers
A lunch bag to transport leftovers
Mixing bowls and other cooking utensils to prep the food

Crock pot cooking tips

Crock pots come in different sizes; make sure you select one that will be a good fit for your family
Read all of the instructions that come with your crock pot before using it
Plan your crockpot meals in advance to save you the most time. If chopping and prepping is needed for your recipe, you can do this the night before. Then all you have to do in the morning is just dump in all your ingredients, set the crockpot, and go!

In conclusion, I hope you and your family enjoy these super easy crock pot recipes! Which ones are you looking forward to making first? Let me know in the comments!

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