6 Crock Pot Meals for Less Than $50! - Recipes That Crock! (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook small amounts in a large crock pot? ›

Making a Really Small Recipe in a Really Big Slow Cooker

Add the recipe ingredients to the baking dish, sized so it's two-third to three-quarters full, then place the dish inside the bowl of the slow cooker. Cover with the lid and cook as directed.

Slow cookers are great for cooking cheaper cuts like beef brisket, pork shoulder, lamb shoulder and chicken thighs. You can also use less meat, as slow cooking really extracts a meaty flavour that permeates the whole dish. Bulk up with vegetables instead.

“Small slow cookers such as the 1 to 1.5-quart models are a great option for those cooking meals for one,” says Grainer. “Whether you're entertaining at home or bringing food to share, small slow cookers are easy to transport and will keep dips, appetizers, sides, and sauces warm.”

Size of your Slow Cooker

The size of your crockpot can affect the outcome of your meal. If your crockpot is smaller than what we recommend, you may need to cook your meal a little longer. If it's larger than what we recommend you may need to shorten the cooking time.

When we look at the material, it's evident that slow cookers and Crockpots consist of the same three components: Glass lid, pot, and heating element. However, Crockpots generally have ceramic or porcelain pots, while most slow cookers have a metal pot.

Can you put meat straight into a slow cooker? Meat can be added directly unseared and not browned. However, browning meat and caramelising the beef is a great way to add depth of flavour and improve the visual appearance of the final dish.

Planning out your meals so you use all of the ingredients, both raw and cooked, plus pantry staples and frozen goods means you can make a week's worth of dinners for around $50 in groceries.

What are the disadvantages of a slow cooker? ›

Food texture changes: Canned foods, such as vegetables, can become too mushy in a slow cooker. It's better to use them fresh or frozen. But, frozen veggies tend to make the texture of the dish more “watery”. Defrosting and draining the extra liquid before cooking can help minimize this.

Information. It is best to thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Frozen pieces will take longer to reach a safe internal temperature and could possibly result in foodborne illness. Frozen or partially frozen foods can also cool everything else in the slow cooker.

Here are some great long-cooking cuts to try in your slow cooker: Beef: chuck roast, brisket, stew meat and short ribs. Pork: pork shoulder, pork butt, pork ribs, country-style ribs, ham.

You want to use tinfoil that can hold its shape and stand on its own. Once you create a tinfoil wall that can snugly fit in the center of your slow cooker, take the wall out and line your device with a slow cooker liner. You can then re-insert your tinfoil wall and begin to add your desired ingredients.

You'll get the best results by filling your slow cooker between one-half and two-thirds full. It's fine to cook whole chickens or large cuts of meat in your Crockpot slow cooker, as long as it is roomy enough to allow food to fit comfortably inside, with the lid fitting snugly on top.

The small slow cooker has a 2-quart capacity that feeds 2+ people and is perfect for making small meals or dips. Use the manual warm setting to keep food warm while you are serving, or for heating up leftovers.

Place the cooker on a high setting, and open the lid for 30-45 minutes to let excess moisture cook off. The liquid will reduce, leaving you with a thick and delicious gravy or sauce. (Tip: This trick can also be applied for thickening stews, or when you've accidentally added too much liquid.)