Have you ever noticed that cookbooks with titles like “super easy meals” and “meals in under 10 minutes” never quite live up to their promises? I have decided that there must be some huge discrepancy between what chefs think is easy and fast…and what moms think is easy and fast. Moms need baby-is-nursing, toddler-is-grumpy, house-is-messy, and I-need-to-have-dinner-on-the-table-right-now fast.
My favorite “go-to” meals in that category are Beef Stew and Chicken Enchiladas. I also make these super easy fajitas from time-to-time…
Crock Pot Fajitas
Ingredients:
- 1 cup chopped onions (you can use frozen chopped onions…)
- 1 16 oz. bag frozen sliced bell peppers (or slice 2 fresh bell peppers)
- 1 1/2 lb. sliced beef fajita meat or steak, cut into strips
- 2 tsp. fajita seasoning
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 8 flour tortillas
- grated cheddar cheese and sour cream
Directions:
- Place ingredients (except flour tortillas) into crock pot in order listed above.
- Cook 8 hours on low or 5 hours on high.
- Serve in flour tortillas with grated cheddar cheese and sour cream.
Now, that’s easy!
YOUR TURN: What is your favorite easy recipe? I’d really like to try some new crock pot meals so please share any tried-and-true favorites that you have in that category. Thanks in advance!
That sounds yummy! I’ve been wanting to try out some crock pot recipes so thanks for posting this. I’ve never used the crock pot before, so sorry I don’t have a recipe to share. I’ve made your chicken enchiladas a couple of times and they are delicious!
Your call to crockpot is still in my head, so when I ran across this recipe, I thought I’d share…
Crockpot Potato Soup (great for winter!)
3 potatoes, peeled & cut into bite size pieces
1 lg. onion
1 carrot, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 tbsp. parsley
5 c. water
4 chicken bouillon cubes
1 tbsp. salt
Pepper to taste
Cook on low 10 to 12 hours or on high 3 to 4 hours. During the last hour of cooking, add 1 1/2 cups milk.
Found at:
http://funcraftsandrecipes.com/index.php/2007/crock-pot-potato-soup/
My favorite quick Crockpot recipe comes from The La Leche League Cookbook. Simply place a whole chicken in the crockpot and pour 1/2 to 1 full bottle of BBQ sauce over it (I start with half and add more as needed.) Cook on low until done (4 to 6 hours). The meat will be falling off the bones. Serve over noodles or rice, or scoop the meat onto buns for BBQ sandwiches.
Ok- disclaimer first. I dont crockpot, and I dont eat meat. BUT!, I saw this on a recipe site I was browsing, and thought of your recent call for recipes… :) Hope you like it.
Steak Sandwiches with Au Jus
I can’t not wait to try the crock pot fajitas. Our easy go to meal is Easy Beef Enchiladas.
1 lb lean ground beef
2 cans 10 oz each Old El Paso enchilada sauce Any variety
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
1 package flour tortillas
1 can dices green chilis (small can) Mild or spicy
Heat over to 375. Lightly grease 13×9 glass baking dish . In skillet cook beef over midium high heat stirring occasionally, until cooked. Stir in 3/4 cup enchilada sauce about 3/4 cup cheese and green chilis. Cook until cheese is melted.
Spoon Enchilada filling onto tortillas: roll up and place seam sides down in baking dish.
Pour remaining enchilada sauce over top; sprinkle the remaining cheese and bake for 20 minutes or until hot.
Depending on how big you want your enchiladas, makes 6 to 8.
I totally want to use my crockpot more, but like you I haven’t found great recipes. It’s probably also because I never try too many, either… but I’ll be trying yours (and my sister’s, which are also posted above!) to see how it works out for me. Thanks!
Your enchilada recipe has become a regular in our house, everyone loves it. But another easy one that I make and the fam loves is Campbells Cheesy Chicken and Rice Cassarole. The recipe is on the back of every Cream of Chicken Soup. I love it cause you simply throw everything in and then cook it for like 45 minutes, it takes like to time to prepare. And it tastes very yummy!
We love your enchiladas over here and it looks like this will be added to our list as well. I love crock pot meals my only problem is I usually forget to get the ingredients in until the afternoon and by then it’s too late. Just last night I made a Rachel Ray crock pot recipe. It’s not as quick as yours but it is easy and very yummy.
Basically it’s a turkey breast, carrots and potatoes with a butter and shallot mix and some fresh sage.
You mix up butter and chopped shallots and smear some of it on the bottom of the crock pot then layer sliced potatoes and the carrots.
Put the remaining butter under the skin of the turkey with the chopped sage.
I did mine all day on low but I think she says 3-4 on high.
Sorry it’s not good recipe format, I tried to find it online but couldn’t. I’ll revise when I get the chance to get the actual recipe.
my girls love Slow Cooker Curry Beef
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spicy-Beef-Curry-Stew-for-the-Slow-Cooker/Detail.aspx
I don’t add the jalapeno peppers (too spicy for my girls)
and I sometimes use garlic powder instead of minced garlic and I always use ground ginger as I never remember to buy the real stuff.
My youngest ate it when she was 1 year old.
I serve over rice or small noodles
I LOVE using my crockpot. My favorite recipe is for crockpot lasagne. I’d never have believed it until I tried it, but it’s amazingly fantastic! I got the recipe from http://www.savingdinner.com
I have found a ton of great crock pot recipes at
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/
Stephanie has made a resolution to use her crock pot every day for the entire year, it’s pretty cool.
Here’s my favorite slow cooker recipe for Chicken & Wild Rice Soup:
http://mamanash.blogspot.com/2008/09/as-requested.html
Crock pot Pot Roast – it’s what we’re having tomorrow night:
4 (washed) potatoes, skin on, quartered.
1 beef roast
1 packet Lipton onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup
Put the potatoes on the bottom of the crock pot, lay the meat on top of it, dump the soups all over the top and cook on low for 8-10 hours. Serve with veggies.
If you want a roast without the creamy gravy, use 2 packets soup mix stirred into 1/2 cup water. When I cook it this way, I also add carrots on top so the veggies are done at the same time.
Crock pot tacos – it’s what we had last night!
3 lb. pork (or beef) roast
2 packets taco seasoning mix
1/4 cup water
Dump it all together and cook on low for 8 hours. Serve in tortillas with regular taco toppings. Yes there is lots of leftover meat, but you freeze it to use for your next crock pot meal…
Crock pot taco soup
Leftover crock pot taco meat
2 cans diced tomatos
2 cans pinto or kidney beans (optional)
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 can corn (drained)
1 packet ranch dressing mix
Plop it all in the crock pot and stir well. Heat on low for 4-5 hours until heated through. Serve with grated cheese and fritos or tortilla chips on top.
Can you tell I love my crock pot!!
That sounds yummy! I’ve been wanting to try out some crock pot recipes so thanks for posting this. I’ve never used the crock pot before, so sorry I don’t have a recipe to share. I’ve made your chicken enchiladas a couple of times and they are delicious!