Hi, friends! Today I want to share three easy crockpot recipes with you to help make your weeknights a little easier. I have three boys in soccer, and sometimes the last thing I want to do in the evening is cook. Having a crockpot meal makes dinner less stressful.
The first crockpot meal I ever made was chili. It’s still one of my favorites today. It’s such a forgiving recipe! It’s also easy to sneak extra veggies in this for picky eaters. The chili powder and cumin are so flavorful that I can use any extra veggies I have, and the kids don’t even notice. Please note that all crockpots are different, so adjust the cooking time as needed. Enjoy!
Chicken Gyro
Ingredients
- 6 chicken breasts
Sauce
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 lemons
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp Marrakesh Za'atar or oregano
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Optional Toppings
- red onion
- cucumber
- tzatziki sauce
- feta cheese
- lettuce
Instructions
- Add 6 chicken breasts to crockpot.
- To make the sauce, pour chicken broth, juice of 2 lemons, zest of 1 lemon, red wine vinegar, garlic, Marrakesh Za'atar, salt, pepper, and olive oil to small bowl.
- Pour sauce over chicken in crockpot.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 2 hours. The chicken is done when it shreds easily with a fork.
- Shred chicken by hand or a food processor if desired.
- Serve chicken in a folded pita. Top with red onion, cucumber, tomato, tzatziki sauce, feta cheese, and lettuce. Enjoy!
Crockpot Beef Chili
Ingredients
- 1 white onion
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 3 cans beans (I like navy, pinto, black, or kidney beans.)
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 4 oz. cans diced green chiles
- 1 24 oz. can crushed tomatos (Can use diced tomatoes if you prefer.)
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
Optional Add-ins
- carrots, bell peppers, or zucchini
Toppings
- red onion
- sour cream
Instructions
- Sautee onion.
- In same pan, add ground beef and brown.
- Drain meat, then add meat and onions to crockpot.
- Add beans, diced chiles, crushed tomato, beef broth, and remaining spices to crockpot.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
- Optional: Add veggies (carrots, bell pepper, zucchini, or sweet potato) for an extra health boost.
- Serve with red onion and sour cream.
Notes
Don't be tempted to skip the brown sugar. It evens out the acidity from the tomatoes. We serve with corn bread, but you can also serve over white rice for a more filling meal. Enjoy!
Salsa Verde Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 chicken breasts
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 can green enchilada sauce
- 1 4 oz. can diced green chiles
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp cumin
Instructions
- Add 6 chicken breasts to crockpot.
- Coat chicken thoroughly with salt and cumin.
- Add the chiles enchilada sauce, and chicken broth.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
- Serve in taco shells or over rice.
2 Responses
Hi Heather, for the Salsa Verde chicken just making sure that it is on LOW for 4 hours, not high? Thank you for the recipes!!
Yes that is correct! What ever works for your crockpot.