This time of year, when the weather is getting cold and holiday festivities make life even busier, I often rely on my crock pot to help get dinner on the table.
I’ve actually been using my crock pot so often that I’m asking for a larger one for Christmas… hint hint 🙂
One of the reasons I love using my crock pot is because I can just dump all the ingredients in, turn it on, and walk away. I don’t need to stir a boiling pot and I don’t need to pull something out of the oven on time… I can simply go about my day and come back in several hours to a hot meal and a delicious smelling kitchen!
It doesn’t get much easier than that!
About a month ago, I recieved two really simple crock pot recipes from Sandy — a very loyal reader. Since then, I’ve made both recipes and can attest to how simple and delicious they are.
Sandy suggests buying the meat when it’s on sale and then making big batches of the following:
Pulled Pork Loin
- one can of apple pie filling
- one pork loin
- one bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
Directions:
- spray crock pot with cooking spray (for easy cleanup)
- dump in the apple pie filling, put the whole pork loin on the pie filling and top with BBQ sauce.
- cook on low 8-10 hours
- pull pork apart and stir to mix with pie filling and BBQ sauce
- serve on buns or your favorite bread
Creamy Turkey or Chicken
- 6+ cups of cooked and shredded turkey or chicken
- 1 can cream soup (mushroom, chicken or celery)
- 1 can french onion soup
Directions:
- mix all ingredients in a crock pot
- cook on low 6 hours
- stir and serve on buns or toasted bread
I’ve made both of these recipes and they really are so quick, simple, and delicious. Plus they make a lot of food — which means you can eat some now and put the rest in the freezer for later!
Thanks for the delicious recipes Sandy!
What are your favorite Crock Pot recipes?
Visit my virtual recipe box for more simple, delicious, family friendly, recipes!
Maggie says
Looks delish! Btw, one of the photos is not working. It says “photo no longer available” (the very last one) Thought I’d let ya know!
shelly says
What type of BBQ sauce do you use? Sweet,vinegar type,thick?
Nicole Church says
Hi Andrea!
I loved your post about Nora’s simple, yet lovely 1st birthday party! It really put me at ease after fretting about Zoe’s party, especially being so close to Christmas (Dec. 15). I am looking for a really easy and economical main dish that I can possibly make ahead. I have 2 bags of buns in the freezer. Would you recommend your Pulled Pork Loin recipe listed in your recipe box? I’m thinking I could make it a couple days ahead and just reheat it in the crock pot the day of the party. I need it to feed 14 adults and 8 children. What size pork loin would you buy and would you double it for this amt. of people?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Nicole
Andrea says
Hmmm…I’m not exactly sure how much pork you need. I know they say at least a 1/2 lb. per person — but if you’re putting it on bread/buns, it might be less than that.So if you go by that “rule of thumb”, then you’d need about 10 lbs.
And if you do have a ton left over, it freezes really well, so you’ll just have meals for later!
Have fun at the party 🙂
Meri says
This pulled pork recipe looks GREAT! Love a way to bring the deliciousness of BBQ into my grill-less apartment! (shared it on my own blog here: http://seektobemerry.blogspot.com/2012/05/fire-up-grill.html)
Ramona says
I tried this recipe tonight for dinner and the whole family LOVED it! Thank you for sharing. I put it in the crockpot before church and was able to work the whole day getting ready for the week and not having to worry about dinner 🙂 How great is that!!!! thanks for sharing!
Diane says
For the pork loin recipe, are you suggesting buying an entire loin of pork? If not, how many pounds would I need? Thanks.
Andrea says
Diane, I buy the biggest pork loin I can fit in my crock pot — sometimes I have to cut it in half or into thirds. Then, after it’s cooked, I shred it all and put it in smaller portions on the freezer for quick weeknight meals.
It’s a little pricey to buy a big pork loin up front, but just think how many meals you can get from it!
Sandy says
Glad you liked the recipes. I am defrosting a container of the pulled pork in the frig for tomorrow!
I am going to try those recipes in the other comments, too.
Adrienne says
I’m a little confused about the second recipe. So the chicken has to be cooked and shredded before it goes in the crock pot? What do you do to have 6 cups of chicken ready?
Andrea says
Adrienne,
I always have lots of cooked, shredded chicken/turkey in my freezer — I save it in 2c. portions and then use it for soups and casseroles. Sometimes I just make a couple of chickens and shred the meat to use in other recipes.
You could also try making this recipe with uncooked chicken breasts and then shred the meat after it’s cooked {like with the pork recipe}
Richelle VanderWal says
The pulled pork looks so good. Isn’t pork loin pretty expensive though?
Andrea says
Hey Richelle,
I can usually find a pork loin on sale for around $1.70 per pound so it’s really not that bad. Plus you get SOOO much meat from this recipe that it will give you several meals — and you can keep a bunch in the freezer for later too.
Just keep an eye on your grocery ads for a good sale!
Megan Camp says
I have two that I love to make and share with friends and family. One is Mexican and one is Indian. Both are easy and delicious.
Pork Pozole. It’s supposed to be a stew but we actually really like to eat it burrito style. Just leave out a little juice or let it cook down a bit. Serve in a tortilla with sour cream and cheese.
http://everydaymealstoshare.blogspot.com/2009/04/pork-pozole.html
If you like Indian food, you’ll probably like this recipe. It’s so quick and easy and since you can use meat on the bone, you can use really inexpensive meat for this. I stock up when it’s on sale for $0.59/lb. Any type of chicken will work…bone in or boneless. Doesn’t have to be thighs.
http://everydaymealstoshare.blogspot.com/2009/02/crockpot-chicken-makhani.html
One other one that can be made in the crockpot or on the stove is wonderful served with a fresh loaf of bread in the winter. Wild Rice Soup. So full of flavor and healthy goodness.
http://everydaymealstoshare.blogspot.com/2011/03/wild-rice-soup.html
Annette W says
I have and use 2 crockpots…you won’t regret a second! I make pulled pork a lot and look forward to trying that recipe!
Here are two of my favorite recipes for the slow cooker…bacon ranch chicken at http://livelearnlove226.blogspot.com/2011/09/bacon-ranch-chicken-recipe.html and chicken tacos. http://livelearnlove226.blogspot.com/2011/02/crockpot-chicken-tacos.html
YUM!