{Crockpot} chicken tacos

I used to use this chicken fajita crock pot recipe all the time but then I got lazy and started doing this instead.  Plus this a a great alternative when fresh veggies aren't in season!

Ingredients:

3-4 chicken breasts (i used frozen)
1 can of rotel
1 packet taco seasoning
1/2 cup chicken broth or water

Directions:
Add all ingredients to crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. About an hour before eating I use a fork and shred up the chicken so it has awhile to marinate in the juices. Then before eating, drain the juices and enjoy with your favorite tortillas and toppings!

{chicken} taco soup

This taco soup is one of my favorite go-to recipes!  It is so easy to throw together and just yummo!  Plus you can easily adapt it based on what ingredients you have on hand.  I was out of ground meat but had chicken.  I was also out of beef stock...so chicken stock stepped up to the crockpot!  ;)

Ingredients:
1 can corn or 1-2 cups frozen corn
1 can can rotel
1 can white beans
2 cups chicken broth
1 package taco seasoning
1 package ranch seasoning
2-3 frozen chicken breasts

optional toppings:  shredded cheese, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips

Directions:
Drain beans and place them with all other ingredients in the crockpot.  Stir to combine seasoning mixes.  Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6.  About an hour before serving remove the chicken, shred, and place back in crockpot.  Stir and let cook the remaining hour. 

Enjoy just as it is or with your favorite toppings!

Taco soup

This past weekend we had a family get together at our house.  I was trying to find easy prep meals so I wasn't constantly in the kitchen!   Taco soup to the rescue!  ;)  Not only was this super easy but it got rave reviews from the family!  This is no new recipe but it was new to me.  I have had it before but never made it.  Now it has been added to my list of go tos!

Ingredients:
1 can corn
1 can can rotel
1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans
2 cups beef broth
1 package taco seasoning
1 package ranch seasoning
1 pound ground beef, cooked and crumbled


optional toppings:  shredded cheese, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips

Directions:
Brown the ground beef and drain.  I did this the night before so in the morning I could just dump all the ingredients in the crockpot. 

Drain both cans of beans and rinse.  Dump into crock pot along with all other ingredients.  Stir to combine.  Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6.

Enjoy just as it is or with your favorite toppings!

{crockpot} chicken & wild rice soup

Another super easy and yummo crockpot soup!

Ingredients:
3 chicken breasts
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1 small onion diced
1 box long grain & wild rice {rice & seasoning packet....I used Rice A Roni}
2 cans cream of chicken soup
4 cups chicken broth

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Remove chicken to shred, then return to crock. Stir and serve.

crockpot cheesy potato soup

I just love crockpot meals! Lately I have been using it about twice a week. I just love being able to throw in all the ingredients in the morning and come 5:00 we have dinner ready to go! Plus, now that it is getting hotter out, it is nice not to heat up the kitchen using the oven.

This was my first experience making soup in the crockpot and it turned out wonderful!

Ingredients:
2 cups chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
4 large potatoes, peeled & cubed
1 small onion, diced
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp parsley
salt & pepper to taste
2 cups shredded cheese
crumbled bacon

Directions:
Place potatoes, onion, corn and spices in crockpot. Mix soup and broth together and pour over veggies and spices. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Using a potato masher, mash potatoes some and then stir in the cheese. Serve with crumbled bacon on top!

crockpot pork chops

I was at my friend Angela's house a few weeks ago setting up for a garage sale. A wonderful smell was coming from the house and I asked what it was. She said dinner in the crockpot....pork chops and can of soup. How simple is that?! So here is my version...

Ingredients:

4 pork chops

1 can cream of chicken soup

3/4 can water

1/2 cup chopped carrots

Directions:

Place all ingredients in crockpot and cook on low for about 8 hours. I served this with rice and it was yummo!

{Crock Pot} Italian Beef

My friend Jamie posted a recipe for Italian beef the other day and I thought it sounded yummy! I love Italian beef but think I have only made it once before. She used leftover meat and just heated it with the spices on the stove. I decided to do it all in the crock pot...

Ingredients:

2 lb beef roast

2 cans beef broth

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 clove finely chopped garlic {I just use my garlic press!}

1 tbsp Italian seasoning

1 tbsp dried oregano

1 tbsp dried basil

1/4 tsp dried red pepper flakes, optional {I left this out}

Directions:

Place beef roast in crock pot. Combine broth and spices in a medium bowl, then pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Shred meat and enjoy!

**This was so easy I will definitely be adding this to my menu favorites!

Teriyaki Chicken

I had some peppers from the garden that needed to be used so I searched for a recipe. I found one that sounded good but it was for foil packets in the oven. I decided to try the ingredients and do the crockpot instead. Served over rice...this chicken dish turned out great!

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup teriyaki sauce
1 small onion
1 green bell pepper
1 small can pineapple chunks

Directions:
Place chicken breasts in crockpot...{I use frozen breasts that I buy in big bags when they are on sale}. Chop veggies and add on top of chicken. Then top with teriyaki sauce.

Cook on low for 8-10 hours. About an hour before you want to eat, add pineapple chunks.

Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

These are super easy and yummo!

Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts {I use frozen from a bag}
2 Tbsp butter
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
2 cans {use soup can} of water OR chicken broth, if on hand
1/2 large onion, finely diced
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp dried parsley
1 package (8 count) Grands refrigerated biscuits, torn into pieces

Directions:
Place all ingredients except biscuits in the crock pot. There should be enough liquid to cover the chicken...add more if needed.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. About 45 minutes before serving, shred the chicken and add in the torn biscuit dough to the crock pot. Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center.

Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas

I recently attended a Pampered Chef show and one of the dishes the consultant made was Chicken Fajitas. She made it in the covered baker but I don't have one so I decided to try the crock pot instead. I am not a huge fan of peppers but how all the flavors combine while cooking is just yummo!

Ingredients:
2-3 chicken breasts (i used frozen ones)
1 each of red, green & yellow peppers, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
3 gloves garlic, pressed
1 packet taco seasoning
1 cup chicken broth

Directions:
Add all ingredients to crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours....depending on your crock pot. Once cooked I just used a fork and shredded up the chicken. We ate ours with flour tortillas, shredded cheese, tomatoes and sour cream.

Enjoy!

Meatball Stew

*UPDATED
This is such a quick and easy recipe to throw in the crock pot.  It is such a good comfort food that I like to serve with corn bread.  If you try it out, I'd love to hear what you think!

Lately, I have been using frozen turkey meatballs instead of making my own.  This cuts down on the fat and makes this dish healthier and easier!  Also, feel free to add other veggies to adjust this to your liking.  I have added green beans and mushrooms before, which are both delicious!

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
OR
1 bag frozen meatballs

4 medium potatoes chunked
4 medium carrots chunked
1 medium onion diced
1 cup ketchup
1 cup water
3 tsp vinegar
1 tsp basil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
For meatballs, in bowl combine beef, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper; mix well. Shape into 1 inch meatballs. Brown meatballs on medium heat in large skillet.  If you are using frozen meatballs, just skip this step. 

Place potatoes, carrots, and onion in crock pot and top with meatballs. Combine ketchup, water, vinegar, basil, and remaining salt and pepper. Pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4-5 hours on high or 8-10 on low.

Enjoy!

Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken

This recipe couldn't be easier. I made this last night for the first time and it turned out great! The chicken came out so tender and juicy! We will definitely have this again.

2-4 chicken breasts
Honey BBQ sauce
Can of pineapple chunks
Shredded carrots

1. Place chicken breasts in crock pot and cover with BBQ sauce. Add in 1-2 Tbsp of juice from can of pineapple chunks.
2. Plug in crock pot and turn to low. Let cook 8-10 hours.
3. About an hour before you are ready to eat add 2 handfuls of shredded carrots and 1/2 to 1 cup of pineapple chunks. Add more or less of each to your liking.
4. Serve with white rice and enjoy!

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think!