First Time Slow Cooker User

Updated on February 27, 2007
T.W. asks from Peoria, AZ
17 answers

I got a slow cooker for christmas and don't have a clue how to use it. I am looking for family friendly recpies for small children. my girls, 3 and 4, won't eat simple things like spagetti or mac and cheese also I can't make anything with fish in it, my husband is allergic. Any help would be great. Thank you.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.M.

answers from Phoenix on

There is always websites to try www.crockpot.com is a good place to start.You alwys dont have to FOLLOW the recipes.Most come with a book to give meat reccomended cooking times and veggie placement just throw in what you like.Have fun!
M.

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.J.

answers from Phoenix on

chili is our favorite. i lb ground beef browned, i cup dried beans, ( I combine red kidney and pinto), i large can whole tomatoes, salt pepper, 1/4 tsp ground cumin, i bay leaf, medium onion chapped, 3 garlic cloves chopped, 1/ tsp oregano. put into crock pot and cook on high for 1 hr then lower to med for 5 hrs, mix it up and serve with cheese and onions. i skip the chili powder because we dont like spicy foods but if your family tolerates it add some.

Coca Cola beef
put in incexpensive roast into the crock pot, and 1 onion quarted, 3 whole cloves garlic, peeled, one bunch of cilatro, one fresh jalapeno pepper ( wont make it spicy i promise), salt and pepper, and enough coca cola to come up to 1 inch from the top, cook until it pulls apart easily with a fork, it depends on the size of the meat. take fatty parts out, drain the juice into a pan and add shedded beef to juice, serve over plain white rice, or make burritos

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.M.

answers from Phoenix on

My favorite crock pot recipe is pulled pork! It's so easy...buy a pork roast, throw it in the crock pot with water or beer (it's safe the alcohol cooks out!) and salt and pepper! I put it in frozen and cook it on low for about 12 hours or until it is falling apart. Then shred it and pour BBQ sauce over it and serve on buns. This is so good and easy, and great for big get togethers like b-day parties ect...! Good Luck and if you want to give me your address I would be more than happy to send you one of my Slow Cooker Cookbooks because I got about 3 when I got married!
A. M.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.A.

answers from Knoxville on

Hi T.,
This is one of my family's favorites, BBQ Beef Sandwiches. Just put a London Broil in with some salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder and then pour a whole 18 oz bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce over it and cook it for about 7 to 9 hour on low. Pull it out and shred it, then put it back in for about half an hour. Hope you enjoy.
B.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.G.

answers from Albuquerque on

One of the easiest recipes I know for a slow cooker is pot roast its so simple just get a roast brown it in a pan then lay it in the crock pot with carrots (i use the baby ones), a few sticks of celery, salt pepper, if you want a little more season I use thyme and marjaruom. then add water or chicken stock and let it cook all day or all night mid day cube some potatos and throw them in and you've got a balanced meal. I take out some of the carrots and mash them up for my baby he loves them.

Another even simpler recipe is spare ribs just buy some spare ribs throw them in the pot and pour a bottle of barbuque sauce over the top then let them cook overnight or all day.
So good luck and let me tell you my crock pot has become my best friend if youd like some more recipes let me know I even have some vegiterian ones.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.P.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi T., the easiest thing is to look in the frozen food section for the bagged croc pot classics Marie calendars just came out with some that are pretty good I found them at safeway Also check this out for good croc pot recepies http://www.alcoa.com/reynoldskitchens/en/promotions/scl_m...

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.O.

answers from Phoenix on

Look up Slow Cooker on Google and you'll get a ton! Also in the freezer section there are some yummy Marie Callendar Slow Cooker Meals you can just put in the slow cooker and they come out great!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

Z.B.

answers from Tucson on

I have never used a slow cooker either but you can go to the www.kraft.com and sign up for the magazine which is free and you get alot of delicious, easy to cook recipes. On the website they might have a recipe for the slow cooker. Have fun, girl!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.S.

answers from Phoenix on

I recently became A HUGE fan of my crock pot. it makes some great tasty dinners.

I recommend checking out www.allrecipes.com

its a great website that you can find recipes for literally anything. everything i have made from there has been delicious!!!!! I do recommend reading some of the reviews and suggestions from other people though...they can be extremely helpful!!!!

also i make a good chicken meal in the crockpot with cut up chicken, veggies, cream of chicken soup (or any cream of soups), milk, sour cream and noodles...its way good and its a recipe I made up myself just throwing stuff in!! so just let your imagination go to work!!

good luck!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.

answers from Phoenix on

T. -

You can look on-line for slow cooker recipes. I have one and use it to make pot roasts. They always come out really good. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.V.

answers from Albuquerque on

Try the frozen food isle to get started. There are all kinds of "slow cooker kits" in there. Once you get used to using it, then you can get creative and cook elk and green chile stew on your own!!! :)

Kurt

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.B.

answers from Phoenix on

T.,
Here is a great one and my 4 yr old and 1 yr old love it. Take four frozen chicken breasts, package of lipton onion soup and a can of cranberries, whole. Throw it together, cook for about 4 hours and I serve with rice. It is delicious.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.D.

answers from Phoenix on

You can put anything in them, they are great. Chicken breasts, pot roast, veggies, rice, pasta. Just put it in, add a little broth/stock/juice/or water, and cook all day. 9-5pm. Chicken usually cooks faster then roast. (5 hours) The easiest thing that I like to do is: 4 chicken breasts, 10-15 small potatos, carrots, and chicken stock. Cook it all for about 6-7 hours (chicken on the bottom), then 20 min. before your ready to eat add apple slices to the pot. Easy and yummy. Betty Crocker makes a great crock pot receipe book. Good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.K.

answers from Albuquerque on

T.,
YOu should head to any book store and pick up a copy of a slow cooker cookbook....they are full of tons of great ideas from main dishes to sides to desserts....it is hard to mess up a slow cooker recipe since all you do is add the ingredients and turn it on...so we use ours quite a bit...I have a bunch of great recipies...if you want me to send you any send me an email with slow cooker in the subject line at ____@____.com Hope that helps, I also have 3 little children and my middle child tends to be the most picky so I understand your delima.

M.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.R.

answers from Albuquerque on

A lot of people mentioned the frozen ones. I agree! They are so easy & good. Our favorites are the pot roast, herbed chicken & rice and chicken & dumplings. Here's a recipe too: 1 lb. thawed hamburger, 1 bag (1 lb.) or less of pinto beans, 1 sm. box of beef stock (80 cents in the soup aisle), salt, pepper. Fill almost full with water. Cook for about 8 hrs on high. Add cut up red potatoes about 35 minutes before done (the bigger the cut, add more time). It makes great leftover breakfast borritos. Depending on the size of your cooker & the amounts of ingredients, you may have to play with the amounts of water & how long to cook, etc., but it's a really easy good recipe.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Albuquerque on

I recieved a slow cooker from my mother in law 2 years ago for christmas and it was the best gift I have ever recieved. I went out to Wal-Mart and found a cookbook called Fix it and Forget it. It is a cookbook full of slow cooker reciepes. I cook this way at least three times a week. It is really a time saver. Let me know if you would like some reciepes out of this cook book before you go to try it. I would be happy to help. you can e-mail me at ____@____.com! Enjoy!
~M.~

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions