4 Slowcooker Meals for Busy Moms

Slow cooker meals are the answer to a busy mom's prayer. Pop the ingredients into your slow cooker in the morning, and when you come home at the end of your day's work, dinner is served!

Here are some tasty meal ideas for your slow cooker. Or, if you want to sear your meat first and cook everything in the same pot, these recipes will work in a Dutch oven (like this one: https://unocasa.com/products/enameled-cast-iron-dutch-oven). 

If using a Dutch oven, just cook the food for 1/4 of the time. For instance, a recipe requiring 8 hours in a slow cooker will need just over 2 hours in a Dutch oven.

#1 Sausage stew with peppers and onions

Serves 3 to 5 people.

Ingredients

• 2 small sweet peppers (any color), de-cored, de-seeded, and sliced thinly

• 1 small yellow onion, cut in thin rings

• 1/2 cup beer (any beer will do, or vegetable stock if you prefer)

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• 1 tablespoon grainy mustard

• Ground black pepper

• 1 pound Italian sausage (or veggie sausages)

• Flatbreads, rolls, or hot dog buns for serving (optional) 

Method

If using a Dutch oven, sear the onions and sausage first. Otherwise, put everything except the sausages and bread into the slow cooker. Layer the sausages on top and cook on low for 6 hours (in a Dutch oven, for 1 1/2 hours on low).

Serve with your bread of choice, or even over rice or couscous. Italian bread goes well with this recipe.

#2 Chicken Noodle Soup

Serves 5 people.

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound chicken breasts

• Salt and ground black pepper

• 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 3 shallots, or 1 small onion, diced

• 2 carrots, peeled and finely sliced

• 1 1/2 stalks celery, finely diced

• 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (a mixture of thyme and rosemary)

• 2 bay leaves

• 4 ounces spaghetti (break it into smaller pieces)

• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar

• Fresh parsley, chopped, for serving (optional)

Method

Put all ingredients except for the spaghetti into the slow cooker. Cover, and cook on low for 7-8 hours (or 2 hours in a Dutch oven).

Take the chicken breasts out from the pot, and shred them with a fork. Put the chicken back into the pot with the spaghetti, cover, and cook for another 30 minutes or till the pasta is tender (20 minutes in a Dutch oven).

Serve with parsley sprinkled over the top.

#3 Chili Con Carne

Serves 4 people.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 pound ground beef

• 3 shallots or 1 small yellow onion, finely diced

• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced

• 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)

• 1 teaspoon hot chili powder (or 2 teaspoons mild, to taste)

• 16 ounces passata or other tomato sauce (you can use 2 cans of 8 oz)

• 1 beef broth cube

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp paprika

• 2 tsp chipotle sauce (or try one of these substitutes)

• 1 tsp granulated sugar

• 1/2 tsp ground coriander

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 2 cans of red kidney beans (14.5 oz), rinsed and drained

• Sour cream, fresh chopped parsley, and shredded cheddar cheese, for serving (optional)

Method

Saute the onion, garlic, and the beef in a pan (if using a slow cooker afterward) or directly in your Dutch oven.

Add the rest of the recipe ingredients (except for the kidney beans and the serving ingredients) into the pot and stir well.

Cover. Cook on low for 6 hours in a slow cooker, or 1 1/2 hours in a Dutch oven.

Stir in the kidney beans and let them heat through for a few minutes. Serve the chili warm with the desired toppings.

#4 Fish stew

Serves 4 to 6 people.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds flounder or haddock fillets

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 clove garlic, peeled and finely diced

• 4 shallots or 1 onion, finely diced

• 1 yellow pepper, seeded and diced

• 1 or 2 potatoes, peeled and diced

• 1 can chopped tomatoes (14.5 oz)

• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (basil, oregano)

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1/4 cup white wine

Method

Put all the recipe ingredients in your slow cooker and stir well, being careful of the fish fillets. Cover. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. If using a Dutch oven, cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Serve with chopped fresh parsley.

Voila, I hope these tasty one-pot meals will make your life easier for you and your family. Enjoy!