by Tiffany King 19 Comments
Slow cook your way to happiness.
I’m in love with my crockpot. Who else could I get to cook dinner for me while I’m off doing other things? I’ve looked high and low for an Alice (from Brady Bunch fame) to come and help me out, but I can’t find or afford her. Crockpot to the rescue. And I’ve realized that a recipe doesn’t have to start out it’s life as a crockpot recipe. These tips will help you convert your favorite recipes, so they can cook themselves while you do more important things, like deal with your Marcia’s latest drama or find out who broke that vase while playing ball in the house.
1. Most soups can be made in the crockpot – Two things to keep in mind:
- Be careful when making cream soups in a slow cooker. You’ll need to add the milk or cream at the end of the cooking time.
- Make sure the recipe will fit in your crockpot. If it makes too much, you could cut the recipe in half or just use the crockpot to heat up leftovers for another time.
2. Most casseroles and stews can be made in the crockpot with little or no alterations. Chicken Tetrazini, Hashbrown Casserole, Chicken Broccoli Divan and Beef Stew all started out as oven dishes.
3. Use other crockpot recipes as inspiration or for cooking guidelines. I always made Calico Bean Soup on the stove. When I decided it needed to cook itselfwithout me watching over it, I wasn’t sure how much liquid to use as I never measured that before, but went by what the beans needed. I found a recipe for a bean soup on A Yearof Slow Cookingand went by those measurements. I also saw where Stephanie used chicken broth and decided that would be better than the water I was using. Her bean soup recipe was different (it might have been a black bean soup), but it held great ideas for converting my recipe.
4. Any baked meat can be done in a crockpot instead of the oven. Whole chicken, chicken pieces, roasts, chops etc. Add sauces and seasonings, put the lid on and let it do its thing.
5. Most recipes that finish in the oven or have some baking time can be made in a slow cooker. Try to figure out what the time in the oven is doing for the food. Is it intended to crisp, thicken, heat, cook from raw to well done? For instance, Honey Mustard Chicken Wings were to be browned on the stove, sauce added and then finished in the oven. This would have kept the sauce thicker, like a glaze. I decided that I could live without the pretty glaze and a thinner sauce was ok for me too, so I finished them off in the crockpot.
6. Recipes that have cooking time on the stove top can also be done in the crockpot. We’ve covered soups already, but other recipes like Chicken ala King, taco meat, or even hot sandwich fillings, like Sloppy Joes or Sloppy Cubanos can be fixed and ready to go by dinner. If the recipe calls for ground meat, that will need to be browned first. Most of these types of recipes can be done on low.
Have you found happiness with your crockpot?
Related Recipe
- Turkey Breast in the Slow Cooker
- Slow Cooker Meatballs and Spaghetti Sauce
- Teriyaki Pork Chops with Red Pepper and Pineapple in the Slow Cooker
- Italian Chicken with Tomatoes in the Crock-Pot
Reader Interactions
Comments
Lee saysThe crockpot is my favorite kitchen appliance!!!! Thanks for the conversion recipe tips!
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Thank you for sharing these useful tips. I’m a bit of a beginner when it comes to crock-pot cooking, and I’m definitely looking to expand my culinary repertoire, and your recipes look very yummy. It was nice to meet you via SITS!
- Elizabeth says
I love my crock! Chili is my favorite because it’s better the longer it cooks and you don’t have to still it in the crock! Thanks for sharing!!
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- Stephanie O'Dea says
These are great tips, Tiffany! I’m so glad that you’re getting such great use out of your slow cooker!
xoxo stephReply
- moderate sherri says
I love my crockpot! I do almost everything in it!
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- Beverly says
I love my crockpot, too! In fact, I cooked beans in it today. Thanks for the tips.
Bev
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- Pam says
I love this. I have recently rediscovered my crock pot and have been using it at least once a week. Why did I ever have it stashed away in a cabinet??
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- Jewelry Rockstar says
I love my crockpot. I made yummy baked beans for the 4th in my crockpot. Delish. I have never thought about making hashbrown casserole in the crockpot. How long did you cook it on what temp?
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- Barnacle Bertha says
I can’t remember life before crockpots. My favorite, a 1 1/2 quart, recently expired. *sigh*
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- Katie says
Why does ground beef have to be cooked before being put in the crockpot? I ask since I know that chicken can go in the crockpot raw. Just curious. Thanks!
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- Tiffany says
If you don’t stir the ground beef it would cook in one big clump. That’s the only reason.
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- Mary says
You can’t do one thing in the crockpot you can on the stove: remove the cooked ground beef that has been cooked by itself and drain it on paper towels.
If you do add ground beef, it is usually to the entire dish in the crockpot. Once it goes in, you can’t really drain off the fat without draining the rest of the meal away.Reply
Trackbacks
[…] are many excellent recipes specifically for crock pots; they aren’t just for soups and stews. Or convert your favorite dishes for use in the slow cooker. Sliding into dinner time with the food already cooked and waiting to be […]
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[…] are many excellent recipes specifically for crock pots; they aren’t just for soups and stews. Or convert your favorite dishes for use in the slow cooker. Sliding into dinner time with the food already cooked and waiting to be […]
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[…] are many excellent recipes specifically for crock pots; they aren’t just for soups and stews. Or convert your favorite dishes for use in the slow cooker. Sliding into dinner time with the food already cooked and waiting to be […]
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[…] Tips for Converting Recipes to Make in the Crock Pot […]
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[…] are many excellent recipes specifically for crock pots; they aren’t just for soups and stews. Or convert your favorite dishes for use in the slow cooker. Sliding into dinner time with the food already cooked and waiting to be […]
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[…] are many excellent recipes specifically for crock pots; they aren’t just for soups and stews. Or convert your favorite dishes for use in the slow cooker. Sliding into dinner time with the food already cooked and waiting to be […]
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[…] already talked about how to convert recipes into slow cooker recipes. Here are a few tips for going the other way and using the oven and stove […]
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