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The leaves are changing, football is footballing and your girlfriend will not stop asking you to go to the pumpkin patch with her. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, I guess. As the weather cools down, the need for hearty meals rises, but who has time to spend three hours on braising lamb chops and figuring out how to cook risotto? There’s nothing that warms the soul quite like a solid crockpot meal. It’s the most versatile of cooking appliances and a two-year old can use it. Prepare yourself for those brisk autumn nights with these seven recipes.
Mexican Sweet Chili
1 can, sweet corn
1 can, black beans (unseasoned)
1 can, Rotel tomatoes
1 can, diced tomatoes
1 pound, ground chuck
3/4 cup, brown sugar
1 packet, chili seasoning
1 raw jalapeño, sliced
2 cloves, garlic, chopped
2 tbsp, salt
1 tbsp, pepper
Brown the beef, drain the fat, but leave a little extra grease. Just a little bit, probably a tablespoon’s worth. Mix in the chili seasoning, garlic and jalapeños and cook on medium-low heat for 10 minutes in the frying pan, stirring occasionally. Empty beef, garlic and jalapeño mixture into crock pot, set on low heat. Mix in sweet corn, black beans, Rotel tomatoes, diced tomatoes, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Let it stew for three hours or overnight. Your call. The longer it cooks, the better it is. Once ready to eat, set crock pot on “keep warm” for an hour, then eat all of the chili. Best garnished with sour cream, colby jack and/or guacamole.
DC Chicken
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bottle, BBQ sauce
1 can, Diet Coke
Combine ingredients in crock pot. Cook on high for six hours. Shred the chicken. Eat it with your bare hands. Thank me later.
Classic Pot Roast
Three pounds, boneless chuck roast
1 packet, onion soup mix
4 Yukon gold potatoes, quartered
1/2 a package of baby carrots
Brown the roast on a stovetop. Combine 1.5 cups of water and onion soup mix in crock pot. Place veggies on the bottom of the pot. Place roast on top of veggie bed. Slow cook on low for six plus hours. Optional flavortown upgrade: Combine one cup of sour cream with one tablespoon of horseradish sauce, serve on the side.
Sexy Pulled Chicken
4 skinless chicken thighs
One onion, sliced
Season mix: Equal parts brown sugar, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, mustard powder, garlic powder, cumin.
Put onions on the bottom of the pot. Place chicken thighs on top of the onions. Top with season mix. Let stew for 4-6 hours.
Forrest Gump “Million Dollar Wound” Pork Butt
Three pounds, bone-in pork butt
1/2 cup, brown sugar
1 can, Dr. Pepper
2 tbsp, salt and pepper
1/4 cup, apple cider vinegar
Rub that butt with the brown sugar, salt and pepper mix. Rub it good. Place it in the crock pot. Pour the Dr. Pepper and apple cider vinegar into the pot. Let it stew for at least five hours. Serve whenever.
Joe’s Backdoor Buffalo Chicken
6 chicken thighs
1 bottle, buffalo sauce
1 packet, powdered ranch dressing
Passed down from generations of North Floridians, this one is worth the wait. Toss it all into the crockpot, cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred the chicken, top it with some pepper jack cheese and toss it all on a hamburger bun.
Hobo Queso
Leftover taco meat
1 block of Velveeta cheese
1 can of Rotel tomatoes
One bag of off-brand Tostitos tortilla chips
Throw it all into the pot. Set pot to high. Stir occasionally. Wait an hour. Eat the entire thing over the span of a weekend..
Respond
Brian McGannon
What do I love? I love happy hour, a good golf tan, and getting moderately drunk during dinner.
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Here’s how to make some incredible roast sandwiches. Or put it on top of white rice.
For a 2-3 lbs English or Pot roast: add 1 packet Salad Magic Zesty Italian powdered mix and 1 jar Mezzetta deli sliced golden greek pepperoncini peppers (including the juice)
For a 3-4 lbs English or Pot roast: add 2 packets Salad Magic Zesty Italian powdered mix and 1 jar Mezzetta deli sliced golden greek pepperoncini peppers, and 1 jar of mild pepperoncini peppers (including the juice)
Put it in a crock pot on low for 8 hours. The roast will be so soft, you can cut it with a spoon. Tastes best with Po’Boy bread
I actually had the buffalo chicken yesterday. Can’t beat it.
I’d also add chicken tacos to the crock pot recipes. Chicken, taco seasoning, and a jar of salsa for about 6 hours.
Eating a vat of Hobo Queso in one weekend sounds like an awful Monday spent mainly in the bathroom… otherwise, I wouldn’t mind it
Brian I like your writing, please don’t waste your skills on a column about recipes.
I will not apologize for spreading the crock pot gospel.
I bought a crock pot after reading this.
You should write a column selling your sex appeal after reading her comment, Brian.
Your name is “still single”, so maybe you should try one or two of these….
Apparently, I am the only one who feels this way. Sorry Brian you clearly understand what this community wants more then me.
Than, pal.
It’s a losing battle.