Ok, let me preface this post by making the disclaimer that I am a terrible cook. However, in hopes of being able to actually cook something remotely healthy, I bought a Crockpot today. Does anyone have any good, healthy, band friendly, and easy Crockpot recipes? Thanks!

Num num crockpot foods.

I make a lot of crockpot foods, I can't eat them all, but I can eat something in it.

For example pot roast..

Put a raw roast in, a packet of lipton dry onion Soup, sliced potatos, sliced onions (and some people put celery & carrots, but I detest those things in food) Cover it all in Water. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. It's very tender meat, and softens everything. I still have a hard time eating the meat, so I mix the au juice with mashed potatos and make a soup sort of mixture out of it.

My favorite crockpot recipe.. Shortribs. Put raw shortribs in it, make a bbq sauce (or use the recipe above really).. but I like the bbq.. tablespoon of mustard, tablespoon worstershire sauce (none of these are exact measures), teaspoon of minced garlic, teaspoon of brown sugar, 1/2tablespoon of vinegar (I use balsamic).. put it on the ribs, then I water it down with enough water to make it cover the short ribs in the pot. As it cooks down, it thickens up and the ribs are so soft and tender they literally fall off the bone and you can't put a fork in them and pick them up to save your life lol.

There's good crockpot recipes out there.. google 'crockpot recipes'.

A lot of chicken, which I know is healthier than beef, but I'm not a fan of the chicken. Can make a crockpot chicken stew, pot pie, etc.

I made this 2 weeks ago and it was really good. I think it's a WW recipe.

Buffalo chicken Soup

6 cups milk (I used 1%)

3 cans 98% fat free Cream of Chicken Soup

3 cups cooked, shredded Chicken (thigh meat might work best if you have good restriction)

1 cup Sour Cream (I used fat free)

1/4-1/2 cup hot sauce (I like Frank's Red Hot)

Everything in the crock pot on LOW, for about 4 hours

This is the EASIEST recipe for chili EVER, make sure you make this in a 5 or 6 qt crock pot, it makes a LOT, or you can halve it, and it would fit in a 3.5 qt crock pot.

Crock Pot Chili

2 cans red kidney Beans undrained

2 cans chili beans undrained (use your own heat preference)

2 cans diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes or tomato sauce (again, your preference)

2-3 lbs ground beef or ground turkey, browned and drained

1 or 2 LG chopped onions (added to recipe uncooked)

1 envelope of your favorite chili seasoning mix (I like McCormick)

Dump all ingredients in crock pot, cook on low 8 hours (It's ready to eat after a couple of hours, but the longer it simmers, the more tender the meat, and the better the flavors meld together)

Serve with your favorite chili fixin's!

The original recipe:

1 pkg frozen home-style meatballs

2 bottles of Heinz chili sauce

1 jar grape jelly (small or large- the large makes it a little sweeter)

Cook in crock-pot on low for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally.

I tweaked it a little. To make it healthier, use ground turkey or chicken and make homemade meatballs. I also use a small jar of LOW SUGAR grape jelly. This is really easy and really tasty.

I also thought about using Jenni-O turkey Breakfast sausage links by cutting them into bite-size pieces, instead of meatballs. If I try it, I'll let you know how it is. Jenni-O turkey is what they use on the Biggest Loser, it's supposed to be really healthy.

The grape jelly meatballs are wonderful if you can eat them.. I use to make those too. Meatballs are too rubbery for me now, so I didn't suggest it.

Thanks for all the suggestions! My tummy is rumbling just reading all these recipes!! I think the first one I will make is chili because my hubby has been hankering for chili lately!

I think I will try the meatballs before I get my first fill also...they sound pretty yummy!:biggrin1:

Every time I make that chili for anyone, they always rave about it, and want the recipe. You and your hubby will love it, and it is heat customizable, so you can make anyone's tastebuds happy!

AND for those that DON'T like beans in their Chili, here's another good one for Chili:

Chili Without Beans

2 lbs hamburger

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

15 oz canned chunky tomato sauce

12 oz thick and chunky salsa

2 tsp Mexican seasoning or chili powder

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

Brown hamburger, drain. Mix beef and remaining ingredients except bell pepper in crockpot. Cover and cook on low heat 6-8 hours. Stir in bell pepper, cover and cook on low 15-30 minutes or until bell pepper is tender.

I make my chili similar to that, but I don't use pre-packaged seasonings. Might taste the same, but the one I have is just a 'passed on' recipe from mom, so I make it her way..

1lb ground beef.. brown it with 1 onion in a skillet.

Then throw it in the crockpot, add 1 can of whole tomatos (and moosh them up), 1 can of tomato paste, 1/2c of water, 2 bay leaves, 4 cloves (make sure to take both of these out at the end), 2 tbsp of chili powder, 2 tsp of cayenne pepper (or more) , 1tsp of paprika.. slow cook for 4 hours.. then add kidney beans.. cook for another 30 minutes.

Ohh another favorite, haven't made in a while.. gonna go buy some kielbasa since I thought of this.. num num.

2 cans of saurkraut.. put it in the slow cooker (with the juices), add 1 whole kielbasa cut up into bite size pieces, and I add a little brown sugar to sweeten the saurkraut.. about 1 tbsp. Slow cook all day.. num num num.

Travelgirl,

Hubbys on the way to the store to get mixins for chili as we speak!! He thought your recipe sounded pretty darn good!

*grins* Enjoy!

I have a pork loin recp that I've condensed to be fat/calorie concious:

* 1 4lb pork loin (one that will fit your crockpot - 3/4lbs works for mine)

* Salt & Peper loin & "lightly dust" with whole wheat flour

* Sear loin on hight heated pan with light olive oil - on all sides locking in * S&P giving a light crust.

* Line the bottom of crockpot with 1/4 cup white wine / 1/2 cup fat free chicken stock / 2/3 cup of Lowerys Lemon Peper Marinade.

* Place Loin on top - add 1 seeded or unseeded (me i like hot so unseeded) jalepeno & 1 medium onion.

* Cook 4/5 hrs depending on size, you may need to add more chicken stock.

* You can add any veggies half way thru cooking process - potatos / celery / .. I use zuchinni & squash.

For those that can't eat pork, this works so well...It turns out very moist.....,

'BBQ' chicken

This is so stinkin easy and DELICIOUS! You will love it!

12 ounces of Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, Whole or cut into pieces

1 Can Diet Coke

1 C. Ketchup

Layer all ingredients into your crock pot. Simmer for four hours. When chicken is cooked, shread it into pieces. It tastes just like BBQ Chicken! My favorite food ever!

White bean Chili

1 large jar of northern white Beans

2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 small can of green chilies

1 can of chicken broth

cumin

chili seasoning

I put the frozen chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot the put everything else on top and cook for 8-10 hours. Stir and cut up the chicken and serve.

It is so good and the chicken is moist and tender.