9 AMAZING Ways to Use Your Slow Cooker

Yes, slow cookers are amazing.  Many recipes have a “dump it and forget it” ease so that your family can easily let your crock pot do the cookin’ while you go about your daily business.  But beyond those kinds of recipes, what else can you get your slow cooker to do for you in the kitchen to add a bit more versatility to an already remarkable kitchen invention?  We have 9 ways to use your amazing slow cooker to help you unleash its full capabilities for your benefit.

9 AMAZING Ways to Use Your Slow Cooker

1. Snacks

Your crock pot can be used to make delicious snacks without you needing to slave away in the kitchen.

• Slow Cooker Applesauce by Detoxinista.

Sliced apples and water are combined in the slow cooker to make a lovely applesauce that can be stored in the refrigerator for a week or in the freezer for up to six months.

• Crockpot Baked Oatmeal Bars by Sugar Free Mom.

These bars can be eaten as a snack or for breakfast, and you can choose from a list of optional toppings too.

• Healthy Party Snack Mix by Taste of Home.

2. Yogurt

Making your own yogurt allows you to control the sugar, food coloring, and cost.

• Homemade Yogurt by Super Healthy Kids.

• Easy Homemade Greek Yogurt by The Daring Gourmet.

3. Bulk cooking

Allow your crock pot to do the work while getting several uses out of your finished crock pot creation.

• Refried Beans by Super Healthy Kids.

Sure, these can be a side dish too.  But I love that you make enough for several servings to use when needed.  I usually freeze these beans into portions using a muffin tin, transfer them to a freezer bag, and defrost as needed for a side dish, to use in a burrito, or for any other time we’d like refried beans.

• Slow Cooker Whole Chicken by Tori Avey.

This chicken serves as a delicious entrée on its own, but what I love about cooking a whole chicken in the crock pot is that there is usually enough chicken left after to use for another purpose.  Whether you throw some diced chicken into a quesadilla, use it for a chicken salad, or save it for a recipe that calls for cooked chicken, you’ll have the start to another meal ready to go.

• Slow Cooker Marinara by Budget Bytes.

Make a big batch of homemade marinara to use on pasta, in lasagna, for dipping your cheese sticks, or to use in any recipe calling for marinara.

4. Breakfast

It’s tough to find the time in the morning to make a hot breakfast.  Let your crock pot work while you rest to provide a lovely aroma and hot breakfast when you awake.

• Slow Cooker Banana Nut Oatmeal by The Lemon Bowl.

Oats, bananas, and spices cook overnight in the slow cooker to make a healthy, warm, and filling breakfast.

• Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal by Super Healthy Kids.

Oats are combined with pumpkin, maple syrup, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger for a lovely hot breakfast.

• Crockpot Breakfast Bake Recipe by Super Healthy Kids.

Broccoli, ham, potato, egg, cheese, and bread, combined together in the crock pot, mean breakfast awesomeness.

• Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes Roundup by Super Healthy Kids.

5. Sides

Several side dishes can be made in the slow cooker.  We use the slow cooker for side dishes most often when we are grilling our protein.

• Sweet Potatoes in the Slow Cooker by Super Healthy Kids.

These sweet potatoes turn out creamy and have a buttery-like texture.

• Slow Cooker Baked Beans by 100 Days of Real Food.

Start with dried navy beans and create your own homemade baked beans.  To make them vegetarian, feel free to omit the bacon.

• Slow Cooker Corn on the Cob by Super Healthy Kids.

• Easy Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes by Super Healthy Kids.

These mashed potatoes can be served immediately or kept on the warm setting of your slow cooker for up to four hours so that your mashed potatoes can be warm and ready when the rest of your dinner is ready.

6. Soups

Making soup in the slow cooker is one of our favorite cooking choices for the winter.

• Crockpot Chicken Veggie Quinoa Soup by Chelsea’s Messy Apron.

This is a customizable soup that allows you to throw in any veggies you have in the fridge, along with chicken and quinoa.

• Slow Cooker Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Soup by Peas and Crayons.

• Crockpot Creamy Mushroom Soup by Super Healthy Kids.

7. Entrée

Many of these just need a side salad, fruit, and possibly a grain to make a complete meal.

• Slow Cooker Butter Chicken by One Lovely Life.

It may be called butter chicken, but don’t be fooled…it’s healthy and delicious.

• Turkey Chili Potatoes by Super Healthy Kids.

Delicious and hearty turkey chili on top of baked potatoes with your choice of toppings.  Nom nom!

• Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pulled Pork by Gimme Some Oven.

• Lemon Chicken with Spinach Parmesan Crepes by Super Healthy Kids.

Our family loves this recipe, and if we are short on time, we just serve the lemon chicken in whole wheat tortillas, and it’s still fabulous.

8. Freezer meal

Many slow cooker meals can be converted to freezer meals.  The prep is done ahead of time and frozen, and when it’s time to cook, you dump it in the crock pot and get a fabulous meal.  10 Quick and Healthy Freezer to Slow Cooker Meals gives step by step instructions of what you can do now to prep to save time later.

9. Bread

Yes, bread can be made in the slow cooker too.  Pretty sweet, right?

• Couldn’t Be Easier Slow Cooker Bread by Food.

Whole wheat flour and oatmeal team up in this slow cooker bread that cooks on high for 3 hours.

• One Bowl Slow Cooker Pumpkin Bread by Mom’s Kitchen Handbook.

Enjoy moist and tender pumpkin bread made with whole wheat flour, olive oil, and maple syrup.

 

You always knew your slow cooker held amazing powers.  Now that you can start using your slow cooker to cook foods other than entrees and soups, it’s like finding out that new powers have been unleashed to benefit you.