Crock Pot Recipes For Busy College Students

Crock Pot Recipes for Busy College Students

College life can be hectic, leaving little time for cooking. But with a crock pot, you can have delicious, home-cooked meals ready with minimal effort. Here are some easy and budget-friendly crock pot recipes perfect for busy college students:

Easy Chicken and Rice

Ingredients:

• 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1 cup brown rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped carrots
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken breast in the crock pot.
2. In a bowl, combine the rice, chicken broth, onion, celery, and carrots.
3. Pour the mixture over the chicken.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender.

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Ingredients:

• 1 pork shoulder (4-5 pounds)
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Pour the marinade over the pork shoulder and rub it in.
4. Place the pork shoulder in the crock pot.
5. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or until the pork is tender and falls apart easily.

Creamy Chicken and Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken breast in the crock pot.
2. Add the potatoes, onion, and celery.
3. In a bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, milk, heavy cream, and flour.
4. Pour the mixture over the ingredients in the crock pot.
5. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender.

Vegetarian Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (15 ounces) corn, drained
• 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced (optional)
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the crock pot.
2. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the chili has thickened.

Beef and Broccoli

Ingredients:

• 1 pound flank steak, sliced into thin strips
• 1 head of broccoli, cut into florets
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, combine the flank steak, soy sauce, brown sugar, and water.
2. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and vegetable oil.
4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
5. Add the flank steak and cook until browned on all sides.
6. Add the broccoli and cook until tender-crisp.
7. Pour in the cornstarch mixture and cook until the sauce has thickened.

Tips for Using a Crock Pot:

• Use lean cuts of meat to reduce fat content.
• Add vegetables to your recipes for extra nutrition.
• Season your dishes well to enhance flavor.
• Cook on low for longer cooking times to tenderize meat and vegetables.
• Don’t overfill the crock pot, as this can prevent even cooking.
• Clean your crock pot regularly to prevent food residue buildup.

Benefits of Using a Crock Pot:

• Convenience: Crock pots allow you to cook meals with minimal effort, freeing up your time for studying or other activities.
• Healthy: Crock pot cooking preserves nutrients in food, making it a healthier option than fast food or takeout.
• Budget-friendly: Crock pot meals are generally inexpensive, especially if you use seasonal ingredients.
• Versatile: Crock pots can be used to cook a wide variety of dishes, from soups and stews to meats and vegetables.
• Time-saving: Crock pots allow you to cook meals while you’re away, saving you time and energy.

Conclusion:

Crock pot recipes are a lifesaver for busy college students. They provide a convenient, healthy, and budget-friendly way to enjoy delicious home-cooked meals. With a little planning and preparation, you can have a nutritious and satisfying meal ready whenever you need it. So next time you’re short on time, reach for your crock pot and whip up one of these easy and delicious recipes.

5 Best Crock Pot Recipes for Busy College Students

College life can be hectic, leaving little time for cooking. A crock pot can be a lifesaver, allowing you to prepare delicious meals with minimal effort. Here are five of the best crock pot recipes for busy college students:

1. Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup salsa
• Tortillas, toppings of choice

Instructions:

1. Place chicken breasts in the crock pot.
2. Sprinkle with taco seasoning and pour in water and salsa.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
4. Shred chicken and serve in tortillas with your favorite toppings.

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2. Creamy Chicken and Rice

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup uncooked rice
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped celery

Instructions:

1. Place chicken breasts, rice, soup, milk, onion, and celery in the crock pot.
2. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
3. Shred chicken and stir into the rice mixture.

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3. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Ingredients:

• 1 pork shoulder (4-5 pounds)
• 1 bottle barbecue sauce
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Instructions:

1. Place pork shoulder in the crock pot.
2. In a bowl, combine barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar. Pour over pork.
3. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
4. Shred pork and serve on buns or sandwiches.

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4. Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 1 pound beef stew meat
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 can beef broth
• 1 cup red wine (optional)
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary

Instructions:

1. Place beef stew meat, onion, carrots, celery, beef broth, red wine (if using), Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and rosemary in the crock pot.
2. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
3. Serve over mashed potatoes or rice.

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5. Slow Cooker Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 packet chili seasoning

Instructions:

1. Brown ground beef in a skillet. Drain any excess fat.
2. Place ground beef, onion, bell peppers, black beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chili seasoning in the crock pot.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
4. Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips.

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