How many of you have stood in front of your refrigerator trying to figure out what to cook for dinner? You just don’t have the energy to cook an elaborate meal that requires you to stand in front of a hot stove for a few hours. I understand and I have been there a couple of times in my life. This is why my crockpot is my favorite cooking appliance in the house. Crockpot meals are those set and forget it meals that normally turns out to be the best meals of the week.
I wanted to share with you a few simple crockpot meals that are hearty meals but also meals that are perfect warm up meals the next day.
3 Must Cook Crockpot Meals
Here are three of my favorite winter time soup, stew, and chili recipes. I have personally cooked these meals and my family have enjoyed the each and every time. Plus these are those simple meals that you can get the kids involved in helping you fix.
Take a moment and pull out your meal planning calendar and add one or all three of these meals to your next meal planning schedule.
1. Potato soup | Recipe Here
2. Homemade Chili | Recipe Here
Homemade Chili ingredients
3. Beef Stew | Recipe Here
Tips on Using a Crockpot
Using a crockpot is definitely a time saver; however, with any appliance there are some points to consider. I want to help you enjoy your crockpot as much as I enjoy mine. Here are a few suggestions when using a crockpot as the main cooking appliance to feed your family.
- Make sure you purchase the correct size crockpot for the size of your family and/or the meal you plan to cook. The size of crockpot varies so make sure you choose wisely.
- Always brown your meat before placing in your crockpot.
- Warm up your crockpot before placing your food items into it. Treat it just as you would warming up your oven.
- Use liner bags if you want to cut down on the cleaning process.
- Place potatoes/carrots and other hard vegetables in the crockpot first and add other items on top of the vegetables.
- Never store your food in the crockpot in the refrigerator.
- Clean the crockpot immediately.
What is your go to meal during the winter time?
We make beef stew and chili all the time. I wonder if my kids would like potato soup – I will need to make some and find out 🙂
These are 3 great ideas for those cold winter days. I cook chili not in a crockpot almost once a week because the kids love it and they can take leftovers to school for lunch. I will share the beef stew to all my stew loving friends.
Great picks. I make soups and stews all winter long. They’re easy to make in the crock pot, and they keep us warm on cold, winter days.
There is nothing I love finding more than a great crockpot recipe to try. I’m making that beef stew very soon! I think that sounds perfect for the winter chill we have going on right now.
I LOVE my crock pot for this reason! I can make SO much food and it is delicious and healthy! I can’t wait to try these!
Yum, these three recipes look perfect for my crockpot. I love making chili when it’s cold outside! I want to give that Beef Stew recipe a try.
Taking notes on these recipes, I love using my crockpot during the winter months. The potato soup looks yummy!
I am so glad I got a new crock pot. I have been looking for some delicious new recipes.
I love using my crockpot year round. I’ll make up a big batch of chili and freeze some of it to heat up on a different day.
My go to in the winter is soups. They just warm me right up. Using my crockpot makes it so much easier.
Chili is one of my favorite Crockpot meals it’s delicious and hearty perfect for a cold winner day.
This looks really comforting! A perfect staple meal for winter!
I’m all about the crock pot meals this time of year! Beef stew and chili are two of our favorites, but I’ve never made the potato soup – I’ll have to add it to my grocery list!