Quick and Easy Crockpot Recipes

One of you very sweet readers asked me share what my favorite crockpot recipe is that is super easy. 1. Shouldn't all crockpot recipes be super easy?

2. I'd love to!

Since I am never one to just give you one idea, here are a few of my favorites. I do most of my recipe finding on pinterest so be sure to check out my eats and sweets board!

Life Hint: if you click the picture it will take you to recipe/pin. :)

Beef Stew

I made this bad boy when Esther was in town and it was delish, straightforward, easy. I added prob about 1/4 cup of flour towards the end to thicken it a little bit. But grab yourself a buttery roll and go. to. town.

Go Nuts: 12...well 8 Paleo Meals

When Lawren and I organize our lives again we will do round three of our paleo crockpot meals. There are a few of these recipes that I do not like and I adjusted the shopping list that is included in this pin accordingly. I do not like green eggs and ham. But I also don't like the Thai chicken wings, the Italian sausage with peppers, the cheeseburger soup, or the honey sesame chicken.

That still leaves you with Taco Chili, White chicken chili, Teriyaki Chicken, Beef Stew, Southwest Chicken, Mexican Fiesta Chicken, Spinach and Salsa Chicken (A CROWD PLEASER for like 4 ingredients), and SW Flank Steak.

Since I can't eat dairy, this smattering of recipes that I like, by and large, requires no alteration from me. The cost to make the 8 that I like is around $100 if you buy all organic. It takes LB and I about 2 hours to put it all together and each meal EASILY makes 4+ servings. We end up having leftovers for days with these bad boys.

The biggest life hack I have ever found are these bad boy Reynolds Wrap Crock pot liners. I basically won't crockpot without em. They are at every grocery store ever so BUY THEM and get potting!

A Santa Fe Salad: Recipe Style

GUYS! My failure of a garden made a tomato. One single solitary gorgeous, delicious, red, beautiful tomato. I'll TAKE IT! Since I had said miracle tomato on hand, I wanted to make a salad worthy of a miracle tomato. This salad was totally vegan because momma can't do dairy and I was feeling like we had eaten a lot of meat this week.  However, you could add grilled chicken and shredded cheese just because you want to. Trust me though, it doesn't need it.

Here's what you'll need to make enough salad for three people or two really hungry humans:

• 3 sweet bell peppers
• A large handful of baby spinach
• Cilantro (just a handful of it chopped) No need to go crazy with it
• 1/4 cup frozen corn or fresh if that is how you roll
• 1 avocado
• 1 miracle tomato
• 1 can black beans
• 1 cup quinoa
• Daiya shredded pepperjack cheese or other-dairy filled cheese option (optional)
• Dairy free ranch
• A dash of cayene pepper
• Crushed tortilla chips (optional)

Get the quinoa going first. I used to be afraid of quinoa and now I am not. Just buy a box, read the directions, cook it. It is easier than rice (real talk).

I then heated up the corn and black beans cause I like a little warm something or other in my entree salad. After heating them up I gave the beans a good rinse in warm water.

I then chopped and sliced and diced the bell peppers, the cilantro, avocado AND the...

MIRACLE TOMATO!

GAH. She's was so pretty and yummy. Okay moving on. I LOVE YOU TOMATO!

At this point, you can grab a handful of spinach, the tomato, peppers, avocado, and cilantro and throw it into the large salad bowl.

Looking pretty good already, no? And then because you are fancy but not too fancy (AKA, I am not making my own dressing from scratch) take some dairy free dressing and add a dash of cayenne pepper to it. Like this:

Voila! Chipotle ranch for a Santa Fe Salad.

Now add in the warm stuff... black beans, corn and quinoa.

And if you're real crazy, add in this goodness. Just a litttle.

Tada. Look at this deliciousness. Now go forth and eat what is likely the healthiest thing you will eat all week. (I mean, until you add in some crushed up tortilla chips cause you are a rebel like that).