Coming Home to Dinner Ready: Crock Pot Meal Ideas

I love to make Crockpot meals because you can throw everything in the Crockpot, leave, and come home to a good dinner.

Chicken Cacciatore

I start with boneless chicken thighs and a couple of jars of my favorite sauce (I like Ragu's tomato, onion and garlic). I put them both in the Crockpot on low. I slice up mushrooms, peppers and onions and fry them till slightly browned. I add this to the sauce and chicken.

After the chicken mixture cooks for a couple of hours I add about 1/2 bottle of wine (preferably red). I let that cook a couple of more hours and then add 2-3 small cans of tomato paste, this will thicken the sauce. I season the sauce with garlic powder, onion powder, oregano and basil. Usually I will season it twice, the first time an hour before it will be done and the second time about 15 minutes before it will be done. Then serve over thin spaghetti.

Garlic bread is simple; you slice the loaf in half lengthwise, heavily butter both halves and evenly sprinkle garlic powder and a touch of garlic salt. Place both sides face up in the broiler, watching carefully, until it is a little brown around the edges. Mozzarella and or parmesan can add a little flavor, if you are so inclined. Garlic bread pairs well with chicken cacciatore.

Chili

Chili is another good Crockpot meal. I brown up about 1-11/2 pounds of ground beef with mushrooms, cubed peppers and chopped onions with minced garlic. I drain this and put it in the crockpot with 2 cans of concentrated crushed tomatoes, 2 packages of chili seasoning, and 3 small cans or 1 large can of kidney beans that have been drained and rinsed in cold water. Cook 4-5 hours.

Spoon-bread