If there’s one valuable life lesson I’ve learned from living off campus this year, it’s how to fit cooking into your busy schedule. I always justified eating out by saying I didn’t have enough time to cook, but believe it or not, cooking can be simple if you do it right. How might you do that, you may ask? Buy a Crock Pot. If you don’t already have a Crock Pot, you’re missing out—you can slow cook your food for hours while doing homework, running errands, or in class. Not to mention that you simply throw the ingredients in the slow cooker and your work is done. If you weren’t already convinced, wait until you hear the extensive list of things you can make in a Crock Pot. Prepare to be convinced!
1. You can have dinner leftovers for the whole week. Since most slow cookers are large, a normal recipe in a Crock Pot makes about 4-6 servings. Now, most people would probably half the recipe, but I make it all, and it’s all for myself. For every recipe I’ve made in my Crock Pot so far, I’ve had leftovers that have lasted me from Monday to Saturday. My favorite recipes that were simple and left me with plenty of food were this Crock Pot Lasagna (yes, you can make lasagna in it!) and this Salsa Lime Chicken that I just made last week. Here’s a picture below of my chicken leftovers—you can add more cheese to the leftovers, but I just added more salsa and heated it up with some corn. Yum!
2. You’ll be ready to host a party. Crock Pots are the perfect kitchen utensil for a potluck dinner or if you’re hosting a party at your apartment. There are numerous appetizer recipes that you can make, plus, you can keep your food warm the whole party until everyone is ready to eat it! For our HC Night Out event a few weeks ago, I made these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs in my slow cooker, and they were delicious! Even while I was running around picking up balloons and getting ready for our (awesome) event, they were so simple to make and were nice and spicy (if you like hot sauce like me, add more!)
3. Dips, Dips, Dips. Like I mentioned before, you can make all sorts of party foods in a Crock Pot. Yet, if you don’t feel like making finger appetizers for people to pick at, why not make a dip? Everyone loves dips! If you’re a buffalo fanatic, try this Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe. You can simply leave it in the Crock Pot to serve so it stays warm. You can also find recipes online for Queso, Taco Dips, Spinach and Artichoke Dips, and many more irresistible dips that will have you hugging your slow cooker with affection all night!
4. Cook up some soup, stew, or chili for a cool day. As the temperatures are slowly dropping, my cravings for soup are kicking in. Rather than spend all my money at Panera, the Crock Pot is most commonly known for how easy it is to cook soups, stews, and chili. This Pumpkin Chili recipe is on my Crock Pot bucket list because it just looks so comforting and unique. If you want something a little simpler (though it already is!) check out this Butternut Squash Soup recipe.
5. YOU CAN EVEN MAKE CANDLES! You heard me right. Did you ever think you could make things like candles, soap, crayons or dye yarn in one of these babies? If you’re interested in any of those, check them out online, and you’ll be amazed at how simple it is to do these crafts in a Crock Pot! If you’re looking for a gift to give your relatives, this candle activity is perfect for you. What Mom wouldn’t love a candle? It only takes four ingredients to make them, and it will have a unique story behind how you made it! Follow these instructions and be prepared to feel like you’re in a Yankee Candle store.
6. Craving a decadent, gooey brownie sundae? You’ve got one. My favorite part about cooking in a Crock Pot is that it allows the food to absorb the sauces you cook it in. So when I saw this Betty Crocker recipe for a hot fudge sundae cake, I was extremely excited. Although I didn’t want to wait so long to have to eat it, allowing it to cook slowly made the sauce thicken, almost like the consistency of fudge. With a scoop of ice cream on top, who needs a boyfriend when you have your Crock Pot to just understand you?
7. Throw a chicken in there and you’re good to go. A couple of weeks ago, I walked into the kitchen and was hit by the fumes coming from the Crock Pot. The smell of spices tortured me all day as my roommate was cooking a Rotisserie chicken. I was surprised you could just stick a chicken in the Crock Pot, throw some spices on it, and let it cook. Can cooking really be that simple? Well, when she took the chicken out, I was extremely jealous. If you’re looking for an easy dish that will make enough food for the week, I highly recommend trying this. Follow these basic instructions here and cook away!
8. Start off your day with some Crock Pot oatmeal, granola, or yogurt. I always envisioned a slow cooker being used for dinners, but it can even be used to simply jump-start your morning with a delicious breakfast. Buying yogurts in the grocery store tends to be expensive; try this 2 ingredient recipe and you can make large portions of yogurt! It’s easy, and it will slash money off your food bill! You may seem skeptical, but it’s totally normal to cook the yogurt overnight in the Crock Pot. To top off the yogurt, you can pair it with a slow cooked granola! There are numerous granola recipes of different flavors and ingredients, but if you just like simple granola, this one is a classic. Last but not least, if you’re feeling adventurous in the morning and like to eat a hearty breakfast, try this Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal that has few ingredients and is to die for this season.
Obsessed? I know I am. Splurge and buy yourself a Crock Pot—the amount of use you’ll get from it and the money you’ll save on eating out is worth it in the end!