Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce

Rich & hearty, this homemade bolognese sauce simmers in your slow cooker all day. Just serve with rigatoni or tagliatelle for comfort food perfection. 

Well, folks... I think the start of comfort food season has officially arrived. The temps have started to drop slightly, the leaves are falling off of the trees, and I have actually had to turn on the heat a few times after waking up in the morning to a cold house. 

I know we typically think of bowls of cozy soups and cheesy casseroles as traditional comfort food, but I am about to step up your homemade comfort food game with this slow cooker recipe for an easy and flavorful bolognese sauce.

I fell in love with bolognese sauce earlier this year when my boyfriend helped to open a new Italian restaurant just north of Pittsburgh. 

There, they slow simmer their bolognese sauce on the stovetop all day and then serve it over homemade tagliatelle pasta. It quickly became my go-to pasta dish to order off the menu almost every time that I would drive up to visit my boyfriend while he was working at the restaurant.

Since I can't always make the two hour drive to the restaurant when I have a bolognese craving, I decided it was time to come up with my own homemade version of my new favorite comfort food. I did consult with the chef of the restaurant as to what his must-have ingredients are for a good, traditional sauce. 

And since I know that most of us do not have the time (nor the patience) to simmer & stir a pot of homemade bolognese over the stove all day, I decided that a slow cooker adaptation for the recipe was necessary.

10 Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Sides

Save time, oven space, and sanity with this round-up of 10 Thanksgiving Side Dishes you can make in your slow cooker...

This year will my second year hosting my family's Thanksgiving dinner.  I am loving my new role as the hostess of the traditional family Thanksgiving, but I am all about making it as easy & stress-free (& delicious) as possible for myself.  

I mean, who wants to be stuck sweating in the kitchen, fretting that everything will not get done in time due to a shortage of oven space?  Not >>this girl<<.  ;)

I want to be the hostess sipping on a cranberry mimosa while the turkey rests and most of the sides are deliciously nestled in a couple of slow cookers, keeping warm...

Tavern Style Shepherd's Pie

This Tavern Style Shepherd's Pie combines two traditional weekend classics into one delicious, family-pleasing meal...

I think you all pretty much know by now that if I can utilize my slow cooker during the day to help make evening dinner prep easier and quicker, I am all for it.  When I was approached to give one of Campbell's new Slow Cooker Sauces a go, I was more than game.  

I picked up a package of the Campbell's Slow Cooker Sauce in Tavern Style Pot Roast and started brainstorming how I could transform the well-loved, slow-cooked pot roast into an amazing and tasty weeknight meal.  

Slow Cooker Spiced Pear Butter

Made with fresh pears & a pinch of cardamom, this Slow Cooker Spiced Pear Butter is a delicious way to celebrate the flavors of fall...

A few weeks ago, my grandmother called me to ask if I would be interested in taking any pears. A former neighbor of hers had called telling her how their pear trees in their yard were just overflowing with ripe fruit, and they hated to see all of it just fall to the ground and rot.  

So my grandmother had already planned to head over with my grandfather and do a little pear picking when she had called me.

Did I want some??  Ummmmm.. yeah!

Now what to do with an overabundance of pears?  Do what I do when I have a lot of apples after apple picking- make slow cooker fruit butter! :)

My Homemade Crock Pot Apple Butter is my #2 all-time most viewed post, so I figured I couldn't go wrong by coming up with a pear version of my most popular slow cooker recipe. I kept most of the recipe the same, but tweaked a few of the spices.

Can I tell you all a secret?

I actually like this Slow Cooker Spiced Pear Butter better than my Crock Pot Apple Butter.

I know... gasp.

I really think it might be the different texture... and the addition of the cardamom.

Definitely the cardamom. ;)

3 Ingredient Crock Pot Beef Tacos

 You are just 3 ingredients, 1 Crock Pot, & 6 hours away from the best taco meat ever...

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One of my very favorite recipes to make in the Crock Pot is my 3 Ingredient Crock Pot Beef Tacos.
Yes, just 3 ingredients, folks.  






No chopping.
No pre-cooking.
Just dump it all in, mix, and walk away. 
Easy, peasy! :)






I originally shared this recipe over at Melissa's Cuisine as a guest post while she was enjoying the first few weeks with her new sweet baby.  It is so easy and simple even a sleep deprived new mama could throw this one together in a snap (with or without that essential cup of coffee ;) ).  






Now I am not claiming to be the first person ever to do this. I know this and other versions of 3 ingredient taco meat in the slow cooker have been done before.  






I have seen many that use an entire jar of salsa.  Have you purchased a jar of salsa lately? They are usually $3 and up at the store!  I swapped out the pricey salsa with a can of tomatoes and green chiles- you can usually find the brand name one for around $1, but I saved even more and bought the ALDI version for just 59 cents. 

Slow Cooker Captain & Coke Pulled Chicken

A classic cocktail is transformed into a delicious slow cooker meal that is perfect for game day (or any day!) in this Slow Cooker Captain & Coke Pulled Chicken recipe...

Post updated 9/5/18- This flavorful Slow Cooker Captain & Coke Pulled Chicken recipe deserved some updated photos just in time for college football season. I did leave one of the originals down below just so you all can see for yourself why this recipe so desperately needed a little face lift. ;)

My husband's go-to drink of choice is a good old fashioned Captain & Coke.  In fact, we always have a bottle in the freezer.  

Not that he kicks back with a cocktail every evening.  In fact, we have had the very same bottle of Captain Morgan in our freezer since we were married almost 2 years ago.  We also have a rather larger bottle of Captain in the cupboard leftover from the reception from the above mentioned wedding.  

Needless to say, I am always look for some ways to help use up a little of that rum.

You know, besides taking shots or mixing up cocktails. ;)

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Maybe a year into our marriage my husband informed me that one of his all time favorite dinners is Beef Stroganoff.  Honestly, this blew my mind.  It never would have occurred to me that my husband would EVER request that I make Beef Stroganoff for one reason and one reason alone- the mushrooms!  

He hates them.  

Now I will say in my husband's defense, I always find a little pile of discarded mushrooms near the edge of his plate every time he eats this.  So, I am guessing it is the flavor that he likes and maybe the texture of the mushrooms that he dislikes? ;)

I originally stumbled upon this slow cooker beef stroganoff recipe on allrecipes.com.  I love just about any recipe that I can make in my trusty Crock Pot AND I loved that it uses cream cheese instead of sour cream.  I actually didn't make too many tweaks to this recipe except for the addition of fresh mushrooms. (Yep.  Unlike my husband, I DO like mushrooms! :) )

What you will need:

1 lb of beef stew meat, cubed (you can usually pick them up in the meat section packaged and all ready to do like this)

1 can of cream of mushroom soup (10.75 oz)

1/2 medium onion, chopped

About 10 fresh mushrooms, sliced

1/4 cup water

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

4 oz. (1/2 a bar) of cream cheese 

Egg noodles

This recipe is seriously so crazy easy.  Dump everything BUT the cream cheese and egg noodles into the Crock Pot.  You do not even have to brown the stew meat.

Mix together.  

Cook on High for 5 hours or on Low for 8 hours.

When you are close to serving dinner, prepare about a half bag of noodles according to the package directions.  Mix in the cream cheese about 20 minutes before serving. 

Plate up the noodles and top with the beef stroganoff.  Easy, peasy!  All done! :)

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

by Frugal Foodie Mama

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5-8 hours

6041395

Ingredients (4 servings)

• 1 lb of beef stew meat, cubed
• 1 can of cream of mushroom soup (10.75 oz)
• 1/2 medium onion, chopped
• About 10 fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 4 oz. (1/2 a bar) of cream cheese
• Egg noodles

Instructions

Dump everything BUT the cream cheese and egg noodles into the Crock Pot. You do not even have to brown the stew meat.

Mix together.

Cook on High for 5 hours or on Low for 8 hours.

When you are close to serving dinner, prepare about a half bag of noodles according to the package directions. Mix in the cream cheese about 20 minutes before serving.

Plate up the noodles and top with the beef stroganoff.

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What is your favorite comfort food dinner to make in the slow cooker?

If you loved this recipe, you might also like my...

Slow Cooker Beer Braised Pot Roast

3 Ingredient Crock Pot Beef Tacos

Slow Cooker Apple Butter Pork Chops

So last week I gave you all my recipe for a super easy, delicious Homemade Apple Butter in the Crock Pot.  Well, don't put those slow cookers away just yet! (I mean, wash it and everything, but don't shove it back into your cupboard. ;) )

This week I have a recipe for sweet & savory Slow Cooker Apple Butter Pork Chops.  Grab a jar of that homemade apple butter you made with me last week because you are going to need it for this recipe. 

What you will need:

4 pork chops (bone-in or boneless)

1 medium onion, chopped

3 medium apples (any kind), cored and chopped

1 cup apple butter

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 tbsp whole grain Dijon mustard

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1/2 cup apple juice or cider (or white wine)

In a small bowl, whisk together the apple butter, brown sugar, vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and apple juice.  Set aside.

Place the apples and onions in the bottom of the Crock Pot.  Add your pork chops on top and then pour the apple butter mixture all over this.

Cook on Low for 5-6 hours and voila! You have a hearty, tasty fall comfort dinner while you are away at work for the day or just lounging around the house on the weekend.  The pork just falls apart- no knife needed!  Just plate your pork chop and spoon a little of the apples and onions over top. This would be great served along side some homemade mashed potatoes or with a slice of my Spiced Pumpkin Ale Bread.  

Do you have a favorite fall comfort food you like to make in the Crock Pot?

No Effort Buffalo Chicken Pizza

My bread maker has been the catalyst for my absolute obsession with making homemade pizza lately.  Like at least once every single week.  Though my husband and son prefer it, I can only do so many pepperoni and cheese pizzas before I need a little change-up.  One of my first out of the ordinary pizza experiments was my seasonal and fresh Peach, Basil, and Caramelized Onion Homemade Pizza.  But now with football season upon us, I think this calls for the combination of two of everyone's favorite tailgate foods into one delicious creation- a Buffalo Chicken Pizza.  

This recipe is incredibly easy.  I let my Crock Pot and my bread maker do ALL the heavy lifting for this one.  Yes, for most of the actual cook time of this recipe I sat on my butt playing on Pinterest or chasing my daughter around the living room.  Note:  I was NOT in the kitchen. ;)

If you plan on making this for game day, I would suggest making the chicken in the Crock Pot the day before.  You can cut up the chicken the evening before game day morning, and store it in the fridge.  Or, you could go the SUPER easy route and just pick up a rotisserie chicken from the store, but by making your own in the Crock Pot you can save money (and salt, and preservatives, and calories ;) ). 

For my quick recipe for "roasted" chicken in the Crock Pot, CLICK HERE.

What you will need:

For the crust-

1 cup of warm water

2 tbsp of olive oil

1 tbsp of honey

3/4 tsp salt

2 cups white flour

1 cup wheat flour

2 tsp active dry yeast

1-2 tbsp of cornmeal for dusting 

* I adapted my pizza dough recipe from the one found HERE.

About 1 lb (one large breast) of chicken, chopped

1 cup (maybe a bit more depending on your preference) of prepared Buffalo sauce

1/2 cup of blue cheese crumbles

1 cup of shredded mozzarella

1/2 of red onion, thinly sliced (optional)

1 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced (optional)

After your chicken is finished roasting and as you are allowing it to cool before chopping, go ahead and start your pizza dough in your bread maker.  Add wet ingredients and then dry ingredients in the order I have them listed above.  Set your bread maker to the Dough setting and then just walk away.  My bread maker takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to mix, knead, and raise the dough.  

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.  Once your pizza dough is finished in the bread maker, take it out and dust it lightly with cornmeal.  Spread out the dough in a pan or on a pizza stone.  I usually lightly grease my pan to prevent any sticking.  In a small bowl, mix together your chopped chicken and Buffalo sauce.  We use an already prepared sauce that is made by a local vendor.  You can use your favorite wing sauce, or make your own.  I am using jarred because, A. This is No Effort Buffalo Chicken pizza. and B. We love this locally made wing sauce.

Spread the chicken and sauce mixture evenly over your crust.  If you have opted to add the red onions and/or jalapeno, toss those on now.  Now sprinkle on the mozzarella and blue cheese.  Bake at 425 for about 20 minutes.  I suggest that at 10 minutes you rotate the pan.  When the crust is slightly golden and the cheese is all bubbly, your pizza is probably ready to take out of the oven.  Let it cool slightly before cutting and serving.

I serve our Buffalo Chicken Pizza with a side of Ranch.  You could also serve it along side some blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.  This recipe makes six very large slices or 8 medium sized slices.

Foodie on a Budget- Slow Cooker Roast Chicken

As a mother to a teenager and a newborn, time is pretty valuable.  So is saving money and staying on a budget.  Picking up a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store and breaking it down for recipes for the week used to be a pretty regular thing for me.  I was definitely saving time, and in my opinion, money.  Have you bought a whole cooker chicken lately? They usually cost as much if not more than the ready made rotisseries at your local grocery store.  What I didn't like about the grocery store roasted chickens is that I didn't really know what was in them.  How much salt and preservatives had they pumped into those things anyhow?


Then I discovered "roasted" chicken from the Crock Pot.  Actually by accident.  The evening I went into labor with my daughter, I had decided to start boiling a couple of large split chicken breasts that I could break down and use throughout the week for sandwiches and homemade chicken noodle soup.  My local Kroger had a great sale on Tyson split chicken breasts (99 cents a pound!) that week.  A half hour into cooking the chicken, my contractions went to 3 minutes apart!  So, my mom threw the chicken into a container and into the fridge.  The day we came home from the hospital, my mom stopped at our house that morning and put the partially cooked chicken breasts in the Crock Pot to finish.  We came home to chicken with a nice crisp on the skin, moist and juicy on the inside, and that fell off the bone, making breaking it down incredibly easy and quick.  I have cooked large split chicken breasts this way 3 times now since we brought our baby girl home, and I have been able to make quick, delicious, and healthy dinners and sandwiches from it for 3 adults for an entire week.


So here is all that you need to make it:

Yep, that is it. A Crock Pot, chicken broth (I use the Kroger Private Selection Organic chicken broth- less than $2 a carton), and a pack of two large split chicken breasts (I always stock up on them when the local Kroger's has their 99 cents sale- the package pictured was only a little over $2!).

Just pour a little chicken broth in the bottom of the Crock Pot. I do this to keep the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the Crock Pot, and to keep the meat moist. I used about 2/3 cup.  Put the chicken in the Crock Pot, skin side up and cover and cook on low for about 5-6 hours.  

Once the chicken is cooked, I turn off the Crock Pot and let the chicken set until it is cool enough to handle.  Then I place the chicken breasts on a cutting board, remove the skin, and break off the meat from the bones in large chunks, and then chop! 

You can use one of the large breasts immediately for dinner (like I did for my husband and I last night) and then refrigerate the rest to use for recipes the rest of the week like chicken salad or a couple of my favorites:
Chicken and Biscuit Pot Pie
Avogolemono Soup