Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken & Poblano Street Tacos

Tender, flavorful, and juicy, these Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken & Poblano Street Tacos have a delicious smoky flavor with just a little kick of heat...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sargento®. 

The opinions and text are all mine.

One thing that this home cook loves is a good challenge, folks. Especially when said challenge involves food. ;) When Sargento® asked me to participate in their Chopped At Home Challenge, I didn't hesitate to jump right in with a resounding heck yeah. 





I have been a HUGE fan of the Food Network's Chopped cooking show for years now. If you haven't seen Chopped before, it is wild, you all. 

Each contestant is given a basket of the same ingredients and challenged to create a course of a meal using all of the ingredients in their baskets. And sometimes they get some crazy ingredient combinations! Each course is judged resulting in one of the chefs getting "chopped" each round until only one chef is left standing at the end of show.





For the Mexican round of the Food Network Chopped At Home Challenge, I was asked to create a recipe using chicken thighs, poblano peppers, corn tortillas, and Sargento 4 Cheese Mexican Blend Shredded Cheese. I am not going to lie- I was pretty excited to see this ingredients list! 





I knew instantly that I wanted to slow cook the chicken thighs because it happens to be my favorite way to prepare this budget friendly cut of chicken. The slow cooking not only allows the flavor from the bone to really permeate the meat, but it makes the meat so tender & juicy that it literally just falls right off the bone. 





But it was the corn tortillas that made me decide on a street tacos recipe. I mean, corn tortillas are a must for making perfect street tacos. And I have had a mild obsession with street tacos ever since my husband and I's visit to an amazing little taco shop near Harpers Ferry last month... ;)

Slow Cooker Apple Butter Rice Pudding

Creamy, comforting rice pudding is jazzed up with apple butter & chunks of fresh apple in this easy to make Slow Cooker Apple Butter Rice Pudding...

Since a good, home cooked risotto happens to be my favorite savory adult comfort food, then a creamy rice pudding has to be my ultimate sweet comfort food. But rice pudding wasn't a comfort food that I came to love as a child. Now my mama made this great quick version of rice pudding with a little leftover rice mixed with melted margarine & sprinkled with cinnamon & sugar. 

But the first time that I tried an honest for goodness homemade rice pudding was when I baked up a batch myself a few years after moving out of my parents' house. Yes, making rice pudding from scratch equals adulting when you are in your earlier 20's. ;) And thus began my love affair with creamy, comforting rice pudding.

But the thing with most homemade rice pudding recipes is that they require both stove top cooking & oven baking and thus twice the dirty dishes. Is it worth the extra effort and dish washing? Yes! 

But I knew there had to be a better way to whip a homemade rice pudding recipe that I would love without all the extra steps. My solution? The slow cooker- duh! ;) 

You literally just dump everything in, mix, and let the slow cooker do the rest. Now I jazzed up the basic rice pudding with spicy apple butter and chunks of fresh apple for this Slow Cooker Apple Butter Rice Pudding I am sharing with you all today, but you could leave out the apple flavors for a classic creamy rice pudding (just increase the cinnamon to a 1/2 teaspoon)... 

20 Slow Cooker Recipes to Beat the Heat

Keep that stove and oven off and your kitchen cool this summer with these 20 Slow Cooker Recipes to Beat the Heat...

As the summer heat rises and the humidity increases, I find myself breaking out my slow cooker more and more often. Why? Because using my slow cooker for our summer dinners means my oven and stove are staying off more often, and as a result my kitchen is staying cooler. Even with the air conditioning blasting, my kitchen always heats up when the oven is on. 

I happen to be of the frame mind that you can never have too many tasty slow cooker recipes. ;) So, I asked some of my favorite food bloggers to send me over their best slow cooker recipes to share with you all...

Basil & Garlic Slow Cooker Roasted Chicken

Forget that store bought rotisserie chicken! This flavorful & juicy Basil & Garlic Slow Cooker Roasted Chicken slow cooks in your crock pot all day... 

A big thank you to Hamilton Beach for providing me with their Set & Forget 6 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker and helping me bring you all this delicious recipe for a Basil & Garlic Slow Cooker Roasted Chicken.

I think by now it is very much apparent just how much I love cooking with a slow cooker. On average, I use my slow cooker at least twice a week all year round. Often more...

And I have tried making it all- from soups to the obvious pot roasts, to apple butter and even desserts (oh yes, you can totally bake in your slow cooker, folks!).

But one thing that has always intimidated me up was slow roasting an entire chicken in my slow cooker.

I have seen numerous slow cooker whole chicken recipes floating around out there and really wanted to give it go, but I just didn't feel very confident that it would turn out well.

Mainly I was afraid that the chicken wouldn't get cooked all the way through.

And how about that crispy skin we all love? How would the chicken crisp up in a slow cooker?

When I was given the chance to try the Hamilton Beach Set & Forget 6 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker that happens to come with it's own meat probe, I knew it was finally time to step up to the plate and give slow cooking a whole chicken a go.  The probe pretty much ensured that I would cook the chicken all the way through- easy, peasy! :)

30 Game Day-Approved Slow Cooker Recipes

Don't miss a single play of the game this weekend with these fix-it & forget-it 30 Game Day-Approved Slow Cooker Recipes...

With college and NFL football season in full swing now, I am always on the lookout for delicious recipes perfect for game day.  But while some of us are only in it for the food, there are still others of us who would like to make tasty treats to serve their guests at their next football party or tailgate while still be able to catch just about every single play of the game. ;)

That is where your slow cooker can become your best friend, folks.

I searched all of my favorite food blogs for the tastiest fix-it & forget-it slow cooker game day grub recipes just so I could share them with you all! :) From chili's to bite-sized appetizers to perfect slow-cooked meats for sandwiches, you are sure to find a recipe here that will soon become your new go-to, must-make for every football weekend.

Welcome to Slow Cooking Through Summer Week! {& A Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System Giveaway!}

I use my slow cooker all year-round, but summers are really made for slow cooking.  

They keep the kitchen cooler on hot summer days because you can give the oven and stove the day off.

And just about any slow cooker recipe allows you to just throw it all in and forget it, leaving you free to enjoy a day in the sun poolside.

And bonus? You still get to come home to a slow cooked, delicious meal already prepared and ready to dish out!

This is my second summer celebrating the all mighty slow cooker by hosting an entire week dedicated to all things slow cooker.

This summer I am bringing along a few of my closest food blogger friends who will be sharing delicious slow cooker recipes all this week.

Be sure to stop by their blogs each day this week and see what they have been slow cooking up for you all! :)

Double Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

These tender & flavorful Double Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs simmer away in your slow cooker all day...

I was provided a product in exchange for recipe development and an honest review, and was not compensated for my review in any other way.

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

I believe that every food blogger, every chef, and every home cook has a food nemesis or two. You all know what I am talking about- those dishes and recipes that just never seem to come out right no matter how many times you try it or how many methods you give a go.

You vow that you are finished. You will never, ever waste your time trying to make that dish again. If you want it bad enough, you will just resort to pre-made or take-out.

Because you are done.

Believe it or not, one of my recipe nemeses is homemade meatballs. They either come out too tough or they simply fall apart until they resemble something like more of a meat sauce.

And given my father's very Italian family, one would expect that I would just naturally and genetically rock at making meatballs from scratch. But sadly that is not the truth.

In my defense, most of the women in my father's family passed away when I was much too young to learn their recipes and family secrets. Although, my dad swears that my great grandmother would have never shared her secret recipe anyways... 

I received renewed confidence to try making homemade meatballs once again when my shiny new Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System arrived on my doorstep.  

Seriously, all. 

This was going to be my one last time, all-in, last ditch go at that them.  If I couldn't make meatballs work with this awesome piece of culinary cookware, then I was just not meant to ever make a decent from scratch meatball in my lifetime.

Slow Cooker Apple Butter Pork Chops {A Recipe Makeover}

Tender pork chops are slow cooked all day with apples & spiced apple butter in these Slow Cooker Apple Butter Pork Chops- a definite meal plan must-add for fall time...

When I first started blogging in January of 2011, having stellar food photography wasn't even on my radar.  

As those of you who have actually stuck by me since the inception of my life as a blogger know, my blog started out as more of place for me to share my feelings and thoughts on our journey and struggles with secondary infertility. Those posts were peppered here and there with a recipe post or two. 

My very first recipe post didn't even have a photo with it! 

Gasp.

(And yes, I DID just link those words above to my very first recipe post ever. ;) Go ahead... click on over.  I know that you are curious.)

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. ;)

Chipotle Kicked Hickory BBQ Beef Sandwiches {Dinner Tonight}

Now that the school year (and my son's cross country season) is in full swing, finding a couple of quick family meals to make each week has become essential.  I still have a few evenings each week when I can take a little more time with dinner and make something from scratch, but there are those days when only a ready-made meal will do.  And when I say ready-made, I am not talking about fast food, folks.  This single income family rarely has the extra funds to splurge for fast food.  Not to mention that most fast food meals are far from being healthy for my family.

On those busy evenings, I still want to feed my family a delicious, healthy meal though.

What is a mama to do?

Cue the #KraftRecipeMakers! 

Typically I am not one to purchase Meal starters.  They are usually pretty pricey, and the powdered sauces and spices do not appeal to me.  But Kraft Recipe Makers is not your typical meal starter!

Kraft Recipe Makers come with actual sauces.  Nothing powdered here! And they are affordable.  I picked up my box of Kraft Recipe Makers for less than $3 at my local Walmart store. (Want to see how my shopping trip for Kraft Recipe Makers went?  Be sure to click on over to my Google+ album for details on the full shop!)

We tried the Hickory BBQ Beef for the slow cooker (are you all shocked that I chose one of the Kraft Recipe Makers for the slow cooker? ;) ), and it came with a tasty simmer sauce and a delicious finishing sauce.  We just needed to add beef and buns! It doesn't get much easier than that folks.

Of course because my family & I enjoy a little heat, we kicked up our Hickory BBQ Beef sandwiches with a little chipotle... 

Chipotle Kicked Hickory BBQ Beef Sandwiches

by Frugal Foodie Mama

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8-10 hours

6054205

Ingredients (6-7 sandwiches)

• 1 package Kraft Recipe Makers in Hickory BBQ Beef
• 1 2.5 lb boneless beef chuck roast
• 1-2 tsp of chipotles in adodo (pureed)
• Sandwich buns

Instructions

Place the roast in your slow cooker. Pour the simmer sauce found in the Kraft Recipe Makers box over the roast. Add in the pureed chipotles in adobo.

Cook on low for 8-10 hours. (You could also cook on high for 6-8 hours.)

Take the roast out of the slow cooker and place on a cutting board. Allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes, then using two forks shred the meat.

Ladle out the liquid from the slow cooker and set aside. 

Add the shredded meat back to the slow cooker and pour the finishing sauce over top and stir. If the mixture seems a little dry, add in a little of the reserved liquid you removed from the slow cooker earlier.

Increase the heat to high and cook for another 15 minutes in your slow cooker.

To serve, pile the BBQ beef onto sandwich buns and serve with your favorite pickles or chips.

Enjoy!

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The beef cooked up so tender with the Kraft Recipe Makers simmer sauce!  I barely had to shred it.  It just fell apart when I placed a fork in it.  

My Chipotle Kicked Hickory BBQ Beef Sandwiches got rave reviews from my family!  This one is definitely going on my short list of best family meals. :)

Of course, if you prefer less heat (or no heat) you can leave out the chipotles in adodo.  It is tasty both ways!

CLICK HERE to check out all the Kraft Recipe Makers! Which one do you think you and your family will want to try first? 

For more tasty recipes and tips, make sure you hop on over to the Kraft Foods Facebook page and click Like. 

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 Sweet & Sour Pork Loin Chops

The Keeping It Crockin' Cool Crock Pot Week is just starting to simmer on the blog this week. ;)   I will be sharing THREE new slow cooker recipes this week with you all AND a slow cooker recipe round-up post or two!   First up is my Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Pork Loin Chops recipe that I originally shared on White Lights on Wednesday back in May when I participated in an Old-Fashioned Recipe Swap.

A few months back,  I had some fresh pineapple chunks I needed to use and was brainstorming what I could use them for.  Sweet & Sour Pork came to mind.  But not the breaded, deep fried sweet & sour pork you are probably used to from the Chinese takeout...

These are thick, tender pork loin chops that I slow cooked in a homemade sweet & sour sauce with chunks of fresh pineapple and orange bell pepper.

** Disclaimer:  I did not swipe the plate pictured above from a P.F. Chang's. ;)  I actually picked a few up at a restaurant surplus once years ago.  I swear!

Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Pork Loin Chops

by Frugal Foodie Mama

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5-6 hours

6051774

Ingredients (3-4 servings)

• 3-4 one inch thick pork loin chops (you could also use thinner chops, but I would reduce the cook time if you do)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup tomato ketchup
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• Pineapple puree (1 cup of fresh pineapple chunks blended with a splash of orange juice)
• 1 cup of fresh pineapple chunks
• 1 orange bell pepper, cut into chunks
• 2 tsp cornstarch

Instructions

Whisk together the soy sauce, ketchup, pineapple puree, brown sugar, & vinegar. Set aside.

Add your pork chops to your Crock Pot and place the fresh pineapple chunks and pepper chunks of top of them. Pour the whisked mixture over top.

Cook on Low for 8 hours or High for 5-6 hours.

During the last half hour of cooking time, take the pork chops out of the slow cooker and then whisk in 2 tsp of cornstarch into the sauce. Place the chops back in the Crock Pot and cook for the remaining 30 minutes. This will thicken up the sauce.

Serve over rice.

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Serve with your favorite white or fried rice.  (Chopsticks are strictly optional. ;) )

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

Slow Cooker Apple Butter Pork Chops

Don't forget to stop on by the Keeping It Crockin' Cool Crock Pot Week Link Party & link up your best slow cooker recipes & then get entered to win our Crock Pot prize package! 

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. ;)