Screenshot This Crockpot Meal Plan: 5 Protein Filled, Lazy Day Dinner Ideas

Written By Erica Calhoun

I think we all have those long days where we come home and the last thing on our minds is preparing a full dinner spread, but you’re tired of surviving on Chick-fil-a nuggets all week. So what’s the solution to having a delicious and nutritious homecooked meal with minimal effort? Obviously, the answer is SLOW COOKER RECIPES!

In our home, the crock pot is a sacred and cherished kitchen appliance that gets used multiple times a week. The ease of just throwing ingredients in a crock pot and letting it do all the cooking for you just can’t beat the alternatives. So I’ve put together some of my favorite crock pot recipes in this post for you to try out. A lot of these recipes are especially great for the cold weather we’ve been stuck in. If the groundhog’s recent prediction comes true, these might just come in handy for the rest of winter!

Chili Con Carne

Ingredients

For the Chili Con Carne

  • 2lbs lean ground beef or ground turkey

  • 1 onion, chopped

  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped

  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning

  • 1 pack chili con carne seasoning

  • 1 tsp chili powder

  • 1 tbsp dried oregano

  • 2 16 oz cans fire roasted crushed tomatoes

  • 1tbsp brown sugar

  • 1 can tomato paste

  • 4 8oz kidney beans or 2 16 oz kidney beans

  • ⅔ cup red wine

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, cook ground meat until brown all over

  2. Transfer cooked meat to crock pot

  3. Add onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, kidney beans

  4. Then add the taco seasoning, chili con carne seasoning, chili powder, dried oregano, brown sugar, and red wine

  5. Cover with lid and cook on high for 3-4 hours

  6. Stir in tomato paste when done to thicken 

  7. Spoon hot chili into a bowl, top with sour cream, cheese, guac, and jalapenos and enjoy!




Beef and Lentil Stew

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds diced beef for stew (2 or 3 pound round chuck roast may also be used)

  • 2 celery stalks, diced

  • 2 carrots diced

  • 1 garlic diced

  • 1 onion, chopped

  • 1 14.5 can diced tomatoes

  • 1 6oz can tomato paste

  • 1 bag golden potatoes (cutting in half optional)

  • 2 tbsp soy sauce

  • 4 cups beef broth

  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard

  • 1 cup brown lentils

  • 2 tbsp red wine

  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Add beef, celery, carrots, potatoes, lentils, onion, garlic, tomatoes to crock pot

  • Add dijon mustard, soy sauce, red wine, salt, pepper

  • Pour in beef broth 

  • Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 3-4 hours

  • Stir in tomato paste in last hour

  • Make sure everything is tender before enjoying 



Spaghetti

Ingredients

  • 2 lb ground beef or ground turkey

  • 1 onion, chopped

  • 1 garlic clove, minced

  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped

  • 1 cup beef broth

  • 1 lb spaghetti noodles

  • Fresh parmesan, grated

  • Mozzarella, grated

For the sauce

  • 1 16 oz can fire roasted crushed tomatoes

  • 1 16 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes

  • 1 tbsp salt

  • 1 tbsp pepper

  • 1 tbsp onion powder

  • 1 tbsp chili powder

  • 1 tbsp oregano

  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley

  • 1 tbsp sugar

  • 1 tbsp red wine

Instructions

  • In a pan, brown meat with onion, bell pepper, and garlic, drain fat

  • Boil spaghetti noodles, then drain noodles

  • Pour meat and noodles into crock pot, with a little bit of water from the noodles

  • Top with tomatoes

  • Add spices, sugar, and red wine

  • Cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 1.5-2 hours

  • Stir well and add cheeses







Pulled Pork

Ingredients

  • 5 lb Boston Butt

  • 3 tbsp olive oil

  • 1 tbsp liquid smoke

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil

For Rub

  • 1.5 tbsp salt

  • 4 tsp black pepper

  • 3 tbsp paprika

  • 1 tbsp garlic powder

  • 1 tbsp onion powder

  • 1 tbsp chili powder

  • 2tsp cayenne pepper

  • 2tsp cumin

  • 1 tbsp dry mustard

  • ⅓ cup brown sugar

For sauce

1.5 cup vinegar

½ cup yellow mustard

1.4 cup ketchup

⅓ cup packed brown sugar

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Massage olive oil and liquid smoke into meat

  • For the rub: combine all ingredients and mix together well

  • Massage half of rub onto meat

  •  Marinate for 6 hours (optional)

  • Add remaining half of spices into pork

  • Heat large skillet on medium with vegetable oil

  • Sear pork on all sides for 2 minutes or until brown

  • Transfer pork to crock pot

  • Cook on low for 6-8 hours

Instructions For Sauce

  • While pork is in crock pot, make sauce

  • Combine ingredients over medium heat until sugar dissolves

  • Pour over Boston butt when finished in the crock pot or keep in a separate container on the side





Shredded chipotle chicken

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 2 tsp pepper

  • 1 tsp garlic powder

  • 2 bay leaves

For braising liquid

  • 1.5-2cups chicken broth

  • 2 chipotles in adobo sauce

  • 2 tbsp minced garlic

  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

  • 2 tnsp cumin

  • 2tbsp oregano

  • 1 tbsp onion powder

  • 1 tbsp garlic powder

  • ½ tbsp salt

  • ½ tbsp pepper

  • Lime juice


For chipotle mayo dressing

  • 1 chipotle in adobo sauce

  • ½ cup mayo

  • ⅓ cup plain greek yogurt

  • ¼ cup cilantro

  • ¼ cup tsp cumin

  • ¼ tsp dill

  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder

  • Add braising liquid to food processor or blender and blend well

  • Pour layer of liquid on bottom of crockpot

  • Add seasoned chicken

  • Pour rest of liquid in and add bay leaves.

  • Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours

Buy tortilla shells to make into tacos or quesadillas. Or make it the protein for a taco salad or rice bowl.




Let me know if you try any of these recipes and how it turned out in the comments!

Erica Calhoun
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