When you are tasked with cooking for an army of guests during the holiday season, everyday meals often get relegated to the back burner. After all, who has time to whip up a four-course meal for your immediate family when you trying to create an awe-inspiring buffet for a bevy of out-of-town visitors?
Fortunately, there are ways to feed your family delicious and nutritious meals while preparing multiple holiday feasts. Two words: crock pot.
The following no-mess crock pot meals are not only a breeze to make, but they also help free you up to work on your holiday baking:
EASY CROCK POT CHICKEN SOUP
Ingredients:
4 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
1 large onion, chopped
4 stalks celery, cut into chunks
4 to 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast
9 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1 tablespoon dried parsley
Egg noodles or rice
Directions:
Place carrots, onions, and celery into crock pot. Add chicken. Pour in broth and water. Sprinkle parsley on top. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours. Gently break up chicken with a fork. Add in rice or noodles and cook for 20 more minutes. Serve hot.
CROCK POT CHILI
Ingredients:
2 pounds ground beef
2 teaspoons garlic salt
2 (16-ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
2 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups diced onion
1 green pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 envelope your favorite chili seasoning mix
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream
Directions:
In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink, season with garlic salt. Drain any grease. Transfer meat to a crock pot. Add the next 7 ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 hours. Serve hot with cheese and sour cream.
CROCK POT BBQ PULLED PORK
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups ketchup
1 1/2 cups your favorite BBQ sauce
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons mustard
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
1 (4 to 6 pound) boneless pork loin roast
Hamburger buns or hard rolls
Directions:
Combine all ingredients except for onion and pork into crock pot. Whisk until well blended.
Place pork and onions into mixture, coating both sides of meat. Cook for 8 to 10 hours on low or 6 to 8 hours on high.
After meat is cooked, remove from slow cooker, place on a plate and break apart with fork. Place meat back into warm sauce to reheat.
Serve on buns or rolls.
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