Crockpot Meals Make the Most of Time and Budget

Crockpot meals can be a simple and healthy way to have a family meal. Over the years, crockpot meals have become my once-a-month cooking favorite.

| Four entrees – One Pork Loin |

We want to provide our families with healthy, preferably homemade meals. We want to balance our household budgets. And we want to do all of this while keeping the house in order, taking care of ourselves, and also getting the kids where they need to be when they need to be there.

| Bring on the CrockPot |

I have always been a huge fan of “leave it” meals. The kind I can put in a pot, walk away, and it will be ready when mealtime rolls around.

One year, just before Thanksgiving, our oven died. We didn’t have time to replace the appliance before the big holiday, so I improvised. Almost every dish (we got a smoked turkey that year) was cooked in crock pots or other electronic appliances. I discovered I could LITERALLY cook anything in a crockpot.

So I did.

| More Meals from Less Money |

The more I used my crock pots, the more recipes I found to use my crock pots – and the bolder I got in creating my own recipes. I also found that I could prep my crock pot meals, freeze them, and then all I had to do was put them in the crockpot the night before and I would have a great lunch or dinner when the time was right.

At about this same time, I discovered that our local Foodland Plus sold pork loin that was two feet long – which divided perfectly into four meals.

(I keep an eye out for any big sales on meats. When they come along – and they do – then I pack them up to freeze for later).

It’s like someone was watching out for me and helping me get this meal thing in order (and under budget).

| The Crockpot Meals |

I set up freezer ziplock bags – one for each meal I’m going to work on. Then I add the meats, top with the other ingredients, seal the bag, label and date, and then freeze. When it comes time to cook, I cut the bag open and dump the whole frozen concoction into the crock pot.

Cinnamon Pork

2.5 lb pork loin
½ cup chopped onions
2 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp coarse salt
½ tsp pepper
1 cup beef broth
1 tbsp chopped garlic (cause is it possible to have too much garlic?)

Ginger Pork

2.5 lb pork loin
2 tsp ground ginger
½ cup onions
1 tbsp chopped garlic
½ tsp coarse salt
½ tsp pepper
¼ cup honey
1 cup beef broth

Barbeque Pork

(this is absolutely the easiest recipe)

2.5 lb pork loin
½ cup chopped onions
1 tbsp chopped garlic
½ tsp coarse salt
½ tsp pepper
1 bottle of barbeque sauce

Traditional Pork Dinner

2.5 lb pork loin
½ cup onion wedges
1 tbsp chopped garlic
½ tsp coarse salt
½ tsp pepper
1 ½ cup chopped carrots
1 ½ cup chopped celery
1 ½ cup baby potatoes (or 1 inch cubed)
1 cup beef broth

| Make it Work for You |

I’ve shared some of the recipes I have used, but I should tell you that these measurements are guestimates on my part. I RARELY measure anything when I’m creating crockpot concoctions. A little salt, a little pepper, some onions, and some garlic, and then I just add flavors I think will work.

I do this with chicken as well.

Most of my crockpot beef dinners involve ground beef and are more casserole than anything else.

The more I have played around with the flavors, the more options I have discovered.

What is your favorite crock pot cooking tip? Be sure you share in the comments below.

The Mom

Coming Soon!

I’ll walk you through my idea of “once a month” cooking and share how putting the prep work in all at once paves the way for quick and easy meals.