Easy Meals- Part 1

 A while ago, I received an email from a friend requesting easy dinner ideas for either the crockpot or otherwise. She's a mom of a two year old with a baby on the way so things need to be extra simple and quick! 

 I decided to divide my response to her into two parts: 1) Crockpot recipes and 2) other easy meals. 

Because I find the crockpot to be such a wonderful help on busy days, I started with a list of our favorite super easy crockpot meals.

Crockpot:

Rotisserie-style chicken-- our favorite. Leftover chicken makes excellent chicken salad or chicken for sandwiches and casseroles. 

Baked potatoes-- This really works! Leftover baked potatoes can be shredded and cooked into hash browns or cubed for potato salad. This method also works well for sweet potatoes.

Beef Stroganoff.

Chicken breasts covered in BBQ sauce and cooked on low for 4-6 hours.

Spaghetti sauce--Makes a huge pot and freezes well.  We really like this! I freeze it in 2 cup containers.

Spaghetti and meatballs-- Pour spaghetti sauce in crockpot; add either bought or homemade meatballs. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve over hot pasta. 

BBQ Meatballs- Pour BBQ sauce over meatballs and cook on low 2-4 hours. Some people heat the meatballs in the crockpot and then add the sauce right before serving. As long as you don't overcook it, it should be fine either way. Also fully-cooked meatballs won't need as much time as raw.  Use premade meatballs or make a batch of homemade and freeze until ready to use.

Sausage and sauerkraut-- Empty a package of sauerkraut into crockpot. Cut a package or two of fully cooked sausage or kielbasa and place on top. Cook on high for 2 hours or so. I've never made this myself since one of us doesn't eat kraut but we have this regularly at our fellowships. Very easy!

Ravioli-- I haven't actually made this but it looks terrific and easy and looks like it'd be great for pregnancy and the new baby days.   

Lasagna—We love this! You don't want to overcook it, though.

Lentil and Rice Pilaf-- This makes a LOT! It does freeze well. It cooks a lot faster in my crockpot, so you'll want to watch it the first time you make it. Perhaps this could be halved in a smaller crockpot. This is very tasty, cheap, simple and a great "one-armed" meal to make when you have a little one hanging on!:-)

Makes 8-10 servings

Ideal crockpot size: 4 or 5 quart.

2-5 large onions, depending on taste preference

2 Tbsp. Olive oil

6 cups water

1 ¾ cups dry lentils, sorted, washed and drained

2 cups brown rice

Slice onions into ½ inch circles. Place in skillet with olive oil. Saute over medium heat until onions are golden brown.

Remove about 1 onion's worth from skillet and drain on paper towel.

Put remaining onions and drippings into crockpot. Combine with water, lentils and brown rice.

Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. (Cooked in about 4 hours in mine.)

Serve hot or cold. Garnish with crisp brown onions.

Serve as is or top with a basic green salad and a vinaigrette dressing. Surprisingly good with the salad!

Now it's your turn! What are your favorite easy crockpot meals? Please share in the comments! 

**Stay tuned for Part 2 which will include a collection of other easy meals!