There may be days when you simply can’t be bothered to cook, especially if you have a long, hard day at the office. These days call for the slow cooker to be dusted off and for something to be thrown in there to cook during the day. Slow cookers will save you a lot of time in the evenings, it can be tricky knowing what to cook and what to serve it with. If you are tired of doing the same old dishes every time, take a look below for some inspiration.
Vegan Chili
If you have decided to avoid meat and animal products then you might feel like your diet is limited. It doesn’t have to be and there are some amazing recipes out there to fulfill all your taste needs. If you are new to being a vegan then you may be wondering how you can do chili without using mince. There are two ways you can make a vegan chili, the first way is with a meat-free alternative such as Quorn. The second is by solely using natural products such as beans and vegetables. Throw all the ingredients into the slow cooker and serve with rice, avocado, or salad.
Meatballs
If you fancy meat but don’t want chicken then how about some hearty meatballs. Meatballs are a staple and can be paired with spaghetti or pasta, grate some cheese, and you are done. Even better when you don’t have to slave over the oven waiting for them to cook. If you don’t want the oily, greasy flavor in your slow cooker then you can lightly fry the meatballs before putting them in the slow cooker. Once in the slow cooker, you can put in some canned tomatoes and herbs. The flavors will mix nicely and in a few hours, you will have some gorgeous meatballs for your dinner.
Chicken
If you fancy something with chicken then there are tons of recipes available for you. You can cook all types of chicken in your slow cooker, however, the ones with bones and skin are the best at retaining flavor. You can use chicken breast but be aware that this is prone to dry out in a slow cooker. Chicken can be cooked with just about anything and everything, this includes tinned tomatoes or a curry sauce. If you don’t fancy using a slow cooker for your chicken then you could use a dutch oven, this cooks just as good. Chicken cacciatore is a wonderful recipe to cook in your dutch oven as well as a slow cooker.
Mac n Cheese
Finally, you might assume that it is only meat that you can do in your slow cooker, but this isn’t the case at all. If you want to indulge in the ultimate comfort food but don’t want to make it right then and there, why not do it in the slow cooker. Making macaroni cheese from scratch may seem quick but it requires constant attention and a lot of effort. You need to make the sauce and cook the pasta and then bake it in the oven. A slow cooker takes away all the work and provides you with creamy, delightful mac and cheese in around 2 hours.
