Pumpkin Butternut Squash Bisque

This soup cooks all day in a slow cooker and makes a great cold winter night's meal! I served this as a starter for our annual Christmas dinner, but it can definitely be a meal paired with a salad or bread. And although it's a bisque, it is not too heavy using evaporated milk instead of cream.

Pumpkin Butternut Squash Bisque

4 lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded, coarsely chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
3 1/2 c chicken broth
drizzle olive oil
1/2 tsp each ginger, cumin, coriander, paprika, thyme
1/4 tsp cayenne, black pepper
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 can pumpkin
1/2 c brown sugar
1 can evaporated milk
Place all ingredients in slow cooker (except last 3). Cook on high for 4 hours. Blend well with an immersion blender. Add pumpkin and brown sugar, blend well. Heat another 15 minutes, stir in evaporated milk. Heat another 15 minutes. Serve with fresh parsley.

Slow Cooker Hashbrown Casserole

Slow Cooker Hashbrown Casserole

1 32 oz bag frozen hashbrowns

1 8 oz container sour cream

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2 large sweet onion, chopped

1 1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 c butter, melted

Salt and pepper, to taste

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and pour into a slow cooker that has been lined or sprayed with cooking spray. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.

Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Buffalo Chicken Sliders

4 chicken breasts, cubed
1 bottle Ken's buffalo sauce
1/2 bottle hot sauce
1 packet dry ranch mix
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp minced garlic
Slider buns

Add all ingredients except buns to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 2 hours. Serve with ranch dressing.

Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken

This is such an easy weeknight meal!  Often when we have busy nights with softball games and Bible studies, this is a good meal to cook all day and enjoy when we can.  You can serve it with tortillas, tortilla chips, or on its own.

Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken

2 frozen chicken breasts
1 can corn
1 can black beans, drained
1 can Rotel (I use the hot version with habaneros)
1 8oz pkg cream cheese (I usually use Neufchatel cheese to save a few calories)
1 packet dry ranch dressing mix
1/2 cup water
Tostitos Baked Scoops
Fat free sour cream
Place first 6 ingredients in a slow cooker.  Cook on low all day (about 8 hours).  Serve with tortillas or tortilla chips and top with sour cream.

Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin

This is an awesome pork recipe for the slow cooker!  It's sweet and tangy and the pork will literally fall apart on your plate.  Hope you enjoy!

Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin

1 pork tenderloin (I used boneless, but the recipe said you can also use regular)
1 tsp ground sage
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp corn starch
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 cup water, divided
Combine sage, salt, pepper, and garlic.  Rub over roast.  Place roast in slow cooker with 1/2 cup water.  Cook on low 6-8 hours.  One hour before roast is done, combine remaining ingredients in small saucepan for glaze.  Heat on medium and stir until glaze thickens.  Brush roast with glaze every 10-15 minutes during the last hour of cooking.  Serve with remaining glaze.
Adapted from http://www.candcmarriagefactory.com/

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken

This is another great Pinterest recipe.  It's super easy and makes a delicious slow cooker meal.  I hope you enjoy!

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken

3 chicken breasts
1 8oz box cream cheese, softened
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 packet dry Italian dressing mix
Soften cream cheese.  Mix cream cheese, dressing mix, and cream of chicken soup in slow cooker.  Heat on low about 30 minutes, or until smooth.  Add chicken and cook on high 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.  Serve over rice.
Adapted from http://forkinit.blogspot.com/

Crock Pot Swiss Steak

This is a great slow cooker recipe that you can make the night before and cook all day.  It's wonderful for a busy night of running around.  Serve with rice or pasta and broccoli.

Slow Cooker Swiss Steak

2 lb eye round chuck roast
1/4 cup A1 steak sauce
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained (I used basil, oregano, & garlic flavored)
1 small onion, chopped
Cut roast into 1 inch cubes.  Place in slow cooker, toss with A1 steak sauce.  Top with tomatoes and onion.  Cook on low 9 hours or on high 4-5 hours.  Serve over rice or pasta.  (You can put this together the night before and refrigerate.)

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

I have received MANY requests for this recipe for pot roast. It is a great cold weather recipe (which is perfect for today because there is still snow on the ground here in SC!) It's an all-dayer, so plan ahead! I have to credit my wonderful sister, Julie, with this recipe.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

1 shoulder pot roast (about 2 lbs)
3 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 lb carrots, peeled and sliced
1 pkg dry ranch dressing mix
1 pkg dry Italian dressing mix
1 pkg brown gravy mix
3/4 cup water
Combine all ingredients in a large slow cooker. Cook on low 9-10 hours (if you don't have that much time, you can cook it on high for a couple of hours, then switch to low).