How to Get Hot, Homemade Meals Without Cooking Them

There’s nothing better than hot, home-cooked food. But since none of us here at True Citrus has a personal chef, our hot meals have been coming from frozen bags and boxes more often than we’d like. 

But now we’ve re-discovered our trusty electric slow cooker – just in time for the long winter weeks ahead! 

To make it easy for you to get in the slow cooker groove too, we found these few simple, one-meal crock pot recipes from our go-to gal for all things tasty, True Citrus consulting nutritionist Diane Henderiks. 

Chicken Dinner. Wash a whole chicken and season the outside with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with celery, fresh rosemary, parsley and oregano. Put in crock pot with water on low for 8 hours. When you get home it will be done to “falling off the bone” tenderness. Serve with greens or salad and bread and dinner is done! 

Meatless Chili. Put beans (kidney or any kind), celery, peppers, chili powder and cumin in crock pot with water on low for 8 hours. Diane says experiment with things like cocoa, peanut butter, balsamic vinegar, or even dark beer to add interest to the beans. Feel free to add some meat (sautéed separately) for meat lovers. Serve with grated cheddar cheese.

Manhattan Clam Chowder. Put onions, celery, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, clams (fresh, frozen, or canned), clam juice and clam broth (try to get low sodium) in crock pot on low for 8 hours.   

Guess what? Thanks to your slow cooker, you can wake up to a hot breakfast too! 

Hearty Breakfast Oatmeal. Grease crockpot with butter (optional). Serves 4-6. Put in:

2 cups milk

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 Tablespoon melted butter

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup chopped apple

1/2 cup raisins

Mix and cover. Turn on low overnight (8 hours) and your oatmeal will be ready when you wake up!

Slow Cooker Breakfast Eggs. Yes, you can cook eggs overnight. But they’re probably best cooked for 6 hours or so instead of 8, when the eggs can get a bit tough. Just so you know! This recipe serves six people (but if you are like us, more like three people!)

1/2 bag frozen hash brown potatoes

1/2 lb. cooked ham, cubed (or use cooked bacon or sausage)

1/2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 cup shredded cheese

6 eggs

1/2 cup whole milk

salt, pepper

1. Grease inside of slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Put a third of the frozen potatoes in. Add one third of the ham and cheese. Repeat layers, ending with the cheese. 

2. Beat together eggs, milk and seasonings. Pour onto the ingredients in the crock pot, cover. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, until casserole is set and eggs are thoroughly cooked. If you want to cook on high, it should take 4-5 hours.

Optional: add sautéed vegetables to the layers, like onions or peppers.