Crock Pot Cooking Challenge

A friend of mine told me about a cool meal idea.

You can read about it here: http://whoneedsacape.com/2012/11/crockpot-freezer-cooking/

So, the idea is that you spend 4 hours in the kitchen and prepare 40 meals to put in the freezer. All the meals are crock pot meals. You take the freezer bag meal out of the freezer the night before and let it thaw in the fridge.  All recipes are cooked on low in the crock pot for 6-8 hours.

This week is pretty busy for me, but in two weeks I plan to take a Saturday, shop in the morning and assemble in the afternoon. I can't wait to try it! I will post photos and any tips and tricks I learn.

If you want to try it too, I put all the recipes together here with the master shopping list from the, Who needs a cape? Blog. There are 20 recipes and you make each one twice (hence 40 meals.) In two weeks I will do a blog post about how it goes. Until then, here is the list:

1. Label all bags
2. Cut and prep vegetables
3. Prep meat and add meats to the bags
4. Add veggies
5. Add seasons
6. Seal and freeze

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Crock-pot Honey Garlic Chicken
Chicken (thighs & drumsticks)
5 garlic cloves chopped
1 tsp. oregano
3/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup spicy honey bbq sauce
1/3 cup honey
pinch of salt
dash of pepper

Crockpot Applesauce BBQ Chicken
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 t ground pepper
2/3 cup chunky applesauce
2/3 cup BBQ sauce (I used Brown Sugar/Hickory)
2 T brown sugar
1 t chili powder

Crockpot Garlic Pesto Chicken
¾ bottle of Lawry's Herb and Garlic Marinade with lemon juice
3 T of pesto
¼ c olive oil
3 boneless chicken breasts
(Serve with creamy pasta side)

Buffalo Chicken
3-4 chicken breasts
1 12 ounce bottle of hot sauce (I like Pete's)
1/2 package of dry ranch dressing (1 ounce)
2 tbsp of butter
(Shred and Serve on buns)

Maple Dijon Chicken thighs
6-8 Chicken thighs
1/2 C Dijon Mustard
1/4 C Maple Syrup
1 T Rice Wine Vinegar
1 can of Sliced Mushrooms, drained (or 4oz. fresh)
1 onion sliced

Cilantro Lime Chicken
3 Chicken Breast
3 tablespoon(s) olive oil
2 piece(s) Limes, juiced
2 cup(s) fresh cilantro
1 bag(s) fresh or frozen corn kernels
4 piece(s) Garlic Cloves, minced
1 piece(s) Red Onion, finely chopped
2 can(s) Black Beans, rinsed
2 teaspoon(s) ground cumin
1 pinch(es) Salt/Pepper

Crockpot Green Chile Pork Stew
2 lbs boneless pork loin roast, fat chopped off
2 T olive oil
2 T all-purpose flour
3/4 c chopped onion
2 four ounce cans green chiles
Hot sauce to taste
10 oz can diced tomatoes and green chilies (whichever heat you prefer)
½ c chicken broth
1 T cumin
½ t garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Easy Pulled Pork
4-5 lb pork butt roast
2 yellow onions, sliced
Dry Rub
3 tbsps chili powder
1 tsp coriander
2 tsps cumin
2 tsps onion powder
1 tablespoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon chipotle powder
2 tsps sea salt

Easy Crockpot Mongolian Beef
1 lb. stew meat
2 tsp. olive oil
1 onion, thickly sliced
1 tbsp. minced garlic
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. fresh minced ginger
1/2 cup hoisin sauce

Crockpot Chicken Tacos
1 chicken taco seasoning packet
6 frozen tenderloins or 3 frozen breasts (use fresh too and it takes 2-3 hours less)
2 c fresh pico de gallo
¼ c of olive oil
¼ c water
(Add Ranch packet for variety)


Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore
8 chicken thighs (boneless-skinless)
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1/2 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 green bell pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 large onion, sliced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 bay leaf
salt, pepper, basil to taste

Hawaiian Chicken
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 can (20 ounces) unsweetened sliced pineapple
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 medium green pepper, cut into rings

Hearty beef stew recipe
1 lb stewing beef;
2 tbsp olive oil
4 cups beef stock;
1 cup onion, chopped;
1 cup celery, chopped;
3 carrots, peeled and chopped;
2 potatoes, peeled and cubed (optional);
1 28oz can diced tomatoes;
½ tsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped;
½ tsp fresh thyme, finely chopped;
salt & pepper


Crockpot Balsamic Glazed Drumsticks
8 chicken drumsticks
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey

Orange Chicken
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into bite size pieces)
3 T fat (coconut oil works well here)
1/2 can frozen orange juice concentrate
zest from 1 orange
1 t fresh ginger
3 T soy sauce
1 t chili garlic sauce or sriracha
(Serve with 3 fresh green onions, chopped)


Crockpot Beef Tips & Gravy
1 1/2 lbs cubed beef (stew meat)
1 packet Dry Onion Soup Mix
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 14 oz. can beef beef broth or stock
Salt & Pepper


Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
small bag of baby carrots
2 20 oz cans of pineapple, undrained
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 medium red onion, cut into chunks
1 cup Teriyaki Sauce

Crock-pot Beef Fajitas
1 large onion cut into 1/2 in strips
1 green bell pepper cut into 1/2 in strips
1 red bell pepper cut into 1/2 in strips
2 lbs boneless sirloin steaks
3/4 cup water
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tbsp. lime juice
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
salt & pepper
*Serve with tortillas

Creamy black bean chicken
4 -5 boneless chicken breasts
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can black beans
1 (15 ounce) can corn
1 (15 ounce) jar salsa, any kind
*30 minutes before serving add 8 ounce package cream cheese

Slow Cooker Sausage & Potatoes
3 lbs red potatoes
2 lbs smoked sausage (kielbasa)
(mix in bowl and dump on diced potatoes & sausage)
8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
10 1/2 ounces cream of any soup
1/2 packet of ranch dressing mix

Shopping list
48 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
12 lb chicken thighs
3 lb chicken drumsticks
4 lb boneless pork loin roast
8-10 lb pork butt roast
8 lb stewing beef
1 lb beef flank steak
4 lbs. smoked sausage
1 large jar chunky applesauce
2 bottles spicy BBQ sauce
Lawry's Herb and Garlic Marinade with lemon juice
Teriyaki sauce
Hoisin sauce
Chili sauce or sriacha
2 bottles buffalo wing sauce
1 bottle Dijon mustard
6 pkg ranch dressing mix
2 package onion soup mix
2 packet taco seasoning mix
5 can cream of mushroom soup
1 container pesto
4 cans chicken broth
6 cans beef broth
2 – 8oz cans tomato sauce
4 - 4 ounce cans green chiles
4 can mild diced tomatoes (Rotel)
2 – 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes
6 – 28 oz can diced tomatoes
4 large cans pineapple
3 large bags frozen corn
6 cans black beans
Fresh ginger
4 red onion
12 yellow or white onions
2 bag carrots
8 oz. mushrooms
1 bunch celery
1 bunch green onions
4 potatoes
6 lbs. red potatoes
cilantro
6 green peppers
2 red pepper
1 can frozen orange juice
4 - 8oz. packages cream cheese
40 Gallon Freezer bags
+ Pantry staples (oil, sugar, ketchup, soy sauce. . . )