When the weather gets chilly, one of the easiest ways to create a warm dinner is to use a slow cooker. Often used to make soups and stews, try using the crockpot for other dishes as well. Crockpot meals are a great way to make less expensive cuts of meat a family favorite. Use this guide to figure out which slow cooker to purchase and get started with three easy crockpot meals that will delight the whole family.

Choosing a Crockpot

When you’re deciding which kind of crockpot you need, first thing to do is analyze how much food you prepare for a typical family meal. Are you a family of three or six? Do your kids chow down at the dinner table or are most of them light eaters? Keep in mind that crock pots work the best when they are at least half full. If you have a smaller family or light eaters, you may want to shoot for a medium-sized crock pot, like a 3.5 quart. If you have a larger family or want to make leftovers out of your crockpot meals, use a 6.5 quart crock pot. Crock pots also come in different shapes. Round shapes may be better for soup-junkies while oblong shapes work well for those who will be cooking large cuts of meat, like roasts.

Crockpot Meals and Recipes

#1 Whole Chicken:

You can easily cook this lean meat in your slow cooker and whip up some healthy crockpot meals. All you need is a fryer chicken, 5-6 foil balls, and lawry’s seasoned salt to make a magnificent Crockpot Rotisserie Chicken. Simply rinse chicken, pat dry with paper towels, sprinkle generously with seasoned salt. Chicken should be brown with seasoning. Place the chicken in the crockpot on top of several foil balls or foil covered potatoes. All the natural juices from the chicken season the potatoes magnificently. There are also plenty of other chicken crockpot meals that you can try, like Lime and Cilantro Chicken.

#2 Stew/Soup:

The crockpot is the perfect vessel to prepare a flavorful stew or soup. All you need is an inexpensive meat, like some boneless chuck roast, tomato juice, beef broth, and veggies to make a Beef and Vegetable Soup. You could also try a Crock Pot Italian Sausage Soup or a French Onion Soup as a starter.

#3 Roast:

If your getting tired of crockpot chicken meals or stews, try a tender roast. Buy a pound or two of pork or beef roast and put the roast, chopped onion, spaghetti sauce, and sliced mushrooms into your crockpot. After about 8 hours of brewing, your roast will be ready for action. Just serve over some noodles or on a warm bun. With this easy-to-use and versitle cooker, you can make an assortment of crockpot meals that will warm you up during these winter months.