The: I'm broke and prefer to smoke but gotta eat on the cheap crock pot thread

i used to make it with beans (3 types) but the mrs. is keto now so i made it with no beans.

here's my old recipe.... but she also doesn't like ground turkey, so just beef. and since she's keto, i left out the tomato sauce, too.

i guess i could update the recipe, but i just leave this back-of-envelope version in our file for nostalgia sake and make
adjustments on the fly.

 

https://youtu.be/1MHuwiic1iI?si=NGBcCx5i5rcMqkC8

 

Just put a batch of chicken crack in the instapot. Its been probably two years since I've made it. Going to serve it on Hawaiian rolls.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...crock-pot-thread.500700/page-61#post-17019632

 

I’ve got a pot of short ribs going right now. Gonna pull them out in morning for my lunch haha

 

Just made a pot roast in my slow cooker! Nothing special but the family enjoyed it.

We’re starting the slow cooker season so I’ll add pics next time. Made chili recently too.

 

about two years for me too. it's rich and everyone pigs out on it. my bathroom scale says no.

 

White chicken chili going in on this brisk northern Arizona evening

https://www.wholesomeyum.com/wprm_print/keto-white-chicken-chili-recipe

 

https://youtu.be/FJrjJEVPuvI?si=ZxGzPPbaFNZKy1Vi

 

Awesome! Thanks for posting. We like a Cuban style pork shoulder…next weekend doing some red beans with some sort of meat in there.
Did you do anything special in the slow cooker for the “big game”?

 

Nah I actually made no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies last night and didn't watch the game haha

 

Starting some spicy italian beef.

 

It has been too long. I need to get some going!

 

Did not disappoint! Put a little kewpie on there too. Don't judge me

 

Made some taco soup, recipe courtesy of Grok. Pretty good!



1. Crock Pot Taco Soup

A flavorful, hearty soup with taco vibes—great for a cozy meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes (with juice)
• 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained
• 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 cup beef broth (or water)
• 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tbsp homemade: 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder)
• 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• Optional toppings: tortilla chips, shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream, or cilantro

Instructions:

1. Brown the Beef: In a skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned (5-7 minutes), breaking it apart. Drain excess fat if desired.
2. Add to Crock Pot: Transfer the beef to the crock pot. Add the diced onion, diced tomatoes (with juice), corn, tomato sauce, beef broth, taco seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
4. Stir and Serve: Give it a good stir before serving. Ladle into bowls and top with tortilla chips, cheese, or your favorite garnishes.

Notes:

• Add a can of drained black beans or pinto beans if you want more texture (optional, since you liked the no-bean chili).
• Spice it up with a diced jalapeño or hot sauce.

 

I had a can of Don Pepino pizza sauce that I haven’t used in awhile, so I asked grok for some ways to use it in a croc pot. I’m trying this one now:

1. Crock Pot Pizza Sausage Casserole

A hearty, Italian-inspired dish using kielbasa or Italian sausage with the pizza sauce.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb smoked kielbasa or Italian sausages, sliced into rounds
• 1 (14.5 oz) can Don Pepino Pizza Sauce
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1 bell pepper (any color), sliced
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (added at the end)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning (optional, for extra flavor)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste—the sauce is already seasoned)
• Optional: 1 cup sliced mushrooms or 1/2 cup pepperoni for a pizza twist
• For serving: cooked pasta, rice, or crusty bread

Instructions:

1. Add to Crock Pot: Place the sliced sausages, onion, bell pepper, and any optional mushrooms or pepperoni in the crock pot. Pour the Don Pepino Pizza Sauce over the top. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
2. Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. The veggies will soften, and the flavors will meld with the sauce and sausage.
3. Finish: About 15-20 minutes before serving, sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top. Cover and let it melt.
4. Serve: Spoon over cooked pasta, rice, or serve with bread for dipping in the saucy goodness.

Notes:

• Browning: For richer flavor, brown the sausage slices in a skillet for 2-3 minutes before adding to the crock pot (optional).
• Cheese: Add more cheese if you love that pizza vibe!

 

^^ the Don Pepino sausage dish was 10/10. Served it on a bed of rice.

 

Thanks! I'll be making this!

Might add some meatballs too.

Who is this Grok? Ask for another good recipe ha

 

Grok is an artificial intelligence very similar to ChatGPT. It’s pretty wild what it can do. If you take a picture of your pantry it will suggest what you can make for dinner, etc. It’s not just good with cooking stuff, it’s an expert on everything. It’s wild, def check it out!

 

I asked Grok for a taco soup recipe using this can of Rotel and below is what it suggested. I’ll be trying this tomorrow:

Yes, you can absolutely use that can of Rotel Mild Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies in the taco soup recipe! The Rotel adds a fantastic blend of tomatoes and mild green chilies, which will enhance the flavor with a slight kick and extra texture. Since you previously enjoyed the taco soup (with rice added separately), I’ll adapt the recipe to incorporate the 10 oz can of Rotel instead of the original diced tomatoes. Here’s how to do it:

Crock Pot Taco Soup with Rotel

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef (or your preferred protein like chicken or sausage)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 (10 oz) can Rotel Mild Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies (with juice)
• 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 cup beef broth (or chicken broth if using chicken)
• 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tbsp homemade: 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder)
• 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste—the Rotel adds some seasoning)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• Optional: 1 cup corn (or cook 1/2 cup rice separately as you did before)
• Optional toppings: tortilla chips, shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream, or cilantro

Instructions:

1. Brown the Beef: In a skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned (5-7 minutes), breaking it apart. Drain excess fat if desired.
2. Add to Crock Pot: Transfer the beef to the crock pot. Add the diced onion, Rotel (with juice), tomato sauce, beef broth, taco seasoning, salt, and pepper. If using corn, add it now; if using rice, cook it separately and add to your bowl later.
3. Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. The flavors will meld, and the Rotel chilies will infuse a mild spice.
4. Stir and Serve: Stir well before serving. Ladle into bowls and top with your favorite garnishes. Add cooked rice to individual bowls if you’re following your previous method.

Notes:

• Rotel Adjustment: The 10 oz can of Rotel is slightly less than the original 15 oz can of diced tomatoes, so the soup might be a bit thicker or spicier. If you prefer more liquid, add an extra 1/2 cup broth.
• Heat Level: This is the mild version, but if you like more heat, you can use the original or hot Rotel variety, or add a diced jalapeño.
• Protein Swap: You can use chicken or kielbasa instead of ground beef—just adjust the broth type (chicken for chicken, beef for kielbasa).

The Rotel will bring a nice twist to the taco soup, complementing the taco seasoning and adding a subtle chili flavor. Since you loved the original, this should be a delicious variation. Let me know how it turns out or if you’d like to tweak it further!

 

Trying a guinness oxtail in the lodge dutch oven. (usually use a crock pot).

Topped it off with chicken /beef broth and it’s in the oven for 3.5 hours.

I never know if I’m searing it/ browning it enough. picture makes it look weak for sure. Open to comments!