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Southern-Style Smothered Pork Chops

  • 2 Tbs. Seasoned salt
  • 1 Tbs. onion powder
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. pepper
  • 4 (8 to 10 ounce) bone-in pork chops, 3/4 to 1 inch thick, trimmed
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 2 Tbs. vegetable oil
  • 2 onions, quartered through root end and sliced thin crosswise
  • 1-3/4 cups water
  • 1 Tbs. cider vinegar
  1. Combine seasoned salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and pepper in bowl. Cut 2 slits about 2 inches apart through fat on edge of each chop. Pat chops dry with paper towels and sprinkle each chop with 1 tsp. spice mixture (1/2 tsp per side)
  2. Combine 1/2 cup flour and 4 tsp. spice mixture in a shallow dish. Dredge 1 side of chops lightly in seasoned flour, shake off excess, and transfer to a plate.
  3. Using highest saute or browning function, heat oil in multicooker for 5 minutes (or just until smoking). Place half of chops floured side down into multicooker and cook until well-browned on 1 side, 3 to 5 minutes, return to plate. Repeat with remaining chops, transfer to plate.
  4. Stir remaining 1/4 cup flour into fat left in multicooker. Cook, stirring constantly, until roux is color of peanut butter, 3 to 5 minutes. Add onions and remaining spice mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until onions begin to soften slightly, about 2 minutes. Slowly stir in water, scraping up any browned bits and smoothing out any lumps. Nestle pork chops into multicooker, adding any accumulated juices.
  5. To pressure cook: Lock lid in place and close pressure release valve. Select high pressure cook function and cook for 15 minutes. Turn off mutlicooker and quick-release pressure. Carefully remove lid, allowing steam to escape away from you.
  6. To slow cook: Lock lid in place and open pressure release valve. Select low slow cook function and cook until meat is tender, 2 to 3 hours. (If using Instant Pot, select high slow cook function and increase cooking range to 4 to 5 hours) Carefully remove lid, allowing steam to escape away from you.
  7. Transfer chops to serving dish, tent with aluminum foil, and let rest while finishing sauce. Cook sauce using highest saute or browning function until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn off multicooker. Let sauce settle, then skim excess fat from surface using large spoon. Stir in vinegar and season with pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over chops and serve.
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Steak ‘n’ Gravy

  • 1 pound round steak, trimmed
  • 1 Tbs vegetable oil
  • 1-1/2 cups water
  • 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 2 Tbs all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cold water
  • Hot cooked rice or mashed potatoes

Cut the beef into bite-size pieces; brown in oil in a skillet. Transfer to slow cooker. Cover with water; add tomato sauce and seasonings. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until meat is tender.

In a small bowl, combine the flour and cold water to make a paste; stir into liquid in slow cooker. Cover and cook on high 30 minutes longer or until the gravy is thickened. Serve over rice or potatoes. Yield: 4 servings

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Slow-Cooked Tamale Casserole

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 egg
  • 1-1/2 cups milk
  • 3/4 cup cornmeal
  • 1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
  • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
  • 1 envelope chili seasoning
  • 1 tsp. seasoned salt
  • 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

In skillet, cook beef; drain. In a bowl, combine egg, milk, and cornmeal until smooth. Add corn, tomatoes, olives, chili seasoning, seasoned salt, and beef. Transfer to greased slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours and 45 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese; cover and cook 15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Yield: 6 servings.

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Savory Chicken Sandwiches

  • 4 Chicken breasts
  • 1/2 envelope onion soup mix
  • 1/8 tsp. garlic salt
  • 1/8 cup prepared Italian salad dressing
  • 1/8 cup water
  • 8 hamburger buns

Pace chicken in slow cooker. Sprinkle soup mix and garlic salt over chicken. Pour dressing and water over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours. Skim fat from cooking juices. Remove chicken and cut into bite size pieces (or shred chicken). Return to slow cooker. Serve with slotted spoon onto buns.

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Crockpot Lemon Garlic Chicken

  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 2 lbs chicken breasts
  • 2 Tbs butter
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3 Tbs lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp chicken bouillon granules
  • 1 tsp minced fresh garlic

Combine oregano, salt and pepper. Rub all of mixture into chicken. Brown in butter in skillet. Transfer to slow cooker.

Place water, lemon juice, garlic and bouillon cubes in a skillet. Bring to boil, loosening browned bits from skillet and pour over chick.

Cover, cook on high 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or low for 4 to 5 hours. Add parsley and baste chicken, cover and cook on high 15-30 minutes, until chicken is tender.

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Make-Ahead Slow-Cooker Herbed pork and Red Potatoes

  • 3 lb boneless pork shoulder, trimmed of visible fat and cut into 2-inch chunks
  • 2 lb baby red potatoes
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and roughly chopped (1 cups)
  • 1 large onion, coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 bulb garlic, cloves peeled
  • 1 spring fresh thyme
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 Tbs salt
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes

Place all ingredients except chopped thyme in labeled 1-gallon freezer bag. Lay flat, and freeze up to 3 months.

Thaw completely in refrigerator, 12 to 24 hours.

Pour contents of bag into 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 6 to 7 hours or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a paring knife and pork shreds easily.

Shred pork, and quarter potatoes. Divide mixture among 8 bowls, and sprinkle with chopped fresh thyme leaves.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Pot Roast Dinner

  • 1 lb small potatoes (6-8), unpeeled, cut into 1-inch pieces (3 cups)
  • 2 cups ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots
  • 1 cup frozen small whole onions (from 1-lb bag), thawed
  • 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (1 1/4 lb)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 1 jar (12 oz) chicken gravy
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen sweet peas, thawed

Spray 3 to 4 quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In cooker, place potatoes, carrots and thawed onions. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper; place over vegetables in cooker. Pour gravy over top.

Cover; cook on Low heat setting 8- 10 hours.

Stir in thawed peas. Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook about 15 minutes longer or until peas are tender.

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Pulled Pork

  • 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 4 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 Tbs packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 Tbs chili powder
  • 1 Tbs kosher salt, plus more as needed
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 (4-5 pound) boneless or bone in pork shoulder (also known as pork butt), twine or netting removed
  • 2 cups barbecue sauce (optional)

Mix brown sugar, chili powder, salt, cumin, cinnamon in a bowl and dry the pork with a paper towel. Rub the pork with the rub. Add onions and garlic to the crock pot then add the pork. Cook on low for 6 hours.

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Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2 inch pieces (we did chicken breast and it worked great)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 3 Tablespoons finely chopped peeled ginger root (we used like a teaspoon powdered ground ginger)
  • 2 Tablespoons garam masala
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cup chicken broth (the recipe for slow cooker calls for 1/2 cup and for the insta pot 1 1/2 cups, but we think it needed more sauce so I wondered if it was a typo on the slow cooker recipe since everything else was the exact same amounts)
  • 2 Tablespoons cornstarch (if desired to thicken sauce)
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, stems removed to garnish if desired

In 10-inch skillet, heat butter and vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add half of the chicken and cook, turning once, until browned, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon transfer to slow cooker. Repeat with remaining chicken.

Reduce heat to medium; add onions to skillet, and cook until softened, about 4 minutes.

Add garlic and ginger root; cook and stir 2 minutes.

Add garam masala; cook 30 seconds.

Add tomato paste and salt; cook and stir 2 minutes.

Add chicken broth, and scrape bottom of skillet with wooden spoon. Transfer to slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low heat setting 5 to 6 hours. At last 30 minutes of cooking, stir in whipping cream. If you want a thicker sauce add the cornstarch to the whipping cream and beat with a fork. (We didn’t do that and it seemed fine, but we will add more chicken broth next time so you might need it)

Top with cilantro leaves. Serve over rice, if desired.

1 Tablespoon grated ginger root = 1/8 teaspoon ground

1 teaspoon minced = 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground depends how much you like ginger. Dad doesn’t so I did less.

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Chimichangas – Becky

  • Steak (cheep stuff is fine) (we have also used pork and chicken)
  • Italian Dressing about 1/4 of the amount of salsa used
  • Salsa cover the meat with the salsa

Cut meat in thin strips cover in salsa and add about 1/4 of the amount of Italian Dressing as you did salsa. So if you do 1 cup of salsa add about 1/4 cup dressing. Soak in dressing and salsa overnight in the fridge. Cook in crock pot all day.

Put in flour tortillas with cheese and deep fry. Serve with lettuce and sour cream.

Or just serve with flour tortillas not fried as a burrito.

Also good served on potatoes, rice, or pasta.