For The Love of Crocktober

It’s that time of the year, time for leaves to start changing colors, pumpkin spice is everywhere, and time to start pulling cozy sweaters out of the back of the closet (yes, I know it’s Arizona… but go with me).  One of my favorite fall traditions is kicking off Crocktober.  What is Crocktober, you ask? It’s your new favorite holiday.

As a working mom of three equally-busy kids, I love all things easy and efficient.  When I was gifted an InstaPot by an equally busy friend, I was in LOVE with the ease of cooking it provided on busy nights.  As much as I love my InstaPot, the real MVP is my good old-fashioned CrockPot (really, “Pots,” as I have multiple in different sizes).  When I first heard of Crocktober, it was a CrockPot-loving girl’s dream come true.  Crocktober is 31 days of CrockPot cooking that takes place during the month of October.  It’s the perfect opportunity to try out those recipes you’ve been pinning on Pinterest and to free up some precious evening time to spend with family as the nights start to turn cozy.  Ready to take the challenge and join the fun of Crocktober? Read on!

Crocktober Tips

• Quality: Invest in a good CrockPot that you love! Depending on your family size be sure to select one that meets your needs.
• Clean Up: CrockPot liners make for easy clean-up, especially if you plan to cook all 31 days.
• Plan Ahead: The great thing about CrockPot cooking is the “set it and forget it” ease.  Pick one day in the week to shop, prep, and plan the week’s menu.  Each prepped meal can then be divided into freezer bags and be placed in the freezer until it’s time to shine.
• Save Room: if you plan to prep more than a week’s worth, store them flat so they stack better. Also, be sure to label them (including any additional ingredients that need to be added – like broth).
• Have Fun With It- Crockpots aren’t just for dinner, there are many recipes for snacks, desserts, and even drinks! Check out Taste of Home’s list of cozy drinks perfect for the fall https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/slow-cooker-drinks/

My “Go To” Recipes

Slow Cooker Ribs from Tasty.Co: Was hesitant on this one, but it was actually pretty good!  If you have a sauce you love, you can also use that instead.  https://tasty.co/recipe/slow-cooker-ribs

Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma from Well Plated by Erin: https://www.wellplated.com/slow-cooker-yogurt-chicken-shawarma/

Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken from Taste of Home: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/slow-cooked-lemon-chicken/

Chicken and Rice Soup from Food Network: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/healthy-slow-cooker-chicken-and-rice-soup-5478461

Slow Cooker Jambalaya: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/slow_cooker_jambalaya/

Have a favorite CrockPot recipe? Share it in the comments!