A Slow-Cooker Dish A Day: May 2014

Sometimes it's okay to take things slow. This year, let your slow-cooker do the work with 365 days of foolproof recipes.

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Down-South Banh Mi

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Here's a Southern spin on a classic Vietnamese-French sub. Keep the pickled pepper mixture and shredded pork on hand for a fast meal.
Down-South Banh Mi Recipe

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Huevos Rancheros

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

A beloved Mexican breakfast translates easily from day to night when it's made in the slow-cooker. Serve Huevos Rancheros for breakfast, dinner or anything in between.

Huevos Rancheros Recipe

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Tropical Bananas Foster

Oxmoor House

Freshly sliced bananas and pineapple meet soft vanilla ice cream and a savory cinnamon-flavored sauce to give you one decadent dessert.

Tropical Bananas Foster Recipe

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Chicken with Bacon, Mushrooms, and Onions

Photo: Susie Cushner

This is the country version of the fussier coq au vin. Serve it with mashed potatoes.
Chicken with Bacon, Mushrooms, and Onions Recipe

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Toasted Herb Rice

Photo: Oxmoor House

Perfect rice is as easy as tossing a few ingredients into your slow-cooker. In this recipe, toasted pine nuts dress up easygoing rice with a pleasant crunch.

Toasted Herb Rice Recipe

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Slow-Cooker Shepherd's Pie

Use your slow cooker to make a traditional shepherd's pie that's filled with lean ground beef and vegetables and topped with creamy mashed potatoes.
Slow-Cooker Shepherd's Pie Recipe

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White Bean and Chicken Chili

One of those “killer” recipes that is sure to wow any crowd (especially when they find out how simple it is), this nine-ingredient slow cooker chili relies largely on pantry staples such as canned white beans, chicken broth, and canned roasted green chilies. To build rich flavor, the chicken is first seared in a skillet and the aromatic onions and fresh garlic are lightly sauteed in the same pan with the remaining flavorful juices and browned bits from the chicken before being transferred to the slow cooker. To add extra flair to your chili, set this vibrant stew out with individual bowls of sour cream, ripe avocado, sliced radishes, diced tomatoes, crumbled cotija (a salty Mexican cow's milk cheese), and fresh limes for topping.

White Bean and Chicken Chili Recipe

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Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken

Photo: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Chicken is cooked until fall-apart tender, then the choice is yours: stuff it into warmed corn tortillas or serve over rice.

Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken Recipe

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Berry-Lemonade Tea

Oxmoor House

Here's a refreshingly fruity mix of tea and lemonade that is delicious hot or cold--depending on the season. You can even spike it!
Berry-Lemonade Tea Recipe

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Simple Grits with Toppings

Oxmoor House

Nothing says "Southern hospitality" quite like a hearty bowl of grits. Add these fun toppings to make them even tastier!
Simple Grits with Toppings Recipe

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Curried Vegetables on Couscous

Oxmoor House

This high-flavor dish combines fresh vegetables with curry, cumin, cayenne, and chutney.
Curried Vegetables on Couscous Recipe

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Buffalo-Style Drummettes

Oxmoor House

Ditch the takeout wings! This version is just as tasty and served with the usual accompaniments: blue cheese, celery and carrots.

Buffalo-Style Drummettes Recipe

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Slow-Cooker Macaroni and Beef

Make this tangy meat sauce in the slow-cooker to top macaroni or other pasta. A quick and easy meal when you're craving some classic Italian flavors.
Slow-Cooker Macaroni and Beef Recipe

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Slow-Cooker Lemon Poppy-Seed Cake

Photo: Anson Smart

Make this easy cake in your slow-cooker for your next backyard BBQ or garden party. Fresh lemon juice and zest give the cake a brightness that will rival the summer sun.
Slow-Cooker Lemon Poppy-Seed Cake Recipe

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Seafood Gumbo

Susie Cushner

This gumbo recipe made in the slow cooker has all the flavor of traditional gumbo but none of the tedious steps or hard-to-find spices. Serve this Louisiana favorite over rice.
Seafood Gumbo Recipe

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Thai-Style Ribs

Photo: Oxmoor House

These ribs marinate all night and then slow-cook all day to get their incredible flavor and fall-off-the-bone tenderness.

Thai-Style Ribs Recipe

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Slow-cooked BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Slow-cooked Barbecued Chicken Sandwiches

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Low and slow is how this slow-cooker barbecue chicken gets its flavor. Make a real statement by serving the shredded chicken over Sweet Potato Cornbread and topping with Pickled Peppers and Onions and Simple Slaw.
Slow-cooked BBQ Chicken Sandwiches Recipe

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Easy Brunswick Stew

Oxmoor House

The best part about this scrumptious dish is right in the name of the recipe–it's exceptionally easy to make. Just combine all of the ingredients, set your slow cooker for 8 hours, and serve this classic stew with a hunk crusty bread. This cook-out favorite can be made a day or so in advance of serving--the flavors grow more richly intense with time. If you refrigerate before serving, you can return the stew to your slow cooker and reheat, uncovered, over low heat--giving it an occasional stir--until warmed through.

Easy Brunswick Stew Recipe

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Barbecued Shrimp

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

Allow this sauce base to lazily simmer away and develop rich flavor. Add shrimp during the last hour of cooking so it doesn't overcook. Serve with crusty French bread for sopping the zesty juices.
Barbecued Shrimp Recipe

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Slow Cooker Sausage and Squash Lasagna

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Cindy Barr

We were surprised and delighted by how well lasagna cooks up in the slow cooker. Be sure to use traditional noodles, and place them in the cooker uncooked. We tried the recipe with specially formulated no-bake noodles, and they didn't work as well.

Slow Cooker Sausage and Squash Lasagna Recipe

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King Ranch Chicken

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Pursell

This slow-cooker version of the fan favorite King Ranch Chicken Casserole is sure to please the whole family.
King Ranch Chicken Recipe

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Cola-Braised Brisket

Photo: Antonis Achilleos

Hands-off cooking is ideal for busy weekenights. Try Cola-Braised Brisket that's cooked in the slow-cooker. Enjoy any leftovers of this tender brisket by shredding the meat, and stirring it into the gravy.

Cola-Braised Brisket Recipe

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Gruyère-Bacon Dip

Oxmoor House

Serve this dip with assorted vegetable dippers. It's also tasty as a condiment spread on turkey burgers.
Gruyère-Bacon Dip Recipe

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Chicken Korma

Photo: Caleb Zorn; Styling: Nicole McLaughlin

This classic Indian dish is so simple and bursting with flavor. This spicy crock pot recipe is perfect for any weeknight dinner. Leftovers are definitely the best next-day lunch. If you prefer milder foods, reduce or omit the crushed red pepper. Throw in some coconut, cashews, or mushrooms for an even more unique flavor. Add a quick and easy basket of warm garlicky naan on the side of this beloved chicken recipe.

Chicken Korma Recipe

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Wild Mushroom Pasta Alfredo with Walnuts

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

Agnolotti are square ravioli packets typically filled with meat and/or vegetables. This recipe combines wild mushroom agnolotti, creamy Alfredo sauce and fresh vegetables to create an unforgettable pasta dinner.

Wild Mushroom Pasta Alfredo with Walnuts Recipe

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Slow-Cooker Turkey Tacos

Photo: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Andrea Steinberg

Taco night is more fun in the slow-cooker! In this recipe, lean turkey breast is shredded and stuffed inside crunchy corn tortilla shells. Customize the toppings as you like.

Slow-Cooker Turkey Tacos Recipe

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Brownie Pudding Cake

Oxmoor House

Dutch process cocoa and bittersweet chocolate give this dessert - part cake and part pudding - its rich and decadent character. Top with light vanilla ice cream, if desired.
Brownie Pudding Cake Recipe

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Caribbean-Style Pork

Oxmoor House

With their crisp texture and sweet flavor, bell peppers are a nice complement to the pork in this island-inspired dish.

Caribbean-Style Pork Recipe

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Slow-Cooker Beef Sliders with Pickled Peppers

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Rev up your slow cooker the night before, and on game day, tote it to the game, plug it in, and let your crowd build their own sandwiches.
Slow-Cooker Beef Sliders with Pickled Peppers Recipe

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Red Quinoa Pilaf with Tomato, Spinach and Pine Nuts

Photo: Kate Sears

This is a great recipe for all those tantalizingly tasty tomatoes. It’s also packed full of nutritious ingredients like fresh baby spinach and red quinoa.
Red Quinoa Pilaf with Tomato, Spinach and Pine Nuts Recipe

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Provençale Chicken Supper

Photo: Oxmoor House

Use bone-in chicken breasts for this French-country dish, smothered in a delightfully savory tomato-and-white-bean sauce.

Provençale Chicken Supper Recipe

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A Slow-Cooker Dish A Day: May

1 of 32

Down-South Banh Mi

2 of 32

Huevos Rancheros

3 of 32

Tropical Bananas Foster

4 of 32

Chicken with Bacon, Mushrooms, and Onions

5 of 32

Toasted Herb Rice

6 of 32

Slow-Cooker Shepherd's Pie

7 of 32

White Bean and Chicken Chili

8 of 32

Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken

9 of 32

Berry-Lemonade Tea

10 of 32

Simple Grits with Toppings

11 of 32

Curried Vegetables on Couscous

12 of 32

Buffalo-Style Drummettes

13 of 32

Slow-Cooker Macaroni and Beef

14 of 32

Slow-Cooker Lemon Poppy-Seed Cake

15 of 32

Seafood Gumbo

16 of 32

Thai-Style Ribs

17 of 32

Slow-cooked BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

18 of 32

Easy Brunswick Stew

19 of 32

Barbecued Shrimp

20 of 32

Slow Cooker Sausage and Squash Lasagna

21 of 32

King Ranch Chicken

22 of 32

Cola-Braised Brisket

23 of 32

Gruyère-Bacon Dip

24 of 32

Chicken Korma

25 of 32

Wild Mushroom Pasta Alfredo with Walnuts

26 of 32

Slow-Cooker Turkey Tacos

27 of 32

Brownie Pudding Cake

28 of 32

Caribbean-Style Pork

29 of 32

Slow-Cooker Beef Sliders with Pickled Peppers

30 of 32

Red Quinoa Pilaf with Tomato, Spinach and Pine Nuts

31 of 32

Provençale Chicken Supper

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