A Slow-Cooker Dish A Day: February

January 15, 2015
Becky Luigart-Stayner; Cindy Barr
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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Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Spend 20 minutes in the kitchen prepping this gorgeous, hearty sauce. Once the sauce simmers in the cooker, all that's left to do is cook a pound of pasta, and serve.


Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti Recipe
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2 of 28

Beer-Braised Pot Roast

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

This is no ordinary pot roast. First, it's rubbed with coffee. Then it simmers in dark stout beer and beef stock, yielding a deeply delicious gravy. Small carrots with tops and pearl onions elevate it further. Just be sure to pile the veggies on top of the beef after all other ingredients are in your cooker, so they'll cook perfectly and keep a vibrant color.


Beer-Braised Pot Roast Recipe

3 of 28

Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

This fun dish is two recipes in one: delicious, easy meatballs and a slow-simmered tangy tomato sauce. If you have any extra sauce, toss it with your favorite green vegetable, spoon it over a bowl of creamy grits, or pair it with pork chops or other meats.


Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce Recipe
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4 of 28

Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Classic cafeteria-style goodness, this recipe yields enough to serve as a side for a crowd, or it could be dinner for a family of four.


Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese Recipe

5 of 28

Pork-and-Black Bean Chili

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Fresh tomatillos look like small green tomatoes wrapped in thin papery skin. Remove skin, and rinse before chopping. Garnish with Chipotle Cream, corn chips, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.


Pork-and-Black Bean Chili Recipe

6 of 28

Slow-Cooker French Dip Sandwiches 

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Emma Star Jensen

The meat simmers in the slow cooker for 5-7 hours, creating the luscious dipping sauce at the same time. All you have to do is shred the meat, pile it atop crusty sandwich rolls, and serve.


Slow-Cooker French Dip Sandwiches  Recipe
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7 of 28

Italian Braised Pork with Polenta

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

When ready to serve, just whip up a fresh batch of polenta. Pack any leftover pork in an airtight container and pop into the freezer for a quick and flavorful supper down the road.


Italian Braised Pork with Polenta Recipe

8 of 28

Mexican Stew

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Classic posole, a delicious slow-simmered Mexican pork stew often reserved for special occasions, is typically a time-consuming labor of love. But this one gives you all the comfort and flavor of the old-world version made in your slow cooker.


Mexican Stew Recipe

9 of 28

King Ranch Chicken

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Pursell

Craving delicious Tex-Mex flavors? 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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10 of 28

Slow-Cooked Brown Sugar Apples

Oxmoor House

Nothing says comfort like the aroma of these apples cooking…unless, of course, it’s sitting down to enjoy them. Bonus: They only require 5 ingredients!


Slow-Cooked Brown Sugar Apples Recipe

11 of 28

Slow-Cooked Baby Back Ribs

Start these fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs in the slow cooker, then baste with a sweet-and-smoky homemade sauce and grill until nicely charred.  Serve with steak fries. 


Slow-Cooked Baby Back Ribs Recipe

12 of 28

Smoky Turkey-and-Sweet Potato Chili

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Chipotle chiles add a kick, but sweet potatoes balance the heat. Adjust the spice in this homey chili by increasing or decreasing the amount of chipotle to suit your taste.


Smoky Turkey-and-Sweet Potato Chili Recipe
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13 of 28

Slow-Cooker Pork Loin Carnita Tacos with Chimichurri Sauce

Oxmoor House

These make-ahead tacos are an ideal way to showcase slow-cooked pork. Browning the pork roast before adding it to the slow cooker adds rich flavor.


Slow-Cooker Pork Loin Carnita Tacos with Chimichurri Sauce Recipe

14 of 28

Zinfandel-Braised Leg of Lamb

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

For Valentine's Day, treat your sweetie to an elegent, yet low-maintenance meal of braised lamb over egg noodles. Reducing the wine before placing it in the slow cooker gives the dish a more rounded flavor.


Zinfandel-Braised Leg of Lamb Recipe

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Sichuan Beef Soup

Photo: Marcus Nilsson; Styling: Angharad Bailey

Beef shank works beautifully for slow-cooked soups, breaking down during long simmering to render the aromatic broth meaty and flavorful.


Sichuan Beef Soup Recipe
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16 of 28

Slow-Cooked Veal with Winter Vegetables

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Sara Neumeier

Veal shank is usually a tough cut of meat. But after cooking it several hours in a slow cooker, you'll be surprised at how tender it can be. Serve over creamed potatoes.


Slow-Cooked Veal with Winter Vegetables Recipe

17 of 28

Red Beans and Rice

Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro

Celebrate Fat Tuesday with a Cajun classic. This is the ultimate in thriftiness and convenience - beans in a slow cooker. The long, slow cooking time coaxes all the flavor from the sausage into the beans for a mild yet full-flavored dish.


Red Beans and Rice Recipe

18 of 28

Beef-and-Bean Chili

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

This classic red chili has chunks of stew meat and ground beef along with tomatoes, red beans, and spices. Fire-roasted tomatoes add a note of smokiness to the mix. 


Beef-and-Bean Chili Recipe
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Slow-Cooker Meat Loaf with Shiitake Mushrooms

Photography: Karry Hosford

Because no evaporation takes place, the slow cooker makes an especially moist and tender meat loaf. The mushrooms add moisture as well.


Slow-Cooker Meat Loaf with Shiitake Mushrooms Recipe

20 of 28

White Bean, Artichoke, and Chard Ragout

Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

A crunchy topping of raw fennel and bell peppers makes an ideal accompaniment to the mellow flavors of this slow-simmered stew of beans and vegetables. You can make and refrigerate the relish up to a day ahead to save time.


White Bean, Artichoke, and Chard Ragout Recipe

21 of 28

Osso Buco with Gremolata

Photography: Jim Bathie; Styling: Jan Gautro

Inexpensive veal shanks become a succulent meal in the slow cooker. Even if you aren't an anchovy lover, don't omit the anchovy paste--it adds immeasurably to the flavor. Use the remaining broth mixture in soups and stews.


Osso Buco with Gremolata Recipe
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22 of 28

Easy Brunswick Stew

Oxmoor House

The secret is in the name of this recipe–it's so easy to make! Just combine all of the ingredients, set your slow cooker for 8 hours and serve this stew with your favorite side of bread.


Easy Brunswick Stew Recipe

23 of 28

Black Bean Soup with Shredded Pork

This heartier version of black bean soup gets added protein with the addition of shredded pork. Amp up the flavor by adding salsa to the mix and serve with warmed corn tortillas for dipping.


Black Bean Soup with Shredded Pork Recipe

24 of 28

Mediterranean Brisket

Photo: Frances Janesch; Styling: Lynn Miller

Diced tomatoes, red wine, kalamata olives, and rosemary add Mediterranean flavor to this easy dinner recipe. Always use dried herbs in the slow cooker, and then top with fresh herbs just before serving.


Mediterranean Brisket Recipe
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Chili-Beef Soft Tacos

Soft corn or flour tortillas are the ideal vehicle for eating succulent beef chuck pot roast. The recipe says to top them with lettuce, sour cream, and avocado, but feel free to add more of your favorite toppings if desired.


Chili-Beef Soft Tacos Recipe

26 of 28

Vegetable-Lentil Soup

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Elizabeth Blake

After a hectic day at work, hearty bowlfuls of Vegetable-Lentil Soup await you in the slow cooker. This version requires minimal effort and tastes so much better than the canned variety!


Vegetable-Lentil Soup Recipe

27 of 28

Char Siu Pork Roast

Becky Luigart-Stayner

In this recipe for Char Siu, the Chinese version of barbecue, the pork is cooked in the slow cooker for an extra tender, juicy, and stress-free meal. Serve with sticky or long-grain white rice and a steamed or stir-fried medley of bell peppers, carrots, snow peas, sliced baby corn, and water chestnuts.


Char Siu Pork Roast Recipe
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28 of 28

Overnight Apple Butter

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Cindy Barr

Slow cookers make more than meaty dinner dishes. Make a sweet, rich apple butter spread that goes perfectly on a toasted English muffin or served over pork chops. One taste and you'll never believe it's fat free.


Overnight Apple Butter Recipe
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