Crockpot Concoctions part 1

One of my New Years resolutions was to break up with my crockpot. While the intentions behind that were generally okay – read: increasing kitchen creativity rather than mindlessly dumping things into a giant pot – they weren’t exactly realistic. So I’m taking the intention of amped of creativity and I used it to create three really tasty crockpot recipes!! Find them below!!

When meal prepping for the week, I typically focus on three recipes. Anything more than that is a bit too time consuming and leads to feelings of extreme boredom. I focus on one crockpot meal, something either stove top or baked, and something for breakfast. While sometimes the crockpot can cause things to turn out try and flavorless, I think I’ve mastered three recipes that are all stars in the taste and nutrient density departments.

As you’ll find out below, all of these recipes have meat in them. I often still receive the question, usually paired with vocal inflection soaked with surprise, of “you eat meat?!” The answer to that is a whole hearted yes. Simply put, I just feel better with ~1 serving of animal meat per day. I lean heavily towards anemia so getting these good sources of animal protein is essential for my well being and energy levels. For a more comprehensive post regarding my personal food philosophy, click here.

All of the meats used in these crockpots are from Grass Roots meat co-op. All of their meats are pasture raised and completely free from: GMOs, hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides. The beef is grass fed and grass finished. AND you have the ability to scan the code on the packaging to see EXACTLY where the meat comes from. The farms used are small their farmers use small-batch, regenerative farming that not only provides a healthy outdoor life for our animals, but it builds soil for generations to come. I can genuinely taste the difference in the quality of the product.

$30 off your first box of $150+ using code KLEMONS at checkout. Click here to head to their site and find out more! 

The three recipes included all start with M. 3 M’s together = mmm. Aka yum. Aka what you’ll say when you taste them. Okay I’m done now.

Moroccan chicken:

• Grass Roots Co-Op chicken breasts 
• 4 large carrots, cut into bite sized pieces
• 4 large celery, cut into pieces
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1/3 cup dried cherries, diced
• 1/3 cup pine nuts
• 1/4 cup red wine
• 1 cup pitted olives
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 5 cups cauliflower rice
• salt and pepper to season

1. Toss everything in the crockpot, except pine nuts and cauliflower rice
2. Cook on low for 8 hours
3. Top on cauliflower rice

Mediterranean chicken: 

• Grass Roots Co-Op chicken breasts 
• 1 cup artichokes
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 1/4 cup capers
• 1 onion, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 turnips, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 1/4 cup red wine
• salt and pepper to season

1. Toss everything in the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 8 hours.
3. Top with olives and feta cheese

Meatballs: 

• Grass Roots Co-Op ground beef 
• 1 cup gluten free crackers, ground in food processor to make into a flour (or 1 cup bread crumbs)
• 1/4 cup fresh sage, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried sage)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp rosemary, chopped (dried is also okay)
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 egg
• salt and pepper
• 1 jar spaghetti sauce

1. Combine beef, crackers/bread crumbs, herbs, garlic, spices and egg together. Form into meatballs.
2. Toss in crockpot with 1 jar spaghetti sauce
3. Cook on high for 4 hours.
4. Use on top of zucchini noodles.

Code KLEMONS for $30 off your first box of $150+ of product. This is an affiliate code.