Loaded Pizza Soup

I made this recipe on a night that my tiny humans wanted pizza but I didn’t have all the ingredients to actually make pizza. I surprised myself with just how easy and tasty this recipe turned out, this is a crockpot recipe, but can be made on the stove top (may just have to adjust cook time). This recipe is gluten free and can be made vegan, just don’t use pepperoni and use vegetable broth instead of chicken.

Ingredients:

1 Carrot, jullianned

1 Celery Stalk, finely diced

1 Onion, finely diced

3 C Pizza Sauce

4 C Chicken Broth

14.5 oz. Can Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes

1/3 C Bell Pepper, sliced thin

8oz. Container Baby Bell Mushrooms, sliced thin

4 Large Cloves Garlic, chopped

2 tsp. Sugar (optional)

2T Fresh Basil, chopped

2 T Fresh Oregano, chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 T Fresh Parsley, chopped

Béchamel Sauce https://junecleaver21stcenturystyle.wordpress.com/2020/04/13/quick-and-easy-bechamel-sauce/

1 C Mini Pepperoni

Directions:

-Add all ingredients except parsley, bechamel sauce and pepperoni to crockpot and cook low 6-8 hours.

-20 Minutes before serving add in bechamel sauce, pepperoni and parsley, cook, serve and Enjoy!

 

Black Bean Soup

This recipe is not only vegetarian but also gluten free.  This is also a crockpot meal, so great for any busy family (simply start and walk away).  I will admit we served this with cornbread, and I feel like the two recipes complimented each other well.

 

Ingredients:

5 Cans Black Beans (set 1 aside), drained and rinsed

1 T Olive Oil

1 Onion, diced

14.5 oz. Can Diced Tomatoes

4 oz. Can Diced Green Chilies

3 Cloves Garlic, chopped

4 C Vegetable Broth

1 tsp. Dried Oregano

1 tsp. Cumin

1 Lime Juiced and Zested

1/4 C Fresh Cilantro, chopped

Cheese, Sour Cream and Cilantro for serving (optional)

Directions:

-Drain and rinse can of beans set aside.  Place in food processor with olive oil, process until smooth.

-Place processed beans with all other ingredients in crockpot, cook low 4-6 hours.  Enjoy!

Beef and Cabbage Soup with Noodles

My family loves beef and cabbage soup, but I needed to add carbs (tiny humans need extra ingredients to feel full lol).  So I took my usual recipe and tweaked it to accommodate pasta. I will admit my tiny humans asked for seconds, so if you follow me at all, this means that it was amazingly good.

 

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Beef

24 oz. Jar Red Sauce (I used Aldi’s Tomato Basil)

1/3 C Red Wine*

14.5 oz. Can Fire Roasted Tomatoes

6 C Veggie Broth

2 C Finely Diced Cabbage

1 medium Onion, diced

4 Cloves Garlic, minced

1 tsp. Dried Basil

1 tsp. Dried Marjoram

Pinch Dried Rosemary

Salt and Pepper to taste

1/3 C Small Sea Shell Pasta

Directions:

-In pan over medium high heat cook beef until done. Drain some of grease, trust me you are gonna want some to make soup awesome.

-Add cooked beef and all other ingredients except pasta in crockpot.  Cook low 6 hours.

-Reduce to keep warm and add in pasta, stir well, and allow to cook about 20 minutes or until pasta is tender.  Serve warm, Enjoy!

 

Creamy Potato Stew with Pulled Pork

Something about Fall weather always makes my family crave soup/stew, thank goodness my tiny humans love any and all I make.  I had potatoes that needed to be used, so I figured why not make a great warm meal with them.  This recipe is simply amazing and since its a crockpot meal, its super easy as well.

 

Ingredients:

2 T Butter

1 medium Sweet Onion, diced

2 T Balsamic Vinegar

3 Cloves Garlic, chopped

1 large Parsnip, peeled, diced

3 1/2 -4 C Potatoes, peeled, diced

2 Leeks, sliced thin

2 Bay Leaves

3/4 tsp. Dried Thyme

1/2 tsp. Ground Sage

1/2 tsp. Cumin

1/2 tsp. Dried Dill

Salt and Pepper to taste

4 C Cooked Pulled Pork-no flavor-

5 C Pork Broth (can use chicken)

1/2 C Heavy Cream

1/4 C Milk+2 T Cornstarch

Directions:

-In pan over medium heat melt butter, add in onion, cook 5 minutes.  Reduce heat and cook until onions start to caramelize and turn golden brown.  Add in vinegar and cook 5-7 minutes or until liquid is almost evaporated.

-Place onions and all other ingredients expect cream and milk/cornstarch into crockpot cook low for 6 hours.

-Mix milk and cornstarch together to create slurry.  Add slurry and cream to crockpot, cook 20 more minutes.  Enjoy!

 

Bacon Cheeseburger Chili

It has finally cooled off enough to want something like chili.  (Its no longer like living on the surface of the sun lol).  My family loves chili of all kinds, so I figured why not make one with the flavors of one of their other favorite food (bacon cheeseburgers).  I will admit this is an amazing combination of flavors, and you can never go wrong with bacon.

 

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Beef, not too lean

1/4 lb. Ground Pork

1 Onion, diced

2 Cloves Garlic, minced

30 oz. Can Pinto Beans, rinsed and drained

15.5 oz. Can Kidney Beans, rinsed and drained

15 oz. Jar Chez Whiz

2 Cans Fire Roasted Tomatoes

1 Can Chili Fixin Rotel

1/4 C Brown Sugar

1/4 C Worcestershire Sauce

2 T Chocolate Syrup

2 T Deli or Spicy Mustard

1 T Yellow Mustard

1 T Burger Seasoning (I use Webers)

2 tsp. Chili Powder (or more to taste)

1 tsp. Cumin

1 tsp. Smoked Paprika

1 tsp. Dried Oregano

1 lb. Bacon, cooked crisp

Shredded Cheese for serving

Directions:

-Cook meat until fully cooked, do not drain all of grease.  Trust me a good chili has some grease in it.

-Place cooked meat and all other ingredients expect bacon and shredded cheese to crockpot.

-Cook low 6-8 hours.  Place half of bacon in crockpot the last hour before serving.

-Serve with remaining bacon and cheese.  Enjoy!

 

Taco Seasoned Chicken Stew

I had leftover chicken from the taco seasoned roasted chicken https://junecleaver21stcenturystyle.wordpress.com/2017/12/09/taco-seasoned-roasted-chicken/  (but any will work as long as cooked) and we were sitting with almost a foot of snow on the ground, thus meaning it was perfect soup weather.  This recipe is super simple and is packed with flavor and since its a crockpot meal, you can start and enjoy the world around you as it cooks.

 

Ingredients:

2-3 C Diced Cooked Chicken

1 Medium Onion, diced

2 Cloves Garlic, minced

15 oz. Can Black Beans, rinsed and drained

14 oz. Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes

1 1/4 C Frozen Corn, defrosted (can use canned)

3 T Fresh Parsley, finely diced

2 tsp. Cumin

1 1/2 tsp. Smoked Paprika

1 tsp. Chili Powder

Salt and Pepper to taste

7C Chicken Stock

1/4 C Fideo Pasta (optional)

Directions:

-Place all ingredients in crockpot, except pasta and cook low 6 hours or until veggies are tender.  Add in pasta after cutting crockpot off (this pasta will cook in about 15 minutes even with pot cut off).  Enjoy!

Italian Sausage Chili

I’m a huge fan of chili and thank goodness my tiny humans love beans, so needless to say we eat a ton of it in the cold seasons.  I decided that why not make one that it packed with the flavors of Italian food and make everyone happy by serving it with garlic bread lol.  This would make a great new idea for your next Italian meal and it sure to warm you up this time of year.

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Sweet Italian Sausage

2 Cans Cannellini Beans, drained and rinsed

2 Cans Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed

28 oz. Can Crushed Tomatoes

7.75 oz. Can Tomato Sauce

3 C Chicken Broth

3 C Vegetable Broth

1 Sweet Onion, diced

5 Cloves Garlic, minced

1/2 Red Bell Pepper, diced

1/2 Yellow Bell Pepper, diced

3 T Sugar (this helps cut the acid from the tomatoes)

2 T Fresh Oregano, chopped

2 tsp. Italian Seasoning

1 tsp. Smoked Paprika

1 tsp. Cumin

1 tsp. Chili Powder

Grated Parmesan Cheese for serving

Directions:

-Cook sausage in pan over medium heat, break up meat as it goes, you want small pieces.  Cook until done.

-Add cooked sausage and all other ingredients except parmesan cheese to crockpot.  Cook low 6-8 hours.

-Serve with grated parmesan.  Enjoy!

 

Honey Garlic Crockpot Chicken Thighs

I generally grill my chicken thighs, but since it was suppose to rain and storm all day I decided to try something different.  These turned out great and were super easy to make as well.

Ingredients:

6-8 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs (can use breasts)

1/3C Honey

1/2 C Chili Sauce (use GF if needed)

1/2 C Soy Sauce (use GF if needed)

1/4 C Hoisin Sauce (use GF)

2 T Minced Garlic

2 T Toasted Sesame Seeds https://junecleaver21stcenturystyle.wordpress.com/2016/06/12/how-to-roast-sesame-seeds/

1 T Fresh Parsley, chopped

1/2 T Fresh Cilantro, chopped

1 1/2 tsp. Fresh Oregano, chopped

Directions:

-Mix all ingredients in bowl well together.

-Place chicken in single layer at bottom of crockpot.  Pour sauce over chicken.

-Cook low for 4-6 hours or until chicken reaches 165 degrees internally.  Serve over rice, pasta or other side with sauce on top.  Enjoy!

A1 Sauce Pot Roast

My family loved A1 and they also love pot roasts, so I decided to combine the two.  I must admit is smelled amazing while cooking, but tasted even better.

Ingredients:

2 T Butter

2 T Marsala Wine

2 T Worcestershire Sauce

Garlic Salt

2-4 lb.  Beef Chuck Roast

1 C A1 Sauce

1 Package Italian Dressing Mix

6 Red Potatoes, diced (can peel, but don’t have too)

3 Carrots, diced

1 Small Yellow Onion, diced

2 Celery Stalks, diced

2 tsp. Minced Garlic

3 C Water

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

-In large skillet over medium/high heat, melt butter, add in wine and Worcestershire sauce.  Coat roast in garlic salt, place in hot pan, sear all sides for about 1-2 minutes per side. Set aside.

-Place A1 in bottom of crockpot, add in Italian dressing mix, top with veggies.  Add in roast and pan drippings, cover in water.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Remove meat and veggies from crockpot, can save broth for later use or to make gravy if you desire.

1/4 C Butter

1/4 C Flour

2-2 1/2 C Broth

Directions:

-In medium pot over medium heat melt butter, whisk in flour to create roux.  Slowly pour in broth from roast into roux, ensure roux is completely dissolved.  Bring gravy to boil, reduce temperature and simmer for about 7 minutes.  Serve over meat and veggies.  Enjoy!

Beef Pot Roast with a Twist

Ingredients:

3-4 lb. Beef Chuck Roast

2 T Butter

2T Cooking Sherry (can use the good stuff)

1T Worcestershire sauce

1 T Balsamic Vinegar

Garlic or Seasoning Salt

1/2 Medium Yellow Onion, diced

1 Clove Garlic, minced

2 Celery Stalks, diced

2 Carrots, diced

3-5 Red Potatoes, diced, can peel

1/2 C Dark Beer

4 C Beef Broth

3 T Dijon Mustard

2 T Spicy Mustard

2 tsp. Dried Rosemary

1/2 tsp. Dried Thyme

1/2 tsp. Ground Sage

1/4 tsp. Paprika

1/4 tsp. Cumin

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions;

-Heat butter, vinegar, sherry, Worcestershire sauce over medium high heat, coat roast in garlic salt.  Place meat in hot pan and sear all sides.  Place roast in crockpot, pour in braising liquid.

-Add all other ingredients to crockpot, cook low 6 hours or until veggies are tender.  Enjoy!