slow cooker southwest chicken stacks

I'm not sure why these are called "stacks", but this dish is so delicious. It's basically just a yummy mixture to eat by itself, or on tortilla chips. It's unbelievably easy, which is great for busy schedules.

ingredients:

2 cups frozen corn
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 large frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
1 1/2 cups salsa

directions:

Lightly grease the bottom and sides of the slow cooker. Pour frozen corn into the bottom of the slow cooker and place the frozen chicken breasts on top. Cover with beans and salsa. Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours. Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred with forks. Return to the slow cooker and stir until the chicken, corn, beans and salsa are combined.

Serve on a bed of tortilla chips and top with additional garnishes: lettuce, tomato, avocado, sour cream, cheese, cilantro, lime wedges, etc.

crockpot chili

I love to make chili when it's cold outside. It's such a comfort food! I have seen so many recipes for chili, but I basically make up my own and it turns out great!

ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef or turkey (i use turkey and it's DELISH)

1 large can (~14 oz) crushed tomatoes

1 can diced tomatoes (with juice)

1 can kidney beans

1 package chili seasoning

1/2 large onion, diced

1/2 green bell pepper, diced

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp chili powder

salt and pepper

directions:

1. put all ingredients in crockpot and let simmer on low for about 6 hours.

2. top with sour cream, cheese, and fritos (a must-have for my hubby). Enjoy!

spaghetti sauce

This is my family's famous spaghetti sauce. My family, meaning my grandmother and my mom. I'm not sure if my grandmother created it or if she got it from somewhere else. Either way, it's amazing and it always brings me back to my childood. I remember growing up and I'd walk in the door from school to smell this sauce simmering away on the stove. Oh my gracious. It's not a sweet sauce, and it's a little more thin, not very chunky. The recipe doesn't call for it, but feel free to add onions, bell peppers, or diced tomatoes to the sauce. My mom just never put this stuff in there because apparently we were all pretty picky as kids. Sorry mom! :)

ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

2 cans Hunts tomato sauce

1 small can tomato paste

2 cans water (if you want it a little thicker, just do 1.5 cans)

1 tbsp italian seasoning

1 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 package spaghetti seasoning (italian style. i usually use McCormick.)

1 tbsp butter

directions:

1. brown beef and drain.

2. add all ingredients to a pot on the stove, or a crockpot.

3. if using stovetop, bring to a boil and let simmer as long as possible (at least an hour, if not more). if using crockpot, cook on low for 3-4 hours.

crockpot stuffed chicken

I have only made this once, and enjoyed it a lot. I just love crockpot meals. Its like having someone cook for you. Sort of. :) This is a good fall recipe, since the stuffing reminds me of thanksgiving.

ingredients:

chicken breasts, flattened (1 chicken breast per person. use however many you need.)

1 package instant herb-seasoned stuffing mix or cornbread stuffing mix

1 small onion

2 tbsp butter

1 can cream of celery soup

shredded monterey jack cheese

directions:

1. prepare stuffing mix according to directions, adding 1/2 cup chopped onion to stuffing.

2. spoon stuffing mix onto chicken breasts, roll up, and secure with a toothpick.

3. brown chicken rolls in butter in a hot skillet.

4. place in crockpot an spoon extra stuffing around chicken.

5. spoon cream of celery soup all over chicken.

6. cook on low for 5 hours.

7. sprinkle with monterey jack cheese and let melt before serving.

red beans & rice

This is one of our favorites. I got the recipe from my mother-in-law, so my husband grew up eating this. It can be cooked in the crockpot or on the stove, but I personally think its easier in the crockpot so you don't have to worry about it. But, by all means, do whichever you prefer!

ingredients:

1 lb dry kidney beans (soak in a bowl of water overnight. they will start to crack open - that's normal.)

white rice (as many servings as you need for your family or guests)

1 onion

3 bay leaves

salt and pepper

garlic powder

1/2 package of Hillshire Farms smoked sausage, sliced

directions:

stovetop:

1. add 6 cups hot water to beans.

2. cover and simmer gently over low heat until tender, about 2 hours.

3. add onion, bay leaves, spices, and sausage.

4. serve over rice.

crockpot:

1. add beans and 2-4 cups of water to crockpot, and add all ingredients except rice and sausage.

2. cook on low for 6 hours.

3. about an hour before serving, add sausage.

4. serve over rice.

We love to top it with shredded cheddar cheese before we eat it. YUM.