Crockpot Chicken and Veggies March 1, 2012

This is more of guideline than a recipe but here we go…My Easy Peasy Crockpot Chicken and Veggies

• 1 whole chicken or bone in chicken pieces – frozen or thawed
• Fresh veggies – I use potatoes, carrots, and celery…that way the leftovers can be stirred with some noodles the next night for chicken noodle soup…but wait I’m getting ahead of myself…
• Salt, pepper, whatever spices you like (Fresh rosemary, rubs for the meat, garlic powder, Cajun spices, a dash of liquid smoke…uses your imagination….)
• ¼ – ½ c liquid….I use water, but chicken broth, wine, anything works
• 1 crockpot

• Wash you veggies…you never know who scratched their butt, touched the carrots, and put them back on the shelf…and chop them in to chunks.

• Drop your veggies in the bottom of the crockpot, sprinkle with seasoning if you choose
• Pour your liquid in the crockpot
• Season your meat if you so choose and plop it on top of the veggies
• Put the lid on and cook

o Here’s the deal

 Frozen Chicken (whole or pieces) – Cook on high for 6 – 8 hours
 Thawed Chicken (whole or pieces) – Cook on high 4 hours or low for 6 – 8 hours
This isn’t like cooking in the oven, the longer you cook this the juicer it gets…all that happens it the meat will fall off the bone

This guy started frozen, was covered in a spice rub, and cooked on high for 6 hours….that’s why he stayed whole, cook him the whole 8 hours and he’ll fall off the bone

Ready for the best part of this beyond simple recipe?? You can change out the chicken for a roast or a pork loin, whatever’s in the fridge or freezer. Don’t have veggies? Throw the meat in the crock pot, rub with bbq sauce, and pour in 1/4 – 1/2 c water and cook for the times as listed above. If you do this you can shred the meat for pulled meat sandwiches or slice and serve….

You want more??

If you make the recipe above and have leftovers turn them into one of these MEALS . Just replace the turkey that the recipe calls for with whatever you’ve got leftover 🙂

You still want more?? You guys are killing me!?!
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10 Quick Ideas For Your Turkey Leftovers November 28, 2011

Are your turkey’d out?? I know I am…but here are a few ideas to switch things up so your leftovers don’t taste so leftover anymore….Hope you enjoy 🙂

–Turkey Sandwiches –This one’s a given I know, but it’s a classic Thanksgiving Leftover Meal.  Layer stuffing, turkey, and cranberry sauce, and serve on a leftover roll or sliced bread.

–Turkey Noodle Soup – There are so many ways to make soup…This is the quickest recipe I have, but if you have a recipe for Chicken Noodle Soup you love just replace the chicken with turkey.

-Chop your carrots and celery and thrown into a pot of chicken or turkey broth

-Add salt, pepper, and seasonings (I use poultry seasoning, garlic and onion powder, and dill)

-Boil until almost tender (about 20 minutes)

-Throw your egg noodles in and boil for another 8-10 minutes

-Stir in leftover turkey and simmer until ready to eat

–Turkey Taco Soup

– 1 can black beans
– 1 can pinto beans
– 1 can corn
– 1 can cheddar cheese soup
– 1/2 can water
– 1 can Rotel (or diced tomatoes if you don’t like spicy)
– 1/2 pkg taco seasoning
– 2 cups of leftover chopped turkey

Mix all ingredients (juices included) in a medium pan over medium low heat and let simmer for about 20 min. *Idea* Serve over rice or with sprinkle cheese and sour cream.

–Turkey Taco Omelets

This one is one of my favorites….You take the leftover Turkey Taco Soup you’ve already made and strain a few spoonful’s of it…use it as an omelet filling and top with a slice of cheese

-Almost Sheppard’s Pie

Mix the leftover gravy with your leftover veggies and stir in a little bit of leftover turkey meat (It should be kind of runny). Top with a layer of leftover mashed potatoes and sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350 for about 20-25 minutes, and serve with biscuits or leftover rolls.

-Turkey Pot Pie

Line a pan with a pie crust (optional)

Mix equal parts of sour cream and cream of chicken soup. (When making a whole pie pan I use 8 oz of each, to just make for the hubby and I, I bake in a smaller pan and only use 4 oz of each)

Stir in a can or 2 of mixed veggies (or a bag of **Cooked** frozen veggies), salt, pepper, seasonings, and leftover turkey

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes

The last 15 minutes of bake time, throw a pan of biscuits in the oven to cook

When the timer goes off place the biscuits on top of your pie and serve

(I’ve tried baking the biscuits on top of the pot pie but I always end up with soggy biscuit bottoms + this way the kids get biscuits too since they don’t like pot pies)

–Turkey ‘Fake’ Nachos

I make my nachos with red nacho cheese Dorito’s  (hence the ‘Fake Nachos’) but tortilla chips work great too. Heat your oven to 350, layer chips on a baking sheet and top with a little sprinkle cheese. Top that with chopped up turkey and whatever nacho toppings you enjoy (or more drained Turkey Taco Soup), sprinkle with another layer of cheese and bake until the cheese is melty, about 10 minutes.

–Grilled Cheese and Ramens

Make Turkey Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and serve with Ramen noodles or a bowl of Turkey Noodle Soup

-Turkey Salad

Take your favorite chicken salad recipe and replace the chicken with turkey…Here’s my recipe…

-2-3 cooked potatoes – cut into 1-2 inch cubes (they need to still be HOT)

-½ can of drained peas

-2 cups chopped, leftover turkey

-Chopped dill pickles

-3 hard boiled eggs, chopped

-Mayo (If you use miracle whip leave out the lime juice)

-Dijon Mustard – just a squirt

-Salt, pepper, and the juice from ½ a lime

-Optional – Chopped black olives and/or chopped jalapenos

Mix it all together, chill for a couple of hours, and enjoy

– Turkey Club Quesadillas 

Heat pan over medium heat, and butter two flour tortillas. Place one tortilla (buttered side down) in your skillet and sprinkle with a thin layer of cheese, leftover turkey, and crumbled bacon. Top with a little more sprinkle cheese and the remaining tortilla. Cook about 3 minutes on each side, until golden brown, and serve with ranch dressing for dipping.

* Another option – use the leftover drained Turkey Taco Soup and cheese as your quesadilla fillers, then serve with sour cream and salsa instead of ranch

Hope you guys enjoy my recipes…let me know what your favorite is 🙂