Fix-It and Forget-It Revised and Updated: 700 Great Slow Cooker Recipes (15 page)

Makes 12 servings

Prep Time: 15-30 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-5 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 5- to 6-qt.

1 lb. lean ground beef

2 cups onion, chopped

2 cups celery, chopped

2 1-lb. pkgs. frozen mixed vegetables of your choice

2 14 ½-oz. cans Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained

1 tsp. black pepper

2 beef bouillon cubes

½ lb. shredded coleslaw

2 medium potatoes, unpeeled and chopped very fine

6 cups water,
or
more if needed

1. Brown ground beef in skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery to skillet and sauté until tender.

2. Place frozen vegetables, tomatoes, pepper, bouillon cubes, coleslaw, potatoes, and water in slow cooker. Mix together well.

3. Stir in browned beef mixture.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 4-5 hours, or until vegetables are done to your liking.

Note:

This soup tastes great even as leftovers.

Hearty Beef and Cabbage Soup

Carolyn Mathias

Williamsville, NY

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 3½-4 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 5-qt.

1 lb. ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

40-oz. can tomatoes

2 cups water

15-oz. can kidney beans

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

1 Tbsp. chili powder

½ cup chopped celery

2 cups thinly sliced cabbage

1. Sauté beef in skillet. Drain.

2. Combine all ingredients except cabbage in slow cooker.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 3 hours. Add cabbage. Cook on High 30-60 minutes longer.

Hamburger Soup with Barley

Becky Oswald

Broadway, VA

Makes 10 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-8 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 5½-qt.

1 lb. ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

3 14½-oz. cans beef consomme

28-oz. can diced,
or
crushed, tomatoes

3 carrots, sliced

3 celery ribs, sliced

8 Tbsp. barley

1 bay leaf

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 Tbsp. dried parsley

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

1. Brown beef and onion in skillet. Drain.

2. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

3. Cover. Cook on High 3 hours, or Low 6-8 hours.

Vegetable Soup with Potatoes

Annabelle Unternahrer

Shipshewana, IN

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-12 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 6-qt.

1 lb. hamburger, browned and drained

2 15-oz. cans diced tomatoes

2 carrots, sliced
or
cubed

2 onions, sliced
or
cubed

2 potatoes, diced

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

12-oz. can V8 vegetable juice

1½-2 cups sliced celery

2 tsp. beef stock concentrate,
or
2 beef bouillon cubes

2-3 cups vegetables (cauliflower, peas, corn, limas,
or
your choice of leftovers from your freezer)

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 12 hours, or High 4-6 hours.

Note:

If using leftover vegetables that are precooked, add during last hour if cooking on Low, or during last half hour if cooking on High.

Variation:

Use 3 cups pre-cooked dried beans or lentils instead of hamburger.

Hamburger Lentil Soup

Juanita Marner

Shipshewana, IN

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-10 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 5-qt.

1 lb. ground beef

½ cup chopped onions

4 carrots, diced

3 ribs celery, diced

1 garlic clove, minced,
or
1 tsp. garlic powder

1 qt. tomato juice

1 Tbsp. salt

2 cups dry lentils, washed with stones removed

1 qt. water

½ tsp. dried marjoram

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

1. Brown ground beef and onion in skillet. Drain.

2. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours, or High 4-6 hours.

Vegetable Soup with Noodles

Glenda S. Weaver

New Holland, PA

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 2-6 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4-qt.

2 beef bouillon cubes

1 pint water

1 onion, chopped

1 lb. ground beef

¼ cup ketchup

1 tsp. salt

⅛ tsp. celery salt

½ cup uncooked noodles

12-16-oz. pkg. frozen mixed vegetables,
or
vegetables of your choice

1 pint tomato juice

1. Dissolve bouillon cubes in water.

2. Brown onion and beef in skillet. Drain.

3. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 6 hours, or on High 2-3 hours, until vegetables are tender.

Dottie’s Creamy Steak Soup

Debbie Zeida

Mashpee, MA

Makes 4-6 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 8-10 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4-qt.

1 lb. ground beef

half a large onion, chopped

12-oz. can V8 vegetable juice

2-3 medium potatoes, diced

10¾-oz. can cream of mushroom soup

10¾-oz. can cream of celery soup

16-oz. pkg. frozen mixed vegetables,
or
your choice of frozen vegetables