When I first met her, one of my dear friends in Seattle did not own a crock-pot. She believed she didn't need a crock-pot. (Insert '90s sitcom laugh track here.) I am of the opinion that everyone needs a crock-pot. In the summer, a crock-pot helps keep your house cool by eliminating the need to use the oven, and there are glorious soups, fruit butters, and kid-friendly crock-pot recipes for every other season.
The crock-pot is also every multi-tasker's silver bullet. All it takes is tossing ingredients into the crock-pot in the morning, and when you return from a hard day's work, your house smells like Martha Stewart broke into your house while you were away, like some culinary mastermind version of Santa or the Tooth Fairy. (I mean, really, how could you be mad?) Imagine the succulent roast chicken, fluffy dinner rolls, and spiced winter co*cktails waiting for you—each in a crock-pot.
In case you were wondering, my friend now owns a crock-pot. And, like most crock-pot devotees, she can't imagine a kitchen without one.
Apple Butter
This fall crock-pot recipe can be distributed into Mason jarsand given away as gifts,with a cute little homemade label and a loving note. Apple butter goes nicely on toast, English muffins, creative sandwiches and beyond. The hardest part of the apple butter endeavor is the canning, but that's more ofa statement about how easy the recipe is. With a simple ingredient list and sixteen hours, the result isa ton of delicious apple butter!
Mommy's Kitchen has the instructions
Bacon-Wrapped Apple BBQ Chicken
When I made this fall crock-pot recipe, I was very concerned about the texture of the bacon. I thought it would turn out rubbery and slimy, but I was pleasantly surprised. The bacon sitting directly below the chicken was not as crisp, but overall I was very pleased by the texture. The combination of honey barbeque and apples makes this dish very sweet and absolutely delicious. I recommend pulling out the slowcooker for this one as soon as possible.
To get the recipe, visit Chef-in-Training
Baked Potato Soup
Nothing says "comfort food" like a loaded baked potato, and this fall crock-pot recipe combines theflavors of a giant baked potato into a delicious and satisfying soup. For the full experience, don'tskimp onthe garnishing touches, like bacon and scallions.Yum!
For the full recipe, visit Key Ingredient
Pork Sirloin Roast with Fall Fruit
Fall is great in terms of fresh fruits and vegetables, and this fall crock-pot recipe uses some of the season's bounty. Fresh apples and pears, along with apple cider and fall spices, make this dish a sweet and savory slow cooking dream.
Chester County Mom's has the recipe
Pumpkin Chai Tea
Deliciously unexpected and perfect for a crowd, this fall crock-pot recipe has winner written all over it. Pumpkin chai tea is perfect for fall, where pumpkin rules and tea beckons. This recipe can be ready in just over two hours, and, of course, it stays warm for hours in the appliance to rule them all: the crock-pot.
Barns and Noodles has the recipe
Apple Butter Yeast Rolls
I love that this fall crock-pot recipe cooks deliciously moist bread in a place other than the oven. Warm bread is the best side known to man, but the oven can get crowded, so having the bread regulated to the crockpot works well for me. Pro tip: the recipestates that the rolls need to be baked in threebatches, but unless the bread issupposed to feed a football team,I'dfreeze two-thirds of the dough foranother scrumptious futureepisodeofBest SideDish Ever.
A Spicy Perspective has the recipe
Pumpkin Oatmeal
I would totally get out of bed for a bowl of this amazing fall crock-pot recipe. Pumpkin oatmeal, thrown together in fifteen minutes and ready for consumption as soon as the alarm sounds, what's not to love?
Head over to Wanna Bite? for the recipe
Butternut Squash & Apple Soup
A vegan fall crock-pot recipe, this butternut squash and apple soup can win over almost any carnivore with its velvety texture and comforting fall flavors. Be sure to pick up some butternut squash and fresh apples at the local farmer's market to make this soup extra special!
Clean-Eating Chelseyhas the tutorial on how to make it
Chicken Tikka Masala
There's nothing particularly "fall" about this crock-pot recipe, but I would be remiss if I made a slow cooker recipe roundup that didn't include one of my all-time favorite dinners. I made this embarrassingly often when Iwas pregnant with my daughter. Seriously, at least four times, and thisrecipe comes with a lot of leftovers, even while I was eating for two (and then some). Cheaper than going out, this recipe is amazing for the wallet and the tastebuds (not so much for the waistline, but everything in moderation).
Find out how to make this little piece of heaven from Tasty Kitchen
Pumpkin Chili
Football season is chili season, and this fall crock-potrecipe puts a pumpkin spin on the signature fall dish. Honestly, I thought that the pumpkin would be overwhelming and weird, but it's more of a seasoning than a feature. Don't get me wrong, you know pumpkin is in there, but it makes the chili complex and rich and super filling, rather than reminiscent of a spicy pumpkin pie. It's definitelyworth atry, particularly because it's sosimple.
Find this fall crockpot recipe at Taste and Tell
Photo Credits (from top): Mommy's Kitchen, Chef-in-Training, Key Ingredient, Chester County Moms, Barns and Noodles, A Spicy Perspective, Wanna Bite?, Clean-Eating Chelsey, Tasty Kitchen, Taste and Tell
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