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We all love a good crockpot recipe, right? I know I do! The ability to “set it and forget it” is invaluable on those super busy days! But warm and delicious slow-cooked meals are only the tip of the iceberg for this trusty appliance! There are plenty of other ways to use your crockpot, for things you probably haven’t even thought about! So today I’m sharing 10 of my favorite unusual crockpot “recipes.” Check them out, and and I’ll bet you start seeing your crockpot in a whole new light! :-)
If you have a crockpot tip or trick that isn’t listed in today’s post, we’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below this post letting us know what unusual thing you make with your crockpot, and your comment could be featured in an upcoming blog post!
10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Make In Your Crockpot
Hot Dogs – For a Crowd!
Need an easy meal for a large group/small army? It’s hot dogs to the rescue! Place several hot dogs in your crockpot and stand them up vertically. Turn your crockpot on and let them hang out until they’re hot!
Related: “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” – Super Bowl Edition
Recycled Crayons
If you have kids, chances are you also have a box of half-used crayons somewhere. Collect all those broken pieces, and use your crockpot to make new crayons!
You’ll need a disposable muffin tin, your crockpot, and your crayon bits. Distribute your crayon pieces into the cups of the muffin tins, doing your best to sort them by similar colors. Place the muffin tin into your crockpot, turn it on to the high setting, and wait until all the wax has melted completely (about 2 hours). Remove the tin from the crockpot and allow the wax to solidify completely before removing your new crayons from the tin.
Caramel Apples
Making caramel apples using your crockpot is easy, and more importantly, easy to clean up! Start by placing a crockpot liner into your crockpot, then add a bag of unwrapped caramels and 2 tablespoons of water. Cook the caramels on high until the caramel is melty, easy to stir, and shiny.
Spear your apples with craft sticks or skewers of some kind, then roll them in the caramel and let the excess drip back into the crockpot. Sprinkle with nuts, coconut flakes, or sprinkles if you’d like, but work quickly, because the caramel hardens fast! When you’re done, just toss out the sticky crockpot liner.
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Chex Mix
Making savory, salty, crave-worthy Chex Mix is a breeze in the crockpot. I found this recipe on Gimme Some Oven, and it worked out wonderfully! I already need to make another batch!
Brownies
I was definitely skeptical of this one before I tried it! But it totally works, and it’s a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without heating up the whole kitchen by using the oven. Get the recipe for these chocolatey bits of heaven over at Momtastic.
Greek Yogurt
Making yogurt sounds like one of those things that’s best left to professionals, but it’s actually a lot easier than you think! This particular crockpot method is virtually foolproof (and I would know, because I didn’t follow my own instructions when I made it the first time, and it still turned out fine!) Get step-by-step instructions from my post on Foolproof Crockpot Greek Yogurt.
Soap
Yes, you really can make homemade soap in your crockpot! It’s simple to do and totally customizable. Plus it looks homemade, which I think gives it a lovely rustic charm. :-) Get the details from How To Make Homemade Soap In A Crockpot.
Simmering Potpourri
You can use your crockpot to stir up a naturally-scented potpourri that will make your whole house smell amazing. You can get a couple of my favorite “recipes” from My Favorite Simmering Potpourri Recipes.
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Overnight Oatmeal
Who doesn’t love making overnight anything? Any chance I have to turn waiting time into sleeping time, I count as a huge win. (Impatient? Who, me??) ;-) A bit of prep the night before can yield you a crockpot full of warm, comforting oatmeal that the whole family will love. Perfect for the chilly autumn mornings that are just around the corner! Get the recipe at Overnight Slow Cooker Oatmeal For A Crowd.
Applesauce
I’d never tried making applesauce before, let alone in a crockpot, so I had no idea how it would turn out. Not only was it unbelievably easy (thanks in part to this handy 3-in-1 apple peeler gadget,) it was delicious too! If you happen to live somewhere that produces delicious apples, pick up a case and make this applesauce! You can thank me later. ;-) Get the recipe at How To Make Your Own Applesauce In The Slow Cooker.
