If you love your crockpot like I do, here is some useful information that will help you take even better advantage of it. A handy chart for converting your favorite traditional recipes to crockpot meals!
More Ideas You'll Love
I especially like using my crockpot this time of year because it doesn’t heat up the house like turning on the oven does! No one needs that in the heat of summer!
By using the simple reference chart below, you can make almost any of your family favorites into crockpot favorites!
TO DOWNLOAD A FREE PRINTABLE OF THIS CHART –
CLICK HERE!
Most traditional recipes can be converted to use in your crockpot, however, there are a few simple guidelines to keep in mind when going from stovetop to crockpot:
- Reduce the amount of liquid the recipe calls for by about half. The slow cooking process will produce more liquid that won’t get boiled away.
- If the recipe does not include liquid or sauce of any kind, you should add 1/2 cup of water because moisture is needed to produce steam for the slow cooker to reach the appropriate cooking temperatures.
- Browning the meat before adding to the slow cooker will enhance the flavor of the dish.
- If the recipe calls for vegetables, be sure to cut them into consistent size pieces and layer on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- More delicate vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, peas, and summer squash should be added towards the end of the cooking time.
- Recipes for soup and stew containing milk, cheese, or other dairy products, should have these ingredients added in the last 30 to 60 minutes of cooking time.
- To avoid rice and pasta from becoming sticky, cook them on the stovetop and add in at the end of the cooking time just long enough to be heated through.
- At the end of cooking, if there seems to be too much liquid, remove the lid and turn the pot up to high, allowing some of the water to cook out.
- If you’d like to thicken or enrich the sauce, stir in cream, sour cream, shredded cheese, or a mixture of cornstarch and cold water.
- Brighten up flavors with salt and pepper, lemon juice, or vinegar, and maybe a handful of fresh chopped parsley, basil, or cilantro.
Almost any recipe that bakes in the oven or simmers on the stovetop can be converted for your crockpot. Give some of your favorites a try! Let me know how they turn out! :-)
Here are a few of mine:
Crockpot Spareribs & Mom’s Secret BBQ Sauce
Pineapple Teriyaki Crockpot Chicken
More Ideas You'll Love
3-Ingredient Sweet & Tangy Meatballs
5 Slow Cooker Meals In One Hour
Easy Roast
If that’s what you seek in a roast hen, your search stops here. This approach uses nothing but a slick of olive oil on the skin, a sprinkle of salt …
Have have a chicken recipe I’ve only ever made in the oven. Its cooked chicken, cooked frozen broccoli with a cream of mushroom, mayo, cheddar cheese and curry powder sauce. I usually layer broccoli, then chicken, the sauce and cover with cheddar. Then cook cover at 350 for 30 min. I’m unsure of how to convert this to a slow cooker?.
The crockpot in the picture looks like stainless steel. Please tell me what the brand is. Your blog is always so helpful. Thank you for all the info you share.
For the meatloaf, you could use no-stick foil on the bottom. The meatloaf recipe is almost exactly like mine. Differences: I use soft bread crumbs, dried onion flakes rather than powder, a splash of soy and Worcestershire sauce, a tsp. of beef base (Better Than Bouillon), and slather top with ketchup. I have never made it with cheese…can’t wait to try it. The crock pot mashed potatoes!!! What a fantastic idea! I usually make the mashed potatoes and then put them in a crock pot to keep them warm and out of the way while getting everything else ready (for… Read more »
[…] with plenty of tips and related information. Visit One Good Thing by Jillee or go straight to her conversion chart and slow cooking tips to making the conversion go smoothly. These were Jillee’s top tips I […]
[…] One Good Thing By Jillee via Lifehacker […]
[…] Stovetop/Oven to Crockpot Conversion Chart | One Good Thing by Jillee […]
you have so many good ideas, here is another one that you can research, how to make our own teas from roots, spices and other items. i would like to learn to make my own teas so that i am not spending as much money at the store.
Oh, thank you! I have had two fails in the slow cooker department since beginning my Please Don’t Heat Up the Kitchen New Recipe Challenge. I hope to use the chart and suggestions to keep other fails from happening (and to be able to convert recipes to slow cooker recipes).
As someone else noted the link to the “5 Slow Cooker Meals in One Hour” just takes you to the “3-Ingredient Sweet & Tangy Meatballs” recipe.