by Pamela Kay

Created on: July 20, 2008   Last Updated: September 01, 2009

Quick and easy crock pot recipes get you out of the kitchen fast, but give your family delicious meals with that cooked all day flavor. Through the years, I've found and created some really delicious crock pot recipes. Here are a few of the best.

*Crock Pot Turkey Breast*

1 3 pound boneless turkey breast (halved)
2 tbs. butter
1/2 tsp. dried tarragon
1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp black pepper
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 tbs. cornstarch
3 tbs. cold water

Place the breast with skin side up in the crock pot and brush with butter.
Sprinkle with salt, pepper and tarragon. Add mushrooms and broth.
Cover and cook on low for eight hours. Remove turkey and keep warm.
Skim fat from juices. Mix cornstarch and water well and slowly stir into juice.
Return turkey to crock pot and simmer for thirty minutes longer until gravy is thickened.

*Crock Pot Poultry Dressing*

2 cups chopped celery
2 cups chopped onions
1/4 cup minced parsley (fresh)
3/4 cup butter
13 cups toasted bread cubes
2 cups cooked chicken (chopped)
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp. rubbed sage
1 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 eggs (slightly beaten)
1 can chicken broth

In a large skillet, saute the celery, onions and parsley in butter until tender.
In a large bowl, toss the bread cubes and chicken with the salt, sage, thyme and pepper.
Add the sauted vegetables.
Combine eggs and broth and add to the bread/vegetable/chicken mixture.
Place in crock pot and cover.
Cook for five hours on low until meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.

*Spicy Crock Pot Pork Chops*

4 center cut pork chops-1 inch thick
2 tbs. cooking oil
1 tbs. minced garlic
2 tbs. soy sauce
1/4 cup chicken broth
3 tbs. brown sugar
1/4 cup red pepper flakes
1 tbs. cornstarch
1 tbs. cold water

Brown pork chops in oil and place in crock pot.
Add garlic to pan drippings and stir for one minute.
Add soy sauce, broth, brown sugar and pepper flakes and stir until sugar is dissolved.
Pour this mixture over pork chops, cover and cook on low for eight hours.
Remove pork chops.
Mix cornstarch and cold water until smooth, slowly stir into crock pot sauce.
Return pork chops to crock pot, cover and let simmer for thirty minutes more.
Serve over a bed of rice.

*Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs*

1 lb ground beef.
1/2 tsp. onion salt
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1 medium onion chopped
1 medium bell pepper chopped
1 celery rib sliced thinly
1 garlic clove minced
1 can tomato paste 6 0z.
1 jar sliced mushrooms drained
1 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. dried basil
Salt and pepper to taste

Add onion and garlic salt to ground beef and mix well.
Form mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
In a skillet brown the meatballs, drain off fat and place meatballs in crock pot.
Saute onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic in skillet until tender.
Add all remaining ingredients to crock pot.
Cover and set to low temperature. Cook for 7 to 8 hours.
Serve on hot pasta with parmesan cheese and crusty garlic bread.

No matter how busy your day was, when the family starts drifting in at the end of their day, the crock pot will greet them with a wonderful aroma. However, the proof of any recipe is in the tasting and they won't be disappointed when they try these quick and easy crock pot recipes.

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