And when there are just a few ingredients in the recipe, that's even better. These recipes can be assembled in just five minutes. The trick to recipes like these is using ingredients that fulfill multiple roles. Canned tomatoes with green chilies and garlic, for instance, combine three ingredients into one. The recipes taste like so much more than the sum of the ingredients with this trick.
Feel free to substitute your favorite ingredients for any in these recipes. And remember, you can add more ingredients to these recipes as you see fit. And when you come upon a winner, post your favorites on the Busy Cooks Forum!.
Appetizers
- Chili Con Queso
Serve this creamy, cheesy dip with different flavors of tortilla chips. It can practically be a whole dinner when served with lots of veggie dippers too. - Crocked Onion Meatballs
Dry onion soup mix comes to the rescue again with frozen precooked meatballs in this wonderful appetizer recipe. - Enchilada Dip
Add some baby carrots and onions to this classic recipe and you can serve it as a main dish, over hot cooked rice. - Appley Kielbasa
Everyone will love this recipe with its sweet and savory flavors. This can also be served as a main dish.
Entrees, Soups, and Sandwiches
- Crockpot Chili Beef Sandwiches
These very flavorful sandwiches are easy to make. Add some chopped onion or carrots for more nutrition. - Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs
This classic dish tastes like it took hours to make. And it did - but your crockpot did all the work! - Double Corn Stew
Frozen corn and creamed corn provide richness and sweetness in this simple soup recipe. - Caribbean Ribs
When ribs are cooked in the crockpot they stay moist and tender. Use your favorite BBQ sauce in this easy recipe. - Tender Shredded Beef
I like using this tender beef in tacos; just add refried beans, salsa, cheese, and chopped tomatoes. - Beef and Black Eyed Pea Soup
Bean and bacon soup is the secret ingredient in this rich and delicious recipe. - Crockpot Chutney Ham
Oh boy - remember this one for Easter! Chutney and ham is one of the most perfect combinations in the world. - Honey Barbecued Pork and Carrots
This recipe demands hot cooked rice to soak up the wonderful sauce. - Crockpot Chicken Chili
Use your own homemade mix to control sodium in this delicious white chili. - Italian Chicken and Potatoes
I, of course, would add baby carrots to this dish (but don't I add them to everything?). - Easy Crockpot Meatball Soup
This recipe is really delicious, easy, and packed with vitamins. - Crockpot Apricot Chicken
This blend of unusual ingredients tastes so wonderful and is so easy to make. Enjoy!
Side Dishes
- Sour Cream Potatoes
These super easy and flavorful potatoes are so quick and easy to put together. - Creamy Crockpot Potatoes
Cream cheese and buttermilk ranch salad dressing mix form the perfect sauce on these fabulous potatoes. - Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes
Frozen hash brown potatoes have so many uses. This is one of my favorites. - Barbecued Pinto Beans
These delicious beans contain the most important BBQ ingredients: molasses and onion. - Crockpot Mixed Rice Pilaf
You can serve this easy recipe with just about any main dish. I especially love it with roasted chicken. - Gingered Carrots
Mustard, brown sugar, and ginger root make a perfect sauce on tender cooked carrots. Yum.
