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  • Tag: slow cooker

    • Slow Cooker Chopped Steak

      Posted at 12:00 pm by Rebecca Showalter
      Jun 4th
      Slow Cooker Chopped Steak

      Growing up on a farm we always had beef in the freezer. Sometimes we had to find some different ways to use it that weren’t our traditional dinners of Baked Spaghetti or Sloppy Joes. One of my favorite dishes was smothered chopped steak or poor man’s steak. Once I started meal prepping I found it easier to make this dish in the slow cooker. I’m not a huge fan of mushrooms, but many in my family do like them. They are easy to add into this slow cooker chopped steak recipe if you like them!

      Preparation Of Slow Cooker Chopped Steak

      To begin making your chopped steak start with combining your ground beef, egg, seasoned salt, and pepper in a medium sized mixing bowl. Divide the ground beef into 4 equal parts and pat into hamburger like patties as shown below.

      I find the easiest way to do this is by making a ball with the meat and then patting it into a flat circle.

      Then you will use a stove top to sear your chopped steak. Heat your skillet up over medium heat, then add the vegetable oil to the skillet. Once the oil is hot add in the hamburgers. This can be tested by putting a small amount of water into the oil to see if it bubbles. Sear the meat so there is a golden brown crust on both sides.

      Searing the chopped steak

      Then spray your slow cooker with vegetable oil or other non-stick cooking spray. You will then place your meat into the slow cooker.

      After your meat is in the slow cooker you’ll then start with making the gravy. Combine 1 1/4 cup of water with the Brown Gravy Packet. Mix well with a whisk and pour over the ground beef. Add in the mushrooms now if you are choosing to add these.

      Chopped steak cooking in the crock pot

      Cooking Your Chopped Steak

      Continue with placing the lid on the slow cooker and setting the slow cooker on low for 6 hours.

      Once your chopped steak has cooked for 6 hours gently remove the chopped steak from the crock pot and set aside on a plate. Then combine the remaining 1/4 cup of water and 3 Tbsp of flour to form a paste and whisk this into the gravy solution. This will help form a thicker gravy. If you are ready to eat, you can serve your meal now, or replace your chopped steak into the crock pot for up to 30 minutes prior to serving on the keep warm setting.

      This slow cooker chopped steak goes great with our garlic mashed potatoes and our fruit crisp for an entire delicious country meal!

      Meal Prep Slow Cooker Chopped Steak and Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes

      Ingredients

      1 lb Ground Beef

      1 Egg

      1/2 tsp Seasoned Salt

      1/4 tsp Pepper

      1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil

      1 Brown Gravy Packet

      1 1/4 Cup Water

      4 oz Mushroom Pieces and Stems, optional

      1/4 Cup Water, to make thickening solution

      3 Tbsp Flour, to make thickening solution

      Slow Cooker Chopped Steak

      This slow cooker chopped steak is delicious and easy, smothered in gravy it is perfect for dinner!
      Print Recipe Pin Recipe
      Prep Time 15 mins
      Cook Time 6 hrs
      Finishing Time 5 mins
      Total Time 6 hrs 20 mins
      Servings 4 Servings

      Equipment

      • Slow Cooker
      • Frying Pan
      • stove top

      Ingredients
        

      • 1 lb Ground Beef
      • 1 Egg
      • ½ tsp Seasoned Salt
      • ¼ tsp Pepper
      • 1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
      • 1 Brown Gravy Packet
      • 1¼ Cup Water
      • 4 Oz Mushroom Pieces and Stems Optional

      Thickening Solution

      • ¼ Cup Water
      • 3 Tbsp Flour

      Instructions
       

      • Start with combining the ground beef, egg, seasoned salt, and pepper in a medium sized mixing bowl.
      • Split the ground beef mixture into 4 equal parts. Make hamburger like patties out of the meat.
      • Heat a frying pan on the stove top under medium-high heat. Then add the vegetable oil. Sear the hamburger patties on both sides until golden brown. Set these inside a greased slow cooker.
      • Mix the brown gravy packet along with 1¼ Cup of water. Pour this mixture over the hamburger patties.
      • Set your slow cooker on low for 6 hours.
      • Once your meat has cooked for 6 hours, remove the meat patties from the slow cooker.
      • Mix the remaining ¼ Cup of water and flour to make a thickening solution.
      • Whisk this into the gravy mixture to thicken it.
      • Spoon the gravy over the chopped steak and enjoy!
      Slow Cooker Chopped Steak Pin
      Posted in Meals | Tagged crock pot, slow cooker
    • Easy Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie

      Posted at 2:03 pm by Rebecca Showalter
      Feb 20th
      Slow Cooker Shepherd's Pie

      Growing up on a dairy farm with a working mom easy meals were our go to dinners! This slow cooker shepherd’s pie is a variation of my dad’s favorite dinner. We called it Dad’s Casserole for a majority of my childhood. Although we normally made this dish in the oven, I have found throwing it all in a slow cooker is a nice way to set it and forget it. Which if you haven’t noticed is one of my favorite things about slow cooker recipes!

      Changing regular recipes into easy slow cooker or instant pot recipes has become one of my favorite things. With the time constraints of being a working mom, using a slow cooker or instant in the kitchen saves so much time and make life easier when it comes to meal preparation. Check out our slow cooker chicken and noodles and slow cooker mac and cheese for easy slow cooker recipes. Also check out our instant pot broccoli and cheese and cheese vegetable soup recipes for other ideas on good family friendly meals!

      Preparation

      Start with browning your ground beef. You can do this either on the stove or in the microwave in a steamable container. I prefer the microwave method to avoid the mess on my stove top. Then make the base layer of your slow cooker shepherd’s pie by combining the cream of chicken soup and green beans. Mix in your onion powder, garlic powder, seasoned salt, and pepper. Continue by setting this aside and starting to make your mashed potatoes next!

      Mix browned ground beef, cream of chicken, green beans and spices together for the base layer.

      To make my mashed potatoes, I used 6 medium potatoes. Begin my boiling then and mashing them with the butter and milk. You can either use real mashed potatoes which I did this time or instant mashed potatoes depending on what you have on hand. Either will turn out fine in your casserole! I would suggest to use 8 servings of instant mashed potatoes if you choose to go this direction.

      Mash potatoes

      Now your ready to use your crock pot, I suggest using a medium sized crock pot similar to this one. I also prefer to have all my crock pots with locking lids so in case I do travel with them there is no worry of anything spilling in the vehicle!

      Next, spray your crock pot with oil to prevent the casserole from sticking. Then begin the laying process by pouring in the beef mixture and topping with all the mashed potatoes. To finish with the preparation of your slow cooker shepherd’s pie, cover the mashed potatoes with the shredded cheese.

      Layer beef and green bean mixture, mashed potatoes and then top with cheese

      Cooking and Serving

      Cook your easy slow cooker shepherd’s pie for 6 hours on low. You will see some of the cream of chicken soup boiling up along the sides when it is done and the cheese starting to turn slightly brown. Since this casserole includes the vegetables you can serve your shepherd’s pie with a side of fruit or rolls. This recipe also makes an easy meal prep recipe and the left overs are great for lunches the next day.

      Easy slow cooker Shepherd's Pie

      Variations of Shepherd’s Pie

      You will see many variations of shepherd’s pie if you search the web. I have tried several variations of this recipe myself. You can substitute the cream of chicken for cream of mushroom if you enjoy the taste. Feel free to add in other vegetables along with the green beans, in the past I have added carrots, peas and corn.

      Meal Prep Dishes for Slow Cooker Shepherds Pie

      Ingredients

      1 lb Ground Beef, Browned

      1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup

      2 Cans Green Beans

      1 tsp onion powder

      1/2 tsp onion powder

      1/2 tsp seasoned salt

      1/2 tsp pepper

      6 Medium Russet Potatoes

      1/4 Cup Butter

      1 Cup Milk

      1 Cup Shredded Colby Jack Cheese

      Easy Slow Cooker Shepherd's Pie

      Easy Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie

      A Country Dinner Classic
      Print Recipe Pin Recipe
      Prep Time 20 mins
      Cook Time 6 hrs
      Total Time 6 hrs 20 mins
      Servings 8 Servings
      Calories 550 kcal

      Equipment

      • Slow Cooker
      • Microwave or Stove

      Ingredients
        

      • 1 lb Ground Beef Browned
      • 1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
      • 2 Can Green Beans
      • 1 tsp Onion Powder
      • ½ tsp Garlic Powder
      • ½ tsp Seasoned Salt
      • ½ tsp Pepper
      • 6 Medium Potatoes Or 8 servings of Instant Potatoes
      • ¼ Cup Butter Or Instant Potatoes
      • 1 Cup Milk Or Instant Potatoes
      • 1 Cup Shredded Colby Jack Cheese

      Instructions
       

      • Start by browning hamburger either on the stove or in the microwave, then drain.
      • In medium mixing bowl, combine browned hamburger, cream of chicken soup, green beans, onion powder, garlic powder, seasoned salt, and pepper. Mix well and set aside.
      • Make your mashed potatoes, either using russet potatoes, butter and milk as listed above or by following instant box mix instructions, If using instant potatoes make 8 servings.
      • Grease your crock pot with oil. Then pour in your ground beef mixture. Top with your mashed potatoes. Even these out.
      • Cover with shredded cheese.
      • Cook on low for 6 hours. Serve warm.

      Notes

      Calories are calculated by a third party website and are based on ingredients used.
      Pin image for Easy slow cooker Shepherds Pie
      Posted in meal prep, Meals | Tagged crock pot, slow cooker
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