Meals that don't take long to prepare/find ingred forredients for, can be slow cooker

[theDudesmummy]

Hi, just looking for some ideas. My DH usually does all the food shopping and cooking, mainly because of my work (self-employed and wfh but long hours), but really also because hes a very good cook.

He has to spend the next few weeks putting in long hours into our house renovation and has asked me (and autistic DS, who likes to help but can't do cooking unsupervised) to step up and do all the weekday shopping and cooking. I still need to keep up my work hours, which usually involves working till about 7.30pm, and what will probably work quite well will be putting "dump and go" type meals in the slow cooker in the morning, although I can spend a short time on food prep in the evening.

I am looking for ideas! DH will not eat purely veggie meals, although obviously veggie sides are good. DS doesn't eat most veg especially not green ones, and will reject a whole dish if there are (visible) green things in it, so a casserole with integrated green veggies won't work.

Ps sorry about mangled title, why not edit function for titles?!

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/slow-cooker-recipes

Good for a start?

There's a cowgirl stew recipe in the MN cookbook, that is tasty with no green bits. I can't be bothered to brown the sausages first so I cut them up into chunks or squeeze them out of their skins, otherwise they don't look too appetising. There's probably variations on the internet. It's basically onions garlic carrots sausages chorizo tinned tomatoes and beans, with lager / stock and Worcester sauce.

@Eyelashesoffire that sounds nice! DS doesn't eat beans either but I could do the beans separately and add them in for me and DH.

@Baldieheid thanks. The very first recipe on there, the beef stew, looks lovely!

Baked potatoes do well in a slow cooker. I have a silicone thing that splits the slow cooker in half so can do chilli and potatoes or curry and rice etc. Or casserole with green veg and one without.

Could you Hellofresh one week with a newbie discount code, then gusto the next with a discount code, then mindful chef or whatever.

Thay way you dont have to buy main dinners at supermarket, just breakfast and lunches. All the meals will take around a max of 30 minutes to cook.

https://www.tamingtwins.com/slow-cooker-dump-bag-recipes/?fbclid=IwAR0zxtzzgIV1aaVK--rqlXKHz-RE0w11C7DS7Qw3YzZ-mZnqs9UCBkAs-YYaemAQsr0AodeXkgJ8IkHdjLCRjTr3hQS9gxoRbzETR22ooQ2uaMCdA9jru3L5c3JZfC7Ig

Highly recommend Sarah Rossi's recipes 🙂

I'm also and advocate for tamimg twins recipes. Also look up The Batch Lady on Instagram. She does slow cooker recipes but also ones you can bag up in advance snd freeze and then after defrosting just tip into the slow cooker in the morning. Your DS could help to prepare the bags for the freezer.

Bored of lunch slow cooker recipes on Instagram are amazing.
I'm having the Chinese chicken curry and noodles this week

Pulled pork with baps and slaw (normally I’d make the slaw but I’m sure the deli pots would be fine) or sweet potato wedges.

Chicken tinga in the slow cooker and use to make tacos, burritos or (slightly more time/effort) enchiladas.

My dad lived on pre marinated meat with potatoes and steam bags of veg alternated with fish with flavoured butter, microwave rice and the steam veg again. Both are very simple and quick.

Onion, garlic, chicken thighs, tin of tomatoes, chicken stock cube, cumin, paprika. Chuck it all in the slow cooker. You can add chorizo if you like or a tin of butter beans towards the end. Delicious!!

Thanks for the great ideas everyone, will be trying lots of them. DS actually got me to buy the Bored of Lunch book last week when he saw it in the bookshop and we made the Lamb and Potato Curry already which was good!

I've got a gousto code if you want, https://gousto.co.uk/raf?promocode=ABIGA42133824&utm_source=androidapp
For full disclosure you get 65% off your first box and 20% off the next 2 and I get £20 credit on my account. I think the range of recipes is great on gousto, much better than hello fresh. I always choose from the 'prep in 5' section or 10 mins meals. Prep in 5 cook in the oven but technically could do in the slow cooker, that's actually given me the idea to do that! Just reduce the liquid.

@theDudesmummy you can just add the beans at the end, when you've taken out DS's portion. As long as they're tinned, they don't need cooking.

@Eyelashesoffire thank for that! I am not in the UK, though.

Another one for taming twins and the batch lady.

i love this pulled pork recipe as only 5 ingredients, minimal prep and relatively cheap cut of meat.

its also really versatile and can have it for several meals without it being same-y.

i have it with brioche rolls/ coleslaw/ potato wedges/ corn on the cob, rice bowls, loaded fries, nachos, baked potatoes, fajitas, enchiladas etc.

https://www.tamingtwins.com/slow-cooker-pulled-pork/

I also recommend simply cook.

i prefer it to hello fresh etc as can keep it in the cupboard for emergencies/last minute meals as not tied to fresh ingredients going off.

they provide a shopping list and can look it up online when you are in the shop so easy to get the ingredients you need.

a favourite of mine is Louisiana linguine.

if you use the below link then you get a free box with 4 meal kits (I also get a free box if you use the link). Just remember to cancel so don’t have a subscription, this is really easy to do via your account online or on the app.

https://www.simplycook.com/invite/HF8364?t=cp&pg=ref&via=mb

Do meals/meats that can be used for multiple days, or e.g. Roast chicken on Sunday and use the leftovers to make chicken egg fried rice or enchiladas on Monday. Frittata with chicken and any veg your son will eat. Do a chill, make extra and freeze to use in burritos couple days later. Baked potatoes in slow cooker for day, then at dinner time scoop the insides out,mash it all up with sweetcorn, ham, and cheese and reload and bake to warm through.
Simple Risotto with diced pancetta and parmesan. Easier than you think. DS can be responsible for the stirring.
Sometimes all the prep to get a slow cooker meal going takes longer then cooking a meal on hob in the moment.

All such good ideas! The pulled pork I have just forwarded to DS!

Could you batch cook on weekends and freeze? Lasagne, pasta bakes or even just the bolognese sauce.

I love pea and ham soup in the pressure cooked, but would DS eat if there is a green colour- but not visible green veg? I buy 2 packets of quick soak split peas (if not available where you are, soak split peas overnight). Add a ham hock/knuckle, then throw in any veg you have- carrots, onions, swede and cook till the ham is falling off the bone.

Highland beef with pickled walnuts & puff pastry tops recipe | BBC Good Food
I don't bother with the pastry on top and you can cut back the alcohol too. I also stick it in the slow cooker instead of the oven and serve with veg on the side.

I might do a batch cook at some point soon. And neither DH or DS eat soup (I know, what is wrong with them!), but I like the sound of that soup for my lunch!

We like to put a whole chicken in the slow cooker and then serve with wraps and various sauces and salad bits. Everyone can pick what they like so should work for your DS.
You can use leftover chicken in egg fried rice. Pre-cook and cool the rice in advance and then in the evening just fry it up with egg and chicken and any veg DS might eat. Serve with soy sauce. (Or use microwave rice)

What sort of food does your DH usually cook? I'd think that would be your best option to stick with things you already know and like. Perhaps adapt slightly if you've got less time?

DH cooks quite elaborate food a lot of the time! That's the problem, living up to his cooking but with limited time! However, there is a lamb kleftiko in the slow cooker right now that took me and DS 10 minutes to prepare earlier, so hopefully will be nice!

Sorry, what I meant is what kind of things? eg I am the more elaborate cook around here so, for example, I might do chicken and vegetables or meat with a sauce, but if DH wanted to replicate in an easy way, I might suggest a chicken casserole in the slow cooker using similar ingredients.

Similarly, we regularly eat curries of some sort but if DH wanted to do a curry, I'd recommend to him that he buys something like a Spice Tailor kit rather than my way of doing from "scratch". (if you like curries - I do recommend the Spice Tailor kits for you and your DS. They're extremely easy to use, quick and generally come out really well.)

Also, on that note, rather than just dropping all responsibility, perhaps your Dh can make some suggestions too?

Also, check out BoredofLunch on instagram - he has great slow cooker and air fryer recipes that are super easy.