You are tired but you have to rush home to fix the family meal. Cooking dinner after a long day can be draining. Slow cooker or crock pot recipes can make everything ready. The long and slow simmering allows the flavor of your favorite ingredients to develop abundantly. There is nothing like arriving home to a wonderful and hot dinner everyone will enjoy. Forget about the hassle, fix it and have a great time with your family.

Beef and Beer Stew with Onions

Ingredients:
3 pounds lean beef
Stew meat
6 cups sliced onions
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon thyme
1 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon HERB-OX® beef flavored bouillon granules
2 cups dark Beer, (with or without alcohol)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons water

Procedure:
Heat butter in a large skillet and brown the beef. Place browned beef in a slow cooker. Put onions and garlic to skillet and brown lightly. Add in slow cooker with beef. Add water, beef granules, thyme, beer, brown sugar, and mustard to slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-7 hours. Add cornstarch mixture to stew; continue to cook for 20 minutes or until thickened. Serves 8.

Barbecued Short Ribs

Ingredients:
6-8 short ribs, about 3 pounds
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 cup water
2 teaspoons HERB-OX® beef flavored bouillon granules
1 cup hickory smoked barbecue sauce
3tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons cornstarch, dissolved in small amount of water

Procedure:
Over a medium high heat, brown short ribs on all sides using a large skillet. Place ribs in a crock pot and top with onions. In bowl, combine water, beef granules, barbecue sauce, brown sugar and mustard. Pour sauce over ribs. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until tender. Add the cornstarch mixture and continue to cook 20 minutes or until sauce thickens. Serves 4 to 6.

Wild Rice and Chicken Slow Cooker Casserole

Ingredients:
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 cup uncooked wild rice
1 cup shredded carrot
1/2 cup diced onion
2 (4-ounce) cans sliced mushrooms, drained
6 slices HORMEL® Fully Cooked Bacon, crumbled
1 cube HERB-OX® chicken bouillon, dissolved in 1 cup boiling water
1 can cream of chicken & mushroom soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

Procedure:
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Place in 3 to 4-quart slow-cooker. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Make 6 to 8 servings.

Italian Shredded Beef Sandwiches

Ingredients:
1 (21/2-pound) boneless eye of round beef roast
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 (6-ounce) can Italian flavored tomato paste
6 teaspoons HERB-OX® beef flavored bouillon granules
1/2 cup water
12 Kaiser rolls
12 (1-ounce) slices provolone cheese

Procedure:
Place the roast in a 31/2-quart slow cooker. Add onion, tomato paste, bouillon granules and water. Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or until meat is tender. Remove roast from cooker. Shred meat using two forks. Return meat to cooker and stir to coat with sauce. Divide meat evenly among Kaiser rolls. Top with cheese. Make 12 servings.

Author Bio: Browse a wide selection of cookware sets at Your Smart Kitchen. The online location for quality cookware, bakeware, cutlery, appliances and related kitchenware. Specializing in Romertopf, Chasseur, Fissler, Swiss Diamond and more. Terry Retter-Editor

Category: Cooking
Keywords: crockpot recipes, slow cooker recipes, slow cooking, slow cooker meals, meals for busy days, cooking