Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac 'N Cheese

I had originally intended to make this a weight watchers type of mac 'n cheese, but then as I started making it I was like really?! Mac 'n cheese isn't supposed to be healthy for you. It's yummy comfort food and I really needed that today.

I diced up 1 pound of chicken and placed in the bottom of the crock pot. I then added 1/2 cup of buffalo sauce an 4 oz of cream cheese. I let that cook on high for 2 1/2 hours. Once that was done I added a box of whole wheat pasta to it. You can do elbow pasta or whatever you prefer. I then added 2 cans of cheddar cheese, 1 cup of milk, 2 cups of shredded cheese and the other 4 oz of cream cheese and stirred well and cooked on high for another 2 hours.

All I have to say is this was heavenly. The buffalo sauce was so minimal that it wasn't even remotely spicy. It just gave some flavor to it. You could mimic my recipe and leave the buffalo sauce out. If you choose to do so then add 1 can of cheddar cheese soup, the cream cheese and 1/2 cup of milk while you cook the chicken. Then add the other can, milk and cream cheese like the recipe says above.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Buffalo Sauce
1 lb of chicken
pasta
2 can cheddar cheese (I use the healthy choice)
2 cups of shredded cheese
1 cup of milk
8 oz of cream cheese

Crock Pot Fajita Casserole

I was able to make 2 meals out of this. It was a lot of fun and yummy. I sliced up some raw chicken and laid it on the bottom of a crock pot. I then added diced onion, a red bell pepper, a can of (drained) diced jalapenos, and a can of (drained) diced tomatoes. Then I added some taco seasoning and cooked on high for 5 hours.

Next, I layered the bottom of a casserole dish with corn tortillas and then I used a fork to put some of the fajitas on top. I then added a little shredded cheese and repeated the step twice. I added more tortillas, some shredded cheese, cilantro and a diced tomato. (the tomato and cilantro on top is optional) I just thought it would be fun.  I baked it for 15 minutes on 375.

I am using the left over fajita meat to make chicken fajita salads.

Ingredients:
1-2 lbs of chicken
1 diced tomato
1 can of tomatos
1 can of diced jalapenos (or substitute green chilis)
1 red bell pepper
1 onion
taco seasoning
cheese
corn tortillas
cilantro

Breakfast Sausage Bake

I am working on making a few healthier options for my blog at least here and there so made this one. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day don't forget.

I found a bag of hash browns that have peppers in it. I normally dice up my own, but decided to try this route. The hash browns are gluten free and 60 calories/serving so not too bad. I  layered the hash browns on the bottom of a 9x13. Remember to spray some pam on your dish first. Next I put cooked sausage on top. Make sure to drain the grease.

I then whisked 8 eggs and added a cup of skim milk and poured them on top of the sausage and hash browns. I added some low fat cheese to the top and baked for 40 minutes on 375.

Ingredients:
Hash browns
Sausage
8 eggs
1 cup of milk
cheese

Crock Pot Bacon and Veggie Breakfast Casserole

I am trying to make some healthier options for those that want to eat healthy. I found that the bag of orieda hash browns are only 70 calories per serving and gluten free.

I poured half into the crock pot. I learned that using the whole bag just makes it too potatoe-y. Next I added the bacon. To make the bacon I choose to bake it in the oven until it is crisp, then let it cool and crumble.

Next I whisked a dozen eggs, added a cup of milk, 1/2 diced red pepper, 1/2 diced green pepper, a can of green chilis and 1 diced tomato to the eggs and whisked some more. I then added it to the crock pot and added some shredded cheese. I cooked it over night from 8 pm until 6 am. There were plenty of leftovers for us to eat on through the week.

Ingredients:
12 eggs
1 lb of bacon
1/2 green and red pepper
1 can of diced green chilis
1 tomato
1 cup of milk
shredded cheese

Stuffed Buffalo Chicken

This may not look very pretty, but it was appetizing.

I got 1 pound of chicken and put it in a ziplock bag and pounded it out. I added buffalo sauce to the bag. Then I put a spoon full of skim ricotta cheese and red peppers on the chicken and folded it and used two tooth picks to hold it closed. I repeated this four times and added to a baking sheet.
Next, I added chipotle cheddar cheese on top and baked on 375 for 45 minutes. I served it with a side of asparagus.

Ingredients:
Chicken
Buffalo sauce
skim rocatta cheese
red bell pepper
chipotle cheddar cheese
toothpicks

Crock Pot Cherry Cheesecake Casserole

So I got this idea after seeing something from another website show on up on my news feed on facebook more than once. Everytime I saw it my mouth watered. However, I am not a big apple person so wanted to change it up to fit my taste. It was a crock pot apple spice cake. Anyways, I am a huge can of cherry pie filling and also a huge fan of cherry cheesecake so I had to give this a whirl. Let me just say I have no regrets making an extra trip to the store for these ingredients and making it spontaneously. It was soooo amazing! Might I add it is super easy and would be great for a work party or when you have company over. 

Here is everything you need:

First place a block of cream cheese on the bottom of your crock pot. Then place with 2 cans of cherry pie filling.

Next pour the box of yellow cake mix on top and add two sticks of butter. Then cook it on high for 3-4 hours. I was hoping it would be done early, but I was waiting for the top to be a golden brown. If it's not golden brown then it's not done. Keep on cooking it until it is. Once it is done make yourself a bowl and add some vanilla ice cream. I'm in dessert heaven. =)

Ingredients:
yellow cake mix
2 cans cherry pie filling
8 oz of cream chesse
2 sticks of butter
vanilla ice cream

Crock Pot Beef Fajitas

This was so good and the boys loved it too.

I put 2 lbs of stew meat in the bottom of my crock pot. I added a packet of taco seasoning and 2 tablespoons of chili powder which is optional. Then I added a can of rotel and a can of diced jalapenos. If you aren't a fan of spicy then add a can of green chilis instead. I then diced an onion up and a green pepper.

I love adding fajita marinade to mine as well because it gives it that smokey, fajita smell and taste you would get on a grill without the grill, but that is optional as well. You would only want to add a couple tablespoons of this too.

I then cooked on low for 8 hours. You can serve it on a salad, nachos or traditional on a tortilla. This was super easy and fabulous. The meat tasted so great because it just simmered in juices all day. Plus we have leftovers.

Ingredients:
Beef Stew meat or beef tenderloin
1 onion
1 pepper
1 packet of taco seasoning
can of rotel
can of green chilis or diced jalapenos
fajita marinade (optional)
chili powder (optional)

Sausage Elbow Pasta Spaghetti

I diced up italian sausage and put in a skillet. I added a diced green pepper, a can of tomato paste and a can of diced tomatoes and cooked it until it was simmering.

In the meantime I boiled a box of whole wheat elbow pasta. Once that was cooked I drained it and returned back to its pot. Then I added a jar of marinara and the sausage mixture and stirred well.

It is a pretty simple meal, but it was pretty good.

Ingredients:

Elbow pasta
italian sausage
tomato paste
1 bell pepper
can of diced tomatoes
jar of marinara

Philly Stuffed Bell Peppers

Another low carb meal I like to make on occasion. First, chop up roast beef deli meat, an onion, a green, orange or yellow pepper and add to a skillet. Then add a can of green chilis and a can of cream of mushroom. Sauteed this all together.

Next you will cut your bell pepper in half and deseed it. Then with a spoon you will add the mixture to each half of the pepper and top with cheese. I used gouda cheese for this, but any kind will work. Normally I boil the bell peppers for a couple minutes to help soften them. This time I didn't feel like dirtying another dish so I just baked them for 30 minutes on 350 and they were plenty soft.

They were very yummy!

Ingredients:
10 oz of roast beef deli meat
1 can of cream of mushroom
1 pepper
1 can of green chilis
1 onion
3-4 bell peppers
sandwich slice cheese

Shrimp Enchiladas with a jalapeno cream sauce

Holy Yum! If you like shrimp and enchiladas you will love this one.

You will cook approximately 2 lbs of shrimp with chopped up green and red bell pepper and a diced tomato. Once the shrimp turn pink they are done cooking.. FYI shrimp cook very quickly. Make sure to drain it once cooked because there was a lot of liquid in the pan.

Next you will roll up flour tortillas stuffed with the shrimp mixture and layer them in a bottom of a 9x13.

To make the sauce you will need 8 oz of jalapeno cream cheese and 3/4 can of evaporated milk. If you use the whole can its slightly too creamy.

Once the sauce is all melted and blended pour this on top of the enchiladas. Then add some shredded cheese and if you like cilantro add some. You will bake it on 375 for about 10 minutes.

Ingredients:
2 lbs of shrimp
8 oz jalapeno cream cheese
cilantro (optional)
shredded cheese
evaporated milk
green pepper
red pepper
1 tomato
flour tortillas

Cherry Cheesecake Casserole No Bake

I am not very good at dessert, but every so often I get a craving for something sweet. This was a no bake and super easy.

Layer the bottom of a 9x13 with vanilla wafers. Then you will whisk 8 oz of cream cheese and a tub of cool whip together. You will pour this on top of the wafers and spread evenly. Next, add a can of cherry pie filling and spread evenly. Repeat this step once more and just place in the fridge until you are ready to eat. It was amazing and a big hit.

Ingredients:
vanilla wafers
2 cans of cherry pie filling
1 tub of cool whip
1 8 oz cream cheese

Low Carb breakfast Casserole

I usually make casseroles that are loaded in carbs, but wanted to change it up. First I grounded breakfast sausage. Once it was cooked a put it in the bottom of a 9x13 dish. In the meantime I whisked together 8 eggs and added a cup of milk, 1/2 a green bell pepper, 1/2 an orange pepper, and a can of rotel and poured on top of the sausage.Then I added some shredded pepper jack cheese.

Once it was all put together I baked it on 350 for 45 minutes. It won't be done until the top is golden brown. You can also check it with a fork or a toothpick. It was amazing and we are eating on it all week.

Ingredients:
8 eggs
pepper jack cheese
green and orange pepper
can of rotel
milk
sausage

Pizza Dip

Unfortunately this one was such a hit that I didn't get a picture. I needed something fun for a girls night I was having. I decided to whip together a pizza dip because lets face it pizza is always a hit. This was super easy to make and amazing.

With a crock pot put 8 oz of cream cheese in it, 2 cups of mozzarella, a jar of pasta sauce, a bag of pepperoni (dice up the pepperoni), 2 tablespoons of crushed red pepper if you like spicy and 1/4 cup of ranch. I cooked it on high for an hour stirring occasionally.

Once it was cooked I just let it simmer on low throughout the evening so it stayed warm while people ate it. You can serve with pita chips, tortilla chips, bread, whatever you like.

Ingredients:
8 oz cream cheese
2 cups mozzarella
crushed red pepper
ranch
pasta sauce
pepperoni

Tater Tot Queso Crack Casserole

All I can say it WOW! This was a hit with everyone. Healthy? Not so much, but boy was it filling, easy and yummy.


Okay so here is all you need and whats great is you can add or remove things you like and don't like:

I basically raided my fridge and freezer to come up with this. We buy produce and meat based off whats on sale. Recently sausage was on sell so we stocked up. You may see lots of sausage recipes in the near future because of that.

First I baked 1/2 a pound of bacon until crispy. If you want to save time you can buy precooked bacon at the store, but I prefer to bake it myself. Once the bacon cooled I crumbled it up a bit and placed it in the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. I then diced up my sausage and a bell pepper and placed in the dish and then layered tater tots on top. 

While I was working on the bacon I put a can of rotel, a can of cheddar cheese from campbells and a can of evaporated milk in a pot and stirred occasionally until it melted. I then poured this on top of the tater tots and added shredded cheese.

Last I baked it on 400 for 30 minutes or until the tots started to brown. It was so good and we have some leftover for tomorrow's lunch.

Ingredients:

Tater tots bag
1 can of rotel
1 can of cheddar cheese
1 can of evaporated milk
shredded cheese
bacon
sausage
bell pepper