Of all the enchilada recipes I these were unbelievably the fastest and easiest Crock Pot Cheese Enchiladas I’ve ever made. Routinely, I use corn tortillas which seem add a nice flavor, but this time I used flour tortillas browning them a little bit in the skillet beforehand as flour tortillas can tend to have a gooey flour taste.

I also tried a new 10-minute enchilada sauce recipe, which the family wasn’t too impressed with. So when it comes to making my red enchilada sauce, I’ll stick with making my usual red enchilada sauce.

Here’s the recipe using my normal red enchilada sauce:

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

• 8-12 flour tortillas
• 2-3 cups red enchilada sauce (packet)
• 2 cups Cheddar cheese
• Sour Cream (optional)
• Jalapenos, chopped (optional)
• Olives, chopped (optional)

 Directions:

1. Make Enchilada sauce mix according to package instructions.
2. Lightly coat crockpot with non-stick baking spray.
3. Spread 1/4 cup sauce on the bottom of crockpot.
4. Place flour tortilla on top of sauce.
5. Spread a handful of cheese, alternating cheese over the top of tortilla.
6. Repeat layers of sauce and cheese until all but 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese is used.
7. On top layer add salsa then top with remainder of cheddar cheese.
8. Place crockpot on low setting and cook for 4 hours.

Serve with Spanish Rice and Beans and/or a green salad.

Noel’s Quick Notes:

To freeze:Place 2 cups in freezable container. To thaw: Remove from freezer and place in refrigerator until ready to heat. Heat in microwave for 3-5 minutes per serving. Makes for great leftovers.

Monday night’s dinner idea was a simple crock pot recipe. Zesty Crock Pot Chicken served with Couscous. It will be on our family’s weekly menu again! Oh my goodness, the house smelt sooo good when I walked through the front door. Yes, it’s another one of those great make-ahead meals that can be prepped and placed in the refrigerator the night before to marinate.

For this recipe, I used the regular chicken breasts (boneless would worked just as well) that were on sale this past week at our local Raley’s grocery store.  Perfect family meal time deal and at $0.99 a pound you can’t go wrong!

Simply Couscous recipe:

Use a box or bag of couscous. Cook according to package directions, except instead of using water,  I used the broth from the chicken. Couscous cooks very quickly, making it a perfect side dish to any meal.

Crock pot recipes are perfect for busy cooks. Cooking dinner after a long day is something a lot of busy families don’t look forward to, so they end up eating unhealthy take out food or they throw something in the microwave just to get dinner over and done with. A great slow cooker recipe and a crockpot will solve the dinner dilemma.

There are an incredible amount of recipes for tasty main dishes, side dishes and desserts that are easy to make using your crock pot. You can get everything ready in the crock pot in the morning, and then walk in the door in the evening to a wonderful home cooked meal.

Need a little meal planning inspiration? Check out my Recipe Index which is updated daily with new recipes that include a grocery shopping list!

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Are you wondering what to make for dinner tonight for your family? You’ll love my easy, make-ahead and money-saving recipes on what to cook your family for dinner! You are encouraged to not only list your dinner plans below, but to request ideas, make suggestions and of course add your favorite recipes!

So what’s on your menu plan this week? I still on the lookout for some yummy new recipes. Especially crock pot ones….

The crock pot  is one kitchen appliance that I don’t think I could live without as a working mom outside of the home. The mission of this great appliance is to make your life easier and your meals tastier.  Today’s guest post is from Mariana Ashley. Mariana is giving us 5 Reasons To Use Your Crock Pot More Often. So come home to savor a great meal- and enjoy the extra time with your family because you didn’t have to cook.

Enjoy today’s post!

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If you cook often, you have probably already discovered the magic that is the slow cooker. Don’t have time to slave over a stove? Just throw it in! Need breakfast ready when you wake up? Let it cook over night! But, as handy as it is to use our slow cookers, it’s easy to brush the slow cooker aside and stick with our regular cooking routine. With a little planning, though your slow cooker can really be your kitchen savior. If you’ve forgotten what makes a crock pot so great, read on, and get going on some of those recipes you’ve been meaning to try today!

1.      Save Time

This is the most beautiful part of using a crock pot. When you use a slow cooker, the machine does all the work for you, and you are free to do other things. If you have some busy days ahead, plan to throw a meal in the slow cooker in the morning, cook it on low throughout the day, and enjoy a warm and delicious dinner when you get home. It’s also great for stay-home moms who need all the extra hands they can get throughout the day, but still want their loved ones to come home to a hot meal.

2.      Save Money

If you plan efficiently, using your slow cooker can cut your grocery bill significantly! You can buy less expensive meat, because the crock pot will naturally tenderize it while it slow cooks. You also save energy costs if you use a slow cooker frequently. It takes much less energy to leave a slow cooker on all day on low than it does to fire up a 350 degree oven. Slow cookers also allow you to use very simple ingredients and make them taste great. All the flavors will soak together during the cooking time, and you are left with a delicious meal for much less.

3.      It’s Healthier

As opposed to frying or baking, the slow cooker is a much healthier cooking option. Meats can simply cook down in their own sauce, and veggies cook in steam and liquid, rather than by frying or baking. You can also easily create healthy meals that would take more effort on a stove top, like soups, stews and oat meals.

4.      Easy Prep and Clean Up

One of the best things about using a slow cooker is the absolute lack of complicated prep and clean up. The most you may have to do is brown meat before you put it in the slow cooker, mix liquids in separate bowls, or chop veggies or other produce on a cutting board. Also, there are no pans to clean when it’s all done.

 5.      Big Portions in a Snap

If you need a large amount of food, but don’t have the time to create a huge feast on your own, you can use your slow cooker to make full meals for groups. You can fill it to feed groups of up to 15. Or cook for your family and have enough left over for a full second meal the next day.

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com.

The crock pot provides easy meals when mom’s under the weather and time is short to get my family satisfied with fresh tasting dishes.

Need ideas for your weekly meal plan? This week, for my Just In Time Family Meal Planning Challenge, I’m sharing easy meals using one of mom’s best friends in the kitchen–the crock pot.

My Weekly Meal Plan

Our weekly meal plan took a bit of a detour this week. Our youngest daughter and I both were a little under the weather. I didn’t have the slightest bit of energy in me to do any type of meal prepping or cooking at the beginning of this week. Thank goodness for a freezer stocked with some make-ahead meals , quick, thrifty meals and ready-to-go ingredients for the crock pot.

Today however, I’m back on track feeling somewhat better and I’ve got the rest of the week’s meal planned out. Here’s a look at the rest of the week ahead with recipes posting throughout the week:

Sunday: Breakfast For Dinner; Make-Ahead French Toast

Monday: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Tuesday: Crock Pot Cola Roast with Mashed Potatoes and Quick Biscuits (leftover roast will be used for sandwiches)

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Corn Chowder

Thursday: Crock Pot Spinach Lasagna

Friday: Home Style Macaroni and Cheese

Saturday: Cheeseburger Pizza

Plan Your Meal By What’s On Sale!

As you’re writing out your weekly meal plan, remember that there are some items that are always going to be on sale at the grocery store. This week, seasonal items on sale: fresh strawberries, naval oranges, cuties (kids love these!), avacados, broccoli, green peppers and cucumbers . Remember to keep an eye out for cold weather fixings for chili, soups and stews.

I love my crock pot! One of the best investments a busy mom could have on weeknights. A favorite beef filling of ours for burritos, tacos, chimichangas or sandwiches is this beef recipe I make in the crock pot. Sometimes I even have enough leftovers to freeze for another meal, make extra burritos or save for a taco salad for lunch. It’s easy because the crock pot does most of the work and it doesn’t require a whole lot of prep time.

Crock Pot Shredded Beef

Serves: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 8-10 hours

Total Time: 8-10 hours, 10 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 3 to 4 pounds Beef Chuck Roast, boneless
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 Tablespoon Taco seasoning
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 3 Tablespoons water

Directions:

1. In large skillet heat olive oil until shimmering. Generously salt and pepper the chuck roast.
2. Add meat to pan and brown well on each side. Remove to the crockpot.
3. Add chopped onion to skillet and saute, scraping up bits, until onion is translucent in color. Stir in taco seasoning and oregano. Stirring until well combined. Add water to make a paste. (You can use a little extra water if the mixture is dry). Scrape onion mixture into crockpot.
4. Set to low and cook all day, about 6-10 hours.

Meat will be extremely tender and easily fall apart. Shred by pulling meat apart with two forks. Recipe Tip: Save drippings for another use, like adding to soup or making gravy.

Use the shredded beef as a filling for tacos, burrito bowls, burritos, enchiladas, BBQ sandwiches or add to a salad.