The chilly days have finally arrived. With a slow cooker, you can create delicious meals with minimal effort. Here are five winter slow cooker recipes that are sure to warm you up on these chilly winter days.
1. Slow Cooker Beef Stew
A go-to winter meal, this beef stew is loaded with our tender chunks of stew meat, potatoes, carrots, and celery, all simmered in a hearty broth.
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs Gartner’s stew meat
- 4 cups beef broth
- 4 large carrots, chopped
- 3 medium potatoes, diced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Sear the stew meat in a skillet until browned, then transfer to the slow cooker
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours, until the meat is tender and the vegetables are cooked through
2. Pulled Pork Sandwiches
A well-seasoned pork shoulder is the key to making delicious pulled pork. Slow cook your Gartner’s pork shoulder to perfection and serve with your favorite BBQ sauce.
Ingredients:
- 3-4 lbs Gartner’s boneless pork shoulder
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Rub the pork shoulder with the spices and place it in the slow cooker
- Add barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours or until the pork is fall-apart tender
- Shred the pork with two forks and serve on buns with extra barbecue sauce
3. Sausage and White Bean Soup
This hearty soup, made with Gartner’s smoked sausage, is both comforting and flavorful — perfect for chilly evenings.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb Gartner’s smoked sausage, sliced
- 2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, drained and rinsed
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups chopped kale
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until the vegetables are tender
- Serve with crusty bread or a salad for a complete meal
4. Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
Enjoy tender, flavorful ribs any time of year with Gartner’s baby back ribs and your favorite barbecue sauce.
Ingredients:
- 2 racks Gartner’s baby back ribs
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs and season with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper
- Place the ribs in the slow cooker, layering if needed
- Mix barbecue sauce, honey, and apple cider vinegar, then pour over the ribs
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours
- Optional: Broil the ribs in the oven for 5 minutes for a caramelized finish
5. Slow Cooker Chili
Warm up with a bowl of chili featuring Gartner’s ground beef and Italian sausage for a flavor-packed meal.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb Gartner’s ground beef
- 1 lb Gartner’s Italian sausage
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 2 cans (15 oz each) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Brown the ground beef and sausage in a skillet, then transfer to the slow cooker
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours
- Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, and cornbread
Stop by our shop in Portland today to pick up everything you need for these dishes and more. Cheers to a warm and delicious winter!