Crock-Pot meals are a fantastic solution for busy individuals and small households. They offer the convenience of minimal prep time and the satisfaction of a home-cooked meal. This article explores a variety of 2-person crock pot recipes, focusing on both main courses and some sweet treats.
Why Choose a Crock Pot for Two?
For smaller households, standard-sized slow cookers (6-7 quarts) can be impractical. They take up a lot of space, require more ingredients than needed for a couple of servings, and often lead to excessive leftovers. A 3-4 quart slow cooker hits the sweet spot for smaller households. Mini crock pots, less than 2 quarts, may have temperature and quality control issues.
Crock Pot Chicken Recipes for Two
Chicken is a versatile ingredient that lends itself well to slow cooking. Here's a spotlight on one popular recipe:
Crock Pot Chicken and Gravy for Two
This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a comforting and flavorful meal. It features tender, seasoned shredded chicken enveloped in a creamy gravy.
Ingredients:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (chicken thighs or tenders can be substituted)
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Black pepper
- Condensed cream of chicken soup
- Water
- Chicken gravy mix
Instructions:
- Season 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts on both sides with 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
- Place the seasoned chicken into the bottom of a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 10.5 ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup, 1/2 cup water and 1 ounce packet chicken gravy mix.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and place on low for 5-6 hours or high 3-4 hours.
- Once the chicken is done cooking, shred it with a fork. Stir everything together in the pot so the chicken is well coated in the gravy.
- Serve immediately with rice, egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
Tips and Variations:
- Seasoning: Feel free to experiment with different seasonings. Lemon pepper, Creole, or Mrs. Dash seasoning can add a unique twist. Be mindful of salt content, as the cream of chicken soup and gravy mix already contain sodium.
- Creaminess: For an extra creamy texture, stir in some sour cream or heavy cream towards the end of the cooking time.
- Sauce Thickness: The sauce might appear thick initially, but it will thin out as the chicken cooks and releases its juices.
- Storage: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Beyond Chicken: Exploring Other 2-Person Crock Pot Meal Ideas
The possibilities extend far beyond chicken. Here are some other exciting options for your 2-person crock pot:
Read also: The Truth About Diet Soda
- Beef Stew: A classic comfort food, beef stew becomes incredibly tender and flavorful in the slow cooker.
- Pulled Pork: Slow cooking pork shoulder results in tender, juicy pulled pork perfect for sandwiches or tacos.
- Soups: Hearty soups like vegetable beef, chicken noodle, or tomato basil are easy to make and provide a complete meal.
- Chili: From lamb chili to more traditional beef chili, a crock pot makes it easy to create a flavorful and satisfying chili.
- Pork Chops: Combine pork chops with sauerkraut for a filling main dish.
- Salmon: Slow-cooker salmon is healthy and effortless, cooking to perfection every time.
Dump and Go Recipes
These Dump and Go Slow Cooker Recipes require no cooking or browning beforehand - simply throw it in and walk away!
- Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Stew is a cozy comfort food made with tender chicken, potatoes and veggies in a creamy garlic parmesan broth.
- Honey Balsamic Slow Cooker Beef Stew! This stick to your ribs beef stew is hearty, flavorful as can be and loaded with beef and veggies.
- Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup is the perfect hearty meal for cold weather. Made with tender beef, carrots, celery, and barley, all cooked in a rich broth.
- Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup is made with just SIX ingredients in the slow cooker!
- Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup - gets thick and creamy, unlike those recipes that just add milk or cream.
- Creamy Italian Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup is hearty, healthy, and flavorful.
- Slow Cooker Creamy Vegetable Soup is a hearty, healthy crockpot soup!
- Chicken Barley Soup is hearty, healthy and made with 6 ingredients!
- Slow Cooker Chicken Breast recipe comes out perfectly juicy and seasoned every time!
- Slow Cooker Honey Lemon Chicken is a little sweet, a little tangy and perfect over rice or noodles!
- Sweet & Spicy Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are an easy, healthy, weeknight dinner!
- Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is made with store bought barbecue sauce and a couple secret ingredients!
- Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs are perfectly seasoned with garlic and herbs, cooked until they easily pull from the bone!
- Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken is packed with sweet, savory, and spicy flavors.
- Crockpot Shredded Chicken is easy, flavorful and a great way to meal prep for the week ahead!
- Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken is SO easy and flavorful, you wouldn't believe it only has a few ingredients!
- Crockpot Whole Chicken is incredibly moist and flavorful, thanks to a coating of seasoned garlic butter and the slow cooker!
- Crockpot Orange Chicken is a healthier, homemade version of one of our favorite takeout meals!
- Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken is easy and delicious!
- Crock Pot Pulled Pork recipe is so easy and so flavorful!
- Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin is covered in an easy garlic herb rub and drizzled with a honey balsamic glaze!
- Slow Cooker Pork Loin roast includes a flavorful garlic herb rub, and is slow cooker in apple juice for extra flavor!
- Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef is so much better than your average take-out!
- Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs couldn’t be simpler!
- Sweet & Sour Slow Cooker Smokies are an easy holiday appetizer or weeknight meal!
- Easy and delicious pork carnitas are made right in the Crockpot.
- Honey Balsamic Pulled Pork is a new take on pulled pork that is sweet and sour!
- Slow Cooker Honey Glaze Ham is the perfect main course for a holiday dinner!
- Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes are just as rich and creamy as stove top mashed potatoes with less of the work!
- Slow Cooker Pineapple Glazed Carrots are the perfect side dish for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any dinner!
Sweet Endings: Crock Pot Desserts for Two
Who says crock pots are only for main courses? You can also create delicious desserts in smaller slow cookers.
- Crock Pot Fudge: A simple and decadent treat that's perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.
- Easy Rice Pudding: The slow cooker is, contrary to popular belief, the perfect environment for rice to plump up into a sweet, spicy pudding.
- Chocolate Chip Cookie: Developed with one idea in mind: You can let it cool, then slice the giant cookie into bars, or serve it warm, scooped straight from the Crockpot, with a big scoop of ice cream.
Tips for Successful 2-Person Crock Pot Cooking
- Adjust Cooking Times: Smaller portions may cook faster, so keep an eye on the food and adjust cooking times accordingly.
- Don't Overfill: Crock pots cook best when they are between ⅓ and ⅔ full. Avoid filling it more than 75% full.
Slow-Cooker Recipes From Around the World
This collection has everything from a chicken tagine to pad Thai.
- Tom Kha Gai: Though tom kha gai, a Thai coconut soup scented with lemongrass and lime leaves, is ordinarily a quick boil on the stovetop, in this case, a longer spell in the slow cooker makes for more succulent chicken thighs and a more aromatic broth.
- Butter Chicken: This slow-cooker take on butter chicken is bolstered up with sweet butternut squash and golden raisins.
- Mediterranean Chicken Stew: This recipe is a community favorite for its bold, briny flavors and streamlined preparation. Serve with toasted flatbread for sopping up all that brothy goodness.
- Creamy Chicken & Mint Curry: By layering flavors, she achieves a balanced dish that's both bright and fresh, as well as creamy and comforting.
- Persian Lamb Stew: The slow cooker is ideal for big cuts of meat like this whole lamb shoulder-braised, shredded, and bejeweled with pomegranate seeds and fresh herbs.
- Indian Spiced Lamb Chili: The results of this slow-cooker chili are much greater than the very low effort that goes into making it.
- Italian Braised Pork: The porkiness of this slow-cooker pork is accented with crushed tomatoes, fennel seeds, and red wine-and tastes even better on a bed of polenta.
- Carolina Pulled Pork Barbecue: Smoked paprika adds just the right note to this slow-cooker pulled pork recipe.
- Greek Lentil Soup: Crockpot lentil soup, but make it Greek (that means you'll add tomato paste and cumin to the soup, ladle into bowls topped with plenty of creamy, salty feta).
- Shiitake-Noodle Hot & Sour Soup: Sometimes you just need to slurp your dinner.
- Moroccan-Spiced Lentil Soup: This slow-cooker soup is absolutely loaded with veggies, spices, and legumes.
Read also: Convenient Individual Meals
Read also: Delicious Chicken Dishes