Best Crockpot recipes for two (2024)

FAQs

Can you cook 2 things in a slow cooker? ›

This tinfoil wall splits your slow cooker into two chambers where you can cook two different dishes simultaneously. To form your wall, start with a large sheet of heavy-duty tinfoil. It's important to use heavy-duty for this trick because it'll be strong enough to withhold cooking and whatever ingredients you include.

The Small-Batch Queen: 2- or 3-quart slow cooker

These are great for small-batch cooking, as they prep just enough food for a couple of people. You won't be able to fit larger cuts of meat in this model, so if you cook for two people, but like cooking roasts, opt for a larger model.

Size Matters: Choose an oven-safe bowl that fits inside your slow cooker. This bowl should be big enough to hold your meal but small enough to allow space around it. Filling Right: Aim to fill the oven-safe bowl two-thirds to three-quarters full to ensure even cooking.

Cut down your prep time

For many dishes, particularly soups and stews, you really can just throw all the ingredients in. It can be nice to cook the onions beforehand, as the flavour is different to when you put them in raw, but experiment both ways as you may find you prefer one.

You want to use tinfoil that can hold its shape and stand on its own. Once you create a tinfoil wall that can snugly fit in the center of your slow cooker, take the wall out and line your device with a slow cooker liner. You can then re-insert your tinfoil wall and begin to add your desired ingredients.

⭐️ 5 to 7-quart slow cooker: The most common and popular size range. This capacity offers the most flexibility for most people. These pots accommodate large roasts or whole chickens. Find the best slow cooker for your needs and budget.

If you're cooking for yourself or for only two people, a 2 1/2 to 3 1/2-quart slow cooker might be large enough. It's great for smaller amounts of soups and stews. Many slow cooker recipes are written for 6-quart models and can simply be halved for this size.

The "I" symbol is the Low setting and "II" is the High setting. 8h cook times is often recommended only for the Low setting. We do recommend that you always fill your slow cooker 1/2 - 3/4 of the way full, including at least one cup of liquid or sauce.

Metal containers will heat up quickly and transfer heat to the food it is contact with, often burning it. You will get better results with Pyrex and metal cooking containers in a lot of situations. Can you put a Pyrex dish in a slow cooker? Yes, of course.

Low: 7-8 hours to reach the simmer point. High: 3-4 hours to reach the simmer point.

Can I leave the slow cooker on overnight? ›

Yes, you can use your slow cooker for longer than eight hours, as long as you keep an eye on it. Many slow cookers do have an automatic shutoff after 24 hours.

Can You Put Raw Beef in a Slow Cooker? Yes, you can totally cook raw beef in a slow cooker. Many slow-cooker chili recipes have a step for browning the beef before it goes into the Crock-Pot. While this step isn't necessary, caramelizing the meat creates richer, bolder flavors.

Technically you can cook raw meat in a slow cooker, but it's tricky and requires a bit of preparation in order for it to be really worth it. If you simply pop some raw meat in your slow cooker, it won't have a chance to brown, which adds some much-needed flavor and cuts down on plenty of unappealing grease.

The exact impact on cooking times varies from dish to dish, but generally cooking multiple dishes at once can lead to longer cooking times. No matter how many dishes you plan to cook, be sure to leave at least 3 inches of space between each dish and the walls of the oven, or other dishes, to allow for proper airflow.

Layer wisely: For even cooking, cut food into uniform-size pieces. Place firm, slow-cooking root vegetables like potatoes and carrots at the bottom of the crock and pile the meat on top.

Prepare food the night before and store in the fridge to save time. Don't place the cooker insert in the fridge, or it won't heat up quickly enough to stop bacteria growing. Fill your slow cooker between half and three-quarters full so the food cooks evenly.

'So easy! Placed all ingredients in respective bags, set and forget for four hours on auto. 'Chicken and beef were both cooked to tender – easiest way to get out the bag is to pour into a jug and then serve. '