Fix-It and Forget-It Revised and Updated: 700 Great Slow Cooker Recipes (50 page)

Meatloaf Dinner

Esther Lehman

Croghan, NY

Makes 4 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 9-10 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4- to 5-qt.

6 potatoes, cubed

4 carrots, thinly sliced

¼ tsp. salt

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 large shredded wheat biscuit, crushed

¼ cup chili sauce

¼ cup finely chopped onion

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. dried marjoram

⅛ tsp. pepper

1 lb. ground beef

1. Place potatoes and carrots in slow cooker. Season with salt.

2. Combine egg, shredded wheat, chili sauce, onion, salt, marjoram, and pepper. Add ground beef. Mix well. Shape into loaf, slightly smaller in diameter than the cooker. Place on top of vegetables, not touching sides of cooker.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 9-10 hours.

Variation:

Substitute ½ cup bread crumbs or dry oatmeal for crushed shredded wheat biscuit.

Ruth Ann’s Meatloaf

Ruth Ann Hoover

New Holland, PA

Makes 4 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 8-9 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4-qt.

1 egg

¼ cup milk

2 slices day-old bread, cubed

¼ cup chopped onions

2 Tbsp. chopped green peppers

1 tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

1½ lbs. ground beef

¼ cup ketchup

8 small red potatoes

4-6 medium carrots, cut in 1-inch chunks

1. Beat together eggs and milk.

2. Stir in bread cubes, onions, green peppers, salt, and pepper. Add beef and mix well.

3. Shape into loaf that is about an inch smaller in circumference than the inside of the slow cooker. Place loaf into slow cooker.

4. Spread top with ketchup.

5. Peel strip around the center of each potato. Place carrots and potatoes around meatloaf.

6. Cover. Cook on High 1 hour. Reduce heat to Low. Cook 7-8 hours longer.

Tracey’s Italian Meatloaf

Tracey Yohn

Harrisburg, PA

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 2½-6 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4½-qt.

2 lbs. ground beef

2 cups soft bread crumbs

½ cup spaghetti sauce

1 large egg

2 Tbsp. dried onion

¼ tsp. pepper

1¼ tsp. salt

1 tsp. garlic salt

½ tsp. dried Italian herbs

¼ tsp. garlic powder

2 Tbsp. spaghetti sauce

2. Combine beef, bread crumbs, ½ cup spaghetti sauce, egg, onion, and seasonings. Shape into loaf. Place on top of foil in slow cooker. Spread 2 Tbsp. spaghetti sauce over top.

3. Cover. Cook on High 2½-3 hours, or on Low 5-6 hours.

Mary Ann’s Italian Meatloaf

Mary Ann Wasick

West Allis, WI

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 8 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4½-qt.

2 lbs. ground beef

2 eggs, beaten

⅔ cup quick-cooking oats

1 envelope dry onion soup mix

½ cup pasta sauce (your favorite)

1 tsp. garlic powder

onion slices

1. Combine ground beef, eggs, oats, soup mix, pasta sauce, and garlic powder. Shape into a loaf. Place in slow cooker. Garnish top of loaf with onion slices.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 8 hours.

Serving suggestion: Serve with
pasta
and more of the sauce that you mixed into the meatloaf.

Nutritious Meatloaf

Elsie Russett

Fairbank, IA

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-4 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4-qt.

1 lb. ground beef

2 cups finely shredded cabbage

1 medium green pepper, diced

1 Tbsp. dried onion flakes

½ tsp. caraway seeds

1 tsp. salt

1. Combine all ingredients. Shape into loaf and place on rack in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on High 3-4 hours.

Meatloaf Sensation

Andrea O’Neil

Fairfield, CT

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 8-10 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4- to 5-qt.

2½ lbs. ground beef

half of an 8-oz. jar salsa

1 pkg. dry taco seasoning,
divided

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 cup bread crumbs

12-oz. pkg. shredded Mexican-mix cheese

2 tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

1. Combine all ingredients, except half of taco seasoning. Mix well. Shape into loaf and place in slow cooker. Sprinkle with remaining taco seasoning.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours.

Barbecue Hamburger Steaks

Jeanette Oberholtzer,

Manheim, PA

Makes 4 servings

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-6 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4-qt.

1 lb. ground beef

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

½ cup milk

1 cup soft bread crumbs

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

2 Tbsp. vinegar

3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 cup ketchup

1. Combine beef, salt, pepper, milk, and bread crumbs. Mix well. Form into patties. Brown in saucepan and drain.

2. Combine brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup in slow cooker. Add ground beef patties, pushing them down into the sauce, so that each one is well covered.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 4-6 hours.