Slow Cooker

Hearty Pork Posole

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This recipe is a remake of a Mexican classic. Improved, if I do say so myself. I have recreated Posole that knocks your socks off.  It’s an easy dish, with basic ingredients, that can be made on the stove top or cooked in the crockpot.  We love this! Even my kids that aren’t big fans of hominy eat every last bit. My version is a little heartier, with the addition of a few beans.  Even though we often think of “soup season” during the fall and winter months, believe me, you will want this all year long! 

Funny story:  I have made this soup numerous times, but on two different occasions, I have done a grocery pick up for ingredients. Twice I have gotten the restaurant sized (110 oz. can) of hominy.  I have laughed both times at the industrial sized can.  Lesson learned, check the number of ounces before completing the order!!! Or, ya know… make a lot of posole! ~Kathy

Ingredients:

2 T. cooking oil (your favorite will do) 

1 ½ to 2 lb. pork stew meat (or thick cut pork chops cubed)

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced fine (or 1 tsp garlic powder)

½ to 1 jalapeno seeded and chopped fine (more or less to taste)

3 c. broth (chicken or beef)

1 (7 oz.) can chopped green chiles

1 (10 oz.) can Ro-tel tomatoes with green chiles (choose your heat preference, I use mild)

1 (15 oz.) can pinto or cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (can also use black or light red kidney beans)

2 (15 oz.) cans hominy, rinsed and drained (I prefer the brand Juanita’s)

½ tsp salt

½ tsp cumin, heaping

½ tsp oregano

¼ tsp black pepper

Dash of cayenne

Dash of chili powder

¼ c chopped cilantro

Suggestions for serving: Warm tortillas, tortilla chips, diced avocado, sliced lime, additional cilantro, finely shredded cabbage

In a large dutch oven or soup pot, pour in 2 T oil. Turn on to medium high heat. Lightly season pork with salt and pepper. Add to pot. Allow to brown before turning. When first side of pork is golden brown, add onion and stir. Continue to cook a few minutes until pork is no longer pink. Add garlic and jalapeno. Cook an additional minute; then turn off heat. Remove any remaining oil. Stir in broth, Ro-tel tomatoes, beans, green chiles and spices. Cook about 20 minutes at a simmer; add in drained hominy. Continue to simmer for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until pork is tender. Stir in chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Serve. 

If using a crock pot, add pork (browning first in a skillet with oil if you prefer), broth and remaining ingredients EXCEPT hominy and cilantro. Cook on high 4 hours or on low 7 hours.  During the last 30 minutes of cook time, add drained hominy and cilantro.  

Crock Pot Pork Roast in Gravy

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I don’t know about y’all, but pantry-friendly recipes are my go-to right now.  I need meals that don’t require grocery runs because that’s not happening.  This is one of those recipes.  My kids love it and I love how easy it is to make.  In literally 5 minutes, I can have supper going in the Crockpot.  Eight hours later, I’ll bake up some potatoes, open up a salad mix and BAM dinner is on the table… hot and delicious with minimal work.  That’s my kind of meal.  ~Erin20200507_182133

Ingredients:

2 ½ pound pork roast, trimmed

1 (10.5 oz.) can Campbell’s Healthy Request Cream of Mushroom soup

1 (10.5 oz.) can Campbell’s Healthy Request Cream of Celery soup

1 soup can full of water

1 (1 oz.) packet Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup and Dip Mix

Baked potatoes, for serving

Place the trimmed pork roast in a slow-cooker pot.   In a medium bowl, stir together all other ingredients.  Pour the mixture over the roast.  Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours, until meat is cooked and shreds easily.  Shred the roast and stir it to incorporate the gravy/sauce.  Serve over baked potatoes.

WW info.:  This recipe makes 6 1-cup servings.  Each serving is 6 points on all plans, not including the baked potato.

Crock Pot Spinach & Artichoke Chicken

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Spring is finally here, which means we are reaching the season of the year when my husband and kids start hollering, “let’s go fishing!”  My husband is the type that will go fishing in a full snow-suit or rain gear.  He’s what you would call obsessed.  He reads fishing magazines and watches pro-fishing on TV.  Like I said… obsessed.  However, there are worse hobbies for a person to have, so I tolerate the fishing string remnants that gets caught in my vacuum cleaner beater bar.  I am more of a fair-weather fisherman… fisherwoman?… Let’s go with “angler.”  I like to fish but only when it’s sunny and warm.  I want no part of being on the lake in winter gear. 

Recently, on a particularly warm and sunny afternoon, we decided it would be a good day to do a little fishing.  Before we ventured out, I threw a supper in the Crock-Pot because I didn’t want to go straight to the kitchen after being out all day.  Oh man, I’m glad I did.  I wish I could say we arrived home with some fresh fish to fry, but let’s just say I was glad we planned to have chicken.  This Crock Pot Spinach & Artichoke Chicken smelled amazing after a day at the lake.  A few minutes to slice and toast some bread was basically all it took to have supper ready.  ~Erin

  • 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 (9 oz.) package frozen spinach, thawed
  • 1 (14 oz.) can quartered artichoke hearts, packed in water; drained
  • 1 T. minced garlic
  • 1 (8 oz) package fat-free cream cheese
  • ½ c. shredded parmesan
  • ½ c. low-moisture part-skim mozzarella
  • 1/3 c. fat-free half & half
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Sliced, toasted French bread, for serving

Place chicken in the bottom of a slow-cooker. 

Squeeze as much water as possible from the thawed spinach and add it to the slow-cooker along with the garlic and drained, quartered artichoke hearts.

Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8.

Remove the chicken from the slow-cooker and shred; return it to the pot.

Add cream cheese, shredded parmesan, mozzarella, half & half, and salt & pepper; stir until melted and creamy.

Serve on toasted French bread slices (optional).

WW Freestyle Info:  This recipe makes approximately 8 half-cup servings.  Each serving is 2 SmartPoints. 

Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie

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My crock pot and I could really be best friends.  When it comes to dinner, I rely on that one appliance as much as anything else.  There’s nothing better than coming home to dinner that is near ready when you walk in the door from a busy workday.   A few basic ingredients and you will be enjoying this slow cooked version of a classic.   Just before you want to have dinner, bake your favorite biscuits and serve it over top of one!  Here’s a great biscuit recipe to try:  Mama’s Flaky Cream Biscuits.  Delish!!

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Ingredients:

  • 5 medium potatoes, peeled and diced to 1 1/2”
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and diced
  • 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts – any fat trimmed (about 1 ¾ to 2 pounds)
  • 2 T minced dried onion (or ½ c fresh onion chopped)
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • 2 cans (10 ½ oz each) Campbell’s Healthy Request cream of chicken soup
  • 1/3 c. water or low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 c. frozen corn
  • 1 c. frozen peas or green beans

Instructions: 

Place diced potatoes in 6-quart crock pot.  Add carrots and seasonings.  Lay chicken breasts on top of vegetables.  Pour in cream of chicken soup and water over chicken.  Do Not Mix!  (Corn and peas are added later.)  Place lid on crock pot and cook on high for approximately 4 hours or on low for approximately 7 hours.  Remove chicken from crock pot to a heat proof plate and shred; set aside.  Add corn and peas or beans to the crock pot.  Thin sauce in crock pot with up to an additional ¼ c. chicken broth, if needed.  Return chicken to pot.   Allow frozen vegetables to heat through, about 10 minutes.  Serve over a baked, warm, split biscuit.

WW Freestyle Info: Makes 8 servings of 1¼ cups each.  4 points per serving, not counting your choice of biscuit.

Creamy Chicken Taco Chili

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Every New Year’s Eve on Facebook (for the past several years), I have posted, “Tell me something good that happened this year.”  If you listen to The Bobby Bones radio show, the phrase “tell me something good” may ring a bell.  It’s a segment on his show every morning where the cast reads positive news headlines.  It’s my favorite part of his show.  I mean, who doesn’t love to hear about the GOOD things people are doing in this world?!  There is enough negativity and bad news out there.  It’s nice to focus on the good for a change.  My yearly Facebook post is a knockoff from Bobby’s Tell Me Something Good segment… a chance for me to hear some positive news from my friends and share some positive news of my own.  A perfect way to end one year and move into the next.  If more people focused on the positive things in their lives instead of harping on the bad stuff, this world would be a much more pleasant place, don’t you agree?

This year, I was able to share several good things that happened for me in 2018 (I could have named a bunch but I focused on the highlights):  1.  I became a WW (formerly Weight Watchers) Wellness Guide (a.k.a. meeting receptionist – I’m still not used to the new titles).  I’ve been a lifetime member for YEARS and decided it was time to take a more active roll.  2.  I went back to teaching!  I was a kindergarten teacher for 6 years but I quit teaching and went into a different field when my daughter was a year old (long story) so I’ve been out of public ed for over 10 years.  I’m back and glad to be working with kids again, plus it’s awesome to be back on the same schedule as my own kids.  3.  We more than doubled our blog traffic on Four Sisters Dish in 2018 as compared to our first year, 2017.  That’s amazing!  We have YOU to thank for it.  We want to thank you all for reading, subscribing, commenting, sharing, and most importantly COOKING our recipes!  We love when people make our food and tell us how they like them.  Please continue to do so… we love hearing from our readers and we hope to have more interaction with you 2019!

Tell us something good in the comments!  What was something good that happened for you in 2018?  We hope your 2018 was as great as ours and we at Four Sisters Dish wish you a happy, healthy and delicious 2019!

Speaking of delicious, let’s start the year off with this Creamy Chicken Taco Chili.  This can be made in your crockpot or your electric pressure cooker.  I’ve included instructions for both.  This chili is creamy and rich but it’s guaranteed not to sabotage your healthy diet resolutions.  Enjoy it without guilt!  ~Erin

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Ingredients: 

  • 2 ½ lb. boneless, skinless chicken individually frozen chicken breasts*
  • 2 cans (10 ¾ oz. each) Campbell’s Healthy Request cheddar cheese soup
  • 1 (16 oz.) can fat-free refried beans
  • 1 (16 oz.) jar mild taco sauce (I used Taco Bell brand.)
  • 1 (16 oz.) can fat-free chicken broth
  • 1 (15 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained
  • 1 (10 oz.) can mild Ro-Tel tomatoes and green chilis, undrained
  • 1 T. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • ½ tsp. oregano
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 2 cans (15 oz. each) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (8 oz.) package fat-free cream cheese

Slow Cooker Instructions:

In the pot of a slow-cooker, whisk together cheddar cheese soup, refried beans, taco sauce, chicken broth, corn, Ro-Tel, and spices.  Nestle the frozen chicken breasts into the mixture.  *You can use thawed chicken breast, just be aware that it will cook much faster.

Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.  In the last 30 minutes of cooking, remove the chicken from the pot and shred it; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together some of the hot liquid from the crock pot with the cream cheese, until smooth.  Pour the cream cheese mixture into the pot, stir in the black beans, and return the shredded chicken to the pot. Continue cooking for 20-30 minutes of cook time.

Serve with shredded cheese, avocado, jalapenos, and corn chips, if desired.

Electric Pressure Cooker Instructions:

In the pot of an electric pressure cooker, whisk together cheddar cheese soup, refried beans, taco sauce, chicken broth, corn, Ro-Tel, and spices.  Nestle the frozen chicken breasts into the mixture.

*You can use thawed chicken breast, just be aware that it will cook much faster.  See your pressure cooker owner’s manual for time adjustments for thawed chicken breasts.

Set the electric pressure cooker for 45 minutes.  Quick release pressure and open the pot when all pressure is released.  Remove the chicken from the pot and shred it; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together some of the hot liquid from the pressure cooker with the cream cheese, until smooth.  Pour the cream cheese mixture into the pot, stir in the black beans, and return the shredded chicken to the pot.  Using the saute setting, simmer for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until beans are warmed through.  Watch it closely so the cream cheese doesn’t scorch.

Serve with shredded cheese, avocado, jalapenos, and corn chips, if desired.

WW Freestyle Info: This soup makes approximately 16 cups.  Each cup is 2 points, not counting optional garnishes.

Buffalo Ranch Chicken Chili

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This recipe was inspired by my husband. When I created my Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chili, he suggested that Buffalo style might be another tasty variation. He was right! Even if you don’t love Buffalo wings, I am confident you will love this chili. It’s packed with flavor & has just the right amount of kick! ~Erin

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Ingredients:

  • 4 oz. reduced fat or Greek cream cheese, softened
  • 1 (10 ¾ oz.) can Campbell’s Healthy Request Condensed Cheddar Soup
  • 32 oz. unsalted chicken stock
  • 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts – individually frozen
  • ½ c. finely chopped carrots
  • ½ c. finely chopped celery
  • 3 cans (15.8 oz. each) great northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 package (about 8 tsp.) Hidden Valley dry ranch dressing mix
  • 1/3 c. Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wings sauce
  • Optional garnishes: real bacon bits, green onions, extra buffalo sauce

Slow Cooker Instructions:

In the pot of your slow cooker, whisk together softened cream cheese and condensed cheddar soup until well combined.

Whisk in chicken stock, dry ranch dressing mix, onion powder, garlic powder, and wing sauce. Stir in celery and carrots.

Add frozen chicken breasts (you can use thawed chicken if you prefer; just keep in mind it will cook faster).

Add beans but do not stir them in — leave them on top.

Cook 4-5 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low. When 1 hours of cook time is left, remove the chicken breasts, shred, and return to pot to finish cooking.

Garnish with a drizzle of Buffalo sauce, bacon bits, and green onions, if desired.

Electric Pressure Cooker Instructions:

In the pot of your pressure cooker, whisk together condensed cheddar soup, chicken stock, dry ranch dressing mix, onion powder, garlic powder, and wing sauce. Stir in celery and carrots.

Add frozen chicken breasts (you can use thawed chicken if you prefer; just keep in mind it will cook much faster – refer to your pressure cooker manual for cook times).

Pressurize and cook 40 minutes, then quick release pressure.

Carefully remove the lid when all pressure is released.  Remove the chicken from the pot and shred; set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk some the hot liquid from the pot with the cream cheese until smooth; set aside.

Now return the shredded chicken to the pot and stir in the beans.

Using the saute’ setting, simmer with the lid off for 10-15 minutes, stirring often, until thickened.

Turn off the heat and stir in the thinned cream cheese.

Garnish with a drizzle of Buffalo sauce, bacon bits, and green onions, if desired.

WW Freestyle Info.: Each 10 oz. serving (about 1 ¼ cups) is 2 points. Serves 10. Optional garnishes should be calculated separately.

Slow Cooker Beefy Pinto Beans

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BeansLogoThis is my husband’s recipe for beefy pinto beans.  He made this for me when we were newly married and honestly, until then, I didn’t know how to make pinto beans.  Sounds silly because they are like the easiest meal in the world to make.  If you can run water, you can make pinto beans.  I just never had done it before we got married and didn’t know where to start.  (The basic directions are usually on the package, I found out later.  Duh!)  The good thing about beans is that they are customizable and basically take on the flavor of whatever you cook with them.  I grew up with ham in my beans.  My husband, who was raised on a cattle ranch, always had ground beef in his beans.  I like them both ways, but I prefer this beefy version over the ham… especially with some chopped up jalapenos and fresh cornbread mixed in!  If you’ve never tried making pinto beans, try them this way.  The beef and seasonings add so much flavor!  I think you’ll love them.  ~Erin

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds dry pinto beans
  • 3 T. seasoned salt (I use Lawry’s)
  • 1 lb. 93% lean ground beef, browned
  • Water
  • Optional: pickled jalapeños

Instructions:

Rinse your beans in a colander and remove any beans that don’t look normal.  Place the beans in the slow cooker pot and cover them with 2 to 3 inches of water above the top of the beans. They will expand a lot.  Allow the beans to soak overnight at room temp.

In the morning, pour the water off the beans and rinse them again.  This doesn’t have to be a perfect rinse job.  Just pour as much off as you can without dumping them in your sink, run water over them, and repeat a couple times.

Finally, fill the pot with enough to cover the beans with about an inch to an inch and half of water over the top of the beans.

Cook the beans on low for at least 10 hours.  When about 2 hours of cook time is remaining, stir in the seasoned salt* and cooked ground beef and continue to cook for the last 2 hours.

Serve the beans with cornbread and, if desired, chopped pickled jalapenos.

WW Freestyle Info.: This recipe makes 11 servings.  Each serving is 8 ounces (about 1 cup) at only 2 points per serving.

*The salt is not added until the end of cook time because, if added too early, it inhibits the tenderizing process.