I hope you’ve had a wonderful week! Mine has been an excited flurry of work as I prepare notes for the beginning of our new Bible reading cycle in my Front Porch Fellowship! Details are at the bottom of this gazette and it begins next Wednesday. There are only 5 days left to join us. After that you’ll have to wait another year before membership opens again.
I’m leaving before the sun comes up tomorrow to head to Georgia where I’ll be speaking at a ladies retreat. I’m so excited about spending time with them and hope to encourage them in my sessions. Speaking of encouragement, if time permits, please watch my live coffee chat from earlier this morning. I shared something that I think could greatly encourage you. That video can be found in this post as well.
I’ve got some fabulous recipes for you today, including CROCK POT PECAN PIE! Wow, doesn’t that sound amazing?
Have a wonderful weekend. Be blessed and be a blessing!
Gratefully,
Christy, Phil 1:12
P.S. Make sure you check out the giveaway at the very bottom. I give out Amazon gift cards to gazette readers each week!
Click here to see all of my quote graphics and follow me on Instagram to see them first. You are welcome to download and share them!
Encouraging One Another!
This story touched my heart! (and gave me a great idea)
This week on Southern Plate
Apple Orchard Snack Cake
Spaghetti Lover’s Soup
Eating Low Carb? Check out all of my low carb recipes here. More coming!
Low Carb Berry Crisp
Bringing Grace To A World Of Animosity Navigating humanity is tricky these days. In this post I share some ways we can bring grace to a world that desperately needs it.
Click here to read this post.
Click here to visit my Faith blog.
This Week’s Coffee Chat
GOOD MORNING! Thank you for joining me for today’s coffee chat.
Today’s topic is: Goodness, and I am sharing some things I’ve realized this week that can make a big difference in your life effective immediately!
There are only 5 days left to join our Bible study group. After that, you’ll have to wait another year.
Details here.
This week’s recipes:
Apple Orchard Snack Cake Spaghetti Lover’s Soup
Recipes from Friends
This week I’m sharing two delicious recipe from friends!
Slow Cooker Pecan Pie from Back to my Southern Roots
No Bake Peanut Butter Pie from Southern Bite
Important news
October 1 is the deadline if you’d like to join our Front PorchFellowship and read through us when we begin our new reading cycle. Click here for more information.
If you do not join by this date, you’ll have to wait until we open up again next year.
Click here for more information
Click here to request to join
Last Week’s $25 Amazon Gift Card winner was TRACEY PRICE
Winners of Amazon Gift Cards so far: Tracey Price, Vickie Riddle, Angie McCrary, Jo Mooneyhan, Kim Graves, and Wanda T. I pick a new winner each week and send them an Amazon gift card. Sometimes I decide to pick more than one and sometimes I decide to send more than $25. 😀 To enter, simply leave a comment on this post.
THANK YOU for being here. Be blessed and be a blessing!
Five minutes prep then do something else for two hours. You will have some great soup shortly after getting back with these easy to follow step by step photo instructions.
This is a great soup for a busy household. With only a few minutes of prep, you can have a wonderful homemade soup ready on your schedule.
In addition to the delicious taste, this recipe is healthy and good on almost any diet. A serving of one cup coming in at about 200 calories, 9 grams of fat and 500 mg of sodium. I have rounded the numbers in the discussion, no need to comment, please.
For the low carb and keto diets, the carbohydrate load is already low. But if you skip the thickening, it drops under 10 gm of carbohydrate.
For low sodium people, the 500 mg of sodium will drop by about 200 if slip the added salt. There is already sodium coming from the cheese and milk.
My Rating
A very easy solid five rating.
Pro Tips: Recipe Notes for Crock Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
My goals for this recipe :
Minimal prep so you can just dump and run.
Great taste – as good as my stovetop recipe.
Flexible for various diets and needs.
I started one of my all-time favorite soups, Easy One-Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup which was inspired by recipes from Pioneer Woman and Allrecipe.
I did my usual reading of 25 plus recipes for this crock pot version. The oddest thing was a major website using Cheese Whiz. I’m withholding the name of the site.
The two things in my previous recipe that many seem to have some issues with are the trimming of the broccoli and the creation of the roux at the beginning to help thicken the soup. To make this recipe even simpler, I’m addressing both of those issues.
The Broccoli
In my previous recipe, I used fresh broccoli and had an option for frozen. I’m reversing that today to simplify prep for the busy people out there.
Frozen broccoli in the old days always came in a one-pound bag. Not any more. Most are 12 to 14 oz. But really with a soup like this anywhere from 12 to 16 oz is just fine.
More of an issue is the size of the florets. If you are running the soup through an immersion blender to smooth completely, you are good. But most people don’t do that; I believe the broccoli needs to fit in a spoon.
So if your frozen broccoli is small size, like Birdeye Baby Broccoli Florets, you are mostly good, but all other frozen broccoli is much bigger and should be chopped up some before adding to the soup.
Fresh broccoli is fine for this recipe. One medium to a large bunch of broccoli will produce the needed approximate 2 cups when cleans and cut up.
Thickening This Soup
In my previous stovetop recipe, I made a roux with butter and flour to thicken the soup. That works great, but it seems to scare people. Plus, once you do that, you are mostly done with my stovetop recipe.
About half the recipes I reviewed started with a roux. And the other half mostly used a block of cream cheese or a can or two of cream of “blank” soup. I was not very happy with any of those and have chosen to use a slurry of corn starch near the end of cooking.
Corn starch will thicken very well, especially things with dairy products. But it will not freeze well. If you are planning to freeze this soup, use the stovetop recipe, or combine the two techniques.
The Cheese
I fess up. I like Velveeta. So here I generally use sharp cheddar and Velveeta. But choose the cheeses you like. Most will want a mixture of different cheddars.
I use 2 cups of shredded cheese which is 8 oz. Frequently, I add more cheese, but it really is not needed. If I use Velveeta, I weigh the amount and cut into small cubes.
Copycat Panera’s Broccoli Cheese Soup
If you want to copycat Panera’s Broccoli Cheese Soup, then just add one cup matchstick-cut carrots and one stalk thinly sliced celery at the same time as the broccoli.
Make it Bacon Broccoli Cheese Soup
Everything is better with bacon. This is my wife’s addiction. Chop three strips of bacon into 1/2 inch squares and fry until done. Drain and add along with the cheese.
What Size of Crock Pot to Use?
This is “cooking for two,” so this is a smaller recipe. It makes about 6 cups total, and that fits nicely in a 3-4 quart crock pot. You can use a bigger crock pot. FYI, 4 cups equal one quart.
In general, a crock pot should not be over 2/3 full. So doubling the recipe will fit in 4 1/2 quart size or bigger.
Other Great Soups You Will Love
Easy One Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
Easy Crock Pot French Onion Soup
Crock Pot Ham Bone and Bean Soup
See Our Best Soups for a round-up of our best soup recipes
Also added to Smaller Crock Pot Recipe Roundup
Chop one small or 1/2 medium onion.
In a smaller crock pot (3-4 quart) mix 1 can (about 2 cups) of chicken broth, the chopped onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, and 2 cups of milk.
Add about 2 cups of broccoli. I suggest frozen baby florets which are small in size. If you use bigger frozen broccoli, you should chop it up some before adding. Or you can use fresh.
Mix well and cook on low for 2 hours. Check that the broccoli is tender. If not, extend the cooking time by 30-60 minutes. All crock pots cook differently.
Mash about half the broccoli with a potato mash while still in the crock pot. The exact amount is more your test and your broccoli. You may also use an immersion blender if you want.
Add 2 cups (8oz.) of shredded cheese of your choice.
If thickening, in a small bowl mix 4 tablespoons corn starch with about an equal amount of cold water. Mix until smooth.
Then add slowly to crockpot and mix well. Increase the crockpot to high and cook covered another 20-30 minutes until thickened.
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Crock Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
Five minutes prep then do something else for two hours. You will have some great soup shortly after getting back with these easy to follow step by step photo instructions.
Prep Time5mins
Cook Time2hrs20mins
Total Time2hrs25mins
Author: Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Course : Soup
Cuisine : American
Keyword : Broccoli Cheese Soup, Crock Pot Soup
Servings/Adjust Amount: 6
6
Ingredients
12-16ozfrozen broccoli – about 2 cups, cut to spoon size
2cupschicken broth – or vegetable
2cupsmilk – low fat is fine
1onion – small or 1/2 medium
¼teaspoongarlic powder
½teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonpepper
8ozshredded cheese
To Thicken – optional
4tablespoonscorn starch – in a slurry of cold water
Instructions
Chop one small or 1/2 medium onion.
In a smaller crock pot (3-4 quart) mix 1 can (about 2 cups) of chicken broth, the chopped onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, and 2 cups of milk.
Add about 2 cups of broccoli. I suggest frozen baby florets which are small in size. If you use bigger frozen broccoli, you should chop it up some before adding. Or you can use fresh. The broccoli needs to fit in a spoon.
Mix well and cook on low for 2 hours. Check that the broccoli is tender. If not, extend the cooking time by 30-60 minutes. All crock pots cook differently.
Mash about half the broccoli with a potato mash while still in the crock pot. The exact amount is more your test and your broccoli. You may also use an immersion blender if you want.
Add 2 cups (8oz.) of shredded cheese of your choice.
If thickening (recommended), in a small bowl mix 4 tablespoons corn starch with about an equal amount of cold water. Mix until smooth.
Then add slowly to crock pot and mix well. Increase the crockpot to high and cook covered another 20-30 minutes until thickened.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
Choose the cheeses you like. I generally use sharp cheddar and Velveta. If using block cheese, go by weight, not volume.
If you want to copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup, then add 1 cup matchstick-cut carrots and 1 stalk thinly sliced celery at the same time as the broccoli.
Make it Bacon Broccoli Cheese Soup. Everything is better with bacon. Chop 3 strips of bacon into 1/2 inch squares and fry until done. Drain and add along with the cheese.
The broccoli needs to be small or chopped small enough to fit in a spoon. I suggest starting with Birdeye Baby Broccoli Florets which has smaller florets already.
Two hours will usually be enough to get the broccoli tender but check and add a bit more time if needed. Do not proceed until it is tender. Every crock pot is different.
Great as leftovers. Good refrigerated for 2-3 days. This will NOT freeze well due to the cornstarch. If you plan on freezing, then you should use the flour roux method of thickening from my stovetop recipe. Or the soup does taste great without thickening and will freeze well that way.
If you want Keto or Low Carb, then skip the corn starch. The taste is great, but it will be thinner.
Nutrition calculated on about 1 cup serving and low-fat milk. One cup is an ok serving if served with something else. If the soup is the only dish, then we usually eat about 1 1/2 cups.
Nutrition Facts
Crock Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 202Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 5g25%
Cholesterol 31mg10%
Sodium 509mg21%
Potassium 430mg12%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 775IU16%
Vitamin C 52mg63%
Calcium 325mg33%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Have a question or something not clear? Ask in the comments.
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Nutrition is for one serving. Number of servings is stated above and is my estimate of normal serving size for this recipe.
All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
If you like this recipe or find it useful, the pleasure of a nice 4 or 5 rating would be greatly appreciated.
Give that smaller crock pot some love with one of these 35 easy everyday recipes. All with easy to follow step by step photo instructions.
Welcome to my collection of recipes for smaller crock pots. While I’m aiming for the 3-4 quart crockpots, all my recipes can be adjusted in the recipe card for a different number of servings for other size crock pots.
Please enjoy this collection and pin the graphic at the bottom of the page for rapid access, I have provided a Jump Index to get you where you want to go on this long page.
Introduction
A crock pot will make your life easier, but in a smaller household, large six to seven-quart crock pots are just too big for common use. You only have so much freezer space.
The tiny 1-2 quart crock pots are not very useful. Even when cooking for one, the maximum amount you can make seems out of proportion to the work involved. A slightly bigger crock pot in the 3-4 quart range will be a more useful tool and offer a few leftovers so needed on smaller households.
A 3-4 quart crock pots are “just right” most of the time in a smaller household. Many are super cheap, but remember, you will have this for years so spend a few dollars more and get one you can keep and use. I have the one I use in The Cooking for Two Shop if you are interested. Go Back to Jump Index
Fire up the crock pot for the best baked ziti you will ever eat. You may confuse it with great lasagna. With no precooking of the pasta, you will love this recipe.
Read More
Crock Pot Pizza Casserole
An amazingly easy crock pot pizza casserole to please the entire family. Pizza night has never been so simple. Just follow the easy step by step photo instructions.
Read More
Crock Pot Chicken Baked Ziti
Time for an ultra-simple crock pot chicken baked ziti. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions to have some great Italian comfort food bursting with tasty goodness.
Read More
Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore
Another “dump and go” easy slow cooker recipe. A classic healthy Italian recipe that is low in fat. The chicken comes out moist, fall apart tender and packed with taste.
Read More
Go Back to Jump Index
Tex Mex Recipes for Smaller Crock Pots
The Tex-Mex section may be out of proportion to the others, mainly due to my addiction to Tex-Mex foods and tastes. Just because we are cooking for smaller households, we can still have great taste.
Here are the Tex Mex recipes I cook in a smaller crock pot, but you can see all the recipes in the Tex Mex Catagory.
Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole
This is the easiest Chicken Enchilada Casserole you will ever make. Just follow these step by step photo instructions. Plus it is healthy with 7 gr of fat and less than 300 calories per serving. Using fresh chicken and your own homemade sauce, you get some of the best Mexican you will ever enjoy.
Read More
Crock Pot Chicken Tacos / Nachos
Make great crock pot chicken tacos or nachos with only a few minutes of work. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions.
Read More
Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
These ultra-easy crockpot chicken fajitas can be yours with four main ingredients plus a few spices. Everybody will want the recipe, and the family will love it.
Read More
Tex-Mex Crock Pot Chicken With Easy Mexican Rice
Great Tex-Mex taste served over quick Mexican rice. Almost like an easy Tex-Mex stew for a wonderful family meal.
Read More
Crock Pot Mexican Shredded Beef
Homemade great shredded beef tacos, nachos or burritos with almost no work. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions.
Read More
Mexican Shredded Chicken in a Crock Pot
Great in tacos or anywhere you would use Mexican shredded chicken. A chicken taco salad. Chicken burritos or enchiladas just follow these easy step by step photo instructions.
Read More
Crock Pot Southwest Chicken Casserole
This may be too easy to be this good. Cheesy Southwest chicken casserole is crock pot easy and a great tasting everyday meal. We all need easy meals.
Read More
Crock Pot Black Beans and Chicken
Great Southwest taste with this crock pot chicken and black beans that you can use for burritos, nachos, or many other ways.
It’s “take-out at home” time. Cashew Chicken is one of the most popular Chinese dishes that everybody loves. Now you can make it at home with this easy crock pot recipe.
Read More
Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Breast
Bursting with Asian type flavor, this low-fat crock pot recipe is a great start a low-fat diet. Easy to follow step by step photo instructions.
Read More
Crock Pot Chinese Boneless Pork Ribs
These crock pot Chinese boneless pork ribs are tender and tasty for that simple casual dining meal. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions.
Read More
Go Back to Jump Index
Chili Recipes for Smaller Crock Pots
Chili is great in a crock pot. The first two are specifically for smaller crock pots and two of the best chilis you will ever make. The next two are very simple to cut in half. Check out all the great chili recipes in the Chili Catagory.
Easy Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
This is the EASIEST crock pot white chicken chili recipe you will ever see. Dump, dump, dump, then cook for 4 hours. You are rewarded for your laziness with a great chili, and all your friends will demand the recipe.
Read More
Low Fat High Taste Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
Great tasting healthy crock pot white chicken chili with only about 250 calories and 2 gram of fat per serving. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions. No pre-cooking the chicken here.
Read More
All chili recipes are easy to cut in half, but these two are two that are extremely popular on the blog and are very simple to adjust down.
Crock Pot Chili
Who says everyday crock pot chili needs to be blah? A wonderful tasty red ground beef chili recipe made crock pot easy. A great hardy meal but good enough for that Superbowl party.
Read More
Crock Pot Stew Meat Chili
Super easy dump and go chunky stew meat chili. This wonderfully tasty chili brings multiple levels of taste with the optional use of different types of chili peppers. Tender chunks of beef will make this chili a favorite.
Classic chicken noodle soup made crock pot simple. Great homemade taste with these easy to step by step photo instructions. Bring on the cold weather; I’m ready now.
Read More
Easy Crock Pot French Onion Soup
Oh so simple and oh so good. Better than restaurant quality, this Crock Pot French Onion Soup is an elegant classic soup for everyday or special meals.
Read More
Crock Pot Beef Barley Soup
Hearty beef barley soup with chunks of tender beef with some veggies and barley. A crock pot soup that you can start in the morning and eat in the evening. Make a pot today for that cold weather day.
Read More
Go Back to Jump Index
Main Dishes/BBQ/Mac and Cheese for Smaller Crock Pots
Here is a variety of there smaller crock pot recipes from a variety of categories. There is BBQ, Casseroles, Pork Chops, and Mac and Cheese
Smaller Crock Pot Honey Glazed Ham
A great tasting moist honey glazed ham from your crock pot and you don’t need to eat ham for a week. This two-pound boneless ham is just the right size for the smaller household.
An easy recipe for crock pot French dip sandwiches that are melt in your mouth tender and bursting with wonderful taste. Easy to follow step by step photo instructions.
Read More
Crock Pot Apple Pork Chops
Nothing goes better with pork than apples. These apple pork chops are super easy in a crock pot and are tasty enough to leave them asking for more.
Read More
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
This is one of the easiest recipes ever. Great tasting BBQ chicken in just 3 hours. With family gatherings and holiday parties are coming, you will need a main dish if your hosting or a dish to take to the party. Scale to the size you need.
Read More
Easiest Crock Pot Shredded Pork Tenderloin
Great moisture and taste in the easiest crock pot shredded port tenderloin EVER. While I love pulled pork, this will do anytime.
Read More
Easy Crock Pot Pork Chops with Gravy
Fall apart tender pork chops covered with gravy. It makes your mouth water. All in an easy slow cooker recipe. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions.
Read More
Creamiest Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese
The creamiest mac and cheese is now slow cooker simple. Good enough to make my in-house mac and cheese expert go back for seconds.
Read More
Uncooked Macaroni Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
Yes, uncooked pasta. Great taste, wonderful creamy texture in the easiest slow cooker mac and cheese you will ever see.
Read More
Go Back to Jump Index
Candy and Dessert Recipes for Smaller Crock Pots
A great way to end the day, something sweet. We all love a great dessert and check out more dessert recipes in the Sweets Catagory.
The candy recipes are all gift giving worth for the holiday season. Check out more candy recipes in the Candy Catagory.
Crock Pot Fudge
Let’s make some great fudge that’s so easy even a child could do it. This crock pot fudge recipe is just what you need for the holidays.
Read More
Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters
Great white chocolate almond clusters are an easy crock pot candy with these step by step photo instruction for the perfect white chocolate candy.
Read More
Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Just 5 minutes, 4 ingredients and 2 hours in the crock pot will get you some of the best candy.
Read More
Smaller Crock Pot Apple Cobbler
This super easy crock pot apple cobbler with only a few ingredients is a great fall treat. Just follow these simple step by step photo instructions.
Read More
Simple Crock Pot Apple Crisp
Celebrate fall and apples with this ultra simple crock pot apple crisp. Easy to follow step by step photo instructions to get it right the first time, every time.
Read More
Go Back to Jump Index
Thanks for stopping by.
DrDan and The puppies.
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