Memorial Day traditionally marks the start of summer and grilling season for most of us. While this is not a normal year, it is time to get outside for perhaps a family picnic or a great meal on your deck. Here are some great recipes your family will enjoy.
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Introduction
For us in the USA this weekend is Memorial Day, a federal holiday for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. But it also serves as the kick-off for summer and a three-day holiday weekend.
Once known as Decoration Day that started after the American Civil War to honor the Union dead, later it merged with a similar Confederate holiday and ultimately for all American war dead.
But on to the other part of this holiday. It’s FINALLY SUMMER. Time for some deck and picnic food.
FOOD SAFETY
Before we start, a few food safety reminders. So easy to forget. It is up to you to keep your friends and family safe. I see dangerous food handling on TV food shows and other blogs frequently. So know the rules. PLEASE.
As a start, please review my Summer Food Safety post. Let’s be safe out there. No, Uncle Joe cannot have his burger rare even though you wouldn’t mind seeing him sick. It is your responsibility to keep them safe.
Main Dishes
You will find oven versions of many of these dishes. So a grill in not required. And the oven versions are generally great and not much work.
Oven Pulled Pork from Pork Butt
Outrageously good pulled pork without a smoker. Low and slow is how you do it with these easy step by step photo instructions with only a few minutes of active time.
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Pulled Pork on a Gas Grill – Not That Hard
How to cook pulled pork on a gas grill? Not all of us have smokers. There are a lot of gas grills out there. Shouldn’t we have pulled pork too? I say yes. Pulled pork for all, and with a little planning, it is not that hard. Just plan enough time.
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How to Cook a Brisket on a Gas Grill
Learn how easy it is to cook a brisket on your backyard gas grill with these easy to follow step by step photo instructions. You too can enjoy one of the Kings of BBQ at home.
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How to Grill an Excellent Hamburger – A Beginner Tutorial
Learn the secrets of grilling a really good hamburger on a gas grill (or a charcoal grill). It is oh so easy if you know a few secrets. Great burgers can be yours.
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How to Grill a Pork Tenderloin on a Gas Grill
Learn how to grill a great pork tenderloin on a gas grill in this pictorial step by step guide. A properly grilled pork tenderloin will make you look like the grill master. Just don’t tell them how easy it is.
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Grillied Chicken Drumsticks- The Art of Drummies
Super easy, never fails, grilled chicken legs for the whole family. Just pat dry, spice and cook over medium-high heat. Then you will have crispy goodness for all.
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Easy Grilled Chicken Thighs
Learn how to grill perfect chicken thighs with this easy to follow picture tutorial. Let’s fire up the grill for some crispy, moist chicken thighs.
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Sides
Great side dishes make the meal. Image some corn on the cob with a nice spinach salad or grilled pineapple to make your meal special.
Homemade Macaroni Salad
Blow that deli macaroni salad out of the water in every way. Great fresh taste from fresh ingredients with these easy step by step photo instructions.
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Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Crunchy deli style fresh broccoli salad with bacon is a classic summer gathering side dish. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions.
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Fresh Spinach Salad
Wonderful fresh spinach salad with homemade dressing is a simple compliment to almost any fare. A summer classic but great anytime of the year.
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Microwave Corn on the Cob
Super Easy. Learn how to pick the best corn and microwave with the husk on in just a few minutes. Perfect for the smaller households. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions.
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Brown Sugar Cinnamon Glazed Grilled Pineapple
Easy grill pineapple with a great caramelized brown sugar cinnamon glaze. Wonderful for a side dish or combine with vanilla ice cream for an out of this world dessert.
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Special Things
Easy Fresh Strawberry Pie
Fresh strawberry pie is a wonderful summer treat. A simple killer recipe everybody will love. Plus almost any fool including me can pull this off.
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Sweet and Spicy Chicken Bacon Wraps
What could go wrong with bacon, sugar, and spices? Cubes of chicken wrapped in bacon and coated with brown sugar, chili powder, and cumin? Great finger food for that “bring a dish” party. A skill level of 3/10 (easy). Plus it is easy to double or triple if needed.
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Memphis Barbecue Sauce – A Wonderful Thing
This wonderful barbecue sauce is the perfect compliment to pork, beef or chicken. A sweet and tangy sauce with a touch of spice that will become your summer favorite..
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Don’t Forget to take the Party Animals
Have a great holiday weekend and enjoy your summer.
DrDan
Publisher note: This is a re-edit of previous years ( since 2016) post. New recipe recommendations are added as needed to keep it fresh.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Go Back to Jump Index
Thanks for stopping by.
DrDan and The puppies.
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Get some great tailgating eats with these super easy recipes. Take them to the game or have a party at home. Look like you worked all day with these simple recipes.
Labor Day weekend is here signaling the end of summer and grilling season along with the start of school and football season.
So, let the games begin. Whether you are truly tailgating, have a game party, or just enjoy the game at home, you deserve good eats.
I’m picking recipes that you can cook ahead and take to the game or party. While I have lots of great grill recipes, most people will opt for a little simpler fare.
Two Great Game Day Chili Recipe
I have a lot of great chili recipes but this two standout.
First is the easiest white chicken chili recipe you can make but it is also one of the absolute best chicken chili recipes you will ever eat. The added bonus for tailgating is the cheese in it will keep this hot for several hours to serve.
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
Our second chili is that great everyday chili you always want to have in your recipe box. In fact, we call it our everyday chili. It is not bland but not too spicy. As baby bear would say, it is just right.
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.
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Three Tex-Mex Options
My first offering is the best taco meat you will ever make. You will never buy that envelope again. I consider this one of my best recipes and make it frequently.
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.
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Recipe number two is an excellent choice for chicken tacos or nachos
Spicy Taco Meat
Great Mexican for all. The best taco meat you will ever eat for tacos and nachos. You will never open an envelope of taco mix again.
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I can not do a tailgating roundup without recipe number three. Serve it as chili or make some great gameday nachos
Tailgate Chili and Nachos
It is tailgate time, and that means time for some great shredded beef chili or nachos. Fire up the crock pot for this versatile recipe with easy to follow step by step photo instructions.
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Wings
I only have one recipe for wings, but one is enough since it is a really good one. No need to fry, do this oven-baked chicken wings, and you will never go back.
Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
Easy to follow step by step photo instructions for crispy oven baked chicken wings. No need to fry to get the great crispy skin. Add a Buffalo coating, and you have an American favorite. Now you can do it at home. Plus it is healthier.
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Pulled Pork, BBQ Chicken, or Brisket Sandwiches/Sliders.
These are the classic tailgate dish. I’m just giving you the meat part since you can handle the serving.
I’m suggesting my oven version of pulled pork to keep things super simple but check out my Pulled Pork Recipe Roundup for things like an excellent crock pot pulled pork.
Oven Pulled Pork from Pork Butt
Outrageously good pulled pork without a smoker. Low and slow is how you do it with these easy step by step photo instructions with only a few minutes of active time.
Read More
I love simple, and I love good. Give them some great shredded BBQ for those sandwiches.
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
One of the “kings” of BBQ meats is brisket. While all day long smoking is not possible for most people, this easy oven recipe you can do a day or two ahead will get you close.
Kansas City Oven Baked BBQ Beef Brisket
Great BBQ for everybody. The ultimate KISS recipe with only two ingredients and only about 5 minutes of total work time, what could be better? A never failed recipe we have used for 40 years.
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Sweat Endings
Dessert bars are a great addition to any tailgate party. Here are a couple of easy cook-ahead bars that will make you look like the hero.
Easy Lemon Bars
Six-ingredients are all you need for these easy lemon bars. Bursting with great sweet-tart lemon taste and a buttery shortbread base, they are everything a lemon bar should be. Perfect for every day or a special occasion.
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Cheesecake Bars
New York cheesecake bars will impress your friends and family. Creamy delectable cheesecake, great for that special brunch with friends or family gatherings.
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Food Safety Time
These sorts of gatherings are ready-made for food safety issue both at the party and the leftovers. Let’s plan for food safety and get it right.
Food Safety
My annual summer food safety review. Let’s learn to keep our friends and family safe from unsafe foods and potentially serious illnesses.
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Don’t forget the party animals.
Originally Published August 28, 2019. Will be updated and republished yearly about this time.
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