5 Set It & Forget Recipes

Back to school time can be exciting but also exhausting. Getting back into the routine, remembering all the things and not feeling like making dinner. I get it! 

Here are 5 of my go-to set it & forget recipes for when I don't have the brain power or energy to make dinner in the evenings.

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1) Savory Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast

Ingredients:

• 3-4 lbs Edwards Family Farms beef chuck roast
• 4 carrots, peeled and chopped into large pieces
• 4 potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 1 onion, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup red wine (optional, or use more beef broth)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Prep the Beef: Season the chuck roast generously with salt and pepper. If you have time, sear it in a hot pan with a bit of oil until browned on all sides. This step adds extra flavor but isn’t necessary if you’re in a rush.
2. Load the Crockpot: Place the carrots, potatoes, and onion at the bottom of the crockpot. Place the beef on top of the veggies.
3. Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the beef broth, red wine (if using), tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, and minced garlic. Pour this mixture over the beef.
4. Cook: Add the bay leaves, cover the crockpot, and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-6 hours.
5. Finish and Serve: Remove the bay leaves. Shred the beef with two forks and mix it into the juices and veggies. Serve hot with your favorite side or a crusty piece of bread.

2) Citrus Herb Crockpot Roast Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 whole Edwards Family Farms chicken (about 3-4 pounds)
• 1 onion, quartered
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lemon, quartered
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Prep the Chicken: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Rub the chicken with olive oil and season generously with salt, pepper, dried thyme, dried rosemary, and paprika.
2. Assemble Chicken: Place the quartered onion, minced garlic, and quartered lemon inside the cavity of the chicken.
3. Cook Chicken: Place the seasoned chicken in the crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 2-4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.
4. Let it Rest: Once cooked, carefully remove the chicken from the crockpot and let it rest for a few minutes before carving.

3) Pineapple Bliss Crockpot Glazed Ham

Ingredients:

• 1 Edwards Family Farms ham roast (about 3-4 pounds)
• 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks or rings, drained (reserve the juice)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice (from the reserved can)
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions:

1. Prepare Ham: Place the ham roast in the crockpot. In a bowl, mix together the brown sugar, honey, pineapple juice, Dijon mustard, and ground cloves to make the glaze.
2. Apply Glaze & Pineapple: Pour the glaze over the ham roast, making sure to coat it evenly. Arrange the drained pineapple chunks around the ham roast in the crockpot.
3. Cook Ham: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the ham is heated through and tender.
4. Baste Ham: Occasionally baste the ham with the juices from the crockpot to keep it moist and flavorful.

4) Sweet & Tangy Maple Dijon Chicken Drumsticks

Ingredients:

• 8-10 Edwards Family Farms chicken drumsticks
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix Ingredients: Place the chicken drumsticks in the bottom of the crockpot. In a bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, minced garlic, dried thyme, and paprika until well combined. 
2. Prepare Drumsticks: Pour this mixture over the chicken drumsticks in the crockpot. Season the chicken drumsticks with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Cook Drums: Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender. Once cooked, remove the chicken drumsticks from the crockpot and place them on a serving platter.
4. Optionally, you can thicken the sauce by transferring it to a saucepan and simmering it over medium heat until it reaches your desired consistency.
5. Garnish & Serve: Serve the maple Dijon chicken drumsticks with the sauce drizzled over the top, garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

5) Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Ingredients:

• 1 Edwards Family Farms pork picnic roast (about 3-4 pounds)
• 1 onion, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare: Place the sliced onions and minced garlic in the bottom of the crockpot. Season the pork picnic roast with salt and pepper, then place it on top of the onions and garlic in the crockpot.
2. Make the Mixture: In a small bowl, mix together the chicken or vegetable broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, and dried rosemary. Pour this mixture over the pork roast.
3. Cook Pork: Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours, until the pork is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
4. Shred & Serve: Once the pork is cooked, remove it from the crockpot and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded pork to the crockpot and mix it with the juices.

Conveniently, there are 5 healthy recipes, one for every day of the work week. 😉 And they are so easy, you will feel like you have spent hours in the kitchen, when you actually have been making that dough (pun intended)!

And because they are delicious and healthy, those kids will devour them and you'll feel like a confident superhero feeding your family.

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