Well, let me tell you, I’ve been cookin’ for a long time, and this here crock pot, it’s a lifesaver. You can just throw things in there and forget about it. And these crock pot side dishes? Oh honey, they’re the easiest thing in the world. Good for a potluck, good for a weeknight. Just depends what you’re fixin’.
First thing you gotta know, crock pot side dishes are easy. You ain’t gotta be a fancy cook. Just chop things up, throw ’em in, and let that pot do the work. My mama used to say, a watched pot never boils, well this is true for a crock pot too. It just needs its time. Let me tell you about some good ones.
Green beans. Everybody loves green beans. My grandkids, they gobble them up. You just take your beans, some tomatoes, maybe a little onion if you got it, throw it all in the crock pot. Add a little water, some salt and pepper. Let it cook low and slow. You got yourself some green beans with tomatoes. Tender and tasty. Better than them canned ones, that’s for sure.
- Green beans, fresh or frozen
- Tomatoes, diced up
- Onion, if you like
- Water, just a little
- Salt and pepper, to your taste
Another one, now this one’s a little different, is crockpot cornbread. Now, I know what you’re thinkin’. Cornbread in a crock pot? But hear me out. It’s good. It’s moist, like cake almost. You just mix up your cornbread batter, like you normally do, then pour it in the crock pot. Cook it on low for a few hours. It’s not gonna be crispy like in the oven, but it’s good. Good with chili, good with beans. Trust me on this one, you gotta try this crock pot side dish.
This reminds me of a time, back when my youngest, Billy, was still at home. He always loved my cornbread. Used to eat it with everything. One time, I made a big batch for a church supper, and wouldn’t you know it, he ate half of it before we even left the house! Had to make another one real quick. Oh, that boy. But this crockpot cornbread, it is good and it is easy.
- Cornbread mix
- Eggs, maybe
- Milk, or whatever the box says
- Butter, melted
Now, there’s also this thing, they call it, “takeout.” We didn’t have that much when I was a girl. We ate what we cooked. But my daughter, she orders it all the time. She says it’s easier. Well, I guess it is. But this here crock pot, it’s even easier. And cheaper, too. You can make all kinds of things in it. This one time, she ordered some kind of beef and broccoli thing. Said it was fancy. Well, I made it in the crock pot, tasted just as good, maybe even better, if you ask me.
Beef and broccoli. That’s another good crock pot side dish. Or maybe it is a main dish, I don’t know. Anyway, you take some beef, cut it up small. Then you take some broccoli, chop that up too. Throw it all in the crock pot. Then you make some kind of sauce. Soy sauce, I think, and some other stuff. I don’t remember exactly. But you pour that over the beef and broccoli, and let it cook. Smells good, tastes good. And you ain’t gotta stand over the stove. It cooks itself! And it is easy, just throw it all in there and forget it.
You can put anything in that crock pot. Potatoes, carrots, any kind of vegetable. Just chop it up, throw it in, add some water or broth, and let it cook. You can add meat, or not. Just depends on what you like and what you got. My mama always said, “Use what you have.” And she was right. Waste not, want not. That’s what I say, especially with these crock pot side dishes, you can make them with anything.
And cleanin’ up? Easy peasy. Just one pot. Not like when you cook on the stove, with all them pots and pans. Just the one crock pot. And most of them, you can just wipe them out. Or put them in the dishwasher, if you got one of them fancy things. I just wash mine in the sink. Soap and water, that’s all you need. Less mess, less fuss. Just like these crock pot side dishes, they are simple.
- Beef, cut up small
- Broccoli, chopped
- Soy sauce, I think
- Some other stuff for the sauce
So there you have it. Crock pot side dishes. Easy, cheap, and tasty. Just like my mama used to make. Well, she didn’t have a crock pot, but if she did, she would have used it all the time. Just like me. So go on, give it a try. You won’t be sorry. You just plug it in, throw your food in, put the lid on, and let it cook. It is that easy. You can set it to low, or to high, just read what it says on the recipe. Then when it is done, you just turn it off. That’s it! You can even make desserts in there too. Maybe I will tell you about that next time. Just remember what I said about the crockpot cornbread, it is good, you should try it.