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Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Busy Nights

Written by: San-J Posted on: December 5, 2018

If the holiday rush leaves you feeling, well, rushed, turn to your slow cooker. Here are three of our favorite crockpot meals to keep us going through the end of the season.

Orange Crockpot Meatballs

When it’s really all about simplicity, you’ll want these meatballs. Reach for a bag of frozen pre-cooked meatballs and a nearly full bottle of San-J Orange Sauce. Add them to your slow cooker with some water and cook on low for a couple hours.

There’s no prep work and if you like to live on the wild side, you can even say there’s no measuring! Just make sure the amount of water and sauce covers the meatballs but doesn’t taste too diluted.

We like to garnish these meatballs with green onion for some added flavor and color. Serve them as an easy party appetizer. Or serve them over rice for a simple dinner.

Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Busy Nights Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Busy Nights

Here are some tricks to switch it up:

  • Try different kinds of meatballs, like pork or beef, or a mixture of veggies “meat” balls
  • Use different sauces. San-J has a variety of Asian Cooking Sauces to choose from!
  • Serve with rice, noodles, quinoa, or even mashed potatoes

If you’re making these meatballs as a party appetizer, pair them with this Orange Cranberry Cheese Ball or Cranberry Orange Baked Brie with some San-J Brown Rice Crackers.

Get the recipe for Orange Crockpot Meatballs or Pin it for later.

Slow Cooker Asian Pulled Pork with Pickled Vegetables in Lettuce Cups

Here you’ll find 3 main components, layered for the ultimate lettuce cups.

Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Busy Nights

It starts with the juicy, tender pork. It’s slow-cooked all day in a sauce of Tamari, chili garlic paste, ginger, and lime juice. After cooking is done, the pork is shredded then tossed in more sauce – this time San-J Korean BBQ Sauce to help layer in more flavor.

The second component is the quick pickled vegetables. These come together easily and can be made a day ahead of time to simplify the process. If you don’t have rice vinegar, try white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. If you want to simplify even more, keep a jar of kimchi in the fridge and the pickled veggies are ready when you are.

Thirdly and finally, everything is scooped into crisp Boston lettuce leaves and sprinkled with cilantro and sesame seeds.

Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Busy Nights

To help everything come together quickly – and for you to get out the door on time in the morning – cross these tasks off the night before:

  • Mix the sauce
  • Prep the pickled veggies – or buy kimchi
  • Set the slow cooker on the counter, if it’s not already there
  • Make sure the pork is thawed and refrigerated

Then in the morning, all you have to do is throw the pork and sauce in the slow cooker and turn it on. Once evening rolls around, your house will smell incredible and you’ll be ready to layer your lettuce cups. You’ll be so proud of yourself for thinking ahead!

Get the recipe for Asian Pulled Pork Lettuce Cups or Pin it for later.

Slow Cooker Asian Sesame Chicken

Sometimes it’s worth the extra effort to sear meat before adding it to the slow cooker. This is one of those times. Pan-frying the chicken first gives it a head start on the cooking and forms a crisp outer layer to lock in the flavor.

Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Busy Nights

While the chicken is searing, whip up a gourmet sauce with Tamari, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and sesame oil. The chicken and sauce get slow-cooked together while you try to take your mind off of just how excited you are for this sesame chicken.

Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Busy Nights

To complete the meal, serve with Horenso Peanuts Aé (blanched spinach tossed with Thai Peanut Sauce) and Lemony Red Jacket Potatoes (roasted potato wedges with Sweet and Tangy sauce).

Get the recipe for Slow Cooker Asian Sesame Chicken or Pin it for later. Check out more of our slow pressure cooker sauces.

What are your favorite slow cooker recipes? Share your creations with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter by tagging @sanjtamari for your chance to be featured!