Alright, let’s talk about cookin’ up some squirrel in that there crockpot. You know, them little critters can be mighty tasty if you know how to fix ’em right. Don’t go turnin’ your nose up at it now, city folk might not get it, but us country folks know good eatin’ when we see it.
First thing’s first, you gotta get yourself some squirrels. Now, I ain’t gonna tell you how to do that, everyone’s got their own way. But make sure they’re cleaned good, real good. Wash ’em off, get all the… well, you know… off ’em. Some folks like to boil ’em first, gets the meat all tender-like. You can do that if you want, boil ’em ’til the meat comes right off the bone. Then pick all that meat off, careful now, don’t want no little bones in your stew.
Now, some folks like to fry it up a bit before puttin’ it in the crockpot. Gets it all nice and brown, gives it a good flavor. If you wanna do that, just get a pan, put a little oil in it, and fry that squirrel meat ’til it’s brown all over. Don’t overcook it though, just a quick fry will do. You can toss it in some flour and pepper first, if you like. Just put some flour and pepper in a bag, throw the meat in, and shake it all around. That’s how I do it, keeps things simple.
- Get your squirrels, clean ’em good.
- Boil ’em if you want, then pick the meat off.
- Fry the meat a bit if you like, with some flour and pepper.
Okay, now for the crockpot part. This is the easy part, y’all. Just dump that squirrel meat right in there. Then you gotta add some other stuff, you know, to make it taste good. I like to put in some onions and carrots, chop ’em up small. And some potatoes too, cut ’em up into chunks. Whatever you got on hand, really. You can throw in some celery if you like, or maybe some mushrooms. It’s all up to you, ain’t no right or wrong way to do it.
Now, for the liquid, I just use water. Some folks like to use broth, chicken broth or beef broth, but water works just fine for me. Just pour enough water in there to cover the meat and veggies. Then you gotta add some seasoning. Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, whatever you like. I like to put in a little bit of paprika too, gives it a nice color. And maybe a bay leaf, if I got one. Don’t use too much salt though, you can always add more later, but you can’t take it out.
Then just put the lid on that crockpot, turn it on low, and let it cook. How long you cook it depends on how tender you want the meat to be. I usually cook it all day, like 6 or 8 hours. The longer it cooks, the more tender it gets. You’ll know it’s done when the meat just falls apart when you poke it with a fork. And let me tell you, that smell, it’ll fill your whole house, make your mouth water somethin’ fierce. That’s how you know it’s gonna be good.
Once it’s done, you can eat it just like that, or you can serve it over rice or noodles. Or with some cornbread, that’s always good. And don’t forget the gravy. If there ain’t enough liquid in the crockpot to make gravy, you can just mix up some flour and water, add it to the crockpot, and let it thicken up. That’s what I do, makes a good, hearty meal.
Now, some folks get fancy with their squirrel recipes, addin’ all sorts of stuff. But me, I like to keep it simple. Squirrel, veggies, water, seasoning, that’s all you need. It’s good, honest food, and it’ll fill you up. And ain’t that what matters most? So next time you see a squirrel runnin’ around, don’t just think of it as a pest, think of it as dinner. Just kidding… mostly. But seriously, give this recipe a try, you might be surprised at how good it is.
And remember, slow cooking is key for tender squirrel meat. Don’t rush it, let that crockpot do its work. You’ll be rewarded with a delicious and satisfying meal that’ll stick to your ribs. Trust me on this one, I know what I’m talkin’ about. I’ve been cookin’ squirrel for… well, let’s just say a long, long time. And this slow-cooked squirrel? It’ll impress even the pickiest eaters, I guarantee it.
So there you have it, my fool-proof recipe for crockpot squirrel. It ain’t fancy, but it’s good. And that’s all that matters. Now go on and give it a try, and let me know what you think. I bet you’ll be surprised at how tasty them little critters can be.
Tags: [squirrel recipes, crockpot cooking, slow cooker meals, wild game recipes, country cooking, easy squirrel recipe, tender squirrel meat, squirrel stew]
