Okay, so I’ve been messing around with my 3-quart slow cooker lately, and let me tell you, it’s been a game changer for a small household like mine. I used to think these things were only for big families, but boy, was I wrong. I started to search around online for some recipe inspiration. I found that you can cook pretty much anything in these things, so I decided to put it to the test.
First, I grabbed some pork shoulder, because who doesn’t love pulled pork? I found some simple recipes online about tangy pulled pork sandwiches. I rubbed it with a mix of spices I found in my cabinet – you know, the usual, some paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, that kind of stuff. Then I just tossed it in the slow cooker with a little bit of apple cider vinegar and let it go on low. It’s 4 servings and easy for me. I went to work, and when I came back, the whole house smelled amazing.
- Pulled Pork
- Pork shoulder
- Spice rub (paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, etc.)
- Apple cider vinegar
The pork was so tender I could just shred it with a fork. I whipped up some quick coleslaw, toasted some buns, and boom, dinner was served. The best part? I had leftovers for days, and they were just as good, if not better, than the first night.
Moving On To Chicken
Next up, I found out some recipes about BBQ chicken sliders. I wanted to try something with chicken. I found this recipe that said to brine the chicken overnight, so I gave that a shot. I just used a simple saltwater solution. The next day, I drained the chicken, coated it in my favorite BBQ sauce, and threw it in the slow cooker. This one cooked a bit faster, about 4-5 hours on low.
- BBQ Chicken Sliders
- Chicken
- Saltwater brine
- BBQ sauce
When it was done, I shredded the chicken, mixed it with a bit more BBQ sauce, and served it on some mini slider buns. My kid went crazy for them. It’s 8 servings. They were perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal, and again, the leftovers were a lifesaver.
Time For Dessert
Finally, I figured, why not try a dessert? I’m a big fan of pumpkin pie, and I came across this recipe for pumpkin pie pudding. I was a little skeptical, but I had some pumpkin puree left over from another recipe, so I thought, what the heck?
- Pumpkin Pie Pudding
- Pumpkin puree
- Eggs
- Milk
- Sugar
- Pumpkin pie spice
I mixed the pumpkin with some eggs, milk, sugar, and a whole lot of pumpkin pie spice. I poured the mixture into the slow cooker, and this one took about 2-3 hours on high. It’s 6 servings. The result was this creamy, dreamy pumpkin pudding that tasted just like pumpkin pie filling. I topped it with some whipped cream, and it was like a little slice of heaven.
Honestly, I’m kinda obsessed with my 3-quart slow cooker now. It’s so easy to use, and it makes cooking for a small family or even just for myself so much simpler. Clean up is a breeze, too. I found that I could just use it to make beef stew and creamy chicken. I’m definitely going to keep experimenting with different recipes. I’ve got my eye on some chili recipes next. If you haven’t tried using a smaller slow cooker, you totally should. It’s a total game-changer, I’m telling you!
