These are evenings when I just love my slow cooker. They are the evenings that it’s dark by 5 pm, everyone is really hungry and dinner just happens. It happens because I did the simple prep work earlier in the day, before I had a headache and a billion after school things to handle with my kiddos. Can you relate? This Slow Cooker Pork Sirloin Roast with Vegetables is a simple, well rounded meal that’s just wonderful on a busy weeknight!

Sometimes you may be able to find a nice roast like this marked down in the meat department at your grocery store. It’s nice to have a recipe on hand when you do. Otherwise you may buy it because it’s a good deal and then it sits in your refrigerator, expires and then it’s a waste. Don’t waste it!

I use this neat Slow Cooker that features a removable insert that is stove top safe. It’s perfect for searing meats or sautéing vegetables before slow cooking, without me having to dirty another pan. If you don’t have one, that’s ok too.

I start by heating a little oil in the bottom of the insert. I season the pork roast and when the oil and pan are nice and hot, I place it inside.

That sizzling sound, that nice crust on the meat locking in all of that flavor… totally worth the extra few minutes! I use tongs to easily move the roast and sear each side of it. Then everything gets added right to the slow cooker.

I add a bag of frozen fine green beans (you can also use fresh green beans), carrots, Cremini mushrooms, sliced onion, freshly minced garlic, a little chicken broth and a few bay leaves before covering and cooking on high for 5 to 6 hours.

I like to serve this over tender brown rice, which you can even make the night before if you want to save even more time in the kitchen. It’s delicious and simple & I hope your family will enjoy this recipe on a busy weeknight too!

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I hope 2016 is off to a great start for you! This year I am focusing on balancing my home and work life a little bit better along with balancing what I eat in the kitchen too. I love comforting meals, but I am working hard to make sure my family gets even more fruits and vegetables in every meal I cook as well. These delicious Slow Cooker Veggie Loaded Meatballs in Tomato Sauce are perfect any night of the week and even your picky eaters won’t complain about the added vegetables!

Spaghetti and Meatballs are just one of those meals that everyone loves. Any type of pasta with sauce and meatballs is a hit at our house. Since I don’t want to give up yummy beef meatballs to make my dinner a little more healthy, I decided to add some fresh veggies to lean ground beef which gives you these delicious, moist and colorful meatballs that are sure to become a family favorite.

The best part about these meatballs is how easy they are to make. Who knew you could have meatballs and sauce on a busy weeknight without any hassle?

These meatballs can be made ahead of time for your convenience. Start by quickly chopping all of your veggies in the food processor.

Then roll up your sleeves, and start combining the veggie mixture, lean ground beef, egg, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoned breadcrumbs and a little salt & pepper with your hands lightly and gently, then roll the mixture into 2 1/2 inch balls.

Set them on a plate while you prepare the sauce, or store in the refrigerator or freezer for later use.

Combine your favorite tomato sauce with a can of crushed tomatoes and add a little seasoning and you’re almost done!

Pour half of the tomato sauce into your (affiliate) Slow Cooker to cover the bottom and add your meatballs. Cover them with the rest of the sauce, add a bay leaf or 2, put the lid on and set the timer! 4 hours of cooking on High or 7-8 hours of cooking on Low, and you’ve got yourself (and your family) one delicious and comforting dinner!

Since I can’t stick to a serving size of spaghetti and am trying to make better choices this year, I like to serve these yummy meatballs in tomato sauce over penne pasta topped with some fresh Parmesan along with a nice big salad.

The tasty slow cooked sauce gets into every bit of the penne pasta and can be a little easier to portion control too. Enjoy!

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I really enjoy the change of seasons. It’s already gotten pretty chilly here in our neck of the woods and we are getting ready for winter. Living south of Buffalo and on the Lake Erie shoreline means we are in for some chilly, windy winter weather along with lake effect snow. I like to warm my family up on chilly evenings with this delicious and comforting Spicy Sausage & Black Bean Soup. It’s full of flavor and preparation is made simple by using your slow cooker!

Hot Italian Sausage slow cooks all day with tomatoes, vegetables, Ragu Chunky Roasted Garlic Sauce, black beans, baby kale, pasta and a touch of cilantro for a hearty soup your whole family will enjoy.

I love keeping Ragu sauce on hand for recipes like these. It gives this simple soup such a wonderful flavor. A great sauce starts with great ingredients. Ragu is an authentic Italian sauce with a rich taste, aroma and texture that’s made the traditional way with the same standards set by Assunta in 1937.

Ragu lets you see, smell, and savor the longstanding tradition of fresh taste. Instead of using shortcuts, Ragu follows Assunta’s secret family recipe using slow-simmering vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic, and fragrant herbs to give you a delicious sauce that never has any artificial flavors, artificial colors or high fructose corn syrup.

To start this soup, I first brown my sausage along with chopped onions, carrots and celery. My slow cooker insert can be used on the stove top, but if yours can’t- no problem. Brown your meat and soften your vegetables in a skillet and then transfer them to your slow cooker. You can then add all of the other ingredients except for the kale and uncooked pasta. Season with a little salt and pepper, stir, cover, turn on the heat and set your timer!

When there’s 30 minutes of cooking time remaining, add a few handfuls of baby kale and your uncooked pasta. Stir and then continue cooking. Your pasta will cook right in the soup!

Even though this soup has a little kick to it, my whole family, including my 4 children all enjoyed this. It wasn’t too hot. We like to top our soup with shredded Mozzarella cheese and serve this soup with fresh crusty bread for a tasty dinner. If you’re looking for a new slow cooker meal to add to your weeknight menu, give this yummy recipe a try!

Do you use Ragu in your kitchen for family’s meals? Now until 11/30, you can ENTER Ragu’s Ready. Set. Cook! Contest. It challenges home cooks like you and I to create new, unique and delicious recipes featuring a sponsored ingredient, plus a set list of other contest ingredients. There will be a Grand prize of $3,000, a Runner-up prize of $1250, and a People’s Choice prize of $750! Get cooking today for your chance to WIN!

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Ragu. The opinions and text are all mine.

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The cold weather has arrived and that means it’s time to get cozy in the kitchen!  Nothing is more comforting than a warm, slow cooked meal after coming in from the cold.  Whether you work outside in the elements or bundle up to get in and out of your car to and from work; the inviting, delicious smell of this Old Fashioned Pot Roast will welcome you home and comfort you even on the most frigid evenings.  This satisfying Slow Cooker meal takes only minutes to prepare and will have your family coming back for more.

#SlowCooker Old Fashioned Pot Roast for a comforting family meal! #crockpot #dinner
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Fresh chuck roast is cooked slow all day with baby Yukon Gold potatoes, carrots, celery, onion and garlic in a herb infused beef broth to give you a flavorful, melt in your mouth beef roast.  The left over juices from the roast can simply be whisked into a savory gravy and then ladled on top of the tender beef and vegetables.  This meal makes a wonderful Sunday dinner, but can easily be prepared any day of the week.  This old fashioned, home cooked meal is excellent served with fresh crusty bread, a garden salad and a glass of red wine for a truly comforting and relaxing evening at home by the fire.  Your family never has to know you didn’t spend all day cooking it!

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It’s been cold, windy and overcast outside lately and I have been craving warm, comforting meals.  It’s the end of fall, things are starting to look pretty brown and the trees are almost bare.  My husband thinks I am crazy, but I love this part of fall!  Sure it’s yucky outside, but it’s oh so cozy inside.  It’s the perfect time to cook, bake, and wrap yourself  in a nice warm blanket and curl up with a good book by the fire.  Since it’s getting darker outside earlier, my family tends to eat dinner a little earlier too.  On days that I can’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen, a warm, hearty dinner ready and waiting in the slow cooker for my family is the perfect way end to the day.

This Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken & Rice is a comfort meal that your family will love.  Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs are cooked all day with tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic and spices to create moist chicken that blends perfectly with tender Spanish Rice.  Sometimes we even like to add black beans to this tasty dish the last half hour of cooking.   It’s a whole meal made all in one pot!  It’s a great dinner for a busy week night or even a relaxed meal on the weekends with friends.  Whenever you decide to serve this, I am sure it will become one of your favorite Slow Cooker meals too.  Enjoy!

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Spring is a busy time of year.  The days are longer and there are a lot of things to do outside once the weather gets nicer.  There are flower beds and gardens to prepare, lawn and patio furniture to get out of storage and clean along with countless children’s activities that may have you driving around like a chauffeur.  I love this time of year, but sometimes getting a great dinner on the table is the last thing on my mind when the sun is shining and I have a list of things I want to accomplish outdoors.  This Slow Cooker Short Rib recipe is great for those long Spring days.  You can throw everything in the slow cooker in the morning and get outside and not think about dinner.  Your house will smell amazing like you have been cooking all day and you can put your feet up and relax at the end of the day instead of worrying about dinner.  I like to serve these melt in your mouth Beef Short Ribs with garlic mashed potatoes and simple roasted baby carrots with fresh parsley.  If it has been an especially tiring day, a nice glass of red wine pairs well with this meal:)  What Slow Cooker meals do you prepare in the Spring to save time?

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I love a meal that tastes great and is made in the Crockpot.  Prepare this in the morning and then don’t think about it until you are ready to serve dinner.  Since the cook time isn’t as long as traditional Crockpot meals, we like to make this on the weekends when we are home, but are doing things around the house.  I hope your family enjoys this as much as ours!  This recipe works great in a 6 quart Crockpot and serves 8 generously, but if you have a smaller Crockpot, you can just halve the recipe.

To get started, you need to brown your meat.  After no pink remains, drain the excess fat, turn your heat to low and  add your favorite spaghetti sauce and the water.  Stir and bring to a simmer while you prepare the cheese filling.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, stir together the cottage cheese (you can use ricotta too), eggs and shredded cheese.  Get out your package of uncooked lasagna and you are ready to get this going in your Crock-Pot!

Cover the bottom of your slow cooker with some of the meat sauce.

Break the lasagna to fit the shape of your slow cooker and lay the first layer down.  It doesn’t have to be perfect- the pasta will expand as it cooks.

Add a cheese layer and more sauce, then the lasagna again.  I usually get 4 or 5 layers, so this makes a nice thick lasagna!

End with a lasagna noodle layer and top with the remaining meat sauce.

Cover and cook on low for 3 1/2 to 4 hours.  Slow Cooker cooking times may vary.

When there is about 10 minutes left- cover the lasagna with the remaining shredded cheese and let it melt.  I like to turn off the slow cooker and let the lasagna sit for 30 minutes or so for easier cutting and serving.  This meal is great served with a fresh salad and a glass of wine.  Enjoy!

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