Do you ever feel like you are running out of time to do the simple things in life like make dinner after a long day on the road? Sometimes it feels like dinner is the last thing you have energy for at the end of the day. Have no fear! We are here with a list of easy crockpot recipes for truckers as well as cooking hacks to make dinners an easier task. Let’s get cooking!
The Busy Truckers Guide to Easy Crockpot Recipes
We understand that life can easily catch us off guard, which is why cooking hacks are an essential part of life. Here are some basic things you can do to make your meals easy as pie.
- Find & save recipes you want to make.
- Make a grocery list with everything you need.
- Prep your meals head of time and then place the ingredients in a Ziplock baggie or container until you’re ready to start cooking.
- Freeze meals up to 3 months (if prepped properly).
How to Prep your Crockpot Recipes Ahead
You might be sitting there thinking to yourself, I don’t want to cook every day. Well, you don’t have to! With some of the recipes now-a-days, you can prep your meal at the beginning of the week and simply throw it in the crockpot for cooking the day of! Yep… it really is as easy as that. We like to call these crockpot freezer meals. These meals are great because they require practically no effort after thawing and can stay in the freezer for up to 3 months! Plus, they can be prepped ahead of time and are often generous portions after a long day of work. If you are looking for some freezer crockpot recipes check out this blog, there are 6 freezer crockpot meals listed.
Crockpot Recipe Ideas
Whether you want something tasty, hearty, or even fit & light, there are plenty of crockpot recipes for truckers on the internet. Downloading apps like Pinterest can also help you search ideas and plan your crockpot meals accordingly. However, because this thing called life can be so crazy sometimes, we compiled a few recipes for you to look through. Who knows, maybe one of these could be dinner for you tomorrow!
Crockpot Queso Chicken Tacos
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs chicken breast
- 1 (oz) package
- 1 (10oz) can diced tomatoes and green chiles
- 1-1/2 cups Mexican cheese dip (refrigerated/jarred/whatever!)
- Whatever toppings you want for tacos (tortillas, lettuce, sour cream, etc.)
Directions:
- Place chicken in slow cooker. Pour the taco seasoning on top and then the can of tomatoes.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours
- Remove chicken from crockpot, shred the chicken with two forks, and add it back to the slow cooker. Stir in cheese dip
- Serve with soft or hard shell tacos and your favorite toppings
4 -Ingredient Baked Ziti
Ingredients:
- 1-pound dried penne pasta
- 48 ounces marinara
- 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
Directions:
- Coat a crockpot with cooking spray. Add dry penne noodles, marinara, ricotta, and 1 cup of mozzarella then stir to combine. Sprinkle top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1-2 hours, then serve! (Leftovers can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days)
Easy 5-Ingredient Crockpot Chili
- 1 (15 ounces) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans
- 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 packet chili seasoning (in spice aisle)
Directions:
- Brown ground beef or turkey on stovetop.
- Drain meat and add to your crockpot.
- Add all other ingredients and stir.
- Put crockpot on low and cook all day, but at a minimum cook for at least 4 hours.
Bottom Line
You might be surprised how easy it is to cook like Rachel Ray with these crockpot recipes! While you’re prepping some of these crockpot meals, consider prepping snacks for the road while you’re at it! If you’re looking for some health snack ideas check out this blog dedicated to healthy snacks to eat on the road! Before you know it, your inner chef might just shine through and you’ll be on your way to the next episode of Chopped… trucker edition.
If you’re a truck driver that hasn’t tried unleashing your inner-Iron Chef yet then I highly recommend it. It can save you money, time, and serve as a great hobby. And who knows, maybe one of your crockpot masterpieces will be a dish you can use to captivate your friends and family the next time you’re home! Cheers and I wish you the best adventures in cab cooking!
