The Eats: My Love Affair with the Crock-Pot
Blame it on Target. If it wasn't for the store's alluring end-of-aisle display prominently showing off this hot pot's clean stainless steel curves and $14.99 price tag, I surely wouldn't have picked up this guy. C'mon, you say? Oh, fine. You're right, you're always right. I'm a grown woman, and I should have known better that it takes two to tango. If only I could've shaken that darn shredded chicken craving and ignored my impulse to indulge in the savory. I know. I. Am. Weak.
I don't know why I used to think I was too good to slum it with a Crock-Pot. Perhaps I thought that real cooks don't cheat in the kitchen. Or maybe it's because imagining myself using this kitchen gadget wrongly conjured up images of a happy homemaker clad in a floral print shirt dress, apron, and high heels—a picture that reeked of 1950s sexual politics. But I honestly have to say that I was so very wrong. In reality, it's truly a feminist's and mother's dream come true (did I mention that this slow cooker was introduced during the Second Wave of Feminism?). The Crock-Pot in many ways frees women from the confines of domesticity (well, at least some of them anyway). It's designed to do the dirty work for you, it saves you not just minutes but hours, and it frees you from being a slave to the kitchen. I’m certain that Betty Friedan and the fictional Samantha Jones had Crock-Pots hidden in their cupboards. I bet it was their best kept secret.
If you already don’t believe me, let me prove it to you that the Crock-Pot will rock your world. Not only can you dump the contents of your dinner in the pot, flip a switch, and go about your merry day, but you also can make yogurt, cheesecake, and baby food. There are even Crock-Pot diets to live by. For. Real. Who knew?!
Alright, no more blathering on and seducing you with the promise of this pot. Here are my tips for cheating in the kitchen (I do this on a weekly basis):
Easiest Shredded Chicken in the World
Pour 1/3 jar of salsa of your choice in Crock-Pot, nestle 4 frozen boneless chicken breasts in the salsa, and pour the rest of the jar over chicken so it is covered and stays moist. If, however, you want shredded chicken without any extra flavor, you can do the same and simply cook it in broth instead of salsa. Cook on high for six to eight hours (cooking time, however, will vary depending on your pot's size and power, but it will be obvious when the chicken is done — the meat will be white, moist, and shred without resistance). Thirty minutes to an hour before the chicken is ready to eat, shred the chicken by pulling it apart with two forks and let it simmer in the sauce. Voila! Enjoy in tacos, enchiladas, soup, salads, and more.
Even Better Shredded Chicken
Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 Tablespoon of cumin
1 Tablespoon of chili powder
1 teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of black pepper
1/3 cup of chicken broth
1/3 cup cilantro leaves, chopped
1 large onion, sliced, chopped, or diced (your preference)
1 jalapeno, seeded
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
Rub the chicken with salt and pepper. Place in Crock-Pot and squeeze the lime on top and add the cilantro and jalapeno. Heat the oil in a medium-sized frying pan. Add the onion and sauté for five minutes. Add the cumin, chili powder, oregano, and garlic and sauté for two more minutes. Deglaze the pan with the chicken broth and pour the mixture over the contents in the Crock-Pot.
Cook on low for four to five hours, or until cooked through and tender. Shred chicken breasts in Crock-Pot, let simmer in juices for a short time, and eat.
Your family will be glad you had this affair!
~ The Other Sarah
Crock-Pot, Love Affair, food, shredded chicken, slow cooking in Food, The Eats 
Reader Comments (6)
Thanks for supper tonight! I LOVE my crockpots. (yes,.plural)
I got one last year and have been very pleased with it. This recipe is one of the best things I've ever cooked: http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/main-dish/recipe-lamb-rag-017327
It takes about 40 minutes of prep work but is definately worth it.
Agree! Crockpots are magical. We love ours!
Success! I just made the chicken/salsa/slow-cooker recipe and it is DELISH! I used a jar of Trader Joe's green salsa and added one chopped onion and about 1/2 cup of chicken stock. Thank you for the recipe suggestion and inspiring a yummy, low-maintenance dinner.
[...] Little Dude to bed, find a babysitter, catch up on my Netflix DVDs, make shredded chicken in the Crock-Pot, lay on the couch, the list goes on and on and on). The well-documented health benefits and [...]
[...] (e.g., I have to work, find a babysitter, catch up on my Netflix DVDs, make shredded chicken in the Crock-Pot, lay on the couch, the list goes on and on and on). The well-documented health benefits and [...]