Crock Pot Cooking from Appetizers to Desserts

Everyone knows that slow cookers are great for main meals like pot roast, chicken, and casseroles, but did you know that you could also use your Crock pot to make delicious starters and yummy desserts? Once you get the hang of it, you are going to want to keep more than one slow cooker on hand.

Choosing a Crockpot

Crockpot 101

Bacon and Cheeseburger Dip Appetizer

Preparation Time 20 minutes

Total Time 2 hours and 20 minutes

 

Serves 28

Ingredients

Eight Bacon Slices

½-Pound Ground Beef

One Package Cream Cheese

1 Package Shredded Cheddar American Cheese Blend

1 Can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies, undrained

2 Tbsp Chopped Parsley

One Red Bell Pepper Cut Into Strips

One Package Mini Bagel Chips

Directions

Cook bacon until crisp and drain on paper towels. Crumble and save a couple of Tbsp of bacon for garnish.

In the same 12” skillet, cook beef for about 7 minutes until nicely browned. Drain. Reduce heat and stir in shredded cheese, cream cheese, bacon and tomatoes until well blended and the cheese begins to melt.

Pour the mixture into a 1 1/2 –quart Crock pot. Cover and cook on low for two or three hours until your mixture is hot and bubbly.

Stir in the parsley, sprinkle on the rest of the bacon, and keep on low. When you are ready to serve, garnish with bell pepper strips and bagel chips. 

Ginger Orange Cheesecake

Serves 10

Preparation Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time 2 ½ Hours

Chill Time 4-24 Hours

Ingredients

Cooking Spray

1-8 oz Package Cream Cheese Softened

½ Cup Sugar

2 Tbsp Orange Juice

1 tsp Shredded Orange Peel

1 Tbsp All-Purpose Flour

½ Cup Sour Cream

3 Eggs. beaten lightly

1 cup Warm Water

1 tsp Vanilla

2 Medium Blood Oranges

Finely Chopped Crystallized Ginger (Optional)

Directions

Spray a casserole or soufflé dish with cooking spray. Take three pieces of 18 x 12” heavy foil, fold in half, and place in the center of the dish and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl beat sugar, cream cheese, flour, orange juice, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium until mixed through. Beat in sour cream. Beat eggs with mixer on low speed until combined. Stir in the orange peel and pour into your prepared dish. Cover tightly with foil.

Pour warm water into a three ½ to 5 quart slow cooker. Using the ends of the foil strips, place the dish in the Crockpot leaving the foil strips underneath the dish.

Cover and cook on high for about 2 ½ hours or until the center is set. Using your foil strips remove the dish from the Crockpot. Discard strips and cool uncovered on a wire rack. Once it has cooled chill for 4 to 24 hours. Before serving, garnish with crystallized ginger and orange slices.