When it comes to skillets, nothing beats cast iron. We have a 12″ cast iron, but I also have an 18″ All-Clad Stainless Steel skillet that I adore. Now that my kids are older, we need a little more food at dinner time and those extra inches provide the space for huge veggie stir-frys and more! We also love doubling our Dutch Baby recipe in that skillet, but that’s another post. Take a peek in our store below to get one for yourself.

CHECK OUT THESE SKILLET DINNER RECIPES:

Skillet Garlic Chicken with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Pecorino Cream Sauce by Zesty Olive
Easy Beef Burrito Skillet by The Girl Who Ate Everything
Skillet Mac And Cheese by Life Made Simple Bakes

MORE EASY SKILLET DINNER RECIPES:

20 Minute Spicy Pork Udon Stir Fry by Seasons and Suppers
Turkey Taco Quinoa Skillet by Spoonful Of Flavor
Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken by Isabel Eats

PEEK AT THESE QUICK SKILLET DINNERS:

Easy 30-Minute One-Skillet Lasagna by Averie Cooks
Cheeseburger Pasta by Dinner At The Zoo
Chicken Artichoke And Olive Skillet by Running To The Kitchen

MORE DELICIOUS SKILLET RECIPES:

Cornbread-Topped Skillet Chili by Sally’s Baking Addiction
One Pot Ham & Penne Skillet Recipe by Julia’s Eats And Treats
One-Pot Lentil Taco Skillet by Making Time For Health

SOME MORE QUICK SKILLET RECIPES:

Cheesy Bacon and Egg Hash by Cafe Delites
Light Coconut Shrimp & Pineapple Quinoa Skillet by The Creative Bite
One Pot Pizza Pasta by Yellow Bliss Road

MORE YUMMY SKILLET DINNER RECIPES:

Greek Pasta Skillet with Burst Cherry Tomatoes by Flavor The Moments
Skillet Vegetarian Lasagna by A Side Of Sweet
Harvest Chicken Skillet with Sweet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, and Sautéed Apples by Well Plated

LAST, BUT NOT LEAST!:

Skillet Shepherd’s Pie with Mashed Cauliflower by Bowl Of Delicious
Greek Meatballs With Lemon Dill Rice by Dinner At The Zoo

TOOLS FOR GREAT SKILLET DINNERS:

These links are affiliate links from our Amazon store. That means we make a little extra change for creating this AWESOME content for you.

MORE FROM OUR SIMPLE DINNERS SERIES:

• Roll Over Recipes – Cook Once, Eat Twice (or more!)
• Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
• Easy Fall Recipes on Our Bucket List That We Can’t Wait to Make
• Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
• Easy Hawaiian Slow Cooker Kalua Pork

PIN IT FOR LATER:

The post 20 Delicious Skillet Meals in Under 35 Minutes first appeared on BonBon Break.

Soup’s on!  With cooler weather and darker days, what could be better for warming your heart and soul than soup?

We’ve gathered a flavorful collection of fall soup recipes to help you serve this ultimate comfort food again and again without getting tired of it. Whatever cuisine you’re in the mood for — from Asian, to Latin, to Indian, to Italian, and more — you’ll find a full assortment of choices.

If you want to enjoy even more variety with little extra effort on your part, consider teaming up with a friend or two for a soup swap.  Soup recipes often produce large quantities, and it’s easy to fill mason jars to trade with friends.  This small step will make weekly meal planning so much easier!

Dive right in to our…

Fall Soup Recipes

VEGETARIAN SOUPS

 Light Chicken, Quinoa & Vegetable Soup by Cookin Canuk (pin it)

Cheeseburger Soup by Damn Delicious (pin it)  

Pin this for later:

Check out these fall soup recipes and SO MANY MORE on our Soups to Warm Your Soul Pinterest Board:

Follow Bonbon Break’s board Soups to Warm Your Soul on Pinterest.

Here are some of our FAVORITE soup accessories from Amazon (Click to buy now using our affiliate links. No extra charge to you and a little perk for us.):

Read this next: 20 Ways to Wear Boots

Next post: 50 + Perfect Holiday Pie Recipes

Previous post: They Break, You Know

ALSO CHECK OUT:

 CONTINUE READING IN THE KITCHEN

The post 50+ Fall Soup Recipes to Warm Your Soul first appeared on BonBon Break.

Our Favorite Sheet Pan Dinners

GET THE RECIPES:

Sheet Pan Chili Lime Salmon by Cafe Delites

Sheet Pan Marinated Steak Tips with Veggies by Lexi’s Clean Kitchen

Lemon Chicken Sheet Pan Gnocchi By Sweet Peas And Saffron

OOOH! THE RECIPES:

Sheet Pan Crispy Teriyaki Tofu and Broccoli by The Recipe Runner

Sheet Pan Herb-Roasted Chicken with Red Potatoes by Zesty Olive

Sheet Pan Mediterranean Roasted Lamb by Running To The Kitchen

RECIPES BELOW:

Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi by Carlsbad Cravings

Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potatoes Apples and Brussels Sprouts by Well Plated

Sheet Pan Eggplant Parmesan by Bunsen Burner Bakery

HERE ARE THOSE RECIPES:

Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Chicken Breast by Dinner At The Zoo

Sheet Pan Fish and Chips by Simply Recipes

Italian Turkey Meatloaf with Parmesan-Rosemary Smashed Potatoes by The Recipe Runner

GET THE RECIPES:

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas by I Heart Naptime

Lemon Dill Baked Salmon With Asparagus by The Life Jolie

Chili Dijon Pork Tenderloin by Carlsbad Cravings

GIVE THESE RECIPES A GO:

Sheet Pan Lemon Parmesan Garlic Chicken & Veggies by Cafe Delites

Sheet Pan Ginger Soy Glazed Salmon by Eat Yourself Skinny

Sheet Pan Chicken And Black Bean Nachos by The Baker Mama

TRY THESE RECIPES:

Oven Baked Pork Chops With Potatoes by Recipe Tin Eats

One Pan Balsamic Chicken and Veggies by I Heart Naptime

Join our What’s for Dinner? Community on Pinterest as a one-stop shop for dinner ideas!

Let’s Shop!

These links are affiliate links to our Amazon store. Enjoy – and that butt rub is EVERYTHING! Who knew I would ever write that?!

More Quick Dinners to Peruse

We just can’t get enough of these recipes. They are household favorites for us! Tag your favorites on Instagram with #bonbonbreak

• Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
• Easy Hawaiian Slow Cooker Kalua Pork
• Easy Chicken Enchilada Crockpot Soup
• Savory Slow Cooker Pot Roast
• Easy Fall Recipes on Our Bucket List That We Can’t Wait to Make
• Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

PIN IT FOR LATER:

The post Our Favorite Sheet Pan Dinners for Busy Weeknights first appeared on BonBon Break.

Roll Over Recipes

Hawaiian Slow Cooker Kalua Pork by BonBon Break

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken by BonBon Break

Roasted Veggies by BonBon Break

Slow Cooker Honey Pork (Cook Once Eat Twice) by My Everyday Table

Cook Once Eat Twice Greek Meatball Pita by The Foodie Physician

Healthy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken (Cook Once Eat Twice) by My Everyday Table

Cook Once Eat Twice Chicken Teriyaki by The Foodie Physician

Buffalo Chicken Pizza (Cook once, Eat Twice) by Scattered Thoughts Of A Craft Mom

Garlic Herb Chicken & Sweet Potato Sheet Pan Meal Prep by Cafe Delites

Make these with leftovers:

• Loaded Thanksgiving Potatoes by Our Wabisabi Life
• 
Leftover Veggie Salad by Trial And Eater
• Leftover Stuffed Chili Peppers by Meatloaf And Melodrama
• Tetrazzini Casserole With Leftover Turkey Or Chicken by Dancing Through The Rain
• Rotisserie Chicken Cheese Pasta by Berry Maple
• Deviled Egg Macaroni Pasta Salad
 by Trial And Eater
• 
Spicy Peanut Pasta Salad by Food Meanderings
• Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe: Empanadas (Hand Pies) by Delicious Table
• Leftover BBQ Chicken Quesadillas by Meatloaf And Melodrama
• Leftover Chili Potato Nachos By Sweet Peas And Saffron
• Leftover Turkey Casserole by Wholesome Yum
• Leftover Rotisserie Chicken 3 Recipes by Carmy
• Pumpkin Cake Trifle by Foodal

Try this out if you are looking for ideas with all of those Thanksgiving Leftovers.

Pin this for later:

The post Roll Over Recipes – Cook Once, Eat Twice (or more!) first appeared on BonBon Break.

Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie by Tastes Of Lizzy T

Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken by Averie Cooks

Healthy Crockpot Lasagne by The Bewitchin Kitchen

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff by Well Plated

Slow Cooker Spinach Feta Egg Casserole by Cook Nourish Bliss

Crockpot Sausage & Potatoes by Diary Of A Recipe Collector

French Dip Sandwich by Carlsbad Cravings

Slow Cooker Chicken And Dumplings by Love Bakes Good Cakes

Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana by The Chunky Chef

Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken Stew by Sweet Peas and Saffron

Slow Cooker Italian Red Wine Roast Beef by Barefeet In The Kitchen

Slow Cooker Lentil Soup With Bacon by The Lemon Bowl

Slow Cooker Meatloaf by Tastes Of Lizzy T

Honey Garlic Ginger Chicken by Running To The Kitchen

Slow Cooker Spicy Steak Rice Lentils Quinoa by House Of Nash Eats

Chicken Enchilada Crock Pot Soup by BonBon Break

Crockpot Cowboy Casserole by Kylee Cooks

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork With Apples And Onions by The Lemon Bowl

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Ham by Five Heart Home

Slow Cooker Beef And Cheese Pasta by The Cooking Jar

Another favorite on BonBon Break:

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

The following are affiliate links to some of our favorite products.

…and of course, here are our favorite slow cookers.

The InstaPot – WHAT you don’t have one yet? We can help you with that.

We also love this slow cooker because you can serve straight from the crock itself.

A little more inspiration for Fall:

20 Best Fall-inspired Cupcakes

Easy Fall Recipes on Our Bucket List That We Can’t Wait to Make

The post Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Recipes first appeared on BonBon Break.

Getting Started

To get you started, you can download this meal planner and shopping list. I find that when I can sit down at some point over the weekend and map out what we are going to eat during the week, it takes a lot of the stress out of meal planning. Look at your crazy schedule for the week and identify those nights where you are going to be home REALLY late. Those are the nights that you want to designate as roll-over nights or slow cooker nights. You want dinner to be ready to serve when you walk in the door. When you meal plan, you can create a couple of nights where you double a recipe and have enough for a leftovers smorgasbord one night (or maybe even two!).

Most of these easy dinners can be paired with a simple salad of lettuce, 2 veggies, and a sprinkle of some nuts or seeds for a really healthy option for your family.

Having dinner at the table together can be so difficult with busy schedules, but carving out at least half an hour each night to sit together without devices and interruptions is so valuable and having a tasty, hot meal on the table is a pretty good lure. We use this time to play a game called “Thorns and Roses” each night to check in with each other and to hear how everyone’s day went. Now to work on those table manners, right?

Involve Your Kids

I know this can cause a little frustration initially, but once you can put your kiddos on salad making duties or veggie chopping, it really does get easier. It is a great time to chat with them, it makes dinner prep faster AND you want to teach them how to cook for themselves. Once your kids reach middle school, you can put them in charge of a night and you can support them in the kitchen by doing the chopping or salad making. Make challenges for veggie nights, one-pot dinners, or 30-minute dinners.  These are all great things to add to their repertoire so they can make healthy, easy dinners for their families in the future.

Collection of Easy Dinners for Meal Planning

Our Favorite Sheet Pan Dinners for Busy Weeknights

Roll Over Recipes – Cook Once, Eat Twice (or more!)

How to Make Roasted Veggies for the Week

Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

31 Days of Easy Dinners

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Adults Will Love

 

50+ Beautiful Casserole Recipes

Shopping with BonBon Break

These items are linked to Amazon.com and they are affiliate links. This means we receive a little change for making the recommendation to you.

These are our favorite tools for making quick dinners:

Pin this for later:

The post Meal Planning Help to the Rescue! Our Quick Guide to Easy Dinners first appeared on BonBon Break.

Aside from family meals, dinner bars add something special to parties of all kinds. My sister-in-law set up a pasta bar the last time we gathered at her house. It made preparing dinner for a crowd super simple, but the resulting dinner felt anything but simple. She set out bowls of pasta, various sauces, cheeses, and other toppings, along with French bread and Caesar Salad. This perfect meal reminded me, once again, of the virtues of the dinner bar idea.

And here’s the very best part of the dinner bar meal concept: it doesn’t require recipes or any elaborate preparations (unless, of course, you’re feeling super-ambitious and want to hand make sauces or other ingredients). Aside from preparing your base and toppings and setting them out in a self-serve buffet, there’s really nothing to it. So relax and let your family and friends get creative as they prepare their own meals. Everyone gets what they want, so everyone will be happy!

Use the following ideas as starting places to help you plan some awesome spreads that are bound to become the most requested meals in your household.

10 Ideas for Build-Your-Own Dinner Nights

Rice Bowl Bar

Rice bowls are easy to prepare, but why limit yourself to plain rice? Try using quinoa, couscous, or barley to mix things up a bit. Topping ideas include cilantro, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, grated cheese, diced tomatoes, chopped red pepper, roasted vegetables, beans or chili, steak, grilled chicken, and salsa. Or you can go for Asian fare with a variety of roasted veggies, chicken, shrimp and a little teriyaki to top it off.

Tortilla Bar

Tortillas come in many forms. Use corn tortillas to make tacos or tostadas, flour tortillas to set up a burrito bar, or corn chips to make nachos. (Here’s a tip for the nacho bar idea: give each diner a piece of parchment paper. Spread chips over the paper and add toppings. Slide the parchment paper onto a baking sheet and warm under the broiler until cheese is melted.) Also, it’s also easier than you think to make tortilla bowls, which your kids will love using these:

However you set up your tortilla bar, here are some topping ideas that work with all of them: chopped chicken, steak, or pork, roasted vegetables, chopped fresh vegetables, black, pinto, or refried beans, grated cheese, chopped cilantro, various salsas and hot sauces.

Mediterranean Flat Bread Bar

Soft, chewy flat bread makes a perfect meal base. Create taco-like sandwiches to hold fillings or tear the flat bread into pieces to scoop up your food. You can even toast pita wedges or buy pita chips to create nachos with a Mediterranean flair. Toppings ideas include hummus, baba ganoush (eggplant dip), falafel, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, chopped tomatoes, chopped cucumber, chopped mint and parsley, chopped chicken, lamb, or beef.

Potato Bar

With the right toppings, potatoes make for a hearty meal. Prepare baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, oven roasted fries — or a combination — for your diners to customize. Topping ideas include sliced green onions, chopped chives, grated cheese, diced tomatoes, corn, roasted vegetables, chopped bacon, chopped ham (or chicken, or steak), beans, chili, barbecue sauce, salsas, Tabasco sauce, butter, and sour cream.

Pasta Bar

Depending on the size of your crowd and how elaborate you want to get, you can prepare one type of pasta or serve a variety – spaghetti, penne, fusilli, or other fun shapes.  Prepared marinara sauce, pesto, or meat sauces are easy to heat and serve in large bowls. Grated Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, fresh mozzarella, and feta cheeses work well.  Other toppings include chopped chicken, meatballs, roasted vegetables, pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, and chopped basil or other herbs.

Salad Bar

Most people don’t think of salad as a main meal, but with the right toppings, a salad bar is both hearty and fulfilling.  Include a variety of fresh lettuces — romaine, baby greens, spinach, or arugula — either in one bowl or separate bowls, and offer chopped grilled chicken or other meat, hard-boiled eggs, grilled vegetables, chopped cheese, and grains like quinoa or barley, along with chopped fresh vegetables to make your salad bar meal-worthy. The addition of sprouts, seeds, nuts, dried fruits, olives, marinated artichoke hearts, chopped herbs, croutons, goldfish crackers, and diced bacon, along with several dressing choices, will enable people to customize to their hearts’ content.

Sandwich Bar

Who doesn’t love a sandwich with all the right fillings and spreads? Since everyone’s idea of the perfect sandwich looks different, creating a sandwich bar ensures that everyone gets that perfect sandwich. Set out rolls or bread (or both), a variety of cold cuts, sliced cheeses, along with sliced tomatoes, sprouts, shredded carrots, sliced avocado, chopped red onion, thinly sliced cucumbers, chopped lettuce, as well as marinated vegetables like pickles, pepperoncini, or sauerkraut to give people plenty of choices. In addition to standard sandwich spreads like mayonnaise and mustard, include hummus, cream cheese, tapenade, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, sriracha, or barbecue sauce as well.

Pizza Bar

While creating a pizza bar with homemade dough is a fun treat, it’s easy and delicious to use toasted French bread, English muffins, or prepared Boboli pizza crusts to simplify the pizza bar concept. Including marinara, pesto, barbecue, and hoisin sauces to spread on the crust opens up all kinds of flavor possibilities. Topping ideas include a variety of chopped fresh vegetables, artichoke hearts, black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, choppped herbs like basil, parsley, or cilantro, meats like pepperoni, chopped chicken, diced bacon, barbecued pork, or chopped ham, as well as fruits like pineapple, sliced stone fruit, or dried cherries. If you like, include a variety of cheeses in addition to mozzarella and Parmesan, like cheddar, feta, or Gruyere. For a fresh twist, include fresh arugula or spinach to add on top of the pizzas after they come out of the oven.

Bloody Mary Bar

If you’re hosting brunch anytime soon, consider trying out a cocktail bar so everyone can craft their own perfect Bloody Mary. In addition to vodka, include plenty of tomato juice or V8, and provide Tabasco, sriracha, horseradish, mustard, fresh lemon and lime juice, vinegars, Worcestershire sauce, mirin, and ponzu sauce for mixing. Let people round out the flavors with cracked black pepper, fancy salts, and even soy sauce or fish sauce for adding an interesting salty edge. For garnish, include a variety of fresh vegetables like carrot and celery slices, cucumber wedges, radishes, and cherry tomatoes, as well as pickled veggies, like pepperoncini, pickles, olives, onions, baby corns, and capers.

Ice Cream Bar

This idea is bound to become the most popular food bar idea of all. Offer several ice cream flavors, along with hot fudge, caramel sauce, chopped strawberries, bananas, and other fruit, as well as marshmallows, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, and other small (or chopped up) candies. Don’t forget the whipped cream and cherries for the top, and if you want to be a true hero, include as many choices of sprinkles as you can.

***

Once you get started thinking about ways to let diners prepare their own meals, it’s hard to stop. Other great, but slightly more involved ideas include omelet bars, sweet or savory or crepe bars, and even burger bars.

Why not brainstorm food bar ideas with family members? You’re sure to come up with some creative new approaches to the bar concept, like the one my genius kids thought of on our last camping trip — the Hot Cocoa Bar!

Hot Cocoa Bar

Why settle for cocoa with marshmallows when you can add colorful sprinkles, chocolate sauce, caramel, a cinnamon stick, a candy cane, AND whipped cream? Little shakers with espresso powder, cocoa powder, and ground cinnamon are great for garnishing, as is fresh nutmeg or a bar of dark chocolate with a small grater. Most importantly, though, why let the kids have all the fun? Let’s add options for grown-ups like Kahlua, Baileys Irish Cream, and Peppermint Schnapps. Cheers!

 MORE INSPIRATION:

• Why I Stopped Saying No to Screen Time
• More Than A Snap Judgement
• Remembering Our Babies
• 3 Tips to Get Kids to Stop Waking the Whole Family

Read more from the INSPIRE posts

PIN IT FOR LATER:

 This post was written by Suzanne Cowden exclusively for BonBon Break Media, LLC.

Would you like to sponsor a theme? Click here.

The post 11 Ideas for Build-Your-Own Dinner Nights first appeared on BonBon Break.

Well, maybe not like that, but this isn’t a new problem. Whenever an incredible array of organic produce is at my fingertips, I want to roast it or grill it. Tonight was a roasting night. The best part of this recipe is that two trays will easily work their way into at least two meals. In this case, they served as a side dish to ravioli on the first night and alongside teriyaki chicken over brown rice on the second night.

We Love Roasted Veggies

We love our roasted vegetables in this house. I will add them to pasta, throw them in a tortilla with a little salsa and sour cream, add them to soups or serve them alongside meat. To be honest, I am not a snob when it comes to my roasted veggies. I will eat them hot. I will eat them cold. I will eat them with kosher salt and pepper and fresh rosemary. I will eat them with reduced balsamic. I will eat them plain. If it were up to me, they would be part of every meal.

When slicing and chopping, err on the side of making your pieces too big; however, you want them to be consistent. This is where the mandoline is really handy with the sweet potatoes, parsnips, turnips, carrots, cauliflower, zucchini, and yellow squash. Small pieces cook too quickly and tend to burn or get mushy. Throw some whole cloves of garlic in and you get a treasure hunt when serving. I usually add 10 cloves or so at the request of my family. I usually chop and slice everything and then break my veggies into two groups: slow roasters and quick roasters.

How to Roast Vegetables

S  l  o  w roasters:

• Sweet potatoes
• Parsnips
• Turnips
• Carrots
• Cauliflower

Quick roasters:

• Onion
• Garlic
• Asparagus
• Red, yellow and orange peppers
• Broccoli
• Zucchini
• Yellow squash

This time I used sweet potatoes, red onions, asparagus, peppers, and broccoli.

Directions for Roasted Veggies

1) Preheat the oven to 475° and place two large baking sheets inside.

2) Cut the sweet potato and the onion using a mandoline on the 3/4″ setting. Slice the peppers into inch wide strips and cut the broccoli into florets.

3) Toss the sweet potato with 1 tbsp of olive oil and slide onto hot baking sheet, making sure they are in one layer. Set timer for 10 minutes.

4) Toss onions, asparagus, peppers and broccoli with 2 tbsp of olive oil. When the timer goes off, add these veggies onto the second sheet and give the sweet potato sheet a good shake. Set the timer for 15 minutes.

5) After 15 minutes, check all of the veggies. There should be a little roasting color, but no burning. If you need a little more time, check every 4 minutes.

6) Remove all veggies from the oven and transfer to a serving bowl. Serve immediately.

Side note:

Tonight I added a few dollops of the rosemary, garlic and lemon butter I made for our steaks earlier in the week. It was a first and it WILL be repeated. (Add 1/2 c room temperature butter, 2 tbsp of lemon juice, 2 tbsp fresh rosemary and 5 cloves of garlic to a mason jar. Use a hand mixer to completely chop and mix the ingredients. Scoop into a square of wax paper and create a roll of butter, making sure it is completely covered. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and then you have a delicious flavored butter. Dollop away and add it to EVERYTHING – including your just grilled steaks.)

Here are a few other recipes we can’t wait to make:

• Easy Fall Recipes on Our Bucket List That We Can’t Wait to Make
• Savory Slow Cooker Pot Roast
• Slow Cooker Kalua Pork

PIN IT FOR LATER:

The post How to Make Roasted Veggies for the Week first appeared on BonBon Break.

It all started from a trip to Maui and then another trip and another. Each time we went, we would go to a few of the local favorite restaurants and our go to lunch once a week was Kalua Pork. It is served as a HUGE plate of pork, with a healthy serving of rice and some sauteed cabbage. We would pour a little soy sauce over the top and have really happy bellies.

Our trips were always during February or March and by September, it all felt like a distant memory – because it was. However, I wanted to bring that taste back to our tongues. If I couldn’t bring the warmth of the island back, at least I could bring the taste, right?

After playing with the recipe, I knew I had it. Well, at least the quick(er) version.  What I mean by that is that you don’t have to dig an imu (Hawaiian pit with coals) to make this pork, but do not be mistaken. This is delicious, but the Kalua Pork made using an imu is AMAZING. Throw your shovel aside and go for “really good”. Head to Hawaii for the real deal.

This makes a LOT of pork, which is also why it is one of my favorite slow cooker dishes. Here are some others:

1. Cook once, eat three times.
2. 10 minutes prep
3. Enough food for a crowd.
4. People are going to think you labored over this. (That can be our little secret.) Friends request this all of the time.

Three different ways to enjoy your Kalua Pork

Night 1:  Traditional

Straight up pork, with sauteed cabbage and rice. After you finish using your fry pan for the Kalua Pork *magic* (more on that in a minute), add half a cup of water to the hot skillet and a head of sliced cabbage. Sautee until it is ready to serve. In our house, this version takes on many forms. Some of us like nice tidy piles of each on our plate…

…others. Well, they really love it and mound it all up!

I like to call this the post-soccer practice food coma. Yes, he ate it all. Actually, he put a small portion away and then ate that and more. Growing, active boys, but at least he’s grateful for a full plate of food.

Night 2: Tostadas

Warm up the pork and add refried beans, avocado, sour cream, tomatoes, salsa, Tapatio hot sauce, olives, lettuce (I can’t stand hot lettuce, so you won’t see it on our table) and tostada shells. This self-serve dinner is SO fast and it makes them happy. Want proof?

I know. It just looks like a hot mess. Mine was much tidier – just sayin’.

Night 3: Fried Rice

If we make it to Night 3, I can usually add leftover rice, some veggies and the remaining pork into our skillet with a little toasted sesame oil and soy sauce. At the end, I will scramble in 2 eggs by making a hole in the middle of the rice in the pan, add a tablespoon of oil and then I drop the eggs in there when it’s all hot and scramble them up. Top with chives and sesame seeds and BOOM, you have Night 3.

Guten-Free Notes:

1. Use a gluten-free soy sauce, like Bragg’s Amino Acids
2. Make sure your liquid smoke is gluten-free. We prefer Stubbs.

Now that I have convinced you to make it, here’s the recipe:

Print

Hawaiian Slow Cooker Kalua Pork

This is an easy way to bring the taste of Hawaii to your table and to cook once for up to 3 meals.

Course Main Course

Keyword roll over dinners, slow cooker

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 7 hours hours

Frying Pan 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 7 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

For the Slow Cooker

• 1 large onion sliced
• 6 lb pork butt or shoulder
• 1 tbsp coarse salt kosher or Hawaiian
• 1 tbsp Liquid Smoke Stubbs is GF

For the Skillet

• 1/4 cup Soy Sauce
• 2 tbsp coarse salt

Instructions

Getting it into the Slow Cooker

• Slice onion and place in the bottom of your slow cooker.
• Pat pork dry with a paper towel and then rub it down with the salt. Place it into the slow cooker.
• Pour liquid smoke over the top of the meat.
• Cover and cook on low for at least 6 hours and up to 8.

After it is Cooked

• Get your largest skillet and heat it up on high on your stove top. 
• Carefully pull pork pieces from your slow cooker and add to the hot skillet. After all of the pork is in the skillet, pour the juices and onion from the slow cooker over the pork and gently shred the pork. Add the soy sauce and salt to taste. Reduce. Lower heat to medium.
• Start to scrape the bottom of the skillet. This is where the awesome crispy bits live.
• Once it is fully reduced and the meat has "fried up" a bit, remove it from the skillet to a serving dish.
• If your skillet looks like this, do not waste it! Throw a little chicken or veggie broth in there and deglaze that pan. Pour the remains over your pork. Another option is to add some sliced cabbage during the deglazing process, you won't regret it!
  

Here’s a little Hawaiian music for you while you get this going:

The post Easy Hawaiian Slow Cooker Kalua Pork first appeared on BonBon Break.

Fall is here and that means it is pot roast time!

Carrots. Onions. Garlic. Do NOT skimp on the garlic. It is what heals you during this time of year when the amount of daylight slides away as days pass. That signature aroma when you put the pot roast on, head out, come back and HELLO SUNSHINE (even on the cloudiest of days) greets you as you walk in the door. THAT is why you do not skimp on the garlic.

I have tried many versions of this dish and this particular combination has been a friend and family favorite. Pot Roast was one of those dishes that I just made. After a third friend asked me if I had posted the recipe, I figured I should get my act together.

This recipe is kid-tested and approved, even my lil’ bit 11-month old brought her bowl up to her mouth looking for more during last year’s trial runs.

Serve this roast with a fresh, green salad and a warm, crusty loaf of sourdough and happy bellies will be leaving the table.

Print

Savory Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Course Main Course

Keyword slow cooker

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 hours hours

Gravy 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 8 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Slow Cooker Ingredients:

• 1 4-5 lbs of beef roast any cut will do (Go local!)
• 2 tsp of garlic salt
• 2 tsp of freshly ground black pepper
• 12 small organic fingerling potatoes*
• 6 large organic carrots chopped into 2" pieces
• 1 large organic onion cut into 1/2" slices
• 6 whole cloves garlic
• 1 cup of organic beef or vegetable broth
• 1 can organic tomato sauce**
• 1 quart of organic crushed tomatoes**

Gravy Ingredients:

• Pot roast juices and bits
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 tbsp beef bouillon granules

Instructions

Slow Cooker:

• Rinse roast and pat dry. Rub it down with 1 tsp of garlic salt and 1 tsp of black pepper.
• Place roast into a hot skillet and sear each side for approximately 2 minutes. It will get a little smokey in the house.
• Place washed potatoes in the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker and layer the following on top: roast, carrots, onions and garlic.
• Pour broth over slow cooker contents.
• In a medium bowl, mix crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce and remaining salt and pepper. Pour mixture over contents of the slow cooker and set to low for 8 hours.
• Remove roast and veggies from slow cooker and serve. If you are a gravy kind of person, see the following gravy recipe.

Gravy:

• Pour one cup of roast juices and bits into a medium bowl. Slowly whisk in flour and granules until throughly mixed.
• Pour remaining juices in medium sauce pot and bring to a gentle boil. Whisk in flour mixture.

A few more of our fall specialties:

Browned Butter Apple Bread – the perfect quick bread for Fall!

Easy Chicken Enchilada Crockpot Soup

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

The post Savory Slow Cooker Pot Roast first appeared on BonBon Break.

This is perfect for those of you who meal plan. Add the ingredient to your shopping list and then just toss everything into the crockpot or your Instapot in the morning for a hearty and delicious soup that your family and friends will love.

I had this posted on an old site of mine and a friend mentioned that she used to make it all of the time and could no longer find it. Well, here you go!

Chicken Enchilada Crockpot Soup How To Video

Print

Easy Chicken Enchilada Crockpot Soup

This soup is a perfect fall weeknight dinner. It is a crowd pleaser!

Course Main Course

Keyword gluten free, soups

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 4 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 4 hours hours 40 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 1059kcal

Author Val Curtis

Ingredients

Into the CrockPot

• 4 cups of organic chicken stock
• 2 boneless skinless organic chicken breasts
• 28 oz. can of organic diced tomatoes*
• 3 tsp. cumin
• 3 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. cayenne
• 4 jalapeños seeded and minced
• 6 cloves of garlic minced
• 1 large onion diced
• 2 cups of frozen organic corn
• 1- 15 oz. can of organic black beans rinsed and drained
• 1/4 cup tomato paste

Add after cooked

• 1/2 cup corn masa
• 8 oz. shredded pepper jack cheese

Garnish

• Cotija
• Sour Cream
• Cilantro

Instructions

• Place all ingredients, up to and including the tomato paste, into the crockpot. Gently mix together. 
• Turn on High setting and walk away...for at least 4 1/2 hours - or on low for 8. 
• At the end of cook time, use an immersion mixer 4-5 times quickly in the pot. 
• Add pepper jack cheese and stir until melted.
• Sprinkle in masa little by little while gently mixing with a wooden spoon. 
• Top with your garnishes of choice and serve hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 1059kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 141g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 374mg | Sodium: 835mg | Potassium: 2902mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1480IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 332mg | Iron: 8.2mg

Here is another one of our favorites:

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

The post Easy Chicken Enchilada Crockpot Soup first appeared on BonBon Break.

20 Quick and Easy Fall Recipes

1. 1. Pumpkin Buttercream Frosting – Wine and Glue
   2. Caramel Apple Poke Cake – Wine and Glue
   3. Caramel Apple Dump Cake – Wine and Glue
   4. Apple Cider Margaritas – Wine and Glue
   5. Apple Cider Mimosas– The Cookie Rookie
   6. Apple Snickerdoodle Muffins – Cooking Classy
   7. Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower Gratin – An Edible Mosaic
   8. Broccoli and Cauliflower Cheese Bake – Noshing with the Nolands
   9. Bang Bang Cauliflower – That’s So Michelle!
   10. Browned Butter Apple Bread – BonBon Break
   11. Coconut Pumpkin Thai Soup – Droolworthy
   12. Warm Maple-Dijon Brussels Sprout Salad with Pecans – An Edible Mosaic
   13. Butternut Squash and Smokey Bean Salad – Betsy Life
   14. Maple Walnut Cheesecake Truffles – An Edible Mosaic
   15. Sweet Potato and Lentil Chili – Damn Delicious
   16. Sweet Potato Gnocchi – Pinch of Yum
   17. The Perfect Fall Cheese Board – The Pioneer Woman
   18. Brown Sugar Clafoutis with Pears – Orangette
   19. Apple Sharlotka – a family favorite from Smitten Kitchen
   20. Slow Cooker French Onion Soup – Damn Delicious

These are just to get your motor started! We have 3 other posts that will wet your whistle for fall:

• 50+ Fall Soup Recipes to Warm Your Soul
• 50+ Beautiful Casserole Recipes
• 31 Days of Easy Dinners

…and of course, we have collected everything fall for you from Halloween and Thanksgiving inspiration to more fall recipes. This is a REALLY fun area to peruse. We hope these quick and easy fall recipes, crafts and activities help to connect, simplify and inspire your life.

FIND MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS IN THE KITCHEN

The post Easy Fall Recipes on Our Bucket List That We Can’t Wait to Make first appeared on BonBon Break.