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๐Ÿ— Two-Week Reserve-Based Crockpot Menu: Chicken, Sausage & Beef Edition (Wk 27&28)

Because ovens are rude and we deserve ease.

Letโ€™s be real โ€” chronic illness, neurodivergence, parenting, and general life chaos donโ€™t care that dinner still has to happen.
So hereโ€™s a two-week, reserve-based crockpot plan that keeps you fed without a meltdown.

Youโ€™ll cook just three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday) and still have enough food for reworks, leftovers, and โ€œoops, I forgot to defrost somethingโ€ days.


๐Ÿ” TUESDAY: Chicken Day

๐Ÿฅฃ Salsa Crockpot Chicken

The OG lazy girl dinner. Donโ€™t mess with perfection.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 jar (16 oz) salsa
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • Optional: 1 cup frozen corn or a can of diced tomatoes (drained)

Instructions

  1. Dump it all in the crockpot.
  2. Cook on low 6โ€“8 hours or high 3โ€“4.
  3. Shred it up and mix before serving.

Serve With: Rice, tortillas, or potatoes.
Reserves: Use leftovers in quesadillas, nachos, rice bowls, or over pasta.


๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Chicken & Veggie Bowls

Healthy-ish. Easy. Zero oven time. We love that for us.

Ingredients

  • 1 ยฝ lbs chicken (breasts or thighs), chunked
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 zucchini, sliced
  • ยฝ onion, sliced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Toss it all in the crockpot.
  2. Cook on low 5โ€“6 hours or high 3โ€“4.
  3. Stir before serving to coat everything evenly.

Serve With: Rice, quinoa, or in wraps.
Reserves: Toss leftovers into scrambled eggs or pasta for a second meal.


๐ŸŒญ THURSDAY: Sausage Day

๐Ÿ Sausage & Peppers Pasta

A classic one-pot wonder โ€” but make it a slow cooker.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb smoked sausage, sliced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 2 cups broth
  • 8 oz pasta (add later!)
  • Italian herbs, salt & pepper

Instructions

  1. Add everything except the pasta.
  2. Cook on low 5โ€“6 hours or high 3โ€“4.
  3. Stir in uncooked pasta 30โ€“40 minutes before serving (add a splash of broth if needed).

Reserves: Bake leftovers with cheese or thin it out for soup.


๐Ÿฅ” Sausage, Potato & Pepper Hash

Like a diner breakfast but without having to move.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb smoked sausage, sliced
  • 1 ยฝ lbs potatoes, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • ยฝ onion, chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
  • Garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper

Instructions

  1. Grease crockpot lightly with oil or spray.
  2. Toss everything in and mix well.
  3. Cook on high 3โ€“4 hours or low 6โ€“7, stirring halfway through.

Serve With: Fried egg on top or a warm roll.
Reserves: Wrap leftovers in tortillas for breakfast burritos.


๐Ÿฅฉ SUNDAY: Ground Beef Day

๐ŸŒถ๏ธ Lazy Chili Mac (No Beans)

Itโ€™s comfort food that wonโ€™t fight your stomach.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb cooked ground beef
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 2 cups elbow noodles
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • ยฝ tsp cumin
  • Salt & pepper

Instructions

  1. Add everything except noodles to the crockpot.
  2. Cook on low 4โ€“5 hours.
  3. Stir in noodles 30 minutes before serving.

Reserves: Serve leftovers over baked potatoes or tortilla chips.


๐Ÿš Beef & Rice Bowls

Your freezer meal hero.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb cooked ground beef
  • 1 ยฝ cups uncooked rice
  • 3 cups broth
  • ยฝ onion, chopped
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt, pepper, paprika

Instructions

  1. Combine everything in the crockpot.
  2. Cook on low 4โ€“5 hours or high 2โ€“3.
  3. Fluff before serving.

Reserves: Wrap in lettuce or tortillas, or top with fried eggs.


That should last us into November, wow it flies by, til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other.

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Survival & Sanity Menu (Weeks 19 & 20)

Itโ€™s been hot, itโ€™s going to stay hot, and short of moving into your freezer with the ice cream, thereโ€™s not much we can do about it. What we can do is make sure dinner doesnโ€™t turn the kitchen into a sauna you never asked for. This weekโ€™s menu is built to keep the oven off, the heat low, and your sanity intact โ€” because sweating over a stove in August should be considered a human rights violation.

Weโ€™re talking meals that are light on effort, big on flavor, and wonโ€™t have you washing a sink full of dishes in what feels like the Sahara. Whether youโ€™re a crockpot devotee, a โ€œthrow it all in a skillet and call it goodโ€ person, or someone who just wants to avoid boiling anything for more than three minutes, thereโ€™s something here to help make this endless summer suck a little less.


Week 19

Tuesday โ€“ Salsa Chicken (Crockpot)
Chicken breasts, jar of salsa, packet of taco seasoningโ€”dump, cook, shred, serve. We love this over rice or wrapped in tortillas.


Thursday โ€“ Meatballs in Grape Jelly BBQ Sauce (Crockpot)
Yes, it sounds weird. Yes, itโ€™s delicious. Serve over buttered noodles for maximum comfort.
Sunday โ€“ Pasta with Meat Sauce
Brown ground beef, add jarred marinara, simmer, and serve over pasta. Garlic bread optional but encouraged.


Week 20

Tuesday โ€“ Sausage & Potato Skillet
Toss smoked sausage slices, chopped potatoes, and your choice of veggies in olive oil and seasoning. Fry until golden.
Thursday โ€“ Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Pork roast + BBQ sauce in the crockpot all day = sandwich heaven. Serve with chips or a quick salad.
Sunday โ€“ Breakfast for Dinner
Eggs, sausage, and toastโ€”simple, quick, and always a crowd-pleaser.

Til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other!