Easy Recipes for the Working Mom

School is back in session and let’s be honest, being a working mom and homemaker can be hard.  There is no recipe on how to juggle work, being a mom, and being a homemaker but there are great recipes that can make mealtime just a little easier.   

Whatever your taste buds prefer, fall means crockpot recipes!  Here are some recipes that you could throw in the crockpot and let cook while you continue to work. 

Cool Ranch Chicken 

Ingredients 

• 4 chicken breasts (approximately 1 ½ pounds) 
• 1 packet of taco seasoning 
• 1 packet of ranch dressing 
• 14oz of chicken broth 

Instructions 

1. Put the chicken breasts, taco seasoning and ranch packets, and chicken broth in the crock pot. 
2. Set crock pot on low for 5 hours 
3. After 5 hours, shred the chicken  
4. Put the lid back on and continue to cook on low for another 30 minutes 
5. Serve the shredded chicken on tostados, tacos, burritos, or in a salad with your favorite toppings 

Chicken Soup 

Ingredients 

• 3 chicken breasts (approximately 1 ½ pounds) 
• 3 large carrots and celery stalks (sliced) 
• ½ yellow onion (dice or cut into chunks) 
• 64oz of chicken stock or 1 chicken broth 
• 2 cups of egg noodles – make sure you cook these BEFORE you put them in the crockpot 
• Bay leaf – if you want to add 

Instructions 

1. Put chicken breasts at bottom of crockpot 
2. Cut carrots, celery, and onion and put on top  
3. Add pinch of salt and pepper (if desired) 
4. Pour chicken broth over the chicken and vegetables
5. Cook on low for 6-8 hours 
6. About 10 minutes before serving, shred the chicken. 
7. Cook the noodles according to instructions provided with the noodles. 
8. Add the noodles to the chicken and vegetable mix – and Serve! 

Crockpot Meatballs 

Ingredients 

• 1 bottle of grape jelly (approximately 2 ½ cups) 
• 1 18oz bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce 
• 1 package (2 lbs) of frozen meatballs 

Instructions 

1. Add grape jelly and barbecue sauce to slow cooker and stir well to coat the meatballs 
2. Cover and cook on high for 3-3 ½ hours, stirring halfway through 

Kielbasa Bites 

Ingredients 

• 26oz Hillshire Farm Beef Kielbasa (2 packages – 13oz each) 
• 18oz of your favorite barbecue sauce (Sweet Baby Ray’s Original is a great choice) 
• 1oz dry Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning Mix packet 

Instructions 

1. Since Kielbasa into rounds pieces, approximately ½’’ thick 
2. Place sliced Kielbasa pieces into Crockpot 
3. Combine BBQ sauce and dry ranch mix in a small mixing bowl and stir well 
4. Pour sauce mixture over Kielbasa in the crockpot 
5. Cook on high for 1 ½ hours or on low for 2 ½ hours (or until hot) 
6. Serve! 

Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork 

Ingredients 

• 1 pork butt/pork shoulder roast (approximately 4-5 lbs) 
• Salt, pepper, and garlic powder 
• 1 onion sliced 
• 1 can of Dr. Pepper 
• ¾ cup of barbecue sauce (more if you so choose) 
• Rolls and coleslaw for serving 

Instructions 

1. Line the bottom of the crockpot with sliced onion 
2. Rub the pork roast with seasoning and add to the crockpot 
3. Pour Dr. Pepper on top and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 7-8 hours 
4. Serve on sandwich rolls or buns 

Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Over Rice 

Ingredients 

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 
• 14 oz can of Cream of Chicken soup 
• 14 oz can of Cheddar soup 
• 14 oz chicken broth 
• ½ tsp cajun seasoning 
• ¼ tsp garlic salt
• 1 cup sour cream 
• 6 cups of steam broccoli florets 
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 

Instructions 

1. Place soups, chicken broth, Cajun and garlic salt into the crockpot over low heat and whisk until smooth 
2. Add chicken, pressing to the bottom 
3. Cover lid and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours 
4. Once chicken is cooked, shred into bite size pieces  
5. Boil broccoli in hot water for 3 minutes, then drain 
6. Stir in sour cream and broccoli 
7. Serve over steamed rice and sprinkle with cheese (if desired) 

Orange Chicken  

Ingredients 

• 3 lbs of boneless chicken breasts 
• ¾ of Smuckers Sweet Orange Marmalade 
• ¾ cup of Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ Sauce 
• 2 tbsp Soy Sauce 

Instructions 

1. Cook chicken in crockpot on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours 
2. After 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low, drain juices from the crockpot 
3. You can either leave the chicken breasts whole or remove and cut into cubes and put back in the crockpot 
4. Mix the BBQ sauce, orange marmalade, and soy sauce in a small mixing bowl 
5. Pour mixture over chicken, and cook on high for another 30 minutes 
6. Serve with rice 

Ranch Beef Pot Roast

Ingredients 

• Beef Roast (approximately 4 lbs) 
• 1-1oz packet of Hidden Valley Original Ranch Seasoning Salad Dress & Ranch Mix 
• ¾ cup Beef Broth 
• 1 ½ pounds of Potatoes cut in halves  
• 4 Large Carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 
• Onions – optional (but I prefer to add it in) 

Instructions 

1. Place beef roast in the pot roast 
2. Sprinkle the ranch seasoning mix over the roast and rub it in 
3. Pour the beef broth around the roast 
4. Cook in the crockpot on low for 6 hours 
5. Add potatoes, carrots, and onions and cook on low for another 2 hours 
6. Slice, serve and enjoy! 

Thank you for all you working moms and everything you do – I hope these are some ideas that you and your families enjoy!