100 Awesome Crock Pot Recipes for College Kids

You might be satisfied with the dining hall as a freshman, but once you’ve tried all the food stations and maybe even moved into an apartment, you might be ready to start experimenting with your own home-cooked meals. Because you’ve still got to spend most of your time in class and in the library, you won’t always have time to bake, stir fry or roast during the week. But with a Crock Pot or slow cooker, you can still make yummy snacks and meals in bulk to last you through the week, to share with roommates, and to serve at parties. Here are 100 awesome Crock Pot recipes for college kids.

Appetizers, Dips and Snacks

These easy snacks require only a few ingredients per recipe and are proven crowd favorites.

1. Mudslide Dip: This chip dip only requires two recipes: no-bean chili and jalapeno processed cheese. Mmmmm.
2. Artichoke and Cheese Dip: Great for dipping veggies, crackers or chips, this snack is just a little more special than your average dorm party food.
3. Crockpot Barbecue Meatballs: This meatball recipe uses several more ingredients than the low-maintenance version, but all that extra flavor is worth it.
4. Ass Kickin’ Baked Beans: With chili, tabasco sauce and chili sauce, this bean recipe will add a lot of spice to your dining hall meals.
5. Classic Swiss Fondue: Use nutmeg, paprika, lemon juice, white wine, flour, Kirsch, and Swiss and cheddar cheeses to make a classic, sophisticated fondue.
6. Teriyaki Sauce Wings: This recipe will make about 32 wings, great for parties.
7. Cocktail Kielbasa: Cook sausages in a sauce of apple jelly and mustard.
8. Cajun Style Pecan Snacks: This savory, satisfying snack is great study food or to put out for a party.
9. Firecracker Mix Recipe: Make a big batch of this cereal and pretzel mix, and then separate into bags to take with you during the week.
10. Cheesy Beer Salsa Dip: Crack open a beer to add to this cheese, salsa and cream cheese dip.
11. Crockpot Meatballs: Just use frozen meatballs, grape jelly and chili sauce for this recipe.
12. Hannah’s Spinach Appetizers: Give your guests (or yourself) a little something different with this simple ethnic appetizer.
13. Pepperoni Pizza Dip: You’ll use olives, red bell peppers, pepperoni, and green onions to make this pizza dip extra flavorful.

College Favorites

Favorite recipes like lasagna, pot roast and ravioli are reinvented with the Crock Pot.

14. Pulled pork: Pulled pork is a popular crock pot recipe, and this version cooks for ten hours in spices and flavorings like tomato paste, chili powder, sugar, dry mustard and garlic.
15. Spicy White Chicken Chili: Here’s a classier twist on a favorite chili recipe, with lots of spice, peppers, white beans, cheese and chicken breast.
16. Crockpot Lasagna: You don’t need an oven to make lasagna: this satisfying recipe only takes 25 minutes to prep, and your crock pot does the rest.
17. Old-Fashioned Pot Roast: Give yourself a home-cooked meal with this comfort food recipe.
18. Cheesy Chicken and Tortillas: You don’t have to go out for cheap Mexican: you can make it yourself with this recipe.
19. Ravioli Casserole: Use hamburger, spinach and Italian sausage for this ravioli recipe, which serves 8.
20. American Chop Suey: This cheesy hamburger and tomato sauce dish can be reheated for all kinds of meals.
21. Chicken and Dumplings: Here’s a hearty dish that will satisfy your craving for comfort food.
22. Short ribs: Great for game day or for a dinner outside the dining hall, this easy ribs recipe just takes a few minutes to prepare.
23. Cheddar Spirals: Use spiral pasta, cheddar cheese and condensed cheddar cheese soup to make this mac and cheese recipe.
24. Easy Shepherd Pie Recipe: Watch Angie’s video to learn how to make an easy Shepherd’s pie when it’s too hot to use the oven.

Vegetarian

If you’re a vegetarian, you can make your own meals at home with these satisfying and experimental recipes.

25. Portobello Mushroom Sandwiches: Cook portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers and Italian salad dressing for yummy sandwiches.
26. Red beans and Rice: A satisfying meal you can even eat in front of your computer, red beans and rice makes enough for more than a couple of servings.
27. Pierogi Casserole Recipe: It’s vegetarian, but probably not very healthy: this casserole calls for little more than potatoes, pasta and cheese.
28. Vegetarian Stuffed Bell Peppers: This rice- and cheese-based filling makes for a hearty snack or light dinner.
29. Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole Recipe: Play with this recipe to suit your tastes.
30. Barley, Black Bean and Corn Burritos: If you’re still craving Mexican, try this recipe that uses barley for sustenance.
31. Crockpot Marinara Sauce: Make this marinara sauce to put on your favorite pasta or even to make Italian sandwiches.

Healthy Recipes

Crock Pot recipes can be healthy, too. Try these slow-cooked meals when you want something lighter.

32. Greek Chicken and Vegetable Ragout: When you have a little extra time, make this dish that you can eat as a side or a main meal.
33. Chicken Stroganoff: This is a creamy chicken dish that’s still low-calorie.
34. Latin Chicken with Black Beans and Sweet Potatoes: If you don’t have all the ingredients, you can cut out what you don’t want to make this recipe easier and cheaper.
35. Classic Spaghetti: Use lean meat — or no meat at all — to make this simple dinner even healthier.
36. Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken: With taco seasoning and salsa to spice up your chicken, you’ll get a very flavorful dinner.
37. Crock Pot Baked Potatoes: If you’re craving a baked potato but don’t have an oven (and don’t want to blast it in the microwave), make them in a slow cooker instead.
38. Corn on the Cob With Herb Garlic Butter: With just a few seasonings and spices, your snack or side dish might become your favorite add-on.
39. Red-Cooked Chicken with Stir-Fry Vegetables: Snow peas, carrots and red peppers are recommended for this Asian-inspired meal.
40. Three-Bean Turkey Chili: With lean turkey, chickpeas and kidney beans, this spicy chili is a healthy alternative to fast food meals.
41. Stuffed Mushrooms: A healthier alternative to pizza or casseroles, this dish is packed with seasonings and Gruyere cheese.
42. Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole: This recipe calls for a list of pretty basic ingredients, many of which are cheap or that you probably have already.
43. Low Fat Beef and Blacked Eyed Peas: Make this hearty recipe even easier by cutting out the potatoes if you’re not as hungry or on a budget.

Seafood

Stretch your dollar further when you make fish and seafood-based meals in bulk with your crock pot.

44. Chicken and Sausage Gumbo: When you have a free weekend, go in with friends to make this crowd favorite.
45. Shrimp Creole: This recipe is actually pretty easy, calling for the trinity, plus tomato sauce, whole tomatoes, Tabasco, salt pepper, garlic, and shrimp.
46. Italian Shrimp-Spaghetti Recipe: Here’s a rich casserole dish that you can share with friends and save for the next day, too.
47. Salmon and Mushroom Bake: When you want something a little fancy but don’t have a lot of time or kitchen space, try this recipe.
48. Tuna Noodle Casserole: Using frozen peas and curry powder, you’ll get a lot of healthy extras in this casserole.
49. Clam Chowder: You can actually use cans of clam chowder — plus soup and real clams to make this chowder even more delicious.
50. Cheesy New Orleans Shrimp Dip: You only need four jumbo shrimp for this dip.
51. Scalloped Potatoes with Salmon: This recipe calls for canned salmon to make it easier.
52. Fishermen’s Chowder: Here’s an easy, relatively light chowder that you can make with virtually any fish you like.
53. Sweet and Sour Shrimp: Make your own Chinese food with this recipe.

Soups and Stews

You can always heat up some canned soup in your microwave, but when you want to make a large pot of soup to share or that will last you for a few days, try these recipes for warm, fresh, flavorful sustenance.

54. Crockpot Pizza Soup: Drink your pizza with a side of crusty Italian bread.
55. Chicken Noodle Soup: Make chicken noodle soup for your roommate when he or she isn’t feeling well: this recipe makes it easy.
56. Ham and Wild Rice Soup: Use diced cooked ham, wild rice, an onion and just a few other recipes for a warm lunch or dinner.
57. French Onion Soup: This recipe’s incredibly easy but rich and flavorful.
58. Easy Indian Stew: When you’re tired of the dining hall, make your own ethnic stew with flavors like ginger, cinnamon and curry.
59. Crock Pot Potato Soup: You only need 7 ingredients for this hearty soup.
60. Hamburger Soup: Imagine your favorite cheeseburger, in soup version.
61. Lentil Soup Recipe: This is a satisfying soup for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
62. Butternut Squash Soup: If you don’t want to spend the money on the marjoram leaves, just leave them out.
63. Chicken Tortilla Soup: This recipe calls for some special sauces and seasonings, but you can improvise easily.
64. Pea Soup with Bacon: A simple, rustic soup, this recipe will warm you up during late nights studying.
65. Southwest Fiesta Soup: When you want something Mexican or spicy but aren’t in the mood for something heavy or cheesy, try this recipe.
66. Beer Cheese Soup: With ingredients like flour, cheese whiz, cream and beer, this is a soup for days you’re sick of being healthy.
67. Cream of Broccoli Soup: This soup gets extra comfort food points with a dash of nutmeg.

Holidays

Get in the holiday spirit when you cook treats for yourself as you study for exams.

68. Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes: You can make a Christmas or Thanksgiving meal at college with this recipe.
69. Applesauce Apple Butter: With spices like nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon, this is an easy-to-make butter that will cheer you up during exam time.
70. Red Hots Apple Sauce: Pour a cup of red hots candy into the crock pot for this throwback apple sauce recipe.
71. Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs: Indulge yourself in your favorite Thanksgiving treat, made easy.
72. Apple Cider: Flavored with pineapple juice, cloves and a cinnamon stick, this cider is great for holiday time.
73. Crockpot Cocoa: Use Irish cream to sweeten up this cocoa recipe.
74. Mashed potatoes: You can make flavorful mashed potatoes with onion and garlic powder, egg, cream cheese and sour cream.
75. Beef Brisket: You and your friends can split the cost of this easy brisket recipe if you’re celebrating away from home or want to plan a special meal together.
76. Honey Glazed Ham: You don’t have to wait for winter break to have a honey glazed ham: this recipe is stupidly easy.
77. Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa: Here’s a good snack for holiday parties.

Sweet Treats

You can make dessert in a Crock Pot, too.

78. Chocolate Pot de Creme: This is an easy, decadent dessert you can dip into all week.
79. Pumpkin Pie Pudding: Let the crock pot mix together Bisquick, eggs, evaporated milk, canned pumpkin, vanilla and spices.
80. Pecan Brownies: You only need three ingredients for this cheap and yummy recipe.
81. Triple Chocolate Mess: Use chocolate cake mix, chocolate pudding and chocolate chips for the perfect ice cream or brownie topper.
82. Blueberry Cake: This dessert has a very similar taste and texture as regular cake.
83. Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Dessert: Scoop this dessert into bowls or to put on top of ice cream, cakes or in between cookies for a dessert sandwich.
84. Cherry Cobbler: Just five ingredients make a sweet, cinnamony cobbler.
85. Autumn’s Best Bread Pudding: Flavors like pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar and cinnamon will get you into the fall spirit.
86. German Crock Pot Candy: This is actually a pretty easy recipe that will impress your dorm mates and will give you a special study snack.
87. Layered Chocolate-Raspberry Bread Pudding: Use challah bread or brioche to thicken up this dessert.

Breakfast

Breakfast for dinner or late night snacking is sometimes what you’re craving, so flip through these recipes to find a savory or sweet meal.

88. Fruity Granola Oatmeal: You can use whatever kind of granola you want to give more flavor to this oatmeal.
89. Breakfast Egg Casserole: Get your fill of hashbrowns, bacon, cheese and eggs in this recipe.
90. Cinnamon Oatmeal and Fruit: Add apples and raisins for extra nutrition.
91. Crock Pot Grits: Whip up some grits overnight or for late night dinners.
92. Apple Cheddar Quiche: Make yourself a French-inspired breakfast or lunch with sharp cheddar, sugar and cinnamon.
93. Ham and Tater Crockpot Breakfast: Canadian bacon, tater tots and cheese (this recipe calls for cheddar and Parmesan, but you can add your favorites) make for a hefty breakfast.
94. Crockpot Grains Cereal: Make your own whole grains cereal for you and your roommates.
95. Southwestern Breakfast Recipe: Feed a whole group with this yummy recipe, featuring green chiles, cheese and breakfast sausage.
96. Breakfast Cobbler: Add honey, cinnamon and granola for a comforting breakfast or snack.
97. Eggs Italiana: You’ll use roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts and provolone for this Italian recipe.
98. Brunch Florentine: This classic breakfast combo gets its own Crock Pot version here.
99. Omelet Casserole: Use this recipe as a guide: you can throw in whatever you want if you’re not into bacon or hash browns.
100. Fresh Raspberry Breakfast Bread Pudding: Here’s a sweet recipe that makes a good dessert, too.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 15th, 2010 at 7:52 pm and is filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.