Ree Drummond's latest social media cooking videos are proof that dreams do come true. But wait, what do chicken soup, apple butter, and pot roast (all of which she shared on Instagram) have to do with dreams and desires? Well, that's where The Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker comes in.
"Dream dinner: throw everything in a slow cooker. Turn on. Go live life," Ree says. Whether you're making cozy soups or chicken dinners, slow cooker recipes are a foolproof way to get dinner on the table without all the fuss.
So, let's see how Ree has been using her slow cooker with these recipes for Tex-Mex chicken soup, pot roast, and apple butter ahead!
Slow Cooker Tex-Mex Chicken Soup
The slow cooker Tex-Mex chicken soup recipe starts with chicken, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper, all of which are placed in The Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker in a new pattern called "Brilliant Blooms." Then comes the tomatoes, Rotel, tomato paste, chicken broth, black beans, onion, bell peppers, and chipotle peppers, which get added to the mix. Simply stir the pot, close the lid, and let it sit for a few hours. The chicken will be tender and ready to shred! Place the chicken back in the slow cooker, and when you're ready to serve, garnish with avocado, grated cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, and cilantro.
Sounds like the perfect way to ring in slow cooker and soup season!
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
As if the soup wasn't "fall" enough, Ree upped the autumn ante with a slow cooker recipe for homemade apple butter! "Think of it as applesauce that’s deeper and richer (though there’s not much difference between the two)," she said.
This time, Ree opted for the Teal Speckle Slow Cooker from her line at Walmart. To start things off, you'll want to get chopping! The recipe requires a hefty pile of peeled apple slices and all the best fall spices. She mixes in brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, allspice, and cloves. From here, all you need to do is cook for around five hours until the warmly-spiced apple juices are coaxed out, then puree until it's smooth as butter.
Ree suggests keeping the apple butter chilled in jars in the fridge, then adding it to pancakes, ice cream, and toast for a taste of fall!
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Last but not least, Ree took to Instagram to share her tried-and-true slow cooker recipe for pot roast! "Biggest misconception among pot roast newbies is that if their pot roast is tough, it’s overcooked," Ree said. "Actually, the opposite is true!" In fact, the longer the meat cooks (low and slow, of course), the softer and more melt-in-your-mouth it gets. Luckily, Ree's Linen Speckle Slow Cooker will take care of that part for you.
Ree started off the cooking video in her favorite place (other than the kitchen): her garden. "I'm almost out of thyme," she joked as she picked sprigs of fresh herbs. The recipe starts with chuck roast, salt, pepper, carrot, onion, and garlic cloves, followed by tomato paste, a splash of red wine, beef broth, and a splash of browning sauce, along with rosemary and thyme. Here's where the slow cooker works its magic to cook the roast "until it absolutely falls apart," which could take five to eight hours. Like her Tex-Mex chicken soup recipe, you'll want to cook the meat until it's ready to shred before returning it to the cooking liquid. Finally, set your slow cooker to warm until you're ready to serve your pot roast over mashed potatoes for a decadent dinner.
"It’s like a good pair of jeans, it goes with everything," Ree says. Comment below if you agree!
Shop Ree Drummond's Favorite Slow Cookers
The Pioneer Woman Digital Slow Cooker, Linen Speckle
The Pioneer Woman Digital Slow Cooker, Teal Speckle
Nitya Rao is the editorial assistant at The Pioneer Woman, covering stories ranging from food, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, news, and more.
