Slow Cooker Delta Sausage

Two bites into the slow cooker Delta shrimp I made the other day and I already knew I was going to make it again, but this time with sausage. Not that the shrimp version wasn’t absolutely fantastic, oh no. The vegetable mixture has such tremendous flavor, still a tad bit crunchy, and is perfect with anything from shrimp to sausage to chicken.  Perfect.

I use fire-roasted diced tomatoes almost exclusively now when a recipe calls for canned diced tomatoes. They have so much more flavor.

Slow Cooker Delta Sausage

Spice It Up A Bit

Smoked sausage is great in this slow cooker Delta sausage dish, but if you can find  Andouille sausage, use it instead. It’ll add even more flavor to an already delicious meal. Oh, and if the sausage you are using is fresh, not cooked, cook it thoroughly before adding it to the slow cooker.

Also try my crawfish etouffee.

Slow Cooker Delta Sausage
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Delta Sausage

Smoked sausage is great in this slow cooker Delta sausage dish, but if you find  Andouille sausage, use it instead. It’ll add even more flavor to an already delicious meal. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword crockpot, sausage, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 476kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the onion and celery and cook until starting to soften.
  • Stir in the flour and allow to thicken.
  • Slowly add the water and stir.
  • Pour mixture into a slow cooker set to low.
  • Add the remaining ingredients except for the sausage. Stir and cook for 3 1/2 hours. If the sauce gets too thick add a bit more water and stir.
  • Meanwhile, heat a splash of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and brown lightly.
  • Transfer to the slow cooker and cook another 30 minutes.
  • Serve over cooked rice.

Notes

Also great made with andouille sausage.

Nutrition

Calories: 476kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 1647mg | Potassium: 611mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1586IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

It was a cold, rainy day. The kind of day that screams slow cooker. Since I work from home I get to enjoy the aroma of a great dish cooking all day long. By dinner time I’m starving and anticipating that first bite. I’d been wanting to make a beef stroganoff for a while. An easy version, in the slow cooker. This recipe for slow cooker beef stroganoff fit the bill perfectly. The end result is creamy, beefy, and delicious. The beef gets super tender after hours in the slow cooker. The flavors run deep in every bite. This is not same ho-hum dish here.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Easy Delicious Comfort Food

This slow cooker beef stroganoff could not possibly be any easier to make. It is perfect over egg noodles. I like a lot of sauce when noodles are involved. This dish makes plenty of delicious sauce. It would be great also over rice. And there’s plenty of gravy for that, too!

Also try my slow cooker pot pie.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
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4 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

 I’d been wanting to make a beef stroganoff for a while. An easy version, in the slow cooker. This recipe fit the bill perfectly.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword beef, crockpot, slow cooker
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 315kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add soup, onion, Worcestershire, water, garlic salt and paprika to the slow cooker. Stir.
  • Add meat and stir. (Optional: brown the meat in a skillet with a splash of oil first. I prefer to do this).
  • Cook on low for 8 hours.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Increase heat to high.
  • Add the cream cheese and stir to melt, about 10 minutes.
  • Serve over cooked egg noodles.

Notes

Also great made with ribeye steak.

Nutrition

Calories: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 1050mg | Potassium: 601mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 396IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

Incredible flavor. Incredibly tender. Fantastic aroma. This slow cooker Mexican chicken has knocked my long-time easy go-to beef taco mixture off the podium and replaced it at #1. And rightfully so.

This is the perfect mixture for tacos, nachos, burritos, chimichangas, you name it. Anything. Heck you can throw it on a bun and serve it as a sandwich. Or add it to a grilled cheese sandwich for something totally different.

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

Tender Juicy Deliciousness

I prefer using fire-roasted green chiles and tomatoes in dishes like this slow cooker Mexican chicken. The roasting adds so much more flavor to the vegetables. I leave it up to you if you want to drain the tomatoes. I added the juices in since I wanted to make sure the chicken stayed very moist. You can keep the juices and actually eat this as a soup. Just add some cheese and tortilla strips, and maybe a dollop of sour cream.

Also try my baked smothered chicken burritos!

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken
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4 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

This is the perfect mixture for tacos, nachos, burritos, chimichangas, you name it. Anything. Heck you can throw it on a bun and serve it as a sandwich. Or add it to a grilled cheese sandwich for something totally different.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, crockpot, Mexican, slow cooker
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 338kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Rub the chicken with the oil and place into a slow cooker set on low.
  • In a large bowl stir together the remaining ingredients. Pour over the chicken and cover.
  • Cook for 7 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Carefully remove chicken (it should be falling apart tender at this point) to a cutting board and shred or chop as desired.
  • Return to the slow cooker and cook another hour, stirring occasionally.
  • Depending on the dish, you may want to drain the chicken before using.

Notes

Serve on tacos, tortillas or nachos.

Nutrition

Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 1442mg | Potassium: 1032mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 1037IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Lone Star State Chili

Nothing beats a big pot (er…. slow cooker) of chili slow cooking all day long on a cold day. This slow cooker Lone Star State chili is pretty much your standard fantastic, beefy, yummy chili. With plenty of kick, of course. Do not fear adding more jalapenos – they do mellow a bit as the chili cooks throughout the day. This is a great, easy chili.

Slow Cooker Lone Star State Chili

Nice Chili With Nice Heat

For a nice twist on any recipe that uses canned diced tomatoes substitute fire-roasted diced tomatoes instead. They add so much more flavor than just ‘regular’ ole tomatoes. Especially to this slow cooker Lone Star State chili. If you’re lucky enough to live where there are good fresh tomatoes this time of year, put 3-4 onto the grill (or under the broiler) for a few minutes until they are nice and charred. Skin them, dice them and toss them into this chili for even more great tomato flavor.

Although it’s not a requirement, I prefer to brown any meats before I put them into the slow cooker. The browning adds color (of course) and a much better texture. And more flavor. In fact, I might just say it is a requirement!

Also try Roger Staubach’s chili-in-a-bag.

Slow Cooker Lone Star State Chili
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5 from 2 votes

Slow Cooker Lone Star State Chili

This slow cooker Lone Star State chili is pretty much your standard fantastic, beefy, yummy chili. With plenty of kick, of course. Do not fear adding more jalapenos – they do mellow a bit as the chili cooks throughout the day.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chili, crockpot, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 520kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Lightly brown the bacon and chuck in a large skillet.
  • Drain and transfer to a slow cooker set to low.
  • Add remaining ingredients.
  • Stir and cook 8 hours or until beef is tender, stirring occasionally. Add water if the chili gets too thick.

Notes

Great served with cornbread.

Nutrition

Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 166mg | Sodium: 652mg | Potassium: 1045mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2869IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Delta Shrimp

The sauce on these slow cooker Delta shrimp is absolutely incredible. It’s another example of how simple Cajun-inspired ingredients can produce a fantastic dish. Although I used large Louisiana shrimp, you can easily substitute sliced Andouille  sausage or chopped chicken pieces.

Slow Cooker Delta Shrimp

Canned Tomatoes Work In A Pinch

The original recipe for slow cooker Delta shrimp called for fresh, diced tomatoes, which are definitely not in season here right now. So I substituted the next-best-thing: canned fire-roasted diced tomatoes. They add much more flavor to the sauce than just ‘regular ole’ tomatoes. I recommend substituting fire-roasted tomatoes into any dish that calls for tomatoes if you can’t find fresh.

Also try my slow cooker Delta sausage.

Slow Cooker Delta Shrimp
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4 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Delta Shrimp

The sauce on these slow cooker Delta shrimp is absolutely incredible. It’s another example of how simple Cajun-inspired ingredients can produce a fantastic dish.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword crockpot, shrimp, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 152kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a large sauce pan over medium-high heat.
  • Add the onion and celery and cook until starting to soften.
  • Stir in the flour and allow to thicken.
  • Slowly add the water and stir.
  • Pour mixture into a slow cooker set to low.
  • Add the remaining ingredients except for the shrimp.
  • Stir and cook for 3 1/2 hours. If the sauce gets too thick add a bit more water and stir.
  • Add the shrimp and cook 30 more minutes.
  • Serve over hot cooked rice.

Notes

Use spicy Rotel instead of the tomatoes for a nice kicked-up version.

Nutrition

Calories: 152kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 695mg | Potassium: 590mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1706IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Spicy Kielbasa Cabbage Soup

It was one of those days. Too much to do, and just not enough time to put together a complicated meal. And worse, it was mighty cold out. Crazy bad cold And snowing. Crazy bad snowing. The best solution to my problems? This slow cooker spicy kielbasa cabbage soup. Yes, three ingredients. That’s it. Great Campbell’s spicy V8 flavor (you could substitute any V8 flavor that you love!), with yummy kielbasa sausage. Oh, and cabbage. It’s deceptively good, actually, and not what you might expect from something so easy. It’s perfect for a busy day.

Slow Cooker Spicy Kielbasa Cabbage Soup

Oh, That Delicious Broth!

I prefer to brown most meats before adding them to the slow cooker. It adds a bit of texture and color and better flavor, in my opinion. But you don’t have to brown the kielbasa for this slow cooker spicy kielbasa cabbage soup first. No matter how you do the sausage, the broth is going to make it taste great.

Don’t let the ‘spicy’ part of the recipe name scare you. For us, at least, this soup did not come out overly spicy at all. The flavors mellow a bit as the soup cooks throughout the day. But one man’s mellow might be another man’s spicy.

Also try my slow cooker tortellini soup and you’ll love my slow cooker French onion soup.

Slow Cooker Spicy Kielbasa Cabbage Soup
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Spicy Kielbasa Cabbage Soup

Don’t let the ‘spicy’ part scare you. For us, at least, this soup did not come out overly spicy at all. The flavors mellow a bit as the soup cooks throughout the day.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword cabbage, crockpot, kielbasa, slow cooker, soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Servings 8 -10 servings
Calories 15kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

  • ½ head green cabbage shredded
  • 1 64 ounce spicy V-8 vegetable juice
  • 2 14 ounce Kielbasa sausages cut into 1/2" rounds (lightly browned in a skillet with a splash of oil, if desired)

Instructions

  • Add cabbage to bottom of slow cooker.
  • Add juice, followed by the sausage.
  • Cook on low for 8 hours, stirring every hour or so.

Notes

Nutritional values do not include the V-8.

Nutrition

Calories: 15kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 56IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Spicy Spaghetti and Meatball Soup

I have a slow cooker (er, crockpot) for the same reasons everyone else does. I on occasion like a great, easy meal that I can toss into the pot and not have to fuss with. A Dutch oven over low heats works just as well, specially if you need to brown something first. For this slow cooker spicy spaghetti and meatball soup it doesn’t matter whether you go low-and-slow in the crockpot or Dutch oven, the end result is great. It’s like having Campbell’s SpaghettiOs™ but with much better, richer flavor, and a nice kick. And really big meatballs. Who didn’t want more meatballs in their SpaghettiOs™ when they were a kid? I sure did. I probably threw fits about it, too! Well, problem solved!

Slow Cooker Spicy Spaghetti and Meatball Soup

A Great Meal For A Crowd

I used packaged frozen meatballs for this slow cooker spicy spaghetti meatball soup. Our homemade Italian meatballs (made on the stovetop or in the Char-Broil Big Easy) would be great too. Outstanding, even. Either way, this makes a good batch of soup. Plenty for a small crowd.

You can leave out the red pepper flake, but I think you’ll want to add at least a little. And don’t be shy with the basil either.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try out my homemade SpaghettiOs. They’re fun to make and even more fun to eat.

Slow Cooker Spicy Spaghetti and Meatball Soup
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Spicy Spaghetti and Meatball Soup

I have a slow cooker (er, crockpot) for the same reasons everyone else does. I on occasion like a great, easy meal that I can toss into the pot and not have to fuss with
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword crockpot, meatballs, slow cooker, soup, spaghetti, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Total Time 8 hours 25 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 118kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients except the pasta into a slow cooker. Add more basil or red pepper flake as desired.
  • Cook on high for 8 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Set slow cooker to high and add the pasta. Cook for another 20 minutes.
  • Serve with more Parmesan cheese as desired.

Notes

Great served with a slice or two of garlic bread.

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken

My wife reminded me of this recipe the other day. It was a favorite of ours years ago, when we started our first blog, Crossroads Of America. I was just starting to learn how to cook. This recipe for slow cooker creamy Italian chicken was simple enough for me to not mess up. But it’s still great tasting and looking. Over the years I’ve changed it up a bit. That same great creamy texture and Italian flavor is still there, though. As simple as it is, it’s a great recipe. I still make it now even though I sure have cooked a lot since starting our first blog so many years ago.

Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken

Customizable Tastes

The original recipe for slow cooker creamy chicken calls for using a packet of Italian salad dressing mix. And that’s perfectly fine. Since first making this dish I have come up with my own mix. I think it has a bit more flavor. Making your own also lets you adjust the flavors to your tastes. For me that means adding more garlic salt or onion powder, or just more basil (I love basil).

I like to serve this over rice or pasta. With lots of the sauce.

Also try my slow cooker Buffalo chicken sliders.

Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken

 This recipe for slow cooker creamy Italian chicken was simple enough for me to not mess up, but still great tasting and looking. Over the years I’ve changed it up a bit, but that same great creamy texture and Italian flavor is still there.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, creamy, crockpot, Italian, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 481kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place chicken into slow cooker set to low.
  • Combine the dressing mix and water and pour over the chicken.
  • Cover and cook for 3 hours.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the mushrooms and sauté until just starting to soften. Remove and let cool slightly.
  • In a large bowl combine the cream cheese and canned soup. Whisk until smooth.
  • Fold in the mushrooms and pour mixture over chicken.
  • Cover and cook another hour or until chicken is done.

Notes

If you use thicker chicken breasts you may need more cooking time. Slice them thin or butterfly them for a quicker cooking time.
You can substitute 1 1/2 pounds fresh chicken tenders for the breasts.

Nutrition

Calories: 481kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 55g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 207mg | Sodium: 536mg | Potassium: 1276mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 838IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Spicy Italian Beef Sandwiches

My wife and I both agreed that these slow cooker spicy Italian beef sandwiches were absolutely fantastic. And besides tender, juicy beef, you also get great Italian spice flavors. All served on a sub bun with plenty of smoky provolone cheese. Every bite of this sandwich is perfect.

Slow Cooker Spicy Italian Beef Sandwiches

Kick it Up Even More

To really kick up your slow cooker spicy Italian beef sandwiches use hot pepperoncini and Giardiniera, and substitute habanero jack cheese for the provolone. You’ll have the perfect game-time sandwich.

You may or may not need all of the peppers and Giardiniera I listed for the sandwich build. It all depends on how much you like on your sandwiches. Me, I like pepperoncini, and lots of it, on top. I only used the Giardiniera in the slow cooker and didn’t add any to the sandwich. To each his own!

I love sandwiches topped with tender slow-cooked beef. Try my beef debris po boy and French dip sandwiches too.

Slow Cooker Spicy Italian Beef Sandwiches
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Spicy Italian Beef Sandwiches

Besides tender, juicy beef, you also get great Italian spice flavors. All served on a sub bun with plenty of smoky provolone cheese. Every bite of this sandwich is perfect.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword beef, Italian, sandwich, slow cooker
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 9 hours
Total Time 9 hours 5 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 493kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Italian beef

For the sandwiches

  • 10 Hoagie buns or steak sandwich rolls
  • 10 slices Provolone cheese sliced
  • 1 12 ounce peperoncini slices, drained
  • 1 12 ounce Giardiniera drained, lightly chopped

Instructions

For the Italian beef

  • Add beef broth to slow cooker set to high.
  • Stir in the dressing seasoning and red pepper.
  • Add the peppers and Giardiniera.
  • Add meat and cover.
  • Cook on high for 6-8 hours or low for 10-11 hours until the meat can be shredded.
  • Remove meat, shred, and return to the slow cooker and cook another hour.

For the sandwiches

  • Open buns and add cheese slices. Make sure to cover the bread with the cheese – it’ll help keep the buns from getting overly soggy.
  • Add shredded meat.
  • Top with pepperoncini and chopped Giardiniera as desired.

Notes

Have plenty of napkins nearby.

Nutrition

Calories: 493kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 790mg | Potassium: 520mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 422IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 179mg | Iron: 14mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Gumbo Joes

The sloppier the sandwich, the better it is. I’ve made chorizo Sloppy Joes, Sloppy Cubans, and kicked-up regular ole Sloppy Joes. All were sloppy. All were fantastic. These slow cooker Gumbo Joes pack in fantastic bayou flavors with traditional Sloppy Joe ingredients such as ketchup, mustard, and onion. Thick and messy. It’s gonna drip and it’s gonna make a mess. It’s gonna be great.

Slow Cooker Gumbo Joes

Gumbo-licious

This recipe for slow cooker Gumbo Joes is also a great way to use up leftover gumbo. I don’t usually have leftover gumbo. It seems to disappear very quickly around here. That’s why I had to use a few cans of gumbo instead. It’s surprisingly good on its own. But it’s fantastic in this great take on a Sloppy Joe.

Go Open-Faced

As much as I like to eat these sandwiches like… sandwiches, my preferred way is actually to enjoy them open-faced. I like to toast some hamburger buns until they get a bit crusty. With a bit of a crunch to them. Then I pile the meat mixture high and dig in!

You can also make this dish on the stovetop. Just bring it to a slow simmer and let it simmer for at least 4 hours, stirring often and checking if it gets too dry. If it does, just stir in a bit of water.

Also try my slow cooker gumbo.

Slow Cooker Gumbo Joes
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Gumbo Joes

These slow cooker Gumbo Joes pack in fantastic bayou flavors with traditional Sloppy Joe ingredients such as ketchup, mustard, and onion. Thick and messy. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword crockpot, gumbo, sloppy Joes, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings 10 servings
Calories 396kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Ground the beef in a large skillet or Dutch oven.
  • Drain and transfer to a slow cooker set to low.
  • Add onion, soup, ketchup and mustard. Stir.
  • Cook on low for 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Season with salt and pepper and serve on buns.

Notes

Also great served heaped on hot dogs.

Nutrition

Calories: 396kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 620mg | Potassium: 431mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 186IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.