Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas

This recipe was kid-tested and family-approved.  Just yesterday! 

I love a recipe that is versatile and easy to throw into the crockpot too.   Mexican-themed meals are also easy to make 21 Day Fix-approved.  Add some vegetables, a tortilla, some fresh salsa and some avocado and you're all set.

And, if anyone takes my leftovers this week, they're in trouble! 

21 Day Fix Approved Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas

3 lbs. of pork loin
1-1/2 cup of low-salt organic beef broth (or water)

Pork Rub:

• 2 tbsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 2 tsp. onion powder
• 2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. red cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Coat inside of crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.

Pour broth into the bottom of the crockpot.

Combine spice ingredients for the rub, and rub all over the pork loin.  Place into the slow-cooker and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours.
Remove pork loin from slow-cooker and shred.  Return to slow-cooker and stir, to combine with juices.

Measure out your RED container, and then serve with your favorite toppings, or simply on a salad!

Enjoy!

ALL THE BEST,

Slow-Cooker Meatloaf - 21 Day Fix approved!

Meatloaf.  In the slow-cooker?

Yes!  This meatloaf recipe couldn't be any easier!  It's mixed in one bowl, and cooked up in a slow-cooker, so you can just throw it together and forget about it until it's ready.

My kids love this moist version of an old family meatloaf, made in the crockpot, with eggs, rolled oats (instead of bread crumbs), and Parmesan cheese for extra flavor!  I love it for the ease and simplicity.

Yummy 21 Day Fix Slow-Cooker Meatloaf

Slow-Cooker Meatloaf (21 Day Fix Approved)

6 servings

Ingredients:
1 cup rolled oats
2 lb. ground beef
2 eggs
1/2 cup organic no-sugar-added tomato sauce
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. dried parsley
1 tbsp. mustard
2 tsp. dried minced onion
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Spray slow-cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine all ingredients into a large bowl. Crumble ground beef over mixture and stir well to combine.

Shape into an oval loaf; place in a 5-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F (71 degrees C), 5 to 6 hours.

(Optional:  Whisk a little ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl; spoon sauce over meat loaf.  Continue cooking on Low until heated through, about 15 minutes.)

Remove from slow-cooker and let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

This would be EXCELLENT served with a side of my Mashed Cauliflower, too!

(21 Day Fixers:  There are 6 servings.  Each serving counts as 1 red, 1/2 a yellow, 1/2 a blue, and a smidge of a purple -- for the tomato sauce.  Just eat 4 less grapes next time!)

If you would like to participate in one of my monthly 21 Day Fix online accountability groups, get in touch with me here, or email me directly at chrispechulis@gmail.com!

If you give this recipe a try, please let me know!  I would love to hear how it went, and if you came up with any variations as well!

ALL THE BEST,
 

Clean-Eating Crockpot Buffalo Chicken

Looking for an easy and delicious -- yet healthy -- Super Bowl party meal?  This tasty Crockpot Buffalo Chicken is a simple set-it-and-forget-about-it meal that’ll have your crowd cheering for more!  And, you won't feel guilty about eating it, either!

Serve with fresh Kaiser rolls, or in a large lettuce leaf.  It would be great over brown rice, too!

Clean-Eating Crockpot Buffalo Chicken

Ingredients:
2-3 lb. chicken (we used boneless, skinless thighs - it was what was in the freezer)
8-10 oz. of "clean" hot sauce (no high-fructose corn syrup/added sugar - I used Frank's)
1/2 cup organic low-salt chicken broth
Dry ranch seasoning mix (see recipe below)
2 tbsp. organic grass-fed butter

Place semi-frozen chicken into the slow-cooker.  Pour sauce and broth over the chicken.  Mix together your dry ranch seasoning mix, and sprinkle the mixture over top of the chicken/sauce.  Add butter to crockpot.

Cover and cook on low for about 5 hours.

Remove chicken from the slow-cooker and shred (I use our stand mixer to shred easily).  Do not discard the sauce.  The chicken should just fall apart.  Place shredded chicken back into the sauce in the crockpot.  Stir to coat chicken with sauce. 

Continue to cook on low for another hour, so that the chicken can soak up the sauce.

Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix:

• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tbsp. dried parsley flakes
• 1 tsp. minced onion flakes
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tbsp. dill leaves (the next time I will make this 1/2 tbsp.)
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

ALL THE BEST,

Who Says That Fried Rice Can't Be Healthy?

One of the best things about this recipe ..... besides the fact that it is good for you ..... is that you can use up your refrigerator's leftovers!

And, you basically just throw everything into your slow-cooker.

This makes for an easy, family-friendly dinner, that covers all of your macronutrients, too.

 

Healthy Clean Eats Slow-Cooker "Fried Rice"
Approximately 6 servings

Ingredients:
2 cups leftover brown rice (you could also sub quinoa instead of brown rice)
2 tbsp. organic coconut oil
2 tbsp. coconut aminos or Bragg's liquid aminos (soy sauce substitute)
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon Pink Himalayan salt
1/2 of a diced yellow onion
2-3 cups of leftover vegetables (I used carrots, onions, celery, and asparagus)
2-3 cups of leftover cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
1-2 eggs (with no shell)

 

 

Mix everything together, and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or on low for 3-4 hours.  You are simply cooking the egg(s) and heating everything up.  This is SO good and I love having the leftovers in the fridge afterwards, too!

 

 

(21 Day Fixers, count 1/6 of this recipe as: 1 yellow, 1-1/2 tsps., 1 green, and 1 red.)

If you would like to participate in one of my monthly 21 Day Fix online accountability groups, get in touch with me here, or email me directly at chrispechulis@gmail.com!

If you give this recipe a try, please let me know!  I would love to hear how it went, and if you came up with any variations as well!

ALL THE BEST,