If You Give a Kid a Crockpot: Crockpot Barbecue Chicken

Over the next several weeks, we'll be bringing you several recipes for beginning cooks designed to teach basic cooking skills. So be on the lookout for all the recipes in the series. Today's recipe is part of the Cooking Challenge series.

This dump and go crockpot BBQ chicken recipe will provide an easy weeknight meal when paired with steamed veggies and a packet of quick cook rice. Or shred this chicken and serve it pulled-pork-style on buns alongside coleslaw and corn on the cob. With just 5 minutes prep time, what's simpler than that? 

 

 

Crockpot Barbecue Chicken

1 18-20 oz. bottle barbecue sauce of choice

1/4 cup vinegar

1 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 can Dr. Pepper

4-6 boneless chicken breasts, thawed

 

1. In a small bowl, mix together the first 6 ingredients to make the sauce.
2. Place the chicken into the crockpot. Pour sauce mixture over chicken.
3. Cook on low heat for 4-5 hours.

You Can Get with This or You Can Get with That (Ingredient Substitutions):

• Substitute 1 can of Coca-Cola, Pepsi, or root beer for the Dr. Pepper in this recipe

This Is How We Do It (Kitchen Skills You'll Learn in This Recipe):

• Measuring ingredients
• Reading a recipe
• Setting a timer
• Using a crockpot

If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge

This recipe is part of the three-part If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge recipe series. These recipes are designed to: 

• be easier to make
• have a minimal number of ingredients (minus pantry staples like oil and spices)
• be quick to prep 
• make enough for one person to have leftovers for a few days

If You Give a Kid a Cooking Pot: Easy Two Bean Chili

Over the next several weeks, we'll be bringing you recipes for beginning cooks designed to teach basic cooking skills. So be on the lookout for all the recipes in the series. Today's recipe is part of the Cooking Challenge series.

A package of chili seasoning is the secret to making this one pot meal simple enough to make for a weeknight dinner. With just 15 minutes of prep time, you'll get this quick and easy Two Bean Chili recipe on the table in no time. 

Serve this chili over pasta or with garnishes such as shredded cheese, fresh green onions, and sour cream.

Easy Two Bean Chili

1 lb lean ground beef

1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped

1/2 cup white onion, chopped

2 15.5 oz cans Mixed Chili Beans (Kidney & Pinto), undrained

14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes, undrained

15 oz can tomato sauce

1/2 cup water

1 package original chili seasoning

1/2 tsp cumin

1. Chop bell pepper and onion and set aside.
2. In a large pot, brown the ground beef over medium high heat.
3. Add chopped bell pepper and onion. Cook for 3-5 minutes. Drain excess grease (if necessary).
4. Stir in the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover and turn heat down to low. Simmer for 20 minutes.

You Can Get with This or You Can Get with That (Recipe Substitutions):

• Reduce sodium by choosing a low-sodium chili seasoning.
• Substitute ground chicken or ground turkey for the ground beef.
• If Mixed Chili Beans are not available, use your favorite type of beans instead. They will not have spices incorporated into the sauce, so you may want to add more cumin to compensate.

This Is How We Do It (Kitchen Skills You'll Learn in This Recipe):

• Boiling vs. simmering
• Browning ground meat
• Chopping vegetables
• Measuring ingredients
• Reading and following a recipe
• Setting a timer

Mama Said Knock You Out (Prep Ahead for Easy Dinners):

If you have leftover chili you want to freeze, put the chili into individual airtight containers. It will keep well for up to three months.

When you are ready to serve, take the container out of the freezer and let it thaw. Reheat in the microwave.

If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge

This recipe is part of the three-part If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge recipe series. These recipes are designed to: 

• be easier to make
• have a minimal number of ingredients (minus pantry staples like oil and spices)
• be quick to prep 
• make enough for one person to have leftovers for a few days

If You Give a Kid a Casserole Dish: No Peek Chicken and Rice Casserole

Over the next several weeks, we'll be bringing you several recipes for beginning cooks designed to teach basic cooking skills. So be on the lookout for all the recipes in the series. Today's recipe is part of the Cooking Challenge series.

This easy one-pan No Peek Chicken recipe only requires 5 minutes of prep time for a meal of creamy rice and chicken. Pair this comfort food with a side of veggies or a salad, and you've got an easy weeknight meal.

No Peek Chicken and Rice Casserole

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 cups Minute Rice (white or brown)

10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup

10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup

1 can water (use one of the soup cans)

1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a 9 x 13 casserole dish and set aside.
2. In a medium size bowl, combine two cups of uncooked instant rice, both cans of soup, and a can of water.
3. Pour the mixture into your casserole dish.
4. Place the chicken breasts on top of the mixture and sprinkle them with the envelope of onion soup mix.
5. Tightly cover with foil and bake for 1-1½ hours or until the chicken is cooked through. No peeking! (It takes at least an hour for the rice to fully cook.)
6. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

You Can Get with This or You Can Get with That (Recipe Substitutions):

• Reduce sodium by choosing a low-sodium cream soups.
• Substitute either cream soup with your favorite flavor of cream soup.
• Substitute the Lipton Soup Mix with your favorite blend of spices.
• If you use thin chicken breasts, you can reduce the cooking time to 1 hour.
• Add a 10 oz bag of frozen veggies to the mixture in step 2 for an all-in-one meal. Chopped broccoli florets or peas and carrots would be good additions to this casserole. No need to thaw before adding.

This Is How We Do It (Kitchen Skills You'll Learn in This Recipe):

• Measuring ingredients
• Preheating an oven
• Reading and following a recipe
• Setting a timer

If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge

This recipe is part of the three-part If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge recipe series. These recipes are designed to: 

• be easier to make
• have a minimal number of ingredients (minus pantry staples like oil and spices)
• be quick to prep 
• make enough for one person to have leftovers for a few days