Crock Pot Menu Plan for the week

Menu Planning for the week of September 5th – 9th

To make life a little easier this week, let’s take the guesswork out of menu planning.  Here is a list of five crock pot recipes assigned to each day of the work/school week.  If you don’t think menu planning will make your life much easier, just take this challenge this week.  Don’t over think it, just follow through.  Decide at the end of the week if it made your life easier.

For today we are giving you a grocery list.  If you need to run to the store, get it done on the weekend so that is one less errand you have to run in the week.  All the recipes are listed at the end of the article as well in case you want to adjust the meal schedule.  Just be sure to write your meals out on the calendar today and STICK WITH IT!  These meals have been selected with kids’ eating habits in mind but if there is a recipe you know won’t be successful make the adjustments now, before you shop.
Grocery List:

Mac & Cheese
8oz cooked elbow macaroni, can use regular, whole wheat or combination
1 large can evaporated milk
regular milk
2 beaten eggs
margarine
3 cups shredded cheddar

Salsa Chicken
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 cup salsa
1 package taco seasoning
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream

Hawaiian Pork Chops
1 can diced pineapples un-drained
1 bottle of Brown Sugar BBQ sauce
1-2 cups Apple Juice

 Easy Meatballs
1 package of Italian Style meatballs
1 Bottle (32 oz) BBQ Sauce
1 Large Jar (32 oz) Grape Jelly

Crock Pot Pizza
1 pkg. (12 oz.) wide egg noodles
1 1/2 pounds ground beef or turkey
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 jar sliced mushrooms, drained
1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 package sliced pepperoni, halved
3 cups (12 oz.) shredded mozzarella
3 cups (12 oz.) shredded cheddar

FULL DAILY MENU OF RECIPES THIS WEEK
Monday:  Easy Crock Pot Mac & Cheese
8oz cooked elbow macaroni, can use regular, whole wheat or combination
1 large can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups regular milk
2 beaten eggs
1/4 cup melted margarine
1 tsp salt
3 cups shredded cheddar
pepper to taste

Spray crock pot with nonstick cooking spray.  Put cooked macaroni in crock pot.  Add evaporated milk, regular milk, beaten eggs, melted margarine, salt,  pepper and cheddar cheese.  Cook on Low for 3 1/2 hours.  Sprinkle w/ paprika if desired.
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Tuesday:  Salsa Chicken in the Crock Pot
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 cup salsa
1 package taco seasoning
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream
Sprinkle taco seasoning over chicken and put in crock pot. Pour salsa and soup over chicken. Cook on low 6 to 8 hours. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. Serve with rice.
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Wednesday:  Crock Pot Hawaiian Pork Chops
1 can diced pineapples un-drained
1 bottle of Brown Sugar BBQ sauce
1-2 cups Apple Juice
Place all ingredients in the crock pot on low for about 7-8 hours. On high for 3-4.  Chops can be substituted for pork tenderloin as well, then you would be able to shred it and make sandwiches.  Yum.
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Thursday:  Easy Meatballs
1 package of Italian Style meatballs
1 Bottle (32 oz) BBQ Sauce
1 Large Jar (32 oz) Grape Jelly
Place the meatballs in the crock pot then add the grape jelly.  Pour the BBQ sauce over the top, be sure meatballs are evenly covered. Set Crock pot on high and let cook for 4 hours.  Serve over rice or on Italian rolls for meatball sandwiches.
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Friday:  Crock Pot Pizza
1 pkg. (12 oz.) wide egg noodles
1 1/2 pounds ground beef or turkey
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 jar (28 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1 jar (4-1/2 oz.) sliced mushrooms, drained
1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 package sliced pepperoni, halved
3 cups (12 oz.) shredded mozzarella
3 cups (12 oz.) shredded cheddar
Cook noodles according to package and drain. In large skillet brown beef and onion.  Stir in sauce and Italian seasoning.  Cover crock pot with non stick cooking spray.   Layer crock pot as follows:  1/3 of meat sauce, 1/3 noodles, desired amount of mushroom and pepperoni, 1/3 of cheeses. Repeat layers twice. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours or until cheese is melted.

Thanks to momofthree for her great meal plan!