School days are upon us and it’s a great time to pull out the crock-pot for easy dinner ideas with less mess to clean up and more time to spend with family.

Crock-Pot Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Ingredients:

1½ cups milk

1 (12-oz.) can of evaporated milk

¼ cup (½ stick) butter, melted and cooled to room temperature

3 eggs

½ tsp. salt

3 cups shredded Italian blend cheese

½ pound elbow macaroni

black pepper

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Grease the inside of the crock-pot with cooking spray.
2. Combine milk, evaporated milk, butter, eggs and salt in the crock-pot and whisk until smooth.
3. Add Italian cheese and pepper to taste, stirring to coat.
4. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
5. Cover and cook on high 30 minutes.
6. Reduce heat and cook on low for 1½–2 hours, until the center does not jiggle and pasta is tender.
7. Serve in bowls while warm.

Crock-pot Cheese Tortellini

Ingredients:

1 (19-oz.) bag of frozen cheese tortellini

1 small bag of fresh spinach

2 (14½-oz.) cans of Italian-style diced tomatoes, drained

1 block (8 oz.) of cream cheese (softened in microwave)
1 lb. Italian chicken/turkey sausage links

3-4 cups of chicken broth (start with 3, add more to preference)

Directions:

1. Slice and brown the sausage.
2. Cube the cream cheese and place all ingredients in the crock-pot.
3. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Notes: Keep an eye on your tortellini, as it may be done early. If it’s still soupy, leave the lid off for the last half hour of cooking. If you use Neufchatel (one-third-fat cream cheese), know that it will not melt as well and will leave curds.

Crock-Pot Pizza Chicken

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 tsp. Italian seasoning blend

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. red pepper flakes

2 tsp. Parmesan cheese (plus extra for topping)
1 cup pizza sauce

¾ cups low-fat shredded Mozzarella cheese

2 oz. sliced turkey pepperoni

1 Green bell pepper, sliced

8 oz. pasta or pre-made pizza crust

Place chicken in crock-pot. Season with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese. Add green pepper and pour pizza sauce over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. During last 30 minutes of cooking time, toss in pepperoni and top with shredded cheese. Serve over hot cooked pasta or oven-warmed pizza crust.

Shopping List

Canned:

Italian-style diced tomatoes

Condiments/Soups:

Chicken broth
Pizza sauce

Dairy Cooler:

Butter

Cream cheese

Eggs

Milk

Italian shredded cheese
Parmesan cheese

Shredded Mozzarella cheese

Meat:

Chicken breasts

Pepperoni

Turkey or chicken sausage

Pasta:

Frozen tortellini

½ lb. elbow macaroni
Pasta of choice, if preferred for Chicken Pizza recipe

Produce:

Green bell peppers

Bag of spinach

Spices & Seasonings:

Garlic powder
Italian seasonings

Red pepper flakes