By Sophie Van Tiggelen 4 Comments
I am always on the lookout for ways to simplify my life. I need simple AIP recipes because, honestly, there are time when I am just holding on for dear life and it’s all I can do to get food on my table at all. Life can be busy (and stressful) and I don’t always have the time, or the energy, to put in the effort that AIP often requires. It is, of course, at these times of stress that I need to lean into AIP the most, which can make it feel that much more difficult.
So what do I do? I turn to recipes that will give me a lot of bang for my buck. I look for recipes that are easily thrown together, use simple ingredients that I probably already have on hand, and that will see me through several meals. I lean on tried and true basics.
What are my go-to’s? My slow cooker and my instant pot.
Appliances that were once the domain of our grannies are now hot commodities. You can find a decent slow cookerfor under $35.00, and while an instant pot is a bit more of an investment, it’s worth it for the convenience factor. With both a slow cooker and an Instant Pot all you have to do is throw in your ingredients and walk away. You’re done. You barely even have to clean up. On the days I am feeling stressed, that’s about as simple an answer to, “What’s for dinner?” as I could ever hope to get.
My Top 10 Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes for a Simple AIP Meal:
1 – Rustic Root Vegetable Soup with Meatballs – A Squirrel in the Kitchen
2 – Chicken Soup – Coconut Contentment
3 – Pork Belly with Black Olives and Garlic – A Squirrel in the Kitchen
4 – Beef Pumpkin Curry – Fed and Fulfilled
5 – Summer Beef Stew with Chilled Thyme Pesto – Autoimmune Wellness
6 – Chicken Stew with Plums, Carrots, and Apples – A Squirrel in the Kitchen
7 – Sage Pulled Pork – A Squirrel in the Kitchen
8 – Orange Pineapple Chicken Drumsticks – Real Food Love
9 – Asian-Style Short Ribs – Savory Lotus (omit the garnish for strict AIP)
10 – Pork Tenderloin – Adventures of a Sick Chick
Hungry for more? Check out these other tasty AIP recipes from talented bloggers:
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above may be“affiliate links or Amazon affiliate links”. This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsem*nts and Testimonials in Advertising.”
About Sophie Van Tiggelen
Sophie Van Tiggelen is a passionate foodie, recipe developer, author, and photographer. Diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in 2009, she used the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) to reverse her condition, and today, Sophie lives a full and vibrant life free from the anxiety and flare-ups that often accompany autoimmune diseases. With her food and lifestyle blog, A Squirrel in the Kitchen, Sophie shares her AIP experience and empowers others to develop new habits to promote good health and wellness. Through years of experience, she has developed simple strategies to be successful on AIP, including numerous mouth-watering, allergen-free recipes that everyone (even those without autoimmune diseases) can enjoy. Sophie is on a mission to make the Autoimmune Protocol - and all that it encompasses - more accessible and sustainable for anyone looking for a more nutritious, more delicious, more health-conscious life.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Thank you for including my recipe in your roundup! All these recipes look delicious!
Thanks Lori for creating such delicious recipes! – Sophie
It’s getting cold in Australia so I will be looking forward to trying some of these AIP slow cooker recipes – thanks 🙂
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FAQs
This is the effect that you want to happen when you've added the right amount of water. However, sometimes too much water is accidentally added or the slow cooker fails to evaporate enough water during the cooking process, leaving the sauce or soup a little runnier than you'd like.
How do I reduce the liquid in my slow cooker? ›
If it comes to serving and you open your slow cooker to find a watery sauce, never fear we have an easy answer. Take the lid off, turn the machine up to high heat and leave it for 30-45 minutes to let excess moisture cook off. The liquid will reduce, leaving you with a thick and delicious gravy or sauce.
How do you imitate a slow cooker? ›
Opt for a heavy, oven-safe pot with a tight-fitting lid, like a Staub or Le Creuset Dutch oven, to mimic the moisture retention of a slow cooker. This ensures even heat distribution and prevents excessive drying out. Slow cookers are designed to trap moisture, leading to a self-basting environment.
What is the difference between a slow cooker and a Crockpot? ›
A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker. Crockpot popularized slow cookers when they launched their version in the 1970s.
Does taking the lid off a slow cooker thicken the sauce? ›
Take the lid off
Place the cooker on a high setting, and open the lid for 30-45 minutes to let excess moisture cook off. The liquid will reduce, leaving you with a thick and delicious gravy or sauce. (Tip: This trick can also be applied for thickening stews, or when you've accidentally added too much liquid.)
What can I use to thicken sauce in slow cooker? ›
Cornstarch, potato starch, and chickpea flour are a couple of pantry-friendly ways to thicken soups, stews, and sauces in the slow cooker. Just a tablespoon or two of any — added towards the end of cooking — will thicken sauces especially well.
Should food be covered with liquid in a slow cooker? ›
Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full.
Should the lid be on or off the crockpot? ›
If holding food on the warm setting for a long time, cut back on the cook time accordingly to reduce overcooking. Always cook with the lid on for the recommended time. Do not remove the lid during the first two hours of cooking unless the recipe calls for lid removal. Slow cookers have very little evaporation.
Should the lid be on or off in a slow cooker? ›
Don't open the lid during cooking!
Follow this tip: Unless it's noted in the recipe, there's no need to remove the lid. And if you do open the lid, keep it as brief as possible and maybe tack on a minute or two of extra cooking time.
Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›
The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.
Yes, you can slow roast pork in an air fryer. In fact, it's a great way to cook pork because it results in tender, juicy meat with crispy crackling.
Can you use a casserole dish instead of a slow cooker? ›
Follow the slow cooker recipe, but use a baking dish with a lid instead of a crockpot or slow cooker. If the recipe calls for slow cooker setting, then divide the cooking time by 4. Eight hours on low then becomes 2 hours in the oven at 160 ºC. For high, divide the cooking time by 2.
How do I get more Flavour in my slow cooker? ›
Dry, fragrant spices like cumin and coriander seeds need to be fried in oil and added at the beginning of the recipe as they take time to impart their essence. Hot chilli-based flavourings should be added to taste at the end, as the fire can multiply the over the long cooking time.
Can you put raw meat in a slow cooker? ›
Yes, you can add raw steak to a slow cooker to cook it to your desired doneness level. Slow cooking steak is a convenient way to cook steak over several hours, tenderizing it and adding exceptional flavor along the way.
Can you put raw chicken in the slow cooker? ›
Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!
What are the two main benefits of a slow cooker? ›
The Benefits of Using a Slow Cooker
- Saves you money – slow cookers are an energy efficient way to cook food.
- Saves you time – minimal food preparation and hands-off-cooking allows you to get on with other things.
- Great for batch cooking, so you'll always have something delicious to eat at the end of a long day.
I am always on the lookout for ways to simplify my life. I need simple AIP recipes because, honestly, there are time when I am just holding on for dear life and it’s all I can do to get food on my table at all. Life can be busy (and stressful) and I don’t always have the time, or the energy, to put in the effort that AIP often requires. It is, of course, at these times of stress that I need to lean into AIP the most, which can make it feel that much more difficult.
2 – Chicken Soup – Coconut Contentment
3 – Pork Belly with Black Olives and Garlic – A Squirrel in the Kitchen
4 – Beef Pumpkin Curry – Fed and Fulfilled
5 – Summer Beef Stew with Chilled Thyme Pesto – Autoimmune Wellness
6 – Chicken Stew with Plums, Carrots, and Apples – A Squirrel in the Kitchen
7 – Sage Pulled Pork – A Squirrel in the Kitchen
8 – Orange Pineapple Chicken Drumsticks – Real Food Love
9 – Asian-Style Short Ribs – Savory Lotus (omit the garnish for strict AIP)
10 – Pork Tenderloin – Adventures of a Sick Chick
