Crockpot Cooking: Recipes for Cheap Cuts of Beef, Lamb, or Pork

During last week’s Hubalicious writing contest, I created a hub titled Crockpot Cooking: Cheap Cuts of Beef, Lamb, or Pork which was a contender for this week’s best and people choice awards. Since this week is all about recipes, I felt it would be appropriate to write Crockpot Cooking: Recipes for Cheap Cuts of Beef, Lamb, or Pork. As my mom used to say if it is not broke, then don’t try to fix it.

In Crockpot Cooking: Cheap Cuts of Beef, Lamb, or Pork I revealed that the crock pot slow cooker has the ability to assist in tenderizing cheaper cuts of meat therefore providing a cost savings to the home family budget. When you finish reading this hub you might like to stop by to see the charts that will help you to identify how to cook different cuts of meats.

An individual that is a meat lover is probably thinking about now, “Forget the soy protein just give me the recipes.” And a vegetarian, well, chances are very slim that individual would even read a hub on meat recipes. In all fairness the different views on soy protein verses meat protein will be ongoing for a while. Similar to the periods of time that everyone was told to have no-carbs and or no-fat now it seems that the body does require some fats in the form of MUFAS and PUFAS.

As I explore the different cultures worldwide for the keys to longevity; my family and I are attempting to do everything in moderation while keeping a good balance between soy protein and meat protein. The video to the right seems to agree with my thinking and I will provide more information that I’ve found via links after the recipes. But, for now enjoy the Crockpot Cooking: Recipes for Cheap Cuts of Beef, Lamb, or Pork that follows:

MG’s Favorite Pot Roast

3 ½ to 4 lbs. boneless pot roast

¼ cup flour

2 tsp. kosher salt

1/8 tsp. black pepper

3 carrots, chopped

3 potatoes peeled and quartered

2 small onions, sliced

1 stalk celery, chopped

10 button mushrooms, sliced

½ bottom of any red wine (or a can of beer)

Instructions – Turn all excess fat from the roast, brown in skillet (unless you have Breville SearEasy Cooker), and drain. Combine ¼ cup flour, salt and pepper, and coat meat with the flour mixture. Place all vegetables except mushrooms in a 4-7 quart crock pot slow cooker and top with the roast. Spread mushrooms evenly over the top of the roast. Pour about a half of bottle of wine over roast until it is about half way the cut of meat. Cover and cook for 10 to 12 hours on low or 4 to 6 hours on High.

For the gravy lovers – If you are cooking on high then about an hour before it is finished cooking you may need to add a little more flour to thicken the gravy. If cooking on low then about 2 hours before done then add a little more flour; or after meat is done you can make gravy the old fashion way.

Alternatives: Remember that you are cooking inexpensive cuts of meat; so if the butcher has a sale on “bone-in” roasts, then it can be used in this recipe. Pot roast recipes are versatile and for that reason I’ve included a video above that shows a different recipe from the one I use. With my recipe above if you prefer not to cook with wine or beer then leave it off; however, there may not be enough natural meat juice to make a gravy. Personally I like the wine favor in the meat and the gravy, but again it is not necessary.

More Videos of Cheap Cuts of Beef Recipes

4 lamb shanks (make sure the fit in pot)

1 yellow onion, sliced

5 medium whole, peeled garlic cloves, cut in half

8 ounces of mushrooms, cleaned and dapped dry with paper towel

½ cup of red wine or a little more

½ cup beef stock or broth

14 oz can of diced tomatoes

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1tsp olive oil

1tsp Tony Chachere Lite Seasoning ( for a little spice) or use sea salt

Sprinkle with other seasonings of your choice

Instructions - Sprinkle meat with black pepper and your favorite herbs for lamb. I prefer oregano, mint, thyme, and a bay leaf while some prefer to use allspice. Rub lamb shank with Worcestershire sauce and then your seasonings. Brown the lamb shanks in a skillet in the olive oil and then place in slow cooker. Place onion, garlic, and mushrooms on top of meat then pour beef broth, tomatoes, and wine over vegetables and meat. Lamb shanks tend to be a tough therefore, it requires braising. Place crockpot on low and cook for 8 to 10 hours.

Alternatives – If you like to make gravy you can by using the juice from the lamb shanks; scrape off the excess fat and adding a little flour to thicken in a skillet is the fastest way. Here is another Lamb Shank Recipe that you might like to try. Please note that the recipes in the video are for a dutch oven and a stock pot, however the recipe I have given you are for a slow cooker.  Remember that you can convert the cooking times from a convention oven to a crock pot slow cooker, whenever necessary. This conversion comes with any good crockpot cookbook, and is usually included with the small cookbook included with your stoneware.

Because a fellow Hubber nifty@50 made a comment about shepherd's pie being cooked in a crockpot; I decided to see if I could find a couple of recipes. As you may know shepherd's pie can be made with beef, chicken, lamb, or turkey so here are a couple of recipes:

Shepherd’s Pie with Beef or Lamb

Shepherd’s Pie with Turkey or Beef

Just like other crock pot recipes one should be able to adjust the recipes to meet the family’s needs and or requirements.

1 pork butt or shoulder roast

1 large onion, quartered and sliced

1 cup of barbecue sauce any kind

½ cup vinegar

1 teaspoon of liquid smoke, if desired

1 teaspoon of Worcestershire

Seasonings – kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder or cloves

Instructions - Personally, I like to sear my meat and brown, although you don’t have to do so.  Place pork butt into crock pot slow cooker; add chopped onion, salt, pepper and a generous sprinkle of garlic powder, I prefer a couple of cloves of garlic instead.  Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours depending on the size of you pork roast.  Drain the juices off and shred or chop the pork.  Mix the vinegar, BBQ sauce, liquid smoke, and Worcestershire together in a bowl and pour over meat about 1 hour before it finish cooking.

Alternatives – Pulled pork cooked in a crockpot is very versatile you can mix the ingredients that you like to have on your meat and not mess up the recipe.  This meat can be served with or without barbecue sauce; it can be left in its own juices and served over rice.  When I choose to do this, I add a cup of white wine in the crock pot for more juices and a different type of flavor.  Be sure to check out the two videos as there are different recipes; and here are more pork roast recipes you might like to try.

This concludes Crockpot Cooking: Recipes for Cheap Cuts of Beef, Lamb, or Pork.  I hope you’ve found this hub useful in providing some inexpensive recipes that you will enjoy. Remember for the most part the recipes on the videos are different from the recipes I’ve given therefore you might like to bookmark this hub for future reference.

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Namaste’