Soup in the Crockpot When You Get Home From Work is a Beautiful Thing

So maybe you're one of those busy people who hasn't fully embraced the idea of crockpot cooking? Maybe you need just a little more information to convince you to use a crockpot. How's this for encouragement: Dinner. Is. Ready. When. You. Get. Home. From. Work. What could be better!

If you're new to crockpot cooking, you may want to start by reading my earlier post about What I've Learned About Cooking in a Crock-pot Slow Cooker. Understanding how the slow cooker works compared to other cooking methods will pay off in better results, but truly, slow cookers are pretty much foolproof. If you don't have a crockpot and aren't sure you'll like this kind of cooking, consider buying one at a thrift store and trying it out before you invest in a new one.

Soup is the perfect thing to make in a crockpot because long, slow cooking releases liquid and also coaxes flavor out of basic ingredients. Here are ten delicious soup recipes that I'd love to come home to after a long day at work.

Kimberly at The Nourishing Gourmet says she made her Crockpot Chicken and Red Quinoa Soup every Sunday for weeks, it was that good.

Always delicious Classic French Onion Soup comes from the crockpot of Jenn at Baking Buddies.

Pam from Sidewalk Shoes simmers her Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Soup for ten hours while she was at school all day, which is one of the reasons she loves her slow cooker.

I like the addtion of barley in the Easy Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup from Dianne's Dishes (pictured above.)

Simple, but delicious sounding Crockpot Split Pea Soup can be found at The Crepes of Wrath, and I'd like to be eating that one right now.

In the recipe for Slow Cooker White Bean Chili, Katerina spells out what can be done the night before and what you need to do in the morning before work.

You can use canned black beans and canned vegetable broth in the Slow Cooker Black Bean and Veggie Soup from Ahaar (pictured above.)

Stephanie used the world "elegant" to describe Restaurant Quality Crockpot Tomato Soup from A Year of Crockpotting. There are also plenty more soup recipes here that sound good.

Linda at Delusions of Chefery recommends an immersion blender to puree her Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup.

Finally, I make lots of soups in the crockpot, but my personal favorite would have to be my version of Black Bean and Rice Soup with Lime and Cilantro (pictured above.)

Kalyn Denny writes about food and at BlogHer.com and shares her passion for cooking at Kalyn's Kitchen. Kalyn is a fanatic about making soup, and loves to find new soup recipes!

Submitted by Kalyn Denny (view blog

) on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 09:10

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I could not live without my

I could not live without my crock pot! They are a working mom's best friend

Submitted by overtly trite on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 06:16

Thanks!

Same here! I could not live without my crockpot.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 06:17

Things I've promised for the coming year

Use my slow cooker more often! I've been using it to make big pots of beans (no pre-soaking, just cover with a few inches of water and cook for 18 hours), but this winter I've vowed to broaden my slow-cooker repertoire. Thanks for the great list of soups to try.

Lydia
www.theperfectpantry.com

Submitted by Lydia on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 06:57

Love the 18 hour idea for beans!

Great idea when you forget to soak. Have fun making soups!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 07:18

OK, I'm hungry...

and I so love soups. This one gets bookmarked.

nelle

llhaesa

Submitted by nelle2nelle on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 07:21

Thanks Nelle!

Glad you like the recipes.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 12:44

a bit nervous

I own a crock pot, but hate to admit that I've never used
it! I love soups, especially in the winter, and now my taste buds and curiosity are itching
to try these recipes. However, I'm a bit nervous about turning on my pot, and then leaving for 8-10 hours while no one is home. Does anyone
else have this fear?

www.katelynsfood.blogspot.com

Submitted by KatelynsFood on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 10:04

Test it first

I've left my crockpot cooking all day many times, so it's definitely safe, no worries about that. If you're worried about whether a recipe will turn out okay after being cooked that long, test it out on a day when you're going to be home.

Any time you buy a new crockpot, it's always good to try it first on a day when you're home. They do vary a little in how hot they get. There are also new programmable crockpots that are great.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 12:50

Crock Pot Rocks

I love the crock pot, it makes the best pot roast ever. Tender and succulent!

I never worry about the house burning down. I've left it on for long periods of time without any problems. The only problem that I have is the volume of food the crock pot produces. It's only my daughter and I. We eat soup for days on end.

Cant wait to try the recipes!

Giyen

www.baconismyenemy.com

Submitted by Giyen on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 18:19

I freeze the extra food!

I do know exactly what you mean though, because most crockpots make a huge amount of food. I freeze the extra and take it for lunches to school!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 19:00

So Maybe I Can Cook Now

Thank you for posting this. Now maybe I can have a little more confidence in trying to cook something edible.

~Mia.

My blog is General Hysteria~

Submitted by MiaHysteria on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 18:40

Yes, do try it!

Truly, the crockpot is pretty much foolproof if you start with a good recipe.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 19:01

All hail the crock pot!

I used to make a delicious seafood chowder in the crockpot until the recipe was misplaced during a move. Thank you for the goodies here, Kaylin. I'm going for the Butternut Squash soup.

Nordette is a Contributing Editor with BlogHer.com whose personal blog is hosted on another site at this link and Six Degrees of a Nasty Nation.

Submitted by Nordette on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 18:41

Hear, hear!

I agree completely, the crockpot is a wonderful thing.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 19:02

wow

I've had some absolutely awful crockpot recipes lately, but I think I'll be able to try some of these.

I am more rushed in the morning than i am in the evening, though. I often forget to start it before I leave for work!

Submitted by kazari on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 19:02

I try to get it all ready the night before

f you can do everything like cut up veggies or brown meat the night before it's a lot easier. Store those things in the refrigerator (but not in the crockpot itself) then just dump them in in the morning.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 19:05

Even when you work at home...

Crock Pot soups are a life saver (and time saver). I love tossing together a soup, stew, or chili in the morning and going to work- which for me is ten feet away. I love knowing dinner is done.

Today I'm making a butternut stew and taking the afternoon off to go see W. The house will smell divine when we get back.

k a r i n a

Karina's Kitchen: Recipes from a gluten-free goddess

Karina Allrich- Contemporary Abstracts

Submitted by Karina Allrich on Sun, 10/19/2008 - 08:44