https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:38:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2819271 Sun, 29 Apr 2018 22:27:12 +0000 irene 2819271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Thanks! I will have to check it out...</p> <p>@gingerbebe: Yeah, I am starting to think maybe it is me and I just don't like braised meat. And I do have a ton of 30-ish min stovetop / oven recipes that I love. I just couldn't find the equivalent in slow cooker recipes. I am reluctant to give up on the slow cooker because of its convenience.</p> <p>There are several things, like Japanese curry which you can buy the seasonings in boxes from asian grocery stores (inside it looks like chocolate cubes), they are so good and flavorful I distracted me from caring about the texture of the meat. Bummer is DS doesn't eat curry. So I just wonder if there were such unicorns out there that was good and it is not curry. </p> <p>Thanks for the Crockpot365 reference! I will google it and check it out before I throw in the towel to give up or continue to tolerate my bland slow cooker meals :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2819133 Sat, 28 Apr 2018 16:40:36 +0000 gingerbebe 2819133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think maybe you just don’t like braised meat. It is by default shredded or soft meat that is greasier because its tougher and fattier cuts of meat. </p> <p>I will say my favorite chicken cut is boneless skinless thighs for the crockpot BUT the best cooking time is like 4 hours and not all day long. So I think if you can adjust the cooking time that might help. Google “crockpot365” and there’s a blog by Stephanie Odea who has a zillion recipes for the crockpot. Her apricot chicken and Vietnamese chicken are delicious and I usually just serve it with rice and stir fried green beans.</p> <p>For beef, I only like beef chuck roast I have cubed and trimmed myself. Pork I like shoulder, butt, or country style ribs (which is the shoulder or butt cut into thick strips). We make baby back ribs in the crockpot too - toss in dry rub and put in the crock with no other liquid for 4 hours, then baste with BBQ sauce and broil in the oven to caramelize the sauce.</p> <p>Perhaps you need quick 30-ish minute stovetop recipes or stir fries or sheet pan meals. It seems like what you want is more a one pot meal with all the components done in one step. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2819120 Sat, 28 Apr 2018 14:13:17 +0000 Foodnerd81 2819120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: have you tried cooking dark meat chicken with the bone in? I feel like that is one of the best ways to keep the texture, though yes, it will still be mushy. I like this maple Dijon chicken drumsticks recipe, and the drumsticks aren’t so mushy and shredded- but they do still fall off the bone (which I like, I don’t like dealing with bones).<br /> <a href="https://www.skinnytaste.com/crock-pot-maple-dijon-chicken-drumsticks/" rel="nofollow">https://www.skinnytaste.com/crock-pot-maple-dijon-chicken-drumsticks/</a> </p> <p>I also like to make boneless chicken thighs in barbecue sauce and shreds it for pulled chicken sandwiches- it’s supposed to be shredded that way. </p> <p>And I make salsa chicken for tacos or taco rice bowls. Again- pretty much shredded anyway. I just don’t really like cooking meat and prefer to let the slow cooker do it for me. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2819084 Sat, 28 Apr 2018 10:15:06 +0000 looch 2819084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: An easy way to degrease is to put it in the fridge, so that the fat layer rises to the top, then you just scoop it out. It does make the meal into leftovers though, so I am not sure if that would be an option.</p> <p>Another thing I thought of is beans, the slow cooker is a great way to cook dried beans (I buy canned, because I am a lazy cook).</p> <p>I honestly thought the slow cooker would change my life, but it really didn't. I like to have it for the few things I do cook in it but I would say it gets used about three times a year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2819050 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 20:18:22 +0000 irene 2819050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennibenni: I have tried it once, but it seriously didn't make a difference to me. It was so troublesome so I gave up. Hmm. I guess I could try it again.... </p> <p>To me, pot roast is a piece of rough meat that is very bland and rough. Either that or it gets super overcooked and shredded/mixed altogether with the sauces, which tasted exactly like everything else I made with a slow cooker regardless of what I add in it, ack, I hated that. I never get the magic of why people make pot roast. It has to be something I am messing up over here.. maybe I need a new pot lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2819047 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 19:59:05 +0000 Jennibenni 2819047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Do you sear your meat before going in the crockpot? I mostly use the crockpot to cook chuck roast, either alone or as part of a stew. But I always always season it and then sear it on high heat on the stovetop before slow cooking. If I don’t do that, I really don’t care for the taste or texture of the way it comes out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2819045 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 19:48:26 +0000 irene 2819045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I tried ribs and short ribs before, yes it is so tasty, but it is also very greasy that turned me off. I don't have a "device" that separates out the grease, so it is time consuming and messy to remove that half a pot of grease. </p> <p>Back when I was a child, we didn't have a slow cooker / crock pot, my mom would slow cook things on a stove for hours, and they taste good, the meat was soft and tasty. Grrrr. What am I doing wrong :-( I guess I could ask her but I would be inviting unlimited criticisms from her in terms of how I am doing everything wrong in life lol</p> <p>@Baby Boy Mom: Thanks! Good advice on the time -- I started doing that and the stew meat is still rubbery rough. I believe that was beef chunk cubed I used. I guess I might have to give up on my slow cooker also. grrr. It is just a charming idea though, you put everything in in the morning, and dinner is ready at night. I just wish it tastes better. Sad thing is when dinner is served, while DS chucks it down and DH didn't say anything, I don't even want to eat what I made lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2818934 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 11:53:43 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2818934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have any recipes for you but I agree that everything in the crockpot comes out sort of mushy and doesn't taste nearly as good as on the stove. The only meal we actually like in the crockpot is beef chuck cubed because it's supposed to be soft. And my trick is when it says 4-6 hours, 4 is plenty of time and more than that makes mush. Honestly the ONLY reason I have kept my crockpot is for making bone broth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2818845 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 08:41:47 +0000 looch 2818845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Short ribs? I like how those come out in the slow cooker. I also like how a pork shoulder comes out ( I cook mine in a mixture of citrus juices as opposed to a can of soda), but more often than not, I don't really care for how meat comes out in a slow cooker. I drain away the liquid and do "pulled" style meat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2818772 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 22:21:45 +0000 irene 2818772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all!</p> <p>Other than ending up completely bland, the texture of my beef also always, ALWAYS end up rough and unappertizing after 6 hours of cooking. I tried marinating it in corn starch prior to cooking and it didn't help. Any thoughts / tips?</p> <p>@skinnycow: @bhbee: Thanks! I believe the 12 cloves of garlic and red wine will make magic... but then it could be me, but most of my recipes look like that and for some reason they always always come out tasting the same. </p> <p>I also made a similar Beef Rago recipe, my beef was so cooked and shredded so easily that it never hold its form and just became a big shredded mess when mixed with egg noodles. Grrrr. And everytime you make these things you end up with a big pot and I have to finish them for days after. </p> <p>@gingerbebe: Thank you! I will check out the link!!</p> <p>@josina: Thanks ! But I can't do anything with a stick of butter as DH has cholestrol issues (and I can't do that either myself as an aging middle aged woman lol)... I guess that's why my stews always tasted blehhh :meh: I do agree that anything with a stick of butter automatically becomes extremely delicious :grin: </p> <p>@looch: They are sophisticated and ridiculously tedious and difficult lol. And there are times I actually suck it up and make it, it tastes the same, oh boy I want to strangle somebody on the spot :grin: </p> <p>@codeitall: Yes! I agree it must be me underseasoning something.....but it is also the (rough) texture that I ended up with which is super unappealing...</p> <p>And yes, I am ok with tacos chicken meat recipe too! Actually we enjoy it. the bummer is HOW MUCH they tell us to make. even though they say 4 servings we end up with what could feed 16 people! I still have a medium bowl of chicken taco meat in the freezer from at least 2-3 months ago :crying: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2818720 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 16:49:34 +0000 codeitall 2818720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is not a stew recipe but an observation: I've found that I most use the slow cooker to cook the meat of a meal. Taco chicken, enchilada flavored chicken, teriyaki chicken (do you sense a theme? lol) and I use some of it that night and freeze the rest in ziploc bags to recreate the meal later.</p> <p>So we have on demand quesadillas, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, asian bowls, etc.</p> <p>Some 'sophisticated' ingredients to try might be hoisin sauce, sesame oil, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, turmeric, fennel lentils, chickpeas, anise, caraway seeds and cardamom.</p> <p>One last note, sometimes I find that I've made underspiced food. Then I just add more in very approximate ratios to the original recipe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2818702 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 15:27:05 +0000 looch 2818702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Epicurious has some sophisticated slow cooker recipes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2818688 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 14:37:18 +0000 josina 2818688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure if this meets your criteria, but one I've recently tried and loved is a pork/beef roast, 1 pkg Ranch dressing mix, 1 pkg brown gravy mix, and 1 stick of butter. Just put it all in the crockpot and go. I also add carrots and potatoes. Yum and soooo easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2818679 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 14:16:28 +0000 bhbee 2818679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skinnycow: i was totally going to post this! It’s the best! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2818677 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 14:12:22 +0000 gingerbebe 2818677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our favorite vegetable beef soup is a dump and go type deal. Its basically a 2lb chuck roast that we cube up (or you can buy stew meat, but I prefer to cut my own), 1 can each corn, green beans, and peas, 1-2 peeled and cubed potatoes, 1 cup each chopped celery, carrots, and onions, a bay leaf, some dried thyme, 1-2 teaspoons of Better than Bouillon beef base, and fill with enough beef broth or water to cover. Then you adjust the salt and pepper at the end. DH LOVES this with just some French bread, but the kids prefer it with cooked rice added into their bowls. It makes it thicker and thus easier to spoon into their mouths.</p> <p>Same thing with chicken soup. We almost always just make it with boneless skinless chicken thighs and veggies and then add in a bunch of rice to the bowl before we serve it so its thick.</p> <p>We also like the Pasta Fagiole soup from Olive Garden - and there are tons of copycat recipes online. Its basically ground hamburger in a minestrone type soup. I just boil some elbow macaroni separately and keep it in the fridge to add later when we're serving it up. This ends up being more like a runny pasta dish with the kids.</p> <p>This site also has a lot of crockpot recipes that I've used successfully in the past:</p> <p><a href="https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipes/?search_recipes=Search+Recipes&#038;course_type=&#038;food_type=slow-cooker&#038;recipe_keyword=" rel="nofollow">https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipes/?search_recipes=Search+Recipes&#038;course_type=&#038;food_type=slow-cooker&#038;recipe_keyword=</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2818676 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 14:11:54 +0000 skinnycow 2818676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love this one: <a href="http://www.cookinglight.com/recipes/beef-daube-provencal" rel="nofollow">http://www.cookinglight.com/recipes/beef-daube-provencal</a></p> <p>We usually end up skipping the stove part of the recipe and just throw everything in the crockpot and it still turns out great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-crockpot-healthy-non-spicy-meat-stew-recipes#post-2818667 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 13:57:23 +0000 irene 2818667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use our crockpot quite a bit and have a handful of recipes, but somehow anything that went into the crockpot they always come out tasting pretty much the same: bland and the taste of overly cooked wet meat with salt, ack! </p> <p>DS doesn't do soups, chilli, curry or anything remotely spicy. I also want to avoid high-fat proteins like ribs or pork belly, the amount of oil that comes out of 6 hours of cooking is so unappetizing. He would eat meat+veggie dishes / stews, but with all the criteria it always ends up very bland and tasting the same. </p> <p>Any BEST crock pot stew recipes that you would recommend - that is a meat +veggie stew with really sophisticated (not spicy) taste ? I really want to use my crock pot more and actually love the food that comes out from it so I would love to pick your brains...Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-best-healthy-birthday-cakecupcake-recipe-in-the-world#post-2666002 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:40:36 +0000 irene 2666002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugsmama: Hahahaha! Gosh, I forgot about coworkers!!! That's a very good idea.... ! I guess I can start baking cookies too from now on! Have been shying away from that for the exact reason.</p> <p>@jhd: Thanks!</p> <p>Anyone else? A go-to birthday cupcake recipe?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-best-healthy-birthday-cakecupcake-recipe-in-the-world#post-2665962 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:08:10 +0000 jhd 2665962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our family loves Paula Deen's pound cake. I made it for LO's first birthday and served it with fruit. Several bees recommended it.</p> <p>ETA this is if you are ok with a not healthy option. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-best-healthy-birthday-cakecupcake-recipe-in-the-world#post-2665744 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 11:58:22 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2665744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: have your husband bring it to work if the test turns out good and if it turns out bad, toss it. I always want to bring my baked goods to work so my young skinny co workers can eat it and not me! If not work, maybe a homeless shelter or something? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-best-healthy-birthday-cakecupcake-recipe-in-the-world#post-2665729 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 11:33:43 +0000 irene 2665729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: @Adira: @ShootingStar: @mamainthesun: OK scratch that, what about the best birthday cupcake recipe with no restrictions??? :P </p> <p>The whole reason I want it to be "healthy" is I do need to make a batch to see if it is good before the big day. I don't want to make it and make my family and myself eat it... I guess I'll give it to my neighbors LOL</p> <p>@Adira: Yeah but substitution is going to come out different, sometimes failure. I just don't want to waste a lot of ingredient for a sub-par cake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-best-healthy-birthday-cakecupcake-recipe-in-the-world#post-2665692 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 10:54:28 +0000 looch 2665692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can do a wacky cake, it has no butter or eggs, but it does have flour and sugar...you could sub maple syrup for sugar.</p> <p>Or you can do a flourless cake, but that is going to have eggs and sugar. I think you can substitute cornstarch and water for eggs, I've done it before, but never in a flourless cake.</p> <p>Or you can do a tart...it doesn't have to be a cake, correct? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-best-healthy-birthday-cakecupcake-recipe-in-the-world#post-2665687 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 10:38:39 +0000 Adira 2665687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here's a cake that uses maple syrup instead of sugar. You could also sub the white flour for whole wheat flour.</p> <p><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/maple-chocolate-cake-56389419" rel="nofollow">http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/maple-chocolate-cake-56389419</a></p> <p>I've never made it before though, so I have no idea if it's any good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-best-healthy-birthday-cakecupcake-recipe-in-the-world#post-2665671 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 10:13:31 +0000 ShootingStar 2665671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't really see the point in making a "healthy" cake. They're all going to have sugar in them. Carrot cake has a ton of unhealthy ingredients. Might as well make a normal cake, let everyone enjoy a slice or two, and then get rid of the rest if there's any left. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-best-healthy-birthday-cakecupcake-recipe-in-the-world#post-2665661 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 09:52:55 +0000 mamainthesun 2665661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use the banana honey cake recipe they have here on the bee. I think it's called healthy smash cake. Don't have time to find the link sorry! But both adults and kids loved it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-best-healthy-birthday-cakecupcake-recipe-in-the-world#post-2665618 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 08:55:45 +0000 Adira 2665618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Could you just substitute regular flour for the almond flour in your recipe? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-best-healthy-birthday-cakecupcake-recipe-in-the-world#post-2665614 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 08:47:51 +0000 irene 2665614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have the best birthday cupcake recipe ever that you don't mind to share? Preferrably "healthy" -- as in, with limited butter and white sugar, or better yet, has healthy substitions? :P ?</p> <p>I have the BEST almond flour zucchini chocolate bread/cake recipe that I can make into cupcakes/muffins, but obviously that is not nut-free. I have another oat flour one that I make all the time, but then I kinda don't want to make birthday "muffins" you know! </p> <p>I never bake cupcakes because I don't want to make a bunch of goodies with tons of butter, cream and sugar, and I know I would stuff my face with it too. So I don't have much experience in that. Do you have anything you can share? We can even do a carrot cake. Please let me know :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-most-creative-and-easy-recipe-and-link#post-2566486 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 20:32:56 +0000 irene 2566486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: I made a version of the teriyaki salmon and broccoli bowl tonight! (I used soba noodles for DS and tofu/low carb noodles for me) I was worried the ginger was "too spicy" when I tried the sauce, but surprisingly DS ate it without complain! I am so happy :) You made my day/month/life lol. </p> <p>Now I only wish it had calories information hahaha. ETA: Oh wait, it does! Oh gosh this is just amazing :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-most-creative-and-easy-recipe-and-link#post-2566230 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 13:56:31 +0000 Mrs. Pickles 2566230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: thanks for that link, yum! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-most-creative-and-easy-recipe-and-link#post-2565802 Sun, 12 Jun 2016 21:10:01 +0000 irene 2565802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Thank you!!! All those look soooo good. After DS went to bed I was standing there in the kitchen for half an hour just browsing all of them.</p> <p>@Charm54: Thanks for the recipe! Yum!!</p> <p>@Bibliolove: Ahhh. It looks so good but DS won't drink soup or doesn't like any sort of spicy food. :( The other day I made a fish + vegetable soup/stew and asked if he wanted some. He didn't, of course. Then I had to drink that for 2.5 meals in a row because guess what, I am the only one eating it (DH is out of town). DS was like, mommy, why are you always drinking soup? Always? Ahh!!! I need a "cook whatever I want" vacation...! </p>