Forget diamonds, a crockpot is a girl’s best friend. (Well, after the freezer, that is.) Who else will slave away on lunch or dinner with nary a complaint while you go galivanting about the place doing whatever you want?
I use one of my three crockpots at least twice a week. In fact, many homeschool lunches are made sooo much easier by the using the crockpot. I just put the ingredients in the slow cooker when I wake up and can go about my day, knowing that our lunch plan is taken care of.
This simple soup recipe was a brainstorm to use up some leftover rice and beans that we had had for dinner the night before. Remaking leftovers is a great way to reduce waste and make the most of what you have. Most of these ingredients are pantry staples, making it an easy emergency supper as well. Reduce the amount of taco seasoning if you aren’t a spicy fan.
Bean and Rice Soup
2 cups cooked, cubed pork, beef, or chicken
1 cup cooked rice
2 cans black beans, drained
4 cups beef or chicken broth
2 Tablespoons taco seasoning
1 cup tomato sauce
Toppings: grated cheese, salsa, chopped cilantro, chopped onion
Place all ingredients in the crock of a slow cooker. Stir gently. Place the lid on top and turn on the cooker. Cook for 6 hours on low or 3 hours on high. Serve with toppings.
What’s a favorite slow cooker recipe of yours?
Link up your recipe below or tell us about it in the comments section.
Next week: St Patrick’s Day Feasts
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
I LOVE crockpot recipes! I use mine like once a week. I can’t wait to come back tomorrow and check out all the recipes, thanks! The soup looks awesome!
I affectionately refer to my crock pot as my “slave” because it does all the work! Nothing better than being out all afternoon for errands & coming home to a meal ready to eat. I shared an old post but it is one of my favorite soups to come home to on a rainy day!
The crock is simply a treasure chest when it comes to reworking left overs. That and the casserole in the oven! I finally made a quiche for the first time and share my trails today on the swap. All the best! Alex
Beans and rice…classic combo:-)
Hope you see this, couldn’t find out how to email you (I”ve been a reader for a few years now but don’t often comment)–I seem to remember your daughter is allergic to egg whites, but thought this article from tropical traditions suggested it’s not the eggs but the soy in them, so wanted to offer that to you to read!
http://www.grassfedtraditions.com/organic_soy_free_eggs.htm?s=e31011
I’m excited about trying the crockpot recipes. I love my crockpot, it has saved me many times.
In the past couple of years, I’ve really come to like crockpot cooking. I have several great recipes on my blog to share with everyone and I can’t wait to check out all of these blogs for even more delicious recipes.
I’ve been a lurker for a while now and finally today I decided to join in.
Love your blog! Thanks for hosting this swap!
Beautiful presentation of the soup on the white platter.. Looks really good.
My crock pot is an essential part of my life of four children and a job as a preschool teacher. I linked up our family favorite “Crock Pot Corned Beef”. It is finished off with a glaze in the oven. It’s delicious! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Question: If I wanted to use dried beans instead of canned, how much would I use?
@Wendy R, the recipe won’t work as is if you use dried beans. I usually cook up huge pots of beans and freeze them in 2 cup portions.
If you’re going to cook the beans in the soup, you’ll have presoak, omit the meat and rice, cook the beans all day, with possibly more liquid, and then add the other things an hour or two before serving. It’s pretty much a different recipe if you go with uncooked beans. Hope that helps!
@Jessica Fisher, What if you have frozen dried beans that you cooked ahead of time? Does that question even make sense? I cook dried beans and then freeze them in 2 cup portions. Thanks!
@Jessica Fisher, Disregard my question…as usual, with a more careful read of your response, I figured it out for myself!
I love crock pot dishes. Your soup sounds great. I didn’t have a ready recipe on my blog so I linked my latest soup, hope you like it!
I used to make this recipe for MOPS. It’s also great for big family breakfasts. I omit the sausage.
http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/41/Breakfast_Casserole55552.shtml
I’d love to try this receipe but I have one question. I usually don’t have tomato sauce on hand. What can I use as a substitute for that?
@Kay, how can you LIVE without tomato sauce?
It’s a staple here since my kids don’t love tomato chunks in their food. I add tomato by sauce.
You could sub fresh or canned tomatoes instead of sauce.
Thank you for hosting! I am always on the prowl for new recipes and I love to come home from work and have dinner ready!
Hi! I apologize for the above, I tried to leave my link and left my name in the wrong box. Didn’t mean to mess up the recipe list! Love seeing all of the crock pot recipes. My favorite!!
I just found your blog and thought I’d add a recipe…even though it isn’t for a crock pot. I hope that’s ok! I am going back to check all the good recipes already added.
everything looks yummy
Could you put the rice in uncooked in this recipe? I’m guessing you might have to increase the amount of liquid…
Yes, just add 1/3 cup uncooked rice and add liquid as needed at the end.
@Jenna, Try increasing the amount of chicken in the soup…maybe make it more like a stew, and I think your crew will be more satisfied.
@Jenna, I have a similar problem with my husband and he doesn’t even have the excuse of a hard job. He just doesn’t think soup is dinner. I can get away with things like beef stew — if it’s hearty enough. Also, he’s a big fan of bread bowls…
@Jenna,
I must be a mean wife and mom!!!
I just don’t give my family the choice. They would PREFER more than soup, salad, and bread, but some days, that’s just all they get!
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