Slow Cooker Chili Soup

Chilly season is chili season! Right?!

We LOVE soup around here (okay, maybe just me and my Crockpot, do) and one of my favorite fall traditions I've carried over from my own childhood is a big, steamy bowl of chili and a gooey grilled cheese right after trick-or-treating on Halloween. Nothing beats coming out of the cold to a warm soup bowl and sitting down to a night of festive movies! It's so easy to have simmering all day long and ready to go when you get home with that heavy bag of treats--just slap a few grilled cheese sandwiches on the griddle while the kids sort through their goodies and you'll be digging into your new favorite cold weather dish in no time!

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE RECIPE CARD + PRINT!

In the spirit of full disclosure, my husband and I disagree when it comes to this dish. Growing up, this is what we had as our "chili", so that is what I call it. He deems it unworthy of a true chili (something about it lacking enough meat/beans/etc.) and has dubbed it "spicy tomato soup".  I mean, I do omit the beans in my version of this recipe, even though my mom never did, but I never liked a chunky chili--chili is a soup, not a casserole! I do like to add in a bit of cheese when I'm feeling indulgent. Do you think this recipe qualifies as a chili? I titled my recipe "chili soup" as a sort of compromise, but, whatever you call it, I promise you'll be adding it to your regular rotation because it's delicious!

Can You Freeze It?

Since we're only a few weeks out from having baby #3 over here, I decided to go ahead and whip up a batch for my freezer. I simply cooked and crumbled the ground beef and added it to a gallon freezer baggie along with the other ingredients listed, sealed and double bagged it, and tossed it in the freezer. In a month, I'll thaw it (just enough to get it to slide out of the bag) and dump it in my slow cooker for an easy dinner I don't have to think about while trying to juggle THREE KIDS. Still wrapping my head around that one.

Do you have any Halloween traditions? What about other holidays? What meals are a standard for you during the festivities? I would love to hear about them in the comments! And let me know if you think this recipe counts as "real chili" or not! I can't be totally alone!

 

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Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup | Olive Garden Copycat!

When Your Favorite Restaurant Is Out Of Reach...

I don't know about you, but Olive Garden is definitely one of my top favorite restaurants. Now that we live about 30 minutes away from the nearest location, I've realized how much I miss not only that creamy, delicious alfredo but also that warm, comforting bowl of Chicken Gnocchi Soup that welcomes me while I wait for my entree.

...You Start Trying To Recreate Your Favorite Dishes At Home!

Now that your mouth is watering and you're locating your nearest OG, let me just tell you: this recipe is JUST like the real thing. Dare I say, better? I mean, things do just taste better at home sometimes and the fact that this recipe whips up with ease in the crockpot means I can enjoy it even on my busiest night of the week! Go ahead and click the image below to download this printable recipe card for yourself!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD

Every Season is Soup Season

I won't bore you with any other details, except to say that if you love Olive Garden's chicken gnocchi soup, you'll love this at-home recipe! And even if you've never had their soup, you're sure to enjoy a light, yet hearty, bowl of this year-round staple soup! Even my kids love it, spinach and all!

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Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Everyone Loves Comfort Food

Everyone has their go-to comfort foods when fall is here. Is it something from your childhood, that your mom or grandma used to make? Is it something your own kids love and beg you to make? I have a lot of comfort food favorites, but would you believe that beef stroganoff has never been one of them?

Making Comfort Food Budget Friendly

I feel like so many people had beef stroganoff all the time growing up or make it regularly now as adults, but my family never did! I decided to finally try it for myself and this slow cooker version is just perfect for cozy, cool weeknight evenings.

Nothing says comfort food to me more than something warm, creamy, and full of flavor! This recipe is rich with savory mushrooms, hearty bites of beef, and a velvety sauce. What I really love about it is its flexibility: if you're on a budget, opt for affordable ground beef instead of more expensive stew meat and you can still get that delicious flavor without stretching your monthly grocery bill. Using ground beef is also a great way to stretch a meal for a large group!

Click the image below to download the printable recipe card!

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE RECIPE

Recipe Notes + Customization

As I said above, you can use ground beef in place of stew meat, but I actually had a couple of frozen strip steaks that I needed to use up, so I diced and seared them and they worked perfectly! I also had some pre-cooked, sliced mushrooms I had frozen a few weeks ago so this truly was a dump and go recipe this time! I recommend waiting to add any mushrooms when you add the cream cheese, pre-cooked or raw, so that they don't get soggy sitting in the sauce the entire time. Of course, that's entirely up to you! Make this recipe yours by customizing it any way you choose and find what works for your family! You could add peas, omit mushrooms, swap cream cheese for sour cream...the options are endless!

I'm so glad I decided to finally try a recipe that looked so good to me but was unfamiliar! Now we have another comfort food staple in our routine. Comfort food doesn't always have to start in our comfort zone!

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Slow Cooker Chicken + Stuffing

It might be like 1000 degrees outside, but that doesn't stop me from craving comfort food now and then. Couple those cravings with several days of no air conditioning and you've got the perfect recipe for a slow cooker meal in the making.

My mom has made a variation of this dish since I was little and it has always been a favorite! I love to throw it in the Crockpot when I'm feeling nostalgic or just craving Thanksgiving in July! Of course you can make this year round (who doesn't love their slow cooker in the fall and winter?!), but I think we tend to forget about this handy little kitchen gadget during the warmer months when we don't feel like cranking on the oven.

The best part of this meal is that it's pretty much a dump and go dinner, meaning I don't have to think twice about it once it's put together. That's definitely a bonus in my busy mama book! Download or pin the recipe below for later, because you'll definitely want to have this one on hand!

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD

We always meal plan for two weeks at a time and this is one of those dinners that always ends up back on the rotation with no complaints! We tend to serve it with rice (once I used mushroom rice and it was a major crowd-pleaser!), but it can definitely be served on its own with a side of veggies if you're looking for a low carb option. We find this to be such an affordable option when we're trying to cut back on the grocery budget so I highly recommend it for big families, gatherings, or just cheap weeknight menus. Happy eating!

SHOP MY GO-TO KITCHEN GADGETS + ACCESSORIES HERE

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Cookie Butter Truffles

Christmastime calls for decadent desserts, but I don't always have the time to whip up a fantastic display of treats in a hurry. These cookie butter truffles are rich, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness and so simple to make! They only take 4 ingredients and come together in just a few minutes (not including fridge time), so your last minute party snack can be a breeze! Download or pin the recipe card below:

Click the image below to download the printable recipe!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE RECIPE

I decided to be fancy and went for the holly sprinkles for this batch, but was soon filled with regret--these little things took forever to place oh-so-carefully on each little truffle before the chocolate melt set. I think I made maybe a dozen before I gave up and started sprinkling recklessly. I do love how they look with the dainty, "perfect" holly leaves, but I think a colorful sanding sugar or other type of holiday sprinkle would easily look just as festive and take half the time! You could even color some of your chocolate to add a colorful drizzle!

However you choose to decorate your cookie butter truffles, I know they'll be the hit of the party! They are so rich and delicious but so simple to make and always a crowd pleaser! Merry Christmas!

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Pink White Hot Chocolate

Looking for a sweet way to warm up this Valentine's season? Satisfy your sweet tooth and snuggle up with a warm mug of this PINK white hot chocolate! It's rich, festive, and perfect for a cozy night in by the fire, celebrating a day of love!

Have you ever made hot cocoa from scratch? It's so incredibly easy and tastes so much better than the mix kind. The best part is it only takes a few minutes to whip up a whole batch and you can control the ingredients so you know exactly what's going into your mug. I bet this would be delicious with other flavors like coffee or caramel, too!

CLICK THE RECIPE TO DOWNLOAD + PRINT!

CLICK THE RECIPE TO DOWNLOAD + PRINT!

Even the kids loved this fun hot cocoa recipe! It's a delicious treat after playing outside in the snow that the whole family will enjoy! You can customize the recipe in any color you like, or leave it plain white and just enjoy it with your sweetie on a cold winter's night! If you're having a Valentine's date night in, this is the perfect addition!

What do you have planned for Valentine's Day this year? Do you prefer a night on the town or an intimate night in?

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Easy Parmesan Roasted Green Beans

Fun Fact: I'm the world's pickiest eater. The list of foods I do like is a lot shorter than the list of foods I despise, and like most toddlers, I struggle to get in all of my fruits and veggies. Thankfully, I've found quite a few recipes over the years that make getting my greens fun and delicious and today's recipe is one even my kiddos have praised! It's all thanks to the addition of savory and authentic Parmesan Reggiano® cheese.

Parmesan Reggiano® is not your average parmesan cheese. This stuff is the real deal, imported straight from Parma, Italy and it even has the pin-dots on the rind to prove it! I love the flavor of Parmesan Reggiano® and the tanginess it adds to plain green beans, but did you know that parmesan cheese is actually pretty good for you? It's naturally lactose free thanks to it's long aging process, making it easy to digest, as well as being packed with added protein and calcium! You can read more about the health benefits of parmesan cheese here. Isn't it great that I can make a healthy food like green beans taste even better with another healthy ingredient? Who knew?!

These Parmesan Roasted Green Beans are such a quick and easy side dish to go with you next meal. Even your kids will be asking for seconds! The fresh grated Parmesan Reggiano® gives it such an intense flavor that really takes this dish from average to outstanding, and also fun to make! Download the recipe below to try it for yourself:

{CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE RECIPE}

If you're a fan of fettuccine alfredo, chicken parmesan, fondue, cheese platters, or any other parmesan-worthy dish, try Parmesan Reggiano! It will completely change how you look at typical pre-grated parmesan!

*Thank you to Parmesan Reggiano® for sponsoring this post! All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting Like Honey!*

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