The holiday season always seems to show up like a whirlwind. One minute we’re raking leaves, and the next we’re knee-deep in shopping lists, Christmas programs, last-minute Amazon orders, and trying to remember where we hid the wrapping paper from last year.

Add ranch chores on top of that – feeding livestock, fixing what broke again, keeping the mud at the door where it belongs – and the days get real full real fast.

But in the middle of the hustle, the noise, and the never-ending to-do list, there’s something beautiful that tries to get our attention:

Time.

Time for God.

Time for family.

Time to slow down and breathe in the moments we don’t want to miss.

That’s why simple things like throwing a meal in the crockpot matter more than we think. Less time in the kitchen means more time around the table. More time laughing. More time sharing stories. More time soaking in the season instead of stressing through it.

The holidays weren’t meant to be perfect. They were meant to be meaningful.

So here’s your gentle reminder:

Do what needs to be done, let go of what doesn’t, and make room for the moments that actually matter.

Because God and family?

That’s the heart of the season and the best part of ranch life.

I hope you enjoy these 10 Easy Crockpot Recipes!

1. Creamy Ranch Chicken

Ingredients:

• 3–4 chicken breasts

• 1 ranch seasoning packet

• 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese

• ½ cup chicken broth (optional if you want it saucier)

Instructions:

1. Place chicken breasts in the crockpot.
2. Sprinkle ranch seasoning over the top.
3. Add cream cheese block.
4. Add broth if using.
5. Cook LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 3–4 hours.
6. Shred chicken and stir everything together.
   Serve over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes.

🥘 

2. Beef Tips & Gravy

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs stew meat

• 1 packet brown gravy mix

• 1 packet onion soup mix

• ½ cup beef broth

• Optional: sliced mushrooms

Instructions:

1. Add stew meat to crockpot.
2. Sprinkle gravy mix + onion soup mix on top.
3. Pour broth over it.
4. Add optional mushrooms.
5. Cook LOW 7–8 hours or HIGH 4 hours.
   Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.

🥘 

3. Chicken & Stuffing

Ingredients:

• 3–4 chicken breasts

• 1 box Stove Top stuffing

• 1 can cream of chicken soup

• 1 cup water or chicken broth

Instructions:

1. Place chicken at the bottom.
2. Pour stuffing mix over chicken.
3. Mix soup + water/broth and pour over top.
4. Cook LOW 6 hours or HIGH 3–4 hours.

🥘 

4. Taco Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef, browned & drained

• 1 can black beans

• 1 can pinto beans

• 1 can corn

• 1 can Rotel

• 1 can diced tomatoes

• 1 packet taco seasoning

• 1 packet ranch seasoning

• 2 cups beef broth

Instructions:

1. Add browned beef to crockpot.
2. Dump in all canned ingredients (don’t drain).
3. Add seasonings.
4. Pour in broth.
5. Cook LOW 4–6 hours.
   Serve with cheese, sour cream, green onions, tortilla chips.

🥘 

5. Pot Roast (Mississippi Style Optional)

Ingredients:

• 3–4 lb chuck roast

• 4–5 potatoes, chunked

• 3–4 carrots, chopped

• 1 ranch packet

• 1 au jus packet

• ½ stick butter

• Optional: pepperoncini peppers

Instructions:

1. Place roast in crockpot.
2. Add potatoes + carrots around it.
3. Sprinkle ranch + au jus packets.
4. Add butter + peppers on top.
5. Cook LOW 8 hours or HIGH 4–5 hours.

🥘 

6. Cheesy Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 bag frozen shredded hash browns

• 4 cups chicken broth

• 1 block cream cheese

• 2 cups shredded cheddar

• Optional: bacon, green onions

Instructions:

1. Add hash browns + broth to crockpot.
2. Cook LOW 6 hours.
3. Add cream cheese + cheddar the last 30 minutes.
4. Stir until smooth.
   Top with bacon + green onions.

🥘 

7. BBQ Pulled Pork

Ingredients:

• 3–4 lb pork shoulder/butt

• 1 bottle BBQ sauce

• 1 onion, sliced (optional)

• Salt + pepper

Instructions:

1. Season pork with salt + pepper.
2. Place in crockpot.
3. Add onion if using.
4. Pour BBQ sauce over it.
5. Cook LOW 8–10 hours or HIGH 5–6 hours.
6. Shred and mix with juices.

🥘 

8. Chicken & Dumplings

Ingredients:

• 3–4 chicken breasts

• 4 cups chicken broth

• 1 can cream of chicken

• 1 can cream of celery

• 1 onion, diced (optional)

• 1 can biscuit dough (cut into small pieces)

Instructions:

1. Add chicken, broth, soups, and onion.
2. Cook LOW 6 hours.
3. Shred chicken.
4. Add biscuit pieces during the last hour.
5. Stir occasionally until dumplings are cooked through.

🥘 

9. Mississippi Chicken

Ingredients:

• 3–4 chicken thighs or breasts

• 1 ranch packet

• 1 au jus packet

• ½ stick butter

• 6–8 pepperoncini peppers

Instructions:

1. Place chicken in crockpot.
2. Sprinkle packets.
3. Add butter + peppers.
4. Cook LOW 6 hours or HIGH 3–4 hours.

🥘 

10. Cowboy Beans

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef, browned

• 2 cans pork & beans

• 1 can kidney beans, drained

• 1 can pinto beans, drained

• ½ cup BBQ sauce

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• 1 diced onion

• Optional: mustard, jalapeño

Instructions:

1. Brown beef + onion together.
2. Add everything to crockpot.
3. Stir to combine.
4. Cook LOW 4–6 hours.
   Serve as a side or main dish.

For More Ideas to make your home, ranch or farm life run smoothly, please subscribe to my blog! Bonus points for sharing with your friends and family!

Cassie Gilman

KL Cleaning N More