Chicken and gravy is a major winter staple. If you put it in the crockpot, it’s incredibly easy and then you can concentrate on other things all day besides dinner. Let this super easy dinner make itself. The best thing is that it costs under $5!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tsp. thyme
• 2 tsp. oregano
• 1 1/2 tsp. basil
• 1 Tbsp. diced garlic
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 chicken bouillion cube
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1-16 oz. bag frozen mixed vegetables

Directions:

1. Grease the crockpot.
2. Put the olive oil in the bottom of the crockpot.
3. Add the chicken.
4. Spoon spices and garlic over chicken.
5. Add the rest of the ingredients.
6. Cook on high for 5 hours.
7. Add the frozen vegetables and cook for an additional 45 minutes.
8. Serve over biscuits or toast.
9. Tip: add more flour towards the end of the cook time if necessary.

Here’s a cheap, delicious and original dinner perfect for a cold November day. You can mix and match ingredients from around your kitchen, and your family is sure to be impressed. Pumpkin can be used for a lot of things besides pumpkin pie, and can be very good and hearty in savory dishes like stew. After trying this recipe, you’ll surely look at pumpkin in a whole new way!

Ingredients

• 1 Package Boneless Chicken Breast (cubed)
• 3 Tbsp Flour
• Cubed Fresh Pumpkin
• Chopped Carrot, Celery, Green Pepper and Onion
• Minced Garlic
• 1 Can Pinto or Black Beans
• Fresh Cilantro
• 1 Tbsp Canola Oil
• 4 Cups Chicken Broth
• Cumin, Chili Powder, Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions

• Coat chicken thoroughly in flour
• Heat oil in dutch oven, add cubed chicken and cook until browned
• Mix in chopped veggies and cook until soft
• Add in about 1/4 cup of chicken broth and scrape any brown bits off the bottom of pan
• Add remaining broth and spices
• Add pumpkin and bring mixture to a boil
• Simmer, covered at least one hour or until pumpkin is tender
• Mix in beans
• Serve, garnish with fresh cilantro

Tips

• Pumpkin does not get tender like a potato, it will always have a little bite to it, and almost have the consistency of spaghetti squash. If cooked thoroughly, it will be very hearty and meaty.
• As with any stew, use any extra veggies laying around your fridge or pantry.
• Other varieties of squash work great with this recipe.
• Try this recipe with different meats.