Your weekly Sunday dinner is coming and it’s time to prepare that menu.  But it never seems like there’s enough time to get it all done.  That’s why using your slow cooker to help prepare your Sunday family dinner can be smart, quick and economical.  Here are some great recipes to try this Sunday:

Leg of Lamb with Rosemary and Lemon

What you’ll need:

• 3 lbs. whole leg of lamb
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tbsp. prepared Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp. dried rosemary
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice (1 lemon, juiced)

Use a 4-quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine honey, Dijon, the spices, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir with a spoon to form a paste. Smear this paste on all sides of the lamb roast. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4-5. (image)

Slow Cooker Maple Ham

What you’ll need:

• 7-8 lb. bone-in spiral-cut ham
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup all natural maple syrup
• 2 cups pineapple juice

Use a 6-7 quart slow cooker. Unwrap the ham, and discard flavor packet. Place it into your stoneware, flat-side down. Rub brown sugar on all sides. Pour on maple syrup and pineapple juice. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Baste the ham with collected juice from the bottom of the crock an hour or so before serving. When cooking is done, remove carefully and let it rest on a cutting board for 15-20 minutes before carving.

Crockpot Garlic Smashed Potatoes

What you’ll need:

• 3 lb. small red potatoes
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 cup cream cheese with onions and chives, softened
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup whole milk or heavy cream

Halve or quarter potatoes to make pieces about the same size. Place potatoes in a 4-6 quart slow cooker. Add garlic, onion, oil, salt, pepper, and water and mix to coat. Cover crockpot and cook on high for 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours until potatoes are tender.

Mash potatoes roughly with a fork or potato masher. Stir in cream cheese and butter until mixed, then add enough milk or cream for desired consistency. You can serve this right away, or cover and hold it in the slow cooker up to 2 hours on low.

Beef Pot Roast with Thyme

Full recipe here.

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Season roast with salt and pepper.
2. Place half of potatoes, carrots, onion and garlic on bottom of slow cooker. Place roast on top of vegetables.
3. Add remaining vegetables. Spread around roast.
4. Pour broth over roast and vegetables.
5. Sprinkle with onion soup mix.
6. Top with fresh thyme sprigs.
7. Cover and cook on HIGH for 5 hours or LOW for 8 hours or until internal temperature reaches at least 160°F for medium doneness.

Serves: 12

Nutritional Information:  (Based on Individual Serving: 8 oz.)
• Calories: 350 • Total Fat: 16g • Saturated: 6g • Cholesterol: 95mg • Sodium: 500mg • Carbohydrates: 16g • Dietary Fiber: 2g • Sugars: 3g • Protein: 33g (image)

Slow Cooker Ham with Brown Sugar and Pineapple

What you’ll need:

• 1 6-9 lb. ham
• 1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple in unsweetened juice, or 2 cups of pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup packed, light brown sugar

Place the ham in slow cooker cut side down. Pour the can of crushed pineapple over it along with the brown sugar. Cook covered for about 3-4 hours on high, or 5-6 hours on low.

After the ham is cooked, pour off the pineapple mixture into a sauce pan and allow it to set until the fat separates and rises to the top.  Skim off the fat and discard.  Bring the mixture to boil, reduce to simmer until the mixture is reduced and has thickened.  Serve alongside the ham.

Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes

What you’ll need:

• 12 med. potatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper

Peel and chop or slice potatoes. Cook in water to cover for 3 minutes; drain. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Spoon into your slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours.

More slow cooker recipes can be found at our partner site, Hamilton Beach.