I shared this idea for a savory oats recipe five years ago. The photos are blowing my mind! Here's the original post (with a few edits):
This crockpot meal came out A-MAZING! Even --are you ready for this??-- The Husband agreed! He, the man who doesn’t like chilies or stews or one-pot anything! I was shocked, to say the least. This is totally my kind of meal, so it’s nice to have him on the same page for a change.
How did the 7-Year-Old like it?
He was not pleased to get a bowl of “stuff” all mixed together but he knows by now, resistance is futile. He’s not gonna win.
I asked him what he thought and he said, “It’s good!” “Thumbs up or down?” I asked.
HA! He may be giving the thumbs up but his face says it all. I reminded him that sometimes you eat something because you like it, sometimes you eat something because it's good for you, and sometimes you eat something out of respect for the person who made it for you.
How did The Toddler Like it?
I tried to give him a mix of the items deconstructed as well as all together in the bowl. He fussed, made faces, cried and screamed. He ended up eating 2 bites of chicken, taking a bite of carrot and spitting it out and having one spoonful of oats.
Then he gave the sign for all done. I looked at him square in the eye and said, “OK, no snacks until you finish your dinner,” to which he made a face because even though he doesn't talk much, the little bugger understands everything I say. About 45 minutes later he went to the pantry and said, “nnnack.”
“Not until you finish your dinner.”
He ran over to his chair and grabbed his plate. There were 3 carrots and 2 small pieces of chicken on it. Not too much to ask for dinner if you ask me. He picked up a carrot, thought about eating it for a minute and then threw it to the ground. Needless to say “nnnack” didn’t happen.
I have faith that one day all of this will be worth it. My kids will simply just eat with no bargains, faces, crying, or worry. Please tell me it’s possible. PLEASE!
Well, it's five years later, and I can now answer myself. It does pay off! The Now-13-Year-Old loves this type of meal. He's all about the home cooking. The toddler above who is now seven is still my pickier eater, but he takes his try bites with much less drama. Actually, it's giving me hope considering he's the same stage his brother was back then.
Savory Oat Stew with Chicken and Northern Beans
Prep
Cook
Inactive
Total
Yield 8 cups
Savory oats for dinner with chicken, carrots, and beans. A great mid-week slow cooker meal idea!
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel-cut oats (160g)
- 32oz chicken broth or stock
- 2-3 boneless chicken breasts (~20oz) (Mine were frozen)
- 4-5 carrots, cut into larger pieces
- 1 15oz can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tsp dried thyme
Instructions
Put everything in the crockpot.
Cook on high for 4-5 hours.
Before serving, shred the chicken breasts with two forks.
Notes
- Low for 7-8 hours would be fine too.
- Using frozen chicken is totally fine. This is one of the meals I throw in the crockpot before running out the door for work.
Cuisine American
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size ~1 cup
Amount Per Serving | ||
|---|---|---|
Calories 220 | ||
% Daily Value | ||
Total Fat 3 g | 5% | |
Total Carbohydrates 26 g | 9% | |
Dietary Fiber 5 g | 20% | |
Sugars 3 g | ||
Protein 23 g | 46% | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
so glad to see you popping back up on my computer!!!
Roni, this has been a staple at my house since you posted it way back when! It is my FAVORITE lunch to take to work!
That's awesome! I got a few requests for it not realizing people liked it as much as they did.