Crock Pot Cheeseburger Sandwiches
I've made these, they are delicious. If you want to lighten them up a lot, use lowfat milk and use Laughing Cow light cheese wedges. They're delicious and you save a LOT of fat. I use ground turkey or ground chicken. I have also found you don't need to cook them as long as it calls for, or they're overcooked. 3-4 hours is really good in my opinion since the meat is browned.
I've made these, they are delicious. If you want to lighten them up a lot, use lowfat milk and use Laughing Cow light cheese wedges. They're delicious and you save a LOT of fat. I use ground turkey or ground chicken. I have also found you don't need to cook them as long as it calls for, or they're overcooked. 3-4 hours is really good in my opinion since the meat is browned.
- Carbohydrate 19.8299586974913 g
- Cholesterol 683.38855479 mg
- Fat 144.376111206823 g
- Fiber 2.32319074327518 g
- Protein 195.737062457508 g
- Saturated Fat 76.0701793086339 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Recipe (1063g)
- Sodium 1876.64020262595 mg
- Sugar 17.5067679542161 g
- Trans Fat 12.5279721431726 g
- Calories 2197 calories
Step-by-step
- Brown beef in a skillet with one clove of the garlic and seasonings.
- Drain and mix with remaining ingredients in slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours.
Ground meat cooked long-term in a slow cooker requires precise fat rendering to prevent a greasy barrier from forming on bread. Browning lean ground beef with garlic at high heat first creates Maillard compounds that survive the subsequent moist-heat cooking phase. Draining excess rendered fat before combining the meat with cubed Velveeta ensures the sauce maintains proper cling without pooling on the plate.
Managing Moisture and Texture
Proteins cooked for five hours can easily turn mushy if the liquid ratio shifts during heating. Retaining structural integrity in ground beef relies on starting with a hot skillet and limiting added liquids to precisely two tablespoons of milk. When storing leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days, keep the meat mixture separate from the pretzel rolls to prevent structural collapse of the bread.
Second-Day Transformations
Leftover meat filling thickens considerably overnight as the cheese and proteins cool and set. Reheat portions gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring frequently while adding a single teaspoon of water at a time to restore the glossy, pourable consistency of the sauce. This chilled base also serves as an efficient filling for baked potatoes or stuffed bell peppers when piled high and broiled for three minutes until browned.
