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Crockpot and Instant Pot recipes from staples and food box food

Use when someone has a crockpot (slow cooker) or an Instant Pot (pressure cooker) and wants easy, cheap meals from beans, rice, lentils, potatoes and canned food from the pantry.

In danger right now: call 911. Crisis or thoughts of suicide: call or text 988. Not sure where to start? Call the Silver City Gospel Mission: 575-388-5071. Police, fire or sheriff, not an emergency: 575-388-8840 (Central Dispatch). Print our list of phone numbers → · Food pantry calendar → · Free meals calendar → · Getting there: bus and rides →
These are the same steps our staff use when they help someone. "They" means the person who needs help: you, or someone you are helping. Go in order, and call ahead when you can.
In this guide
  1. Before you start
  2. Instant Pot pinto beans (no soaking)
  3. Instant Pot white rice
  4. Instant Pot lentil soup
  5. Crockpot green chile stew
  6. Crockpot pozole
  7. Crockpot refried beans
  8. Safety for both pots

1Before you start

A crockpot cooks low and slow all day. An Instant Pot cooks fast under pressure. Both use little power and only one pot.
At the Gospel MissionThe food pantry, food boxes and the Senior Pantry can help fill the pot. The thrift store may have low-cost crockpots.
Red kidney beans must boil hard for 10 minutes on the stove (or cook under pressure) before they go in a crockpot. A crockpot alone is not hot enough and raw kidney beans can make people very sick.

2Instant Pot pinto beans (no soaking)

Makes about 10 servings. About 1 1/4 hours.
  • 2 cups dry pinto beans
  • 7 cups water
  • 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 spoon oil (keeps foam down)
  • Salt, red or green chile to taste
  1. Sort out stones and rinse the beans.
  2. Put beans, water, onion, garlic and oil in the pot. Never fill more than half full with beans and water.
  3. Lock the lid, set the valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure 40-45 minutes (older beans need the longer time).
  4. Let the pressure come down on its own (natural release), about 20 minutes. Open only when the pin drops.
  5. Add salt and chile. If beans are still hard, cook 5-10 minutes more.

3Instant Pot white rice

Makes 6 servings. About 25 minutes.
  • 2 cups white rice, rinsed
  • 2 1/4 cups water, 1/2 spoon salt
  1. Put rice, water and salt in the pot.
  2. Cook on High Pressure 5 minutes. Let it sit 10 minutes, then release the rest of the steam.
  3. Fluff with a fork.

4Instant Pot lentil soup

Makes 6 servings. About 40 minutes.
  • 1 1/2 cups dry lentils, rinsed
  • 6 cups water or broth
  • 1 onion, 2 carrots or 1 can carrots, 1 can tomatoes
  • 1 spoon oil, salt, cumin, garlic
  1. Press Saute. Cook the onion in the oil 3 minutes. Press Cancel.
  2. Add everything else and stir. Scrape the bottom so nothing sticks (stuck food can cause a burn warning).
  3. Cook on High Pressure 12 minutes. Natural release 10 minutes.

5Crockpot green chile stew

Makes 6 servings. 6-8 hours on Low, or 4 hours on High.
  • 4 potatoes, cut in chunks (or 2 cans potatoes)
  • 1 onion, chopped, 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup chopped green chile (fresh roasted, frozen or canned)
  • 4 cups water or broth
  • 1 can chicken, beef or pork, or 1 pound raw pork or beef cut small
  • Salt
  1. Put potatoes, onion, garlic, chile and water in the crockpot. Add raw meat now if using it.
  2. Cover and cook on Low 6-8 hours. Keep the lid on; every peek adds cooking time.
  3. If using canned meat, stir it in for the last 30 minutes.

6Crockpot pozole

Makes 6 servings. 6-8 hours on Low.
  • 2 cans hominy, drained
  • 1 pound pork shoulder cut in chunks, or 2 cans chicken or pork
  • 1 onion, 3 cloves garlic
  • 2-3 spoons red chile powder or 1 cup red chile sauce
  • 6 cups water or broth, salt, oregano
  1. Put everything in the crockpot except canned meat. Raw meat must be thawed first, never frozen.
  2. Cook on Low 6-8 hours until the pork falls apart.
  3. Canned meat: stir it in the last 30 minutes.

7Crockpot refried beans

Makes about 10 servings. 8 hours on High.
  • 3 cups dry pinto beans, sorted and rinsed
  • 9 cups water, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, salt, cumin
  1. Put everything but the salt in the crockpot. Cook on High 8 hours, until beans are very soft.
  2. Scoop out most of the liquid (save some). Add salt.
  3. Mash with a potato masher, adding liquid until creamy.

8Safety for both pots

Instant Pot: Check that the rubber sealing ring is in place. Never force the lid open. Keep hands and faces away from the steam valve.
Crockpot: Start with thawed food. If the power goes out for more than 2 hours while cooking, throw the food out.

More help like this

Hungry today and needs food for the monthUse when someone is hungry now and also needs enough food for the rest of the month.Has special diet needs (diabetes, allergies, no teeth)Use when someone needs food that fits a health need: diabetes, food allergies, kidney or heart problems, soft food for missing teeth, or special baby formula.Someone is asking for money at your doorUse when a stranger knocks at your home or business asking for money, gas, food or a ride, and you want to stay safe, spot scams, and point them to real help.All food pantries in Grant County: places, days, times and what to bringUse when someone wants a list of every food pantry and free food distribution in Grant County, with where and when they are, who qualifies and what to bring.Wants to stock up on beans, rice, masa, flour, sugar, salt and oilUse when someone wants to buy basic staples (beans, rice, masa, flour, sugar, salt, oil) in bulk to save money and have food that lasts for months.Wants more fresh fruit and vegetables with SNAP (Double Up Food Bucks)Use when someone gets SNAP and wants more fresh fruit and vegetables. Double Up Food Bucks gives free extra money for New Mexico-grown produce at farmers markets.

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This guide is general information only, not medical, legal or other professional advice. Places and rules change, so please call before you go. In an emergency, call 911; in a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Disclaimer

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Questions, or want someone to walk through this with you? The Silver City Gospel Mission, 111 S. Texas St., Silver City, 575-388-5071, weekdays 9:00am-1:45pm. Everyone is welcome.