Kitchen Clean Out: What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Cook

I always find myself not knowing what to cook. I also find myself having a ton of random ingredients in my fridge and pantry. Many times, it’s a lot of random vegetables that will go bad soon, but I hate wasting food. So, I came up with a foolproof method to turn those leftovers into a delicious, easy meal. I call it a Kitchen Clean Out. At the end of this post, I’ll share my latest creation using this method!

My Go-To Solution: The Crock Pot

I will never stop talking about it. If you have read my Kitchen MVPs Blog, you know that I love my Crock Pot. The slow cooker is a lifesaver when you’re not sure what to make and have a mix of ingredients on hand. It’s easy, requires minimal effort, and lets you create flavorful, healthy meals while preventing food waste.

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

Take inventory of what you have in your kitchen. Look in your fridge, freezer, and pantry to see what needs to be used up. Ideally, you wan to have a mix of some of the food groups:

• Vegetables: I usually have odds and ends like bell peppers, onions, carrots, celery, or leafy greens. These are perfect for a Crock Pot meal.
• Protein: I almost always have chicken breasts in my freezer, but you can use any protein you have—ground beef, sausage, tofu, or even canned beans.
• Grains or Starches (Optional): If you have rice, quinoa, beans, or potatoes, they can help make your meal heartier. Uncooked rice or quinoa will need extra liquid, while beans can be added as-is.
• Extra Additions: Don’t forget about ingredients like canned tomatoes, coconut milk, or frozen vegetables. These can enhance both flavor and texture while helping clear out your pantry.

Step 2: Choose a Liquid Base

The key to a good slow cooker meal is having enough liquid to keep everything moist and flavorful.

• Broth: Chicken, vegetable, or beef broth are my go-tos. As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, I like to keep chicken broth in my pantry for times like this. If you’re out of broth, water works too, though you may want to add extra seasonings to boost the flavor.
• Other Liquids: Coconut milk, tomato sauce, or even a splash of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce can bring an extra depth of flavor to your dish.
• Creative Choices: You can also try adding a bit of wine, apple cider vinegar, or even salsa for a unique twist (depending on your main ingredients). These unexpected ingredients can transform a simple dish into something unique and delicious.

Step 3: Season to Taste

This is where the magic happens! Check your spice cabinet and use what fits the flavor profile you want.

• Basic seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder are essentials.
• Flavor boosters: Italian seasoning for a classic taste, cumin and chili powder for something smoky, or curry powder for a warm, spiced dish.
• Extra depth: Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, or even a squeeze of lemon juice at the end can elevate the dish.
• Fresh Herbs: If you have fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, or thyme, adding them at the end of cooking can provide a fresh, bright flavor.

In the past, I have had an extra andouille sausage from my Cajun jambalaya recipe, so I seasoned my dish with the same spices I use for that recipe.

Step 4: Put Everything in the Crock Pot

Once you’ve prepped everything, just toss it all into the slow cooker. If you want the seasoning to distribute more evenly, mix it with your broth before adding it. 

• Cooking time:
  • Low for 6-8 hours
  • High for 3-4 hours
• Adding grains: If using rice or quinoa, add extra broth to prevent drying out. If using pasta, cook it separately and stir it in at the end.

Step 5: Enjoy Your Creation!

When it’s done, give it a good stir and serve! You now have a healthy, flavorful meal that saved you from food waste and an extra grocery run (and money!).

My Latest Crock Pot Creation

To be honest, I don’t know why I bought so many vegetables this week, but here we are. I had two red bell peppers, two yellow onions, a bag of celery sticks, and a small bag of cauliflower florets that needed to be used up. So, I decided to make a smoky Italian-style chicken dish.

Ingredients I Used:

• 2 red bell peppers, chopped
• 2 yellow onions, chopped
• 3 celery sticks, chopped
• Small bag of cauliflower florets (left whole)
• 2 frozen chicken breasts
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

How I Made It:

1. I washed and chopped all my vegetables, except for the cauliflower, which I left whole.
2. I placed the chopped veggies in the Crock Pot and added the frozen chicken breasts on top.
3. In a separate bowl, I mixed the chicken broth with all the seasonings and Worcestershire sauce.
4. I poured the seasoned broth over everything and placed the cauliflower florets on top.
5. I set the slow cooker on low for 5 hours, and that was it!
6. Once it was done, I shredded the chicken with two forks and stirred everything together to distribute the flavors evenly. As you know, I love adding extra seasoning, so I tasted it and added more spice.
7. I ate it as a stew, but you could also serve it over rice or pour it over mashed potatoes.

My result was a rich, smoky, Italian-flavored meal with tender chicken and perfectly cooked vegetables. It was tasty, comforting, and, best of all, made from ingredients I already had on hand.

Final Thoughts

Next time you find yourself staring into your fridge, overwhelmed by random ingredients, don’t stress. Just grab your Crock Pot, throw in what you have, and let it do the work. It’s easy, delicious, and helps cut down on food waste. What’s not to love?

One of my favorite reasons to use this method is that I feel like I’m on an episode of “Chopped”.

Here are a few extra tips to make this method even better:

• Use leftovers wisely: If you have leftover soup or stew, repurpose it into a sauce for pasta or use it as a base for another meal.
• Make it creamy: Stir in some cream cheese, Greek yogurt, or coconut milk at the end of cooking for a richer, creamier dish.
• Experiment with toppings: Fresh herbs, shredded cheese, or even a dollop of sour cream can really elevate a dish.

Have you tried a similar “clean out the fridge” Crock Pot meal? Let me know in the comments what you threw together!

Make sure to check out my last blog, where I share my Cajun Jambalaya Recipe!

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