This post is sponsored by Crock-It Lock-It, a universal crockpot carrier that allows you to transport your delicious slow cooked food without spills! As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
slow cooker winter ratatouille

I didn’t call this blog Eats Well With Others for nothing.

As you might have guessed, I am a big sharer of food.

Some might even call me an oversharer. (But I’m not friends with those people anymore.)

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Suffice it to say, it is a rare occasion that I venture into someone’s house without something edible to shove into their face upon my arrival.

Which is all well and good except that so many of the best things in life are not really travel-friendly.

Like, for example, anything made in the crockpot. The cover never fits on right, so the food sloshes out everywhere the second you pick it up, and it takes TWO HANDS to hold it, which means you’re going to have to carry the other five things that you’re bringing on your head.

Non-ideal. (I’ve tried.)

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Buuuuttttt on the other hand, crockpot recipes tend to make enough to serve a small army with minimal effort, so they’re kind of perfect for big parties (cough Superbowl Parties cough), and unless you really love leftoversit’s probably best to remember that sharing is caring.

Enter the Crock-It Lock-It, which is pretty much the solution to all of our slow cooked food transport problems. It’s kind of a one-size-fits-all strap for the crockpot that essentially prevents the crockpot lid from moving while also providing you with a handle to tote it around all fashionable-like. With the Crock-It Lock-It, you can take your crockpot anywhere you go – potlucks, picnics, parties, tailgating, wedding dress shopping (WHAT?! WE NEEDED FUEL!!) – the sky is the limit!

The folks over at Crock-It Lock-It are offering up a coupon code for all of my fabulous readers, so if you decide to purchase one, enter the code “EATSWELL” when you pay, and you will receive $5 off your order!  In addition, they have also offered to let me GIVEAWAY  a crock-it lock-it to one of my readers!! To enter, please leave a comment telling me what your favorite crockpot meal is. For an extra entry, like Crock-It Lock-It on Facebook and leave a separate comment telling me that you’ve done so. The giveaway will run until January 15th.

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Now, if you’re stuck on what to make and tote around in your crockpot, have I got a stew for you!

This winter ratatouille is filled with a ton of rich slow cooked veggie flavor, as eggplant, kale, butternut squash, and potatoes are tossed with tomatoes and Italian seasoning, and allowed to simmer away for a whopping EIGHT HOURS. The smells that this will exude into your life all day long will rock your socks. And drive you a little crazy because you will be hungry for eight hours straight. It’s just the price you pay for deliciousness.  I served it over a creamy goat cheese-infused polenta, though I think it would also be great tossed with pasta, rice, or any grain of your choice!

This is my submission to Week 10 of the 12 Weeks of Winter Squash!! Did you include winter squash in your life this week? If so, then link up!!
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One year ago…Pomegranate-Glazed Eggplant with Tempeh, Butternut Squash and Ricotta Salata, Sweet Potatoes with Bourbon and Maple

Three years ago…Nutella Thumbprint Swirl Corn Muffins

Four years ago…Spaghetti with Artichoke Hearts and Tomatoes

Five years ago…Tofu in a Thai Red Curry Sauce

Slow Cooker Winter Ratatouille with Goat Cheese Polenta
 
Ratatouille gets a wintry twist with the addition of seasonal vegetables. It simmers away in the slow cooker all day and is then served over creamy, rich goat cheese-infused polenta.
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
For the ratatouille
  • 2 large eggplants, peeled and cut into ½-inch pieces
  • 2 tbsp coarse salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into ½-inch pieces
  • 1 lb fingerling potatoes, quartered
  • 1 bunch kale, stemmed and coarsely chopped
  • 2 tbsp butter, divided
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 medium red onions, halved and thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • 28 oz whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil
For the polenta
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 1½ cups polenta
  • 4 oz goat cheese
  • freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Put the eggplant in a colander and sprinkle with the salt, tossing to combine. Let sit on a paper towel to drain for 45 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, prepare the remaining vegetables. Grease the slow cooker with olive oil. Add the butternut squash, fingerling potatoes, and kale to to the slow cooker, tossing to combine.
  3. Melt 1 tbsp butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Add in the onions and garlic, along with a pinch of salt. Saute for 5-8 minutes, or until onions are tender. Add to the slow cooker.
  4. In that same pot, melt 1 tbsp butter with 1 tbsp olive oil. Whisk in the flour and tomato paste. Stir constantly until flour combines with the paste. Slowly stir in the whole peeled tomatoes. Simmer, mashing the potatoes against the side of the pot, until mixture thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. Stir in the Italian seasoning and vegetable broth. Add to the pot.
  5. Rinse the eggplant of the salt and add to the slow cooker. Add in freshly ground black pepper and stir to combine. Cook on low for 8 hours, stirring halfway through.
  6. Before serving, stir in the basil and remove from heat.
  7. For the polenta, bring the vegetable broth and water to a boil. Stir in the salt. Slowly whisk the polenta into the boiling water and lower to a simmer. Simmer until polenta reaches desired consistency, stirring frequently, anywhere from 15-30 minutes. When polenta is done, stir in the goat cheese and black pepper.
  8. Serve ratatouille atop a big scoop of polenta.
Notes
An Eats Well With Others Original
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 bowl

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101 Responses to Slow Cooker Winter Ratatouille with Goat Cheese Polenta #GIVEAWAY

  1. debbie says:

    Crockpot recipes = easy..and that is all good with me! My favorite thing to make in the crockpot has to be cabbage!

  2. I have experienced the dreaded sloshing and spillage when trying to travel with a slow cooker! No fun. This looks great and your ratatouille sounds yummy. I make tons of slow cooker meals!

  3. Oh yum. That lid definitely sounds perfect for potlucks. I always bring salads because they are much more portable.. Or desserts. I have been meaning to try slow cooker oats once I get my hands on a slow cooker

  4. Kristi says:

    Can you believe that I have not used my slow cooker all winter! I need to change that asap. I love my slow cooker. It’s so easy, and gets my house smelling all good. Thanks for the reminder!

  5. Katherine says:

    My favorite thing is pork tinga! The pork cooks all day and then we add it to a spicy sauce in the evening. Delicious!

  6. I’m always looking for crockpot recipes that are veggie heavy but can go a full 8 hours and this is perfect. I work so it’s an ideal healthy meal for weekdays that I can walk in the door and enjoy.

  7. Crock-it-Lock-it is brilliant! My fav dish for the crock pot is a sweet potato turkey chili.
    We’ve been using our crock pot at least once a week lately. And these cold temps call for amazing dishes like this one!

  8. This cover sounds brilliant. I always have trouble with transporting food made in crock pots.

  9. Jess says:

    This looks so delicious- goat’s cheese polenta sounds very tasty! 🙂

  10. Liz says:

    This cover is amazing!!! I love making chili in my crockpot esp during the cold weather like now!

  11. Anna says:

    I love using my small crockpot for making chickpeas. Just throw them in with water, turn it on low and go to sleep. In the morning they are ready for falafel, hummus, or other great recipes. 🙂 No soaking required.

  12. I got a nice big crock pot for Christmas where the lid can actually be secured for transport (the future is now!), but I’d love to have this for my smaller one. It’s the perfect size for making a ridiculous amount of cheese dip 🙂

  13. A lock lid?! COOL! I need one of those…like, yesterday. Also, Im love this winter ratatouille! I could seriously eat this every day.

  14. Love the idea of being able to securely transport a crockpot full of deliciousness to a friend’s house – your winter ratatouille sounds amazing!

  15. Abby says:

    haha I love that name, Crock it Lock it. This stew would be perfect to thaw my hands out at the moment, looks delish!

  16. Love this recipe, you’ve done it again! Also, my favorite crockpot meal is veggie chili – it’s the best! I’d love to win 🙂

  17. Shanna says:

    I love making ropa vieja in my slow cooker! That crock pot looks amazing.

  18. patsy says:

    I’ve come to love my crockpot over the last 2 winters, and this is just the kind of meal I’d love to come home to at the end of the day! Yum!!!

  19. carry on crockpot how awesome is that..Since I tend to be on the oversharers side, we’d totally be friends 🙂

  20. my favorite thing to make on crockpot is chili and refried beans.

  21. ali says:

    i don’t have a crockpot so winning would be awesome….. i am sure my lentil soup and chili would be great in the crockpot!

  22. Pam Gurganus says:

    My favorite crockpot meal is breakfast casserole!

  23. Pam Gurganus says:

    I like Crock-It Lock-It on Facebook.

  24. Beth says:

    My favourite crockpot meal is a stew of any kind. And this ratatouille looks like it would be a favourite too!

  25. Oh man goat cheese polenta, that is calling my name!! It must be an excellent compliment to the Ratatouille!!

  26. Monica says:

    With these non-existent temperatures right now, a big pot of ratatouille from the crock pot sounds like just the thing. You make me want to plug mine right in and get cooking!

  27. cori says:

    We always make crockpot chicken enchilada mix, then use it in a bunch of things throughout the week

  28. danielle says:

    Im a huge crockpot fan – this looks so good. I need recipes like this for days when the kids afterschool activities run late.

  29. So warming and delicious…a perfect winter dish.

  30. Kim says:

    short ribs are my fav thing to make in the crock pot!!!

  31. I would so not call you are over sharer – not even if you slopped and spilled some of this ratatouille on me! I adore veggie heavy soups and love this one – specially with the kale in too! YUM!

  32. This is great! I love making French Dips in the crock pot. One of my faves!

  33. Oh this would be heavenly on a day like this! I posted a polenta recipe too today – we should start a #polentapalooza wave! I wonder if you can make it in a crock pot….

  34. Caroline says:

    Hm… I’ve run into a lot of crock pot recipes but I’ve never owned one.. but it would probably be a stew of some sort.

  35. Caroline says:

    Liked on FB

  36. IN LOVE with this recipe. Pinning. You rock. That is all.

  37. Kristen says:

    I haven’t ever made anything in a crockpot or slow cooker, but I imagine my favorites would be slow braised beef or pork for taco filling!

  38. sandra says:

    I have never owned a crockpot so it is hard to say what my favorite recipe would be – maybe this one! Looks amazing – perfect for this weather… and a belated congratulations on your lab experiment! So nice when things work out.

  39. Emma says:

    Mmmmm ratatouille and polenta! Perfect wintry meal. That “crock-it-lock-it” sounds great. Most of the time my crockpot is just used for cooking dried beans, but split pea soup is another favourite thing to make in it 🙂

  40. gloria says:

    I love ratatouille and this look amazing Joanne!!

  41. That crockpot sounds amazing. Oh it sucks not living in the US sometimes :–(
    The ratatouille looks scrumptious as well! And goat cheese polenta? Sign me up! x

  42. Haley L says:

    I always love ratatouille and polenta with goat cheese sounds awesome. Can’t wait to try this!

  43. I don’t have a favorite because my crockpot doesn’t work properly – I’m in the market for a new one, though.

  44. Kat says:

    Lately I’ve been making Mongolian beef, my family loves it. Thanks for the giveaway.

  45. Kari M says:

    I love doing shredded chicken for tacos!

  46. my favorite recipe in the crockpot is applesauce. yum!

  47. Kate says:

    I love the crockpot for Mexican meals – throw some pork, steak, or chicken in it and you have the fillings for tacos, burritos, quesadillas – even tortilla soup!

  48. Kathleen Kennedy says:

    Pork shoulder with onions, chipotles in adobo, and Dr. Pepper! Yum!

  49. Nothing wrong with sharing food! I LOVE making Indian food in crockpot. I have a recipe from my mom for channa masala and I do it in the crockpot and it’s heavenly. I can’t wait to try it in a Crock it Lock it!!

  50. Just liked Crock it Lock it on Facebook, can’t wait!!

  51. Pam says:

    I love my crockpot! This stew looks fantastic.

  52. Ratatouille in a slow cooker? Be still my heart. Best idea EVER!

  53. Kelly D says:

    I like making veggie stew in the crockpot.

  54. sara says:

    This looks fabulous! I LOVE goat cheese polenta…the best comfort food ever. 🙂

  55. I absolutely LOVE ratatouille! Never had it with goat cheese polenta but it sounds fabulous! Love it more that it’s done via slow cooker AND it can feed a small army. Score! 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your week Joanne. 🙂

  56. Zoey says:

    I like chilli from the crock pot.

  57. Zoey says:

    I liked on Facebook. My name is “Zoey Dahling”

  58. Joan says:

    The larger crockpot would come in very handy. Thanks for the recipe and the giveaway.

    Is this how you enter for the giveaway?

  59. That is such a great idea! I love bringing Chili, Soup or Mashed Potatoes in my slow cooker and it’s such a PITA to haul.

  60. Claudia says:

    I love ratatouille and love polenta, so this has got to be a winner. Sorry, don’t have a crock pot. Just use a Dutch oven to slow cook.

  61. Kelster says:

    I use my slow cooker every week so it’s hard to choose a favourite. Quinoa chili and black bean ragout are made often though. Definitely favorites.

  62. I have only made stew in a crockpot before, but I love it!
    But this looks fantastic! I have never made ratatouille before, but I definitely want to!

  63. Amber says:

    My favorite crockpot meal is pork and sauerkraut.

  64. Mimi says:

    I want a crock it lock it! My favorite thing to make is beef stew!

  65. YUM!! I like using crockpots to keep stuff hot on social occasions. Chili is my fav!

  66. What a fabulous way to transport, just wish you were close to me here. I would enjoy a good ratatouille.

  67. This looks seriously amazing! I’m a big food sharer too – I so wish we lived close!! This delicious dish is right up my alley.

  68. Thanks for the giveaway chance. Lately my favorite crockpot meal has been pulled chicken…both easy and good!

  69. Mmmm, I love ratatouille! I can smell it cooking in the slow cooker already!

  70. jacquie says:

    I have never had a slow cooker so no favorite recipes

  71. Um. That is awesome. Pinning that neat little gadget. And the recipe. Duh.

  72. G’day Joanne Love the combination of flavors, true!
    Your photo and recipe is mouth watering too!
    Cheers! Joanne
    RT’ed and PINNED 🙂

  73. Not having a crock pot, I can’t appreciate the joy of a lockable lid as much as I appreciate the joy of this recipe 🙂 I wouldn’t make it in a crock pot, but I’m sure I’d love it!

  74. Katerina says:

    I hear of the freezing temperatures there so this ratatouille is the perfect meal to keep you warm and strong!

  75. Lynn says:

    My favorite Crockpot meal has to be spaghetti sauce – I love it when it’s cooked all day in a slow cooker.

    That ratatouille looks delicious!

  76. Lynn says:

    I liked it on facebook. 🙂

  77. Naomi says:

    My favorite crockpot meal is Chicken Taco Chili.

  78. Naomi says:

    I liked Crock-It Lock-It on Facebook

  79. Gaby says:

    My fav is lentil dahl with spinach in the crock pot…always lovely on those cold, rainy days. Just made myself hungry. Shoot.

  80. Jessica Perez says:

    Pulled pork for sure! 😀 yumm

  81. Oh yum, this ratatouille looks perfect for the cold winter weather we are having. It’s too hard to say what my favorite crock pot recipe I, there are too many.

  82. Reeni says:

    What a big crock of ratatouille! Love the thought of eating it over goat cheese polenta! A match made in heaven! That lock is pure genius.

  83. Julia says:

    Mouth…watering….! My gosh this looks amazing! I love ratatouille and have never made it in a slow cooker. This is definitely going down this weekend!

  84. Love this vegetarian meal! So warm and cozy, perfect for a day like today. I also love that you paired with polenta. Yum!

  85. Oh! I could reeeeally use one of these! I’m always in charge of bringing food to get togethers and it’s such a pain transporting it. My new fav crockpot dish is butternut squash lasagna of all things! YUM

  86. Emily H. says:

    My favorite is jambalaya with chicken and sausage!

  87. Hi Joanne! What a wonderful giveaway! So nice and generous of you to do this for everyone! I don’t own one yet ( sadly to admit) but I would love to get one and start using one since we always have parties around here, it would surely give me a hand in the kitchen! Funny, I never made ratatouille before, just the other day, my best friend made some and brought some over for me to try, and it was amazing! Thanks for a great recipe! Have a great recipe!
    Warmly, Anna

  88. Nutmeg Nanny says:

    Oh god this looks amazing!!! Can’t wait to use this recipe myself 🙂
    I love my crock-pot so much, my favorite thing is plopping a modge podge of leftover veggies and meat in there and letting it do it’s thing!

  89. Christine says:

    This sounds so good especially with the goat cheese polenta! Love the Crock It Lock It. Could have used this quite a few times in the past!

  90. Ashley Tucker says:

    Chicken and rice is my favorite crockpot meal.

  91. Miranda says:

    My favorite crockpot meal is rum raisin bread pudding. I contend that, because it is cooked in a crockpot, it totally counts as a well-rounded ‘dinner.’

  92. Phyllis E Palmer says:

    Love the LOCK-IT idea… so I “LIKED” their FB page!

  93. Meegan says:

    I love making any kind of chili in the Crockpot! The Crock-it Lock-it would be perfect for taking some to a super bowl party!

  94. Wow, that contraption is a great idea! I still haven’t gotten a chance to use my crockpot yet…one day!

  95. Deena kakaya says:

    It’s lovely to see a vegetarian slow cooker recipe, yours looks smooth and juicy! I love the idea of goats cheese polenta…creamy x

  96. […] Recipe & Photo credit to joanne-eatswellwithothers.com  […]

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  98. […] Joanne Eats Well with Others – Winter Ratatouille with Goat Cheese Polenta […]

  99. Pam D says:

    What size crock pot is this recipe for?

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