Top 5 Slow Cooker Healthy Recipes
It sounds like you’re interested in exploring the world of slow cooking, a method that has gained much popularity for its convenience, efficiency, and ability to create delicious, healthy meals. The slow cooker, also known as a crock pot, is fantastic for those who want to enjoy home-cooked meals with minimal effort for the whole family. They are especially useful for making large batches of food, allowing for meal prep that can last throughout the week.
The Appeal of Slow Cookers
- Energy Efficiency: Slow cookers use significantly less electricity compared to traditional ovens.
- Simplicity in Meal Preparation: They are perfect for one-step meals, reducing the temptation of opting for takeout.
- Flavor Enhancement: Slow cooking brings out more robust flavors in food.
- Tenderizing Meats: Ideal for making tougher cuts of meat more tender.
- Time-Saving: You can focus on other tasks while your meal cooks, thanks to the long cooking duration.
Meal Prep with a Slow Cooker
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- Versatility: You can prepare a variety of meals like soups, stews, casseroles, and one-pot dishes.
- Large Batch Cooking: Prepare a delicious meal like chili in large quantities and freeze portions for later use.
- Breakfast Options: Slow cookers are not just for dinner; you can also prepare breakfast meals like oatmeal or frittatas overnight.
Ingredients and Recipe Ideas
When it comes to ingredients, there’s a lot you can do with a slow cooker. Some popular choices include:
- Sweet Potatoes: Can be used in stews or as a side.
- Chicken Thighs and Skinless Breasts: Great for tender chicken dishes.
- Black Beans: Perfect for hearty meals and chili recipes.
- Brown Rice and Cauliflower Rice: Can be used as a base for various dishes.
- Healthy Vegetables: Such as butternut squash for soups or cauliflower in curries.
Tips for Slow Cooking
- Minimal Supervision: Slow cookers are designed to be left alone; frequently opening the lid can prolong cooking time.
- Seasoning Adjustment: Since slow cooking can intensify flavors, adjust seasonings to your taste.
- Thawing for Safety: If you’re cooking meat from a frozen state, ensure it’s fully thawed before placing it in the slow cooker for safety reasons.
Read Our Top Slow Cooker Reviews
Resources
For more recipe ideas and tips, the internet is full of resources. Websites, social media groups, and dedicated slow cooker cookbooks are great places to start. You’ll find a plethora of healthy recipes, tips for beginners, and inspiration for meal prepping.
Embracing slow cooking can be a game-changer for your meal routines, providing nutritious, delicious meals with minimal fuss. It’s a great way to ensure you’re eating healthy, home-cooked meals even on your busiest days.
Read our Top 5 Tips for Any Meal Prep Beginner.
These healthy slow cooker meals are delicious and take minimal effort and time.
5.) Slow Cooker Taco Lentil Soup
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This easy-to-make taco lentil soup from Ambitious Kitchen is packed with protein and tastes delicious. This soup is the perfect slow cooker comfort food to eat while hibernating at home in your coziest jumper, dreaming about vacationing in sunny destinations.
- Serves: 4
- Prep time: 10 mins
- Cook time: 4 hours
- Total time: 4 hours 10 min
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- one red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- four cloves garlic, minced
- one white onion, diced
- one jalapeño, seeded and diced
- 1 (28 oz) can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup green or brown lentils, rinsed
- 4 cups vegetarian broth
- one can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 tbsp. chili powder
- 1 tbsp. cumin
- one teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 tsp. salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup of frozen organic corn
Garnish
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
- Diced cilantro, sliced jalapeno, tortilla chips
Directions
- Place a medium pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, garlic, bell pepper, onion, and jalapeño.
- Sauté until onions are brown and soft.
- Add everything but the corn and the garnish to the slow cooker.
- Stir the ingredients together to combine.
- Cover and cook for 3-4 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low.
- Stir in the corn 20 minutes before serving.
- Top with cheese and garnish with extra cilantro, chips, and jalapeño.
4.) Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers
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Slow Cooker Gourmet’s stuffed pepper slow cooker recipe is a colorful, fun, and delectable way to eat healthily at home.
Peppers are a tasty addition to any dish, but have you tried stuffing them? Peppers can be loaded with a variety of ingredients to suit your taste.
Here is a great recipe that involves no pre-cooking. All you need to do is mix a few ingredients in a bowl, stuff the peppers, and let them cook for a few hours.
- Serves: 4
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 2 hours
- Total time: 2hours 15 minutes
Ingredients
- four large bell peppers
- 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 14.5 oz can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 cup Minute Rice Premium
- 3 tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1/2 tsp. chipotle chili powder
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. dried cilantro
- 1/2 cup water + 1/2 cup water in the slow cooker
- 1 cup shredded cheese blend
Directions
- Wash and remove the peppers’ seeds, ribs, and tops.
- Mix the beans, tomatoes, rice, seasonings, and 1/2 cup water in a bowl until it is all well combined.
- Fill the peppers to the top with the mixture.
- Add the other 1/2 cup of water to the slow cooker.
- Place peppers into the slow cooker, filling side up.
- Top the peppers evenly with cheese.
- Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 until peppers are tender and the rice is cooked.
Fancy a nice, healthy drink to go with your slow cooker meal? Check out these five healthy juice recipes that taste great and make you feel fit.
3.) Slow Cooker Omelet
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Start your day with this healthy slow cooker omelet recipe from Primavera Kitchen. You will probably already have the ingredients you need in your pantry.
The recipe can be made the night before for a quick and easy breakfast the next day and to save you time. This omelet is a hearty, homemade breakfast, brunch, or dinner meal.
- Serves: 6
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 4 hours 35 minutes
- Total time: 4 hours 45 minutes
Ingredients
- six eggs
- 1/2 cup of milk or almond milk
- one garlic clove, minced
- one red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- one small white onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Garnish
- Cherry tomatoes
- Fresh parsley
Directions
- Use cooking spray to coat the inside of the slow cooker.
- Combine the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and garlic in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until the mixture is combined.
- Pour the egg mixture into the slow cooker.
- Add the bell peppers and onions.
- Cover and cook on high for 2.5 hours.
- Sprinkle with cheese on top of the omelet and cover. Cook until the cheese is melted.
- add the garnish of fresh parsley and cherry tomatoes before serving.
2.) Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili Recipe
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Kitchen Mason’s vegetarian chili recipe is one of the slow cooker healthy recipes that can be enjoyed all year. This tasty recipe is all done in the slow cooker to save time and requires fewer dishes, which means less washing up.
Vegetarian chili is the perfect delicious meal for freezing and enjoyed at a later date.
- Serves: 6
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 5 hours
- Total time: 5 hours 15 minutes
Ingredients
- three carrots, peeled and finely chopped
- two celery sticks, finely chopped
- two small onions, finely diced
- three garlic cloves, minced
- 1 39g packet of chili seasoning
- 150 g dried split red lentils
- salt and pepper
- 800 g (2 x Tins) chopped tomatoes
- 400 g (1 Tin) of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 550 ml of vegetable stock
Garnish
- Sour cream
- Chopped fresh parsley
Directions
- Place the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, chili seasoning, and lentils into the slow cooker—season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the tinned tomatoes, kidney beans, and 300 ml vegetable stock.
- Stir well, then cook on low for 5-6 hours.
- Mix in the remaining 250 ml of vegetable stock.
- Serve immediately with sour cream and freshly chopped parsley.
Top Tip: For a more hearty meal, top a baked potato with the chili and grate some cheese.
1.) Skinny Veggie Slow Cooker Lasagna
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You can make this healthy lasagna recipe from Pinch of Yum in your slow cooker. It’s jam-packed full of veggies and all the goodness your body needs. Prep only takes 30 minutes, and then you can spend the rest of the day relaxing and doing chores while the lasagna cooks.
- Serves: 9
- Prep time: 30 minutes
- Cook time: 6 hours
- Total time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Ingredients
- two 24-ounce jars or cans of tomato sauce
- nine thick lasagna pasta with wavy edges
- 24 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese OR cottage cheese
- 3–4 cups chopped vegetables of choice
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella or provolone cheese
Garnish
- Parmesan cheese for topping
- Fresh parsley for topping
Directions
- Spray the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce on the bottom to ensure the pasta doesn’t stick.
- Break pasta to fit inside the slow cooker. Fill the bottom.
- Cover the pasta with one-third of the ricotta, veggies, sauce, and cheese.
- Place a layer of pasta on top.
- Repeat for two more layers.
- End with a layer of pasta on top and cover with a thin layer of sauce and some shredded cheese.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5-6 hours.
- Turn the slow cooker off entirely and let the lasagna sit for at least one hour.
- Serve, add garnish, and enjoy.
Click here for more Easy Crockpot Recipes
Need more detailed information about slow cookers? Please read our review on the best five slow cookers.
Which one of these slow cooker recipes would you like to make? Try them out to see how easy slow cooker healthy recipes can be.
