Healthy Recipes You Can Make in a Slow Cooker

Slow cookers, or crock pots, are more than just a convenience—they’re a fantastic tool for preparing healthy, nutritious meals with minimal effort. By using a slow cooker, you can save time and still enjoy wholesome dishes that are packed with flavor and nutrients. Slow cookers are an excellent tool for preparing healthy meals with minimal effort. These ten recipes showcase the versatility of the slow cooker, offering a range of nutritious options that cater to various tastes and dietary needs. By incorporating these recipes into your meal planning, you can enjoy convenient, flavorful, and healthful meals every day of the week. Here are ten healthy recipes that are perfect for the slow cooker, making meal prep a breeze and ensuring you have delicious, nutritious food ready when you need it.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Vegetable Stew

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups chopped carrots
• 2 cups diced potatoes
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
2. Add the chicken broth, carrots, potatoes, celery, and thyme.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until the chicken and vegetables are tender.
5. Shred the chicken before serving and stir in the frozen peas.

Why It’s Healthy: This stew is packed with lean protein from the chicken and a variety of vegetables, providing a well-rounded, nutrient-dense meal.

The Tesco Real Food team

Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried lentils, rinsed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Stir well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or until lentils are tender.
4. Remove the bay leaf before serving.

Why It’s Healthy: Lentils are a great source of plant-based protein and fiber, making this soup filling and nutritious. The vegetables add vitamins and minerals.

marmaladeandme.com

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
• 1 can kidney beans (15 oz), drained and rinsed
• 1 can black beans (15 oz), drained and rinsed
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Brown the ground turkey in a skillet and drain any excess fat.
2. Transfer the turkey to the slow cooker.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

Why It’s Healthy: This chili uses lean turkey as a protein source and includes a variety of beans for added fiber. The chili powder and cumin provide flavor without added calories.

Melanie Cagle 

Slow Cooker Quinoa and Black Bean Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients:

• 4 large bell peppers, tops cut off and seeds removed
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 1 can black beans (15 oz), drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine quinoa, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
2. Stuff each bell pepper with the quinoa mixture.
3. Place the stuffed peppers in the slow cooker.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until peppers are tender.

Why It’s Healthy: This dish is high in protein from quinoa and beans, and bell peppers are rich in vitamins A and C. It’s a colorful and nutrient-rich meal.

yayforfood.com

Slow Cooker Chicken and Sweet Potato Curry

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into pieces
• 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can coconut milk (14 oz)
• 2 tablespoons curry powder
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken, sweet potatoes, onion, and garlic in the slow cooker.
2. Pour the coconut milk over the top.
3. Stir in curry powder, ginger, salt, and pepper.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

Why It’s Healthy: This curry is rich in protein and fiber, with sweet potatoes providing a good source of vitamins A and C. The coconut milk adds flavor while being relatively lower in fat compared to cream.

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

Ingredients:

• 1 lb beef sirloin, thinly sliced
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced

Instructions:

1. Combine soy sauce, hoisin sauce, water, cornstarch, garlic, and ginger in a bowl.
2. Place the beef in the slow cooker and pour the sauce mixture over it.
3. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
4. Add broccoli in the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Why It’s Healthy: Beef sirloin is a lean cut of meat, and the broccoli adds fiber and essential vitamins. Using low-sodium soy sauce helps reduce sodium content.

Sarah Olson

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup black olives, sliced
• 1/2 cup artichoke hearts, chopped
• 1/4 cup capers
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
2. Add the tomatoes, olives, artichoke hearts, capers, garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

Why It’s Healthy: This dish is rich in lean protein from chicken and includes heart-healthy olives and artichokes. The Mediterranean flavors add depth without excessive calories.

AMAC, D.J. Wilson

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 large butternut squash, peeled and diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until squash is tender.
3. Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth.

Why It’s Healthy: Butternut squash is high in vitamins A and C and fiber. This soup is naturally creamy without added dairy and is perfect for a light, nutritious meal.

Kat Wirsing

Slow Cooker Chili-Lime Chicken Tacos

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Tortillas and toppings of your choice

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
2. Pour lime juice over the chicken and sprinkle with chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.
4. Shred the chicken and serve in tortillas with your favorite toppings.

Why It’s Healthy: This recipe uses lean chicken and is flavored with lime and spices instead of heavy sauces. It’s a lighter take on traditional tacos, perfect for a healthy meal.

Melissa Williams

Slow Cooker Vegetable and Bean Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 cup kidney beans, soaked and drained
• 1 cup black beans, soaked and drained
• 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Stir well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or until beans are tender.

Why It’s Healthy: This chili is packed with plant-based protein from beans and corn, and the variety of vegetables adds essential vitamins and minerals. It’s a hearty, filling meal that’s also high in fiber.

allrecipes.com