50 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes - Delicious and Cozy Meals! (2024)

This roundup of 50 healthy slow cooker recipes from around the web is perfect for your weeknights. Some of these recipes are also vegetarian, gluten-free, low-carb, low-fat, warm, filling, and of course, very satisfying!! I hope you enjoy these healthy and tasty recipes!

50 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes - Delicious and Cozy Meals! (1)

For busy weeknights, the slow cooker is alifesaver. Before you leave for work for the day, you can toss your ingredients into the slow cooker and set it on low for 7 hours and have your dinner ready once you’re home. It’s so convenient to use the slow cooker since you’re able to leave it unattended. Set it and forget it is pretty much its tagline!

I often use mine and adore the fact that I can make delicious, healthy, and good food with a simple method. I use it a lot, especially from October to March, because here in Canada, the winter is pretty cold. So comfort food from my slow cooker is what my family and I really need. What I like most about this slow cooker is that it shifts to the warm setting automatically once the cooking time is complete. Also, the stoneware and lids are dishwasher-safe, making it very easy to clean.

So, How Does a Slow Cooker Work?

Slow cookers work similar to a Dutch oven on the stove top. However, instead of having a flame under the pot, the slow cooker works by trapping heat that it’s producing on the bottom and slowly cooking food over a long period of time.

With this slow and low method of cooking, tougher cuts of meat cook up wonderfully in the slow cooker as it helps tenderize them so the meat will practically melt in your mouth.

Tips for Using a Slow Cooker

Because of how the slow cooker works, my go-to tip for using a slow cooker is to not open the lid while it’s cooking. It might be tempting to take a sniff or taste test but when you open the lid, the heat leaves and the slow cooker needs to take the time to build up that heat again.

Also, make sure you follow the recipes as stated. If you add ingredients like wine, double check the measurement. As you don’t get much evaporation and you can’t cook out the wine like you do on the stovetop, it can be overpowering if you add more than the recipe states!

Another tip would be avoid adding in dairy too early into your recipes. If the recipe calls for dairy, make sure to add it in at the end to avoid it being curdled from being cooked on low heat for a long period of time.

What Slow Cooker I Use

The picture below shows my slow cooker. I love it and have never had any problems with it. It even came with a little dipper warmer. Check out the listing on Amazon. It has a 4.5-star rating from over 400 reviews.

What Size Slow Cooker Should I Use?

Slow cookers come in a variety of sizes. You can find them as small as 2 qt or as large as 10 qt. What size you’d like really depends on how much food you plan on making! If you like to make enough to have leftovers for the week, I’d suggest getting anything from a 6qt to 10qt.

What To Serve With These Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Since most of these healthy slow cooker recipes are main dishes, here are some delicious side dishes you might want to make to go with them: Arugula Blackberry Salad, Brussels Sprouts Bacon Salad, Easy Broccoli Salad Recipe, Easy Coleslaw Recipe, Autumn Beet Orange Salad Recipe.

50 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

From Primavera Kitchen

Easy Whole30 Pumpkin Chili Recipe (Slow cooker instructions in the post. Pictured below.)

Slow Cooker Zucchini Lasagna

Instant Pot Keto Chili (Slow Cooker Instructions in the post. Pictured Below)

Christmas Morning Slow Cooker Omelet

Slow Cooker Italian Sausage and Peppers (Pictured Below)

Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Slow Cooker Chicken and Sweet Potato (Pictured Below)

Super Easy Slow Cooker Chili

Easy Slow Cooker Carnitas Recipe (Pictured Below)

Slow Cooker Beet Chili

Homemade Meat Sauce Recipe (Pictured Below)

Turnip and Carrot Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Slow Cooker Chicken Chili Recipe (Pictured Below)

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Chili

Healthy Slow Cooker Red Wine Beef Stew (Pictured Below)

From Around the Web

Slow Cooker Cheesy Enchilada Quinoa Bake from Chelsea’s Messy Apron (Pictured down below)

50 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes - Delicious and Cozy Meals! (10)

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos from 40 Aprons

Slow Cooker Asian Short Ribs from Cook Nourish Bliss

Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup from Cook Nourish Bliss

Beef Daube Provencal in the Slow Cooker from Spicy Southern Kitchen (Picture Below)

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Slow Cooker Corn & Red Pepper Chowderfrom Oh My Veggies

Slow Cooker Indian-Spiced Chickpeas and Potatoes from Oh My Veggies (Picture Below)

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4-ingredient Slow Cooker Pulled Chickenfrom Running to the Kitchen

Best Ever Slow Cooker Baked Beans from Making Thyme for Health (Pictured Below)

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Slow Cooker Hoisin ChickenfromCookin’ Canuck

Healthy Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs fromCookin’ Canuck (Pictured Below)

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Slow Cooker Quinoa, White Bean, and Kale Soup from Chelsea’s Messy Apron (Pictured Below)

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Slow Cooker Skinny Parmesan Spinach Dip from The Cookie Rookie

Slow Cooker Tex Mex Soup from This Gal Cooks (Pictured Below)

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Slow Cooker Veggie Lasagna from Hip2Save

Slow Cooker Beef Fajitas from Diethood

Slow Cooker Sesame Garlic Chicken from Cooking Ala Mel (Pictured Below)

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Slow Cooker Quinoa and Vegetables Recipe from Moms with Crockpots

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs from Damn Delicious (Pictured Below)

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Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken from Gimme Some Oven

Slow Cooker Irish Beef StewEncore from TasteFood Blog

Slow Cooker Barbacoa from Gimme Some Oven (Pictured Below)

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Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup from Eat Good 4 Life

Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken from Eat Good 4 Life (Pictured Below)

50 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes - Delicious and Cozy Meals! (20)

Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Capresefrom Well Plated

Slow Cooker Jamaican Jerk Chickenfrom Garden in the Kitchen.

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Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Pulled Pork Tacos from Well Plated (Pictured Below)

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Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup Recipe from Add a Pinch

Slow Cooker Salsa Pork from Taste and Tell Blog

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup from Cooking Classy (Pictured Below)

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Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Soup from The Roasted Root

Cider-Chai Slow Cooker Pulled Pork from The Roasted Root (Pictured Below)

Slow Cooker Roasted Chicken from Eat Good 4 Life

Slow Cooker Enchilada Quinoa from Creme de la Crumb (Pictured Below)

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Light Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken and Rice BowlsfromJulie’s Eats and Treats

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce from Damn Delicious (Pictured Below)

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Thanks a lot for reading.Want to browse all of my healthy recipe posts? Follow myPrimavera Kitchen board on Pinterest! For the cold months, I also have great Pinterest boards full of awesome recipes Healthy Slow Cooker Meals,Healthy Winter Recipes, and Soups and Stews. I hope you enjoy all the delicious and healthy recipes I have there!

If you like these recipes, please share them with your friends and family. Do you want to taste more? Subscribe to my newsletter, and follow Primavera Kitchen on Twitter, Pinterest,Instagram, and Facebook for all delicious recipe updates. As always, I really appreciate you stopping by.

50 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes - Delicious and Cozy Meals! (2024)

FAQs

What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
  1. Raw Meat.
  2. Seafood.
  3. Pasta.
  4. Rice.
  5. Delicate Vegetables.
  6. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
  7. Dairy.
  8. Wine and Other Liquor.
Jan 19, 2024

Is cooking in the crockpot healthy? ›

Yes, if you use them correctly. The slow cooker cooks foods slowly at a low temperature, generally between 170 and 280 degrees F, over several hours. The combination of direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking and steam, destroys bacteria making the slow cooker a safe process for cooking foods.

What is good to cook in a slow cooker? ›

Slow cookers are great for cooking cheaper cuts like beef brisket, pork shoulder, lamb shoulder and chicken thighs. You can also use less meat, as slow cooking really extracts a meaty flavour that permeates the whole dish. Bulk up with vegetables instead.

Can you put raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

Yes, you can add raw steak to a slow cooker to cook it to your desired doneness level. Slow cooking steak is a convenient way to cook steak over several hours, tenderizing it and adding exceptional flavor along the way.

What's the difference between slow cooker and Crockpot? ›

A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker. Crockpot popularized slow cookers when they launched their version in the 1970s.

Which is better a Crockpot or a slow cooker? ›

If you're planning to cook your meals mostly when you're not home or overnight, then sticking to a Crockpot might be a better choice, since the heat distribution is more even and there is no need to stir at all.

What is the healthiest meat to slow cook? ›

common lean roasts found in the grocery store
  • chuck tender roast. A lean roast that requires slow cooking to tenderize.
  • shoulder roast. An inexpensive chuck cut with good flavor and good for roasting or slow cooking.
  • rump roast. A boneless and lean cut ideal for slow cooking.
  • eye of round roast.

What vegetables should not be added to a slow cooker? ›

Tender vegetables

Vegetables such as peas, asparagus and peppers can become a flavorless, mushy mess in a slow cooker.

Can I put frozen meat in a slow cooker? ›

It is best to thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Frozen pieces will take longer to reach a safe internal temperature and could possibly result in foodborne illness. Frozen or partially frozen foods can also cool everything else in the slow cooker.

What piece of meat is best for slow cooker? ›

The best cuts of meat for slow cooking
  • Chuck steak.
  • Round steak.
  • Blade steak.
  • Topside.
  • Silverside.
  • Skirt steak.
  • Shin (gravy) beef.
  • Sausages.

What is the best meat to cook in a slow cooker? ›

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

Why are my carrots still hard in the slow cooker? ›

Carrots may remain firm in a slow cooker if they're not cooked long enough or if the temperature is too low. Ensure sufficient cooking time and consider cutting carrots into smaller pieces for even cooking.

What happens if you don't brown meat before a slow cooker? ›

"Browning, or caramelizing, meat before putting it into a slow cooker isn't 100 percent necessary, but it is well worth the effort for the most flavorful and full-bodied end result," he says. "The caramelized surface of the meat will lend rich flavor and color to the finished dish."

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

Can you put raw hamburger in a slow cooker? ›

Absolutely, which is why you should always adjust times and amounts as needed. Smaller amounts of slow cooker hamburger only need a few hours before they are done.

Is it okay to put raw chicken in a slow cooker? ›

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

Can you cook everything in a slow cooker? ›

Most people use a slow cooker for meat, poultry and vegetables, although fruits, desserts, stuffing and oatmeal can also be prepared. All ingredients placed in a slow cooker should be thawed. Choose to make foods with high moisture content such as chili, soup, stew or spaghetti sauce.

Can you cook raw pasta in a slow cooker? ›

You can use slow cookers to make pasta as long as you don't mix the pasta in with the sauce and leave it sitting in the slow cooker for an extended period of time. Doing so will result in pasta that is mushy, soggy and unappetizing. For best results, keep the pasta separate until serving.

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