25 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes You Can Enjoy For Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (2024)

25 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes You Can Enjoy For Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (1)

Making dinner after a long day at work sucks. Cooking breakfast when you have sleep in your eyes and barely have time to make it to work also sucks. You know what doesn't suck? These slow cooker recipes. All of these recipes are simple to make and ensure you always have a healthy meal on hand.

25 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes You Can Enjoy For Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (2)

Roasted Chicken

Yes, it's entirely possible to roast a chicken in your slow cooker. By doing so, you'll have the makings of healthy recipes for a week!

Get the recipe: roasted chicken

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Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Who says pumpkin pie is just for Fall? With pumpkin puree readily available in your grocery store, this vegan oatmeal recipe can be part of your breakfast routine all year round. It's fruity, nutty, subtly sweet, and totally satisfying.

Get the recipe: pumpkin pie steel-cut oats

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Low-Calorie Beef and Vegetable Stew

Paleo dieters will love this beef and veggie stew, which only requires 20 minutes of preparation time before slow-cooking to perfection. Each serving is 265 calories.

Get the recipe: beef stew

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Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash can be a pain to cook, but not if you have a slow cooker! In just four to six hours, you'll have the makings of a ton of delicious spaghetti squash recipes.

Get the recipe: spaghetti squash

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Spicy Chicken Chili

Chili is one of the most common slow-cooker recipes, and this one made with ground chicken and kidney beans is sure to satisfy without breaking the calorie bank — it's only 324 calories per serving. This dish is made using a Dutch oven on the stove, but you can easily adapt this recipe to be made in a slow cooker; just keep it on low.

Get the recipe: spicy chicken chili

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Overnight Low-Carb Breakfast Bake

Take 20 minutes for prep the night before, set your slow cooker to low while you sleep, and wake up to the smell of eggs and bacon cooking in the kitchen. This easy breakfast casserole is grain-free, dairy-free, and Paleo-friendly.

Get the recipe: egg and sausage breakfast casserole

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Split Pea Soup

Few comfort foods are quite as rich as split pea soup, but the vegetable and ham dish can be time-consuming at the best of times. Try preparing it in your slow cooker for a bubbling dinner that's ready when you get home!

Get the recipe: split pea soup

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Chocolate-Cherry Oatmeal

While it tastes extremely decadent, this chocolate and cherry oatmeal is a healthy breakfast option. Unsweetened dark chocolate and tart cherries will satisfy your sweet tooth without the guilt!

Get the recipe: chocolate and cherry oatmeal

25 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes You Can Enjoy For Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (10)

Vegan Split Pea and Sweet Potato Soup

You can make this on the stove much faster, but it's also a great slow-cooker recipe if you just want to set it and forget it. Made with split peas, celery, and sweet potatoes, this hearty soup is only 254 calories per serving.

Get the recipe: vegan split pea and sweet potato soup

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Chickpea Coconut Curry With Sweet Potatoes

Slow cookers aren't just for applesauce and stroganoff! Try something a little more exotic for your next healthy dinner — this chickpea curry is just the thing and under 400 calories when paired with coconut rice.

Get the recipe: chickpea curry

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Veggie Bean Chili

Though it contains all the fresh produce that a health nut could ever dream up, this nutritious chili has a warm, comforting quality that will remind you of childhood. It also makes great lunch leftovers!

Get the recipe: veggie bean chili

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Braised Chicken

Chefs swear by skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts because they provide the most flavorful, moist meat. Braising the chicken also helps retain the moisture, and it leaves you with a flavorful tomato-sage broth that can be poured over mashed potatoes or polenta.

Get the recipe: braised chicken with tomatoes

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Squash, Sweet Potato, Carrot, and White Bean Soup

It may sound complicated, but this seasonal slow-cooker soup only calls for eight ingredients! It offers over 14 grams of protein per 272-calorie serving.

Get the recipe: sweet potato and white bean soup

25 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes You Can Enjoy For Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (15)

Protein-Rich Mexican Chicken

Thanks to lean chicken breasts and toasted pumpkin seeds, this tender Mexican chicken dish is packed full of protein.

Get the recipe: chicken and black beans

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3-Ingredient Applesauce

Get the recipe: applesauce

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Healthy Chicken Carnitas

Much like its pork predecessor, this poultry-based carnitas recipe is tender, flavorful, and comforting — however, it leaves out the traditional portions of oil and lard. Try it on tacos, salad, or nachos!

Get the recipe: chicken carnitas

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Turkey Chili

This bean-free turkey chili is low in carbs but high in protein and flavor. Each serving is under 300 calories.

Get the recipe: turkey chili

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Low-Calorie Sweet and Sour Chicken

At 48 grams of protein and fewer than 350 calories per serving, this healthy take on a Chinese takeout favorite is much better than Panda Express!

Get the recipe: sweet and sour chicken

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Easy Chicken Fajitas

These tasty chicken fajitas practically cook themselves — perfect for busy weeknights. Did we mention you only need five ingredients for the fajitas? So easy.

Get the recipe: chicken fajitas

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Butternut Squash Lentil Soup

After you finish making eight servings of this vegan butternut squash and lentil soup, freeze the leftovers for a rainy (or exceptionally busy!) day.

Get the recipe: butternut squash lentil soup

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Perfect Steel-Cut Oats

If you've ever made a disastrous attempt at slow-cooker oatmeal, have no fear: steel-cut oats are here to redeem you. Let this recipe be your guide to nailing overnight oats!

Get the recipe: overnight steel-cut oats

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Vegetarian Chili

You know those days where you have a bunch of random vegetables in the fridge? The simple solution to using them all is this vegetarian chili loaded with zucchini, tomatoes, corn, and a ton of other pantry staples.

Get the recipe: vegetarian chili

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Mexican Breakfast Casserole

Gluten-free, protein-rich, and under 400 calories, this breakfast casserole is great to cook up on Sunday afternoon, slice up, and enjoy all week long.

Get the recipe: Mexican breakfast casserole

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Vegan Red Beans and Rice

Enjoy some real Cajun flavor by making a protein-packed batch of red beans and rice. Great for anyone who follows a vegan or Paleo diet.

Get the recipe: red beans and rice

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Santa Fe-Style Paleo Vegetable Soup

You can add shredded chicken to this Paleo-optimized recipe for additional protein, but it's perfectly tasty as a vegetarian dish!

Get the recipe: Santa Fe vegetable soup

25 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes You Can Enjoy For Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (2024)

FAQs

Are slow cooked meals healthy? ›

Because of the lower temperature, the nutrients in the food remain more stable than other methods of cooking. By virtue of being in sealed unit, whether using an electric slow cooker or in a casserole dish in your oven, any of the nutrients usually lost in the liquid from heat are simply reabsorbed into the meal.

Is a crockpot the same as a slow cooker? ›

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.

What to make when you have no time to cook? ›

So we rounded up our favorite easy weeknight dinner recipes you can make in just 15 minutes — from comforting pastas to hearty rice bowls.
  1. Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles. ...
  2. Bacon Avocado Caesar Salad. ...
  3. Cacio e Pepe. ...
  4. 5-Ingredient Zucchini Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce. ...
  5. Italian Chopped Salad. ...
  6. Easiest Garlic Bread Pizza.
Nov 8, 2023

Does slow cooking destroy nutrients? ›

Does slow cooking destroy more nutrients than stove top cooking? Slow cooking does not destroy more nutrients. In fact, the lower temperatures may help preserve nutrients that can be lost when food is cooked rapidly at high heat. What's more, food cooked slowly often tastes better.

What is the least healthiest way to cook a meal? ›

Frying. Fried foods are unhealthy because adding fat increases the calories and the high heat destroys a lot of the nutrients. It's best to limit foods cooked in this way.

Can you put meat in the slow cooker raw? ›

Can you put meat straight into a slow cooker? Meat can be added directly unseared and not browned.

What is faster than a crockpot? ›

An instant pot might be a nice upgrade. Do you cook a lot of things that normally braise in the oven or cook on the stovetop for a long time? They cook much, much faster in a pressure cooker. That's really it's biggest advantage over a crock pot, it's much much faster.

What is the most popular size slow cooker? ›

The 6- or 7-quart models are among the most popular, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're the best choice for everyone. (By the way, here's our favorite slow cooker brand.) Find yourself among the descriptions below to learn which slow cooker we'd recommend for you.

What piece of meat is best for slow cooker? ›

Some of the best cuts of meat for slow cooking include:
  • Lamb Shank. ...
  • Short Ribs. ...
  • Brisket. ...
  • Slow Cooker/Crockpot. ...
  • Braising. ...
  • Oven Roasting. ...
  • Slow Cooker Beef Stew. Ingredients:
  • Slow Cooker Lamb Shank. Ingredients:
Mar 26, 2023

What is the best meat to slow cook? ›

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.

What to make for dinner when nothing sounds good? ›

What to eat when nothing sounds good: 25 balanced meal ideas
  • Ham or turkey & cheese sandwich with a side of fruit.
  • Rotisserie chicken with frozen microwaveable rice and veggies.
  • “Adult Lunchable”: cheese, crackers, deli meat, raw fruits or veggies with dip.
  • Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets on top of a salad.
Jan 11, 2023

What are the advantages and disadvantages of slow cooking? ›

They're convenient, versatile, time saving, and are very useful for creating healthy, balanced meals. They're also very easy to use, clean and transport. Since they can be used to cook food in bulk, slow cookers can work wonders in meal prepping for the week, saving you time and effort on your food.

What are the benefits of slow cooker meals? ›

Slow cooker benefits.

They use less electricity than an oven and can be used year-round. Because of the long, low-temperature cooking, slow cookers help tenderize less-expensive cuts of meat. They usually allow for one-step preparation; putting all the ingredients in the slow cooker saves time and reduces cleanup.

Can you overdo a slow cook? ›

Slow cookers are specially designed to cook food for long periods of time, but yes, you can still overcook in a slow cooker if something is left on the wrong setting for longer than it's supposed to be.

Is it better to cook fast or slow? ›

Slow cooking has become increasingly popular over the last few years and it's easy to see why. Not only is the meat more tender and flavorful, but it's also a relatively simple cooking method that requires little labor.

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