10+ Slow Cook Recipes Healthy for Easy Meal Prep

Slow cooker recipes are a great way to prepare healthy meals with minimal effort. These dishes often combine fresh ingredients and allow for flavors to meld together beautifully over several hours. A slow cooker can help you enjoy nutritious meals without spending all day in the kitchen.

With a few simple ingredients, you can create satisfying meals that are perfect for busy days. Whether you’re looking to cook lean proteins, wholesome vegetables, or hearty grains, there are numerous healthy options to explore. Embracing slow cooking can lead to delicious and nourishing dinners that everyone at the table will appreciate.

1) Chicken and Vegetable Stew

Chicken and vegetable stew is a warm and comforting meal. It’s packed with protein from the chicken and loaded with nutritious veggies. This dish is perfect for a busy day, as you can make it in a slow cooker.

You can use chicken thighs or breasts, whichever you prefer. Carrots, potatoes, and green beans add great flavors and textures. You can also include herbs like thyme and rosemary for extra taste.

This stew cooks slowly, allowing all the ingredients to blend and create a delicious broth. Serve it with some bread for a complete meal.

Ingredients

• 2 chicken thighs or breasts
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 potatoes, diced
• 1 cup green beans, trimmed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Place the chicken in the slow cooker.
2. Add the carrots, potatoes, green beans, and onion.
3. Pour in the chicken broth.
4. Season with thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
5. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (approximately 145°F to 160°F or 63°C to 71°C).
6. Serve warm and enjoy!

2) Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Honey garlic chicken thighs are a delicious and easy slow cooker recipe. You will love the rich, sticky sauce that makes the chicken so tasty. This dish uses simple ingredients and requires minimal prep time.

To make this dish, combine soy sauce, honey, garlic, and some spices in your slow cooker. Place the chicken thighs in the mixture and let the slow cooker do the work. You can cook them on low for about six hours or on high for three hours.

The result is juicy chicken that pairs well with rice or vegetables. It’s a perfect meal for busy days when you want something healthy and satisfying.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Cooking Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix the soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger.
2. Place the chicken thighs in the slow cooker.
3. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
4. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.

3) Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili is a perfect dish for chilly days. It’s packed with flavors and supplies plenty of nutrients. This recipe combines hearty vegetables with protein-rich black beans.

You will need sweet potatoes, black beans, tomatoes, and spices like chili powder and cumin. It’s easy to make in a slow cooker, letting the ingredients blend together beautifully.

For a simple touch, serve it with some avocado or cilantro on top. This chili is also great for leftovers. You can freeze any extras for a quick meal later.

Ingredients:

• 2 sweet potatoes, diced
• 1 can black beans, rinsed
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
2. Stir well to combine.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours (about 170-190°C) or on high for 3-4 hours (about 190-200°C).
4. Serve hot and enjoy!

4) Tuscan White Bean Soup

This Tuscan white bean soup is a delicious and healthy option for your slow cooker. It’s packed with nutritious ingredients and full of flavor. Using white beans, vegetables, and herbs, this soup is a great choice for any meal.

You can easily make it vegan or add some protein, like Italian sausage, for extra heartiness. The addition of lemon juice gives it a fresh twist, perfect for any season.

Ingredients

• 2 cans of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup of chopped kale
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 4 cups of vegetable broth
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to your slow cooker.
2. Stir well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
4. Before serving, squeeze in lemon juice and stir. Enjoy!

5) Lemon Basil Chicken

Lemon Basil Chicken is a tasty dish that’s easy to make in your slow cooker. The combination of chicken, zesty lemon, and fresh basil creates a wonderful flavor. It’s a great meal option for busy nights.

You need just a few ingredients to prepare this dish. Start by seasoning your chicken and adding lemon juice, garlic, and basil. You can also include olive oil for added richness. Cooking it in the slow cooker will make the chicken tender and juicy.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
2. Add lemon juice, zest, olive oil, garlic, and basil.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
5. Serve with rice or vegetables for a complete meal.

6) Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers

Slow cooker stuffed peppers are a tasty, healthy option for dinner. You can easily customize the filling to suit your taste. Common ingredients include ground turkey, rice, and tomatoes.

These peppers cook in the slow cooker for 6-8 hours on low heat. This allows the flavors to blend beautifully.

You’ll enjoy a satisfying meal that’s also nutritious. Plus, they are great for meal prep or freezing!

Ingredients

• 6 large bell peppers
• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove seeds.
2. In a bowl, mix ground turkey, rice, tomatoes, onion, and seasoning.
3. Stuff each pepper with the mixture.
4. Place peppers in the slow cooker.
5. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (165°F or 74°C).

7) Crockpot Baked Ziti

Crockpot Baked Ziti is a tasty and easy meal to prepare. You’ll love how simple it is to make this comforting dish. Just mix your ingredients, and let the slow cooker do the rest.

To prepare, start by adding uncooked ziti, ground meat, tomatoes, and cheese to your slow cooker. Toss everything together so the pasta absorbs the flavors.

Cook on low for about 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. The pasta will be tender and the cheese melted.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground turkey or beef
• 1 small onion, diced (optional)
• 2 (25 oz) jars of marinara sauce
• 16 ounces ziti pasta
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown the ground meat in a skillet and drain.
2. Combine meat, onions, marinara sauce, ziti, and water in the slow cooker.
3. Stir in 1 cup of cheese.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
5. Add remaining cheese before serving.

8) Beef and Vegetable Stew

Beef and vegetable stew is a comforting and healthy choice for any meal. It’s packed with tender beef, potatoes, and a variety of vegetables. This hearty dish is not only filling, but also easy to prepare in a slow cooker.

You can customize your stew with different vegetables like carrots, peas, and turnips. Using lean cuts of beef keeps it healthy. Let it simmer slowly to allow the flavors to blend beautifully.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs (680 g) lean beef, cut into cubes
• 4 medium potatoes, diced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups (480 ml) beef broth
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon dried herbs (like thyme or rosemary)

Cooking Instructions

1. Place the beef, potatoes, carrots, and onion in the slow cooker.
2. Add the beef broth, tomato paste, and herbs.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Cook on low for 8 hours (approximately 93 °C) or high for 4 hours (approximately 149 °C).
5. Stir before serving. Enjoy your meal!

9) Quinoa-Vegetable Soup

Quinoa-vegetable soup is a healthy and hearty choice for any meal. It’s packed with colorful veggies and plant-based protein from quinoa. Plus, it’s simple to make in a slow cooker!

Start by adding chopped onions, sweet potatoes, carrots, and kale to your slow cooker. You can also mix in white beans and chickpeas for extra nutrition. Pour in vegetable stock and season with salt.

Add quinoa about halfway through cooking time. This soup cooks well on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours at around 200°F (93°C) to 300°F (149°C).

Ingredients

• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 sweet potatoes, diced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 cups kale, chopped
• 1 can white beans
• 1 can chickpeas
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 6 cups vegetable stock
• 1 cup quinoa
• Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine onion, sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, and stock in the slow cooker.
2. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
3. Add quinoa during the last hour of cooking.
4. Season with salt before serving. Enjoy!

10) Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

Slow cooker chicken curry is a tasty dish that is easy to make. You can enjoy flavors from warming spices and creamy coconut milk. It’s perfect for busy days when you want a healthy meal waiting for you.

To make this curry, start with chicken thighs for tenderness. Add veggies like bell peppers and onions for extra nutrition. The blend of spices will make your kitchen smell amazing.

This curry recipe requires minimal preparation. Just toss everything into the slow cooker and let it do the work. In a few hours, you’ll have a rich and flavorful dish ready to serve.

Ingredients

• 1.5 pounds (700g) chicken thighs
• 1 can (14 ounces) coconut milk
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 2 tablespoons curry powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken thighs at the bottom of the slow cooker.

2. Add coconut milk, onion, and bell pepper.

3. Sprinkle curry powder, turmeric, and salt on top.

4. Gently stir to combine.

5. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (set to 185-200°F or 85-93°C).

6. Serve hot over rice or with naan.