10+ Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes for Easy Weeknight Meals

Slow cookers help you make healthy meals with very little effort. You can prepare a variety of dishes that need only a few minutes of work but still taste great and offer good nutrition.

Many people think cooking healthy meals takes a lot of time, but slow cookers make it easy. With just a few ingredients and some planning, you can come home to a warm, ready meal.

Whether you cook for yourself or your family, slow cookers offer a simple way to enjoy nutritious dishes. You can skip the hassle and still eat well.

1) Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is simple and tasty. You only need a few ingredients you probably already have.

Start with chicken thighs or breasts. They turn juicy and tender in the slow cooker.

Mix the chicken with a sauce made from honey, soy sauce, garlic, and olive oil. Prep it in the morning, and let the slow cooker handle the rest.

After a few hours, your home will smell amazing!

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs chicken thighs or breasts
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken in the slow cooker.
2. In a bowl, mix honey, soy sauce, olive oil, and garlic.
3. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
4. Cook on low for 6-7 hours (about 150°C) or high for 3-4 hours (about 175°C).

2) Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Slow-cooker chicken tortilla soup is a tasty and easy meal. It’s perfect for busy days when you want something warm and nutritious.

This soup is full of chicken, beans, and colorful veggies. Place your chicken in the slow cooker and add seasoned broth with chili powder and cumin.

Add onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes for more flavor. Let it cook on low for about 6 hours or 3 hours on high.

When it’s done, shred the chicken and stir it back in. Serve with crunchy tortilla strips on top.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound (450 g) chicken breast
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, diced
• 4 cups (1 L) chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Tortilla strips for topping

Cooking Instructions:

1. Place chicken in the slow cooker.
2. Add beans, corn, onion, tomatoes, and chicken broth.
3. Sprinkle with chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
4. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
5. Shred chicken and stir into the soup.
6. Serve with tortilla strips on top.

3) Slow Cooker Mediterranean Stew

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Stew is full of vegetables and rich flavors. It’s a healthy meal anyone can enjoy.

Gather your ingredients: butternut squash, eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, and spices. These come together for a delicious and nutritious stew.

Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash, peeled and cubed
• 2 cups eggplant, cubed
• 2 cups zucchini, cubed
• 10 ounces frozen okra, thawed
• 8 ounces tomatoes, diced
• Olive oil, salt, and pepper
• Fresh herbs (like basil or parsley)

Cooking Instructions

1. Add squash, eggplant, zucchini, okra, and tomatoes to your slow cooker.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Stir in fresh herbs.
4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (about 60-70°C).
5. Serve warm and enjoy!

4) Slow Cooker Chicken Marrakesh

Slow Cooker Chicken Marrakesh is a healthy, flavorful dish. It combines chicken, sweet potatoes, and garbanzo beans with fragrant spices.

Add sliced onion and minced garlic to the slow cooker. Peel and chop carrots and sweet potatoes, then add them, too.

Stir in chicken, garbanzo beans, and diced tomatoes. Set the slow cooker on low for about 6 to 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

Ingredients

• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 can (15 oz) garbanzo beans, drained
• 1 lb (450 g) chicken, cut into pieces
• 1 can diced tomatoes

Cooking Instructions

1. Place onion and garlic in the slow cooker.
2. Add carrots and sweet potatoes.
3. Stir in garbanzo beans and chicken.
4. Pour in the diced tomatoes.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.

5) Slow Cooker No Bean Chili

Slow cooker no bean chili is a hearty meal that’s easy to prepare. You don’t have to worry about beans in this recipe.

Start with ground beef, diced onions, and diced peppers. Add your favorite chili seasonings and garlic.

Toss all the ingredients into your slow cooker and let it cook. In a few hours, you’ll have a delicious meal ready to serve.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds ground beef
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 2 large poblano peppers, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown ground beef in a skillet.
2. Add beef, onion, peppers, and garlic to the slow cooker.
3. Stir in chili powder, salt, and pepper.
4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (160-175°C).

6) Crockpot Chicken With Potatoes and Green Beans

Crockpot Chicken with Potatoes and Green Beans is a simple and tasty meal. It brings together protein, potatoes, and vegetables in one dish.

Start with chicken breasts, potatoes, and green beans. Season them with your favorite spices and olive oil.

Add all the ingredients to the crockpot, set it, and come back to a warm meal.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 4 medium potatoes, diced
• 2 cups green beans, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken breasts in the crockpot.
2. Add diced potatoes and green beans on top.
3. Drizzle olive oil over the ingredients.
4. Sprinkle garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours (approximately 160°F/70°C).
6. Serve warm and enjoy!

7) Vegetarian Slow Cooker Lentil Stew

Vegetarian Slow Cooker Lentil Stew is a healthy option for any meal. It’s full of lentils, veggies, and flavor.

You only need simple ingredients. Just put everything in the slow cooker and let it cook.

This stew is high in fiber and plant-based protein. It’s a satisfying dish you can enjoy any time.

Ingredients

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

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse lentils under cold water.
2. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
3. Stir to combine.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours (about 175°F or 80°C).
5. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.

8) Dump and Go Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Dump and Go Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff is an easy, comforting meal. You can set it and forget it.

Place beef stew meat, sliced mushrooms, and onion in your slow cooker. Pour in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard.

Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours. In the last 30 minutes, stir in sour cream and cream cheese for a creamy sauce.

Serve over egg noodles or rice for a hearty meal.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef stew meat
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• 1 cup sour cream
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• Pasta or rice for serving

Cooking Instructions

1. Place beef, mushrooms, and onion in the slow cooker.
2. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard.
3. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
4. Stir in sour cream and cream cheese during the last 30 minutes.
5. Serve over pasta or rice.

9) Slow Cooker Turkey and Vegetable Chili

Slow Cooker Turkey and Vegetable Chili is a great meal for any day. It’s packed with lean ground turkey and colorful vegetables.

The flavors blend together as it cooks low and slow. Use basic spices like chili powder and cumin for a rich taste.

This chili is high in protein and fiber. It will keep you full and satisfied.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) ground turkey
• 1 can (15 oz/425 g) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (14 oz/400 g) diced tomatoes
• 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
• 1 cup (150 g) diced bell peppers
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to your slow cooker.

2. Stir to combine everything well.

3. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

4. Serve hot and enjoy your hearty meal!

10) Slow Cooker Quinoa and Black Beans

This recipe makes a nutritious and filling meal. Quinoa and black beans provide protein and fiber.

Rinse your quinoa to remove any bitterness. Add the quinoa to your slow cooker with black beans, diced tomatoes, corn, and spices.

Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours (about 93°C to 107°C) until the quinoa becomes tender. Mix in fresh cilantro just before serving for extra flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup corn
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh cilantro for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse quinoa under cold water.

2. Add quinoa, black beans, diced tomatoes, and corn to the slow cooker.

3. Add cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.

4. Stir everything to combine.

5. Cover the slow cooker.

6. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.

7. Stir in fresh cilantro before serving.