10 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes For Your Fitness Goals

Slow cooker recipes are not only healthy, but they’re also versatile and cheap to make. Many slow cooker recipes include chicken, pork or beef, but can also be made vegetarian.

There are many great-tasting and healthy slow cooker recipes that basically make themselves. Whether you’re cooking for two or an entire group, these slow cooker recipes will keep you on the healthy track. They are also perfect for meal prep and allow you to spend less time in the kitchen.

If you don’t already own a slow cooker, you might reconsider after seeing the recipes featured today.

What are some reasons you may want to own a slow cooker? Here are a few:

• Set it and forget it
• Won’t heat the house up (perfect for warmer climates)
• Easier to clean up and fewer dishes
• Makes meal prep even easier
• Much more forgiving with novice cooks

Here we have 10 heart healthy slow cooker recipes to keep you on track for your wellness goals, including weight loss.

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

This version of chicken taco soup is high in protein, fiber, vitamin A, niacin, thiamin, magnesium, and potassium. 

It also has a good amount of sodium per serving, so adjustments may be needed, depending on your sodium intake. Here are more tips on reducing sodium in your diet.

Serve with your favorite taco toppings. Some ideas: sour cream, cheese, cilantro, avocado, tortilla strips, lime. This can also be served over rice or mashed/baked potatoes instead of using tortillas.

Make it healthier: Rinse the beans to remove some of the sodium or make your own from dried beans. Make your own taco seasoning and eliminate or reduce the salt. Sub beer for broth (check below for a homemade recipe!). Choose no salt added tomatoes.

Slow Cooker Banana Bread Oats

With a bit of forethought, you can use the slow cooker for any meal of the day. Consider this recipe for delicious overnight oats, ready for you as soon as you wake up. 

This is perfect for those who want a healthy, hot breakfast but are short on time in the morning. For the right consistency, be sure to use regular steel-cut oats, not quick-cooking, per the recipe.

Use a slow cooker liner or liberally spray the crock with nonstick spray before starting for easy cleanup. 

Add whatever toppings you want: dark chocolate chips, maple syrup, hemp or chia seeds, raisins, peanut butter. It can be reheated with a small amount of liquid in the microwave or stovetop. 

Slow Cooker Spiced Nuts

Snacks are another way to use the slow cooker to create healthy and delicious recipes. This recipe for spiced nuts is perfect for a family get together or take with you as a grab-and-go snack.

Honey can be subbed for maple syrup to make this slow cooker recipe vegan-friendly. Cinnamon and ginger are powerful spices that provide great flavor and balance to the other spices used.

Using a liner or parchment paper will make cleaning up a breeze. The hardest part of this recipe is waiting for it to finish before you dive in. You may want to double the recipe, just in case (make sure you have enough room before adding spices).

Slow Cooker Lentil Stew

The ingredients in this slow cooker lentil stew provide all the essential amino acids, making it a complete protein source. It’s perfect any day of the week and takes little time to prepare.\

This recipe is perfect for vegetarians and vegans or those looking for a meat-free meal. Lentils are a delicious meat alternative and they are also easier on the wallet. If you’re looking for a filling, nutritious, and budget-friendly meal, add this one to your recipe list.

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa

This versatile beef barbacoa recipe is delicious and makes a great base for other dishes. Use it in tacos, salads, breakfast scrambles, or your other favorite Mexican-inspired dish.

High in protein but low in fat and carbs, this recipe is Paleo-friendly and gluten-free. Make for yourself or for a crowd, and prepare to impress your guests. They’ll think you spent all day in the kitchen getting ready and we won’t tell your secret.

You can make this recipe in larger quantities at once and freeze the extras. Then defrost it in the refrigerator when you’re ready to use it again. Just heat it up on the stove with a small amount of water or beef broth to serve.

Slow Cooker Broccoli Ginger Turmeric Soup

This broccoli ginger turmeric soup has a ton of anti-inflammatory foods included, making this a super healthy slow cooker recipe.

It is also keto-friendly and can be made vegan (when subbing for vegan butter) or vegetarian. Enjoy this soup for a few days if left in the fridge or freeze the leftovers for later. 

Make sure to cook on low to avoid burning the soup, which can cause bitterness in the final dish.

Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes

Sometimes, you just want the comfort of potato without heating up the kitchen. If you love sweet potatoes, then check out this slow cooker sweet potato recipe.

If you made the beef barbacoa recipe above, consider adding it as a topping for your sweet potatoes. You can even use them as a base for the chicken tortilla soup recipe.

Sweet potatoes aren’t the only vegetable you can cook in the slow cooker. If you find the right-sized butternut squash, you can cook it whole in the slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Chicken

Curry dishes are often a labor of love, with hours spent in the kitchen before you can take the first bite. Spend less time cooking and more time living with this slow cooker coconut curry chicken recipe.

There is some additional cooking involved to make the rice and peppers and onions, but the result is worth it. Try this delicious curry recipe with some naan bread for a wonderful Indian-inspired dish.

Slow Cooker Barley and Chickpea Risotto

This slow cooker barley and chickpea risotto recipe comes together in just two hours. It’s quicker and easier than a traditional risotto, which requires layering broth and grains or rice in a pot.

Sub veggie broth to make this a vegetarian slow cooker recipe and omit the parmesan for vegans. This dish is high in carbs, protein, and unsaturated fat but low in sodium. Unsaturated fats are good fats, while saturated fats should be avoided.

Slow Cooker Bone Broth

We saved the best for last (in this writer’s opinion, anyway). 

Making homemade bone broth is a delicious way to increase collagen intake, and it’s super easy. Bone broth is highly nutritious and can use up vegetable scraps you might otherwise throw away. 

To make your own bone broth, collect meat bones and skins after you’ve eaten the meat from them. Do the same with vegetable peels and ends, and older vegetables that aren’t bad but past their prime.

Put a designated container in your freezer and add bones and vegetables. You can choose to separate bones (red from white meat) or cook them together.

Once you’ve filled the bag or container, or have enough to fill your slow cooker, you’re ready to get started.

Slow Cooker Bone Broth Recipe

1. Take the veggie scraps and meat bones out of the freezer and put them in the slow cooker. 
2. Fill the crock with filtered water (leave a half-inch gap from the top).
3. Turn the slow cooker on low and put the lid on.
4. Check periodically, topping off with more filtered water to keep the initial fill level. Depending on how hot your slow cooker gets, you can also use the warm setting after it’s run the maximum time on low.
5. Allow the broth to cook for at least 12 hours. It’s best to cook for a full 24 hours.
6. Let the broth cool in the crock, then transfer to a large container, straining out the solids. Place in the refrigerator.
7. Once the broth has cooled completely, you should see a layer of fat on the top. Skim this off and either save for later use or discard.
8. Now you should be left with a savory and delicious gelatinous bone broth. The marrow and collagen in the bones form the gelatin and up the nutritional value.

Enjoy the bone broth just as you would any store-bought broth or stock. If you’re feeling under the weather, put some broth in a mug and warm it up. Drink it just like hot tea.

This also works great if you have the stomach flu or are nauseous and having trouble keeping food down. 

Tips for Slow Cooker Success

There isn’t much of a learning curve when cooking with a slow cooker. For continued success, there are some tips you should follow:

• Learn temperature settings for your slow cooker: They all cook differently, and some may get too hot on high. If you’re new to using a slow cooker, check the dish often during the last two hours of cooking. You may need to adjust cooking time or temperature depending on how hot your slow cooker runs.
• Consider the timer feature: Most newer slow cookers have a delayed timer. This is great for recipes that have a shorter cooking time, but you plan to be gone for longer. Set the timer to delay the start time so the recipe will be ready after you’re home. This way, you can check on it to make sure the recipe isn’t overdone.
• Be adventurous: As you can see, you can use a slow cooker to prepare any meal of the day. It’s great for meal prepping and can keep your home cooler on hot days when used in place of the oven. Don’t stop with these recipes, use your favorites as inspiration to search for a slow cooker version. 

Wrapping Up

Slow cooker recipes are versatile and tasty and can be easily adapted from regular recipes. The slow cooker allows you to set it and forget it, spending less time in the kitchen. Plus, there are fewer dishes to clean up.

We hope you enjoy these healthy slow cooker recipes. They are great to use for meal prep ideas, to feed an entire family or just one or two people.

For those who want to save time, consider adding a protein powder like Vintage Brawn™ to recipes like the banana bread oats for a power-packed protein boost.

Slow cookers have come a long way over the years, and can be used in place of a stove or oven. If you’re short on space or time, consider adding a slow cooker to your kitchen.

Do you use a slow cooker? What is your favorite recipe to cook? If you don’t have one, are you considering getting one now? Let us know (and share your recipes) in the comments below.