Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes For Meal Prep

healthy crockpot recipes

There's always one kitchen gadget you can count on when you want your meal to be as easy as ordering takeout yet way healthier: the slow cooker. With prep as easy as "toss in and step away for the day," it's a fuss-free way to stick to those resolutions to eat healthy. Spice up your meals with these easy and healthy crockpot recipes.

Chicken, Kale, and Sweet Potato Stew

Chicken, Kale, and Sweet Potato Stew: There's always time to reset with a stew (or soup). This hearty recipe, starring clean ingredients like kale and sweet potato, leaves you full all day, and it freezes like a charm. (via Real Food Whole Life)

Creamy Ranch Mashed Cauliflower

Creamy Ranch Mashed Cauliflower: Looking for a creamy side that'll soak up all manner of sauces? Your search has ended with this low-carb ranch cauliflower mash. (via All Day I Dream About Food)

Coconut Quinoa Curry Healthy Crockpot Idea

Coconut Quinoa Curry healthy crockpot idea Coconut Quinoa Curry: There's a double dose of protein from chickpeas and quinoa in this recipe. It all simmers in a bath of sweet tomatoes and coconut milk for a recipe that's simply too delish for words. (via Simply Quinoa)

Crock-Pot Low-Carb Lasagna

Crock-Pot Low-Carb Lasagna: Pile your plate high with layers upon layers of zucchini and eggplant slices substituting lasagna noodles. Bell peppers and onions form this sauce, and low-fat cottage cheese adds extra depth to each piece. (via Well Plated)

Healthy Slow Cooker Turmeric Chicken and Potatoes

Healthy Slow Cooker Turmeric Chicken and Potatoes: Anti-inflammatory turmeric is so good for you, we've started adding it to pretty much everything. It gives a golden glow to chicken and potatoes in this recipe, with tender green beans adding just the right amount of green. (via SweetPhi)

Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies

Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies: There's almost no prep work involved (besides chopping the potatoes), so you can just throw in all the ingredients and forget about it for the next eight hours. Remove the chicken right before it's time to eat, and broil for a quick three minutes to get the skin nice and crispy. (via Damn Delicious)

Slow Cooker Honey Sriracha Chicken

Slow Cooker Honey Sriracha Chicken: We can hardly contain ourselves. Something about that sweet and spicy honey-sriracha combo, when it's slathered over yummy chicken and paired with fluffy quinoa, keeps us coming back for more. (via Show Me the Yummy)

Low-Carb Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Low-Carb Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken: Monk fruit's the secret to keeping this barbecue sauce delightfully sweet while still low-carb. Use with with chicken, pork, or even tofu. (via My Life Cookbook)

Sausage, Spinach, and White Bean Soup

Sausage, Spinach, and White Bean Soup: You're going to be in ecstasy after one spoonful of this chicken broth-based soup with tender beans, soft vegetables, and smoky andouille sausage. Is anybody else thinking about NOLA? (via Damn Delicious)

Skinny Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken

Skinny Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken: A sure way to stop ordering takeout is to make this recipe at home. The key is to coat the chicken chunks with cornstarch so that it browns before you dump it in the sauce with plenty of veggies for an unbelievable home order. (via The Recipe Critic)

Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup: Packed with protein and naturally vegan and gluten-free, this soup can do no wrong. Garnish with thick slices of avocado, a dollop of sour cream, crushed tortilla chips — or all three. (via Gimme Some Oven)

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore: Tomatoes always taste best after cooking low and slow all day. The richness of this chicken dish is why it's a perennial favorite. (via Well Plated)

Slow Cooker Chicken and Chickpea Tagine

Slow Cooker Chicken and Chickpea Tagine: Even if you don't have a real tagine, capture the flavors of Morocco in your slow cooker with a hearty, protein-filled stew. (via Cooking Classy)

Healthy Crockpot Chicken Pesto Vegetables Recipe

Healthy Crockpot Chicken Pesto Vegetables Recipe Slow Cooker Chicken Pesto Vegetables: When your chicken and veggies are this well seasoned, you won't even miss the pasta. If you are craving noodles, try tossing everything with zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash. (via 365 Days of Slow Cooking)

Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

Slow Cooker Orange Chicken: Skip the heavy takeout, and recreate one of your favorite meals at home with a healthy twist. Whip up a quick orange sauce, and pour it over two boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Serve with your choice of rice. (via Show Me the Yummy)

Slow Cooker Healthier Beef Stew

Slow Cooker Healthier Beef Stew: Quickly brown the stew meat in a skillet before dumping it in your slow cooker for an extra layer of flavor you won't want to miss. Then, make beef stew lighter by adding more in-season veggies like parsnips and turnips and by using low-sodium broth. (via Primavera Kitchen)

Slow Cooker Lentil and Vegetable Soup

Slow Cooker Lentil and Vegetable Soup: If you've ever been sick, you know that soup has super powers. The lentils gently nourish you, while the warm salty broth will soothe your soul. (via SweetPhi)

Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli: Satisfy your Chinese food cravings without leaving the house. It requires a mere 10 minutes of prep time before being tossed into the slow cooker. (via Cooking Classy)

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs: Who knew that you didn't need to roast spaghetti squash in the oven? Just cut it in half, dig out the seeds, and place it in the slow cooker with a trusted tomato sauce. Needless to say, Italian night got a whole lot lighter. (via All Day I Dream About Food)

Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers

Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers: Not only are these stuffed peppers healthy, but they're also completely customizable. You can switch out the ground beef for turkey (or leave it out altogether), and choose between white rice, brown rice, and even quinoa for an extra punch of protein in the filling. Make as many peppers as will fit in your slow cooker to prep lunch for the rest of the week. (via Damn Delicious)

Slow Cooker Summer Vegetable Soup

Slow Cooker Summer Vegetable Soup: Add all of your favorite veggies to your slow cooker (plus beans for a boost of protein), and let them simmer away to create a compellingly complex soup. A little sprinkle of parm on top wouldn't hurt either. (via The Seasoned Mom)

Healthy Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Soup Crockpot Recipe

Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Soup: Combine cauliflower, sweet potatoes, vegetable broth, and a touch of cream cheese for indulgence. Five hours later you'll be devouring bowl after bowl of this scrumptious soup. (via Peas and Crayons)

Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Soup

Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Soup: Creamy coconut milk and rich peanut butter make this one soup you won't be able to get off your mind. Serve with an extra-large spoon for easy slurping. (via Show Me The Yummy)

Slow Cooker Whole Roasted Chicken

Slow Cooker Whole Roasted Chicken: Making a whole roast chicken in your slow cooker will give you enough tender, fall-off-the-bone meat to feed you like a queen for the week. Place your seasoned chicken on a bed of veggies, like onions, celery, and carrots, and let it cook for the next six hours. If you prefer crispier skin, carefully remove the chicken from you slow cooker and broil for a few minutes at the end. (via The Little Kitchen)

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potato

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potato: Buffalo chicken wings might not be the healthiest choice, but this dairy-free, dietitian-approved version means you can go there minus the guilt. (via The Real Food Dietitians)

Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup: Get that home-cooked fix without having to stand over the stove stirring a pot all day. Even though it's soup, this meal is bright and fresh thanks to the bevy of veggies and garnish of cilantro. (via The Seasoned Mom)

Smoked Bacon Veggie Soup

Smoked Bacon Veggie Soup: Snuggle up with a bowl of this hearty soup on a frigid winter day, and you'll warm up from the inside out. The smoky bacon helps balance out the earthiness of the Brussels sprouts and mushrooms. (via Cotter Crunch)

Teriyaki Chicken, Quinoa, and Veggies

Teriyaki Chicken, Quinoa, and Veggies: This teriyaki meal, with tender chicken and soft quinoa, carries bits of incredible sweet sauce in every morsel. Slow cook it anytime you need an easy bite. (via Chelsea's Messy Apron)

White Chicken Chili

White Chicken Chili: Sticking to your healthy eating resolution will be a breeze with meals as good as this one. An hour before dinner, shred the chicken and then distract yourself for the next 60 minutes while it keeps cooking. Top with crushed tortilla chips and fresh cilantro. (via Simply Whisked)

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Additional reporting by Ashley Tyler

Justina Huddleston

Justina Huddleston is a food writer living in Los Angeles. When she's not busy writing, she spends her time in the kitchen creating both virtuous and decidedly junky vegan food. Buffalo chickpea pizza, anyone? She's also been known to eat a plain block of tofu or beans straight out of the can for lunch, but somehow those culinary adventures don't make it to her Instagram. You can follow Justina on Twitter or see what's cooking in her kitchen on her blog, A Life of Little Pleasures.