The Best Healthy Crockpot Recipes

I just love using my slow cooker, don't you? It's so easy to put everything in it, turn it on, and let it do all the cooking. Dinner is ready when you get home or are ready to sit down and eat.

If you thought the only things you can make in the crockpot are soups and sauces, then keep reading! I compiled a variety of different lunch and dinner ideas. Below, you'll find Mexican recipes, Asian dishes, vegetarian ideas, and even slow cooker breakfast recipes!

Beginning cooks, experienced cooks, or anyone looking for something fresh and different will all find something to try in this list. The best thing is, all of these recipes are as nutritious as they are tasty.

This list is organized by categories. Scroll down to find the types of recipes that you want to make the most.

Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes

Chicken is always a popular ingredient in dinner and lunch recipes. These ideas are anything but boring! Try one of them, and you might discover a new favorite.

Chicken Marsala

This lightened-up version of chicken marsala still has all the same classic flavors. The creamy marsala sauce is fortified with hearty mushrooms and garnished with fresh parsley. It cooks in a thick and zesty gravy that is perfect on top of mashed potatoes.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These chicken lettuce wraps are a light and filling lunch. The chicken has an irresistible combination of soy sauce, ginger, and hoisin sauce. In fact, if you want it to be even spicier, just use a little more Asian garlic chili paste.

Chicken Quinoa Soup With Kale

Boost your protein intake with chicken quinoa soup. Kale is a superfood that fortifies the soup with powerful antioxidants and nutrients. This is a healthier version of chicken noodle soup because it uses quinoa instead of pasta. Quinoa has added protein that is beneficial to your immune system and body.

Thai Peanut Chicken

If your favorite thing to order from takeout is pad Thai, then Thai peanut chicken is for you! It cooks in a creamy peanut butter coconut sauce that tastes just like the kind at the restaurant. Serve this chicken on top of rice or your favorite noodles.

It is sweetened with honey, which gives it a sticky-sweet texture.

Buffalo Chicken

Perfect for game days or just when you are craving something spicy, buffalo chicken is always a hit. In fact, you can use this on top of nachos or make some mini tacos. It's a healthier version of the popular chicken wings.

Korean Chicken

Believe me when I tell you this Slow Cooker Korean Chicken will quickly become one of your all-time favorite chicken dishes with its sweet and spicy flavors. Serve it with rice, wrapped up in tortillas for Asian-inspired tacos, atop a big green salad, or right out of the crockpot like happens in our house.

Mediterranean Chicken

This chicken dish is my go-to recipe when I am having a dinner party. It tastes like something from a restaurant but can be cooked and prepped ahead of time and is made with simple, affordable ingredients.

Chicken Carnitas

This healthy and lightened-up Mexcian classic is made with chicken instead of pork. Use it for tacos, burritos, bowls, quesadillas, and salads. It is so easy to make and is one of the best options for meal prep since the meat can be used in so many ways.

Jerk Chicken

The sweet and spicy flavors of Jerk Chicken are something that is hard to top. This simplified version made in the crockpot is healthy and easy enough to make at home.

Tomato Balsamic Chicken

When it comes to a simple, healthy meal, this is hard to beat. Delicious chicken breasts cooked in tomatoes, garlic, and balsamic vinegar. Everything is finished with some baby spinach for a healthy dish that tastes great with pasta, polenta, rice, and more.

Coconut Curry Chicken Breast

Curry isn't just for take-out. Make this delicious curry at home in your crockpot. It's easy, cheaper, and so much better for you than the restaurant version. Serve it with rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or noodles.

Thai Curry Chicken Meatballs

These slightly spicy crockpot meatballs are cooked in a delicious coconut curry sauce and are great for a weeknight dinner or meal prep.

Salsa Verde Chicken

When it comes to easy meals, this healthy crockpot salsa verde chicken should be at the top of the list. With store-bought salsa, you only need two ingredients to make a delicious dinner. Make tacos, rice bowls, burritos, quesadillas, and more.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken

One of the best flavor combinations is sweet and spicy and this crockpot chicken comes out perfectly tender and full of flavor. It is great to use for meal prep with some steamed brown rice and a veggie.

Coconut Basil Chicken

Coconut and basil come together to make the most amazing chicken dish. You will be licking the sauce off your plate and adding this to the dinner rotation.

Lemon Chicken Artichoke Soup

I love making soup in the crockpot and this one studded with tender chicken, artichokes, quinoa, and tons of lemon flavor is delicious. It also freezes well making it a great meal to double up and then have on hand for a busy night.

Chicken Tikka Masala with Cauliflower

This healthy version of the classic Indian dish is made in the slow cooker and comes out perfect every time. All the flavor you expect in a much lighter version.

Chicken Cacciatore with Mushrooms

This Italian dish made with tomatoes and stewed chicken is perfect for the crockpot since it lets all the flavors blend together and deepen. Toss everything in the slow cooker in the morning and dinner is ready when you get home.

Healthy Slow Cooker Pork Recipes

People use pork in lots of different types of recipes. Shredded pork is awesome in tacos, and sliced tenderloin is a family dinner staple. These are some of my favorite healthy slow cooker pork recipes - I hope you find a new favorite one to try!

For a little spice, make some slow cooker chorizo spiced pulled pork. Since it is made with pork tenderloin, it has less fat than traditional chorizo. Use this in your favorite tacos, or eat it on top of cauliflower rice. The homemade chorizo spice blend includes cumin, oregano, cinnamon, coriander, and a few more spices. It's incredible!

Pork Paprikash

With the unmistakable heat of paprika, pork paprikash is unforgettable. It's a traditional Hungarian recipe made with paprika, red pepper flakes, caraway seeds, and sour cream - just to name a few. The fragrant aroma will fill your kitchen as it cooks all day. Serve it with some rice or roasted potatoes.

Maple Pork Tenderloin

Add a touch of sweetness to the dinner table with this sweet and tangy maple pork tenderloin. A classic American recipe, it tastes delicious with roasted vegetables on the side. The sauce is made with maple syrup, soy sauce, and (surprisingly) whole grain mustard. This is a popular dinner idea any time of year.

Banh Mi Pork

Cook with classic Vietnamese flavors and spices - bahn mi pork is a traditional recipe that will liven up your dinnertime routine. It is slightly spicy with fresh jalapenos and garlic. Make amazing tacos or even fun little sliders.

Balsamic Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin

With balsamic tang and sweet brown sugar glaze, this pork tenderloin is a dinnertime staple. Few things go together as well as brown sugar and balsamic vinegar. As this cooks all day, the flavors infuse into the pork tenderloin, giving you soft and juicy meat that'll have you savoring every bite.

Garlic Cuban Pork

If you love the taste of traditional Cuban pork, you need to make this dish! This tender pork made with a combination of citrus juices, lots of garlic, and spices and uses pork tenderloin to keep things light and healthy. Serve it with black beans and rice for a traditional Cuban meal the whole family will love.

Healthy Slow Cooker Beef Recipes

First, let's look at the best slow cooker recipes that use beef. As beef cooks in the slow cooker, it tenderizes and soaks up all the spices and flavors. There is nothing like juicy and tender shredded beef, and these are my favorite healthy beef slow cooker ideas.

Beef Machaca

Spice up the dinner table with beef machaca. This recipe is made with bell peppers, tomatoes, and fresh lime juice. Use it to make tacos, quesadillas, or on a bed of fluffy rice. It's even delicious on top of mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower.

Beef machaca is a very versatile recipe with lots of ways to serve and enjoy it.

Pepperoncini Beef

Also called drip beef or Italian beef, this recipe only has four simple ingredients. It tastes amazing as a spicy beef sandwich or on top of mashed potatoes. In fact, the broth it cooks in is delicious when it is drizzled on the potatoes.

This recipe is mild but has just enough spice to break you out of the dinner rut.

Beef Barbacoa

Have you ever had beef barbacoa? It's a traditional Mexican recipe that can be made with almost any type of red meat - beef, goat, or lamb. The main flavors that stand out in this recipe are lime juice, cumin, and chipotle peppers. If you love smoky and hot recipes, then this one is for you!

Sesame Beef

When you are craving Chinese food, make this sesame beef. It is made with all whole and fresh ingredients.

Sweetened with brown sugar, spiced with ginger, and seasoned with soy sauce's umami flavor, this shredded beef is a very popular recipe. Serve it on top of rice- It tastes even better the next day.

Beef Ragu

Simmered all day in a thick and spicy sauce, beef ragu is a hearty classic recipe. With both diced and crushed tomatoes, it simmers in a zesty sauce. This is a mild recipe, but you can spice it up with some red pepper flakes if you want.

Garnish with fresh herbs to get the best flavor. Then, add it on top of your favorite pasta.

Slow Cooker Breakfast Ideas

Did you know you can make breakfast in the slow cooker? It's true! Place all their ingredients in the slow cooker the night before and let it cook all night. A hot breakfast will be ready when you wake up. These are my favorite slow cooker breakfast recipes.

Pumpkin Steel Cut Oatmeal

A fiber-rich meal like pumpkin steel-cut oatmeal is the best way to start your day. It tastes just like pumpkin pie but has a lot less sugar and a lot more fiber.

Healthy Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

It might taste like dessert, but this apple crisp recipe is healthy enough to enjoy for breakfast. It is the perfect thing to pair with a hot cup of coffee and a side of scrambled eggs.

Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

Filled with ham, spinach, eggs, and cheese, this breakfast casserole feeds a family. This is the perfect thing to prepare the night before and let it cook all night. It's hearty and tastes delicious with a side of bacon.

Basic Steel Cut Oats

Let this steel-cut oats recipe cook all night, and it will be ready in the morning. This is a pretty basic recipe that lends itself to customization. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Apple Cranberry Oatmeal

Both sweet and tangy, apple cranberry oatmeal is a breakfast perfect any time of year. Even though cranberries are thought of as a winter fruit, you can make this all year long.

Easy Healthy Slow Cooker Side Dishes

Think the slow cooker is just for the main course? Think again! Here are some tasty and easy side dish ideas you can make in the slow cooker too.

Brussels Sprouts

Seasoned with garlic and parmesan cheese, these Brussel sprouts are delectable. They are like mini cabbages, but when you cook them in the slow cooker, they become delightfully tender. Don't forget the balsamic glaze - it makes all the difference.

Brown Sugar Butternut Squash

Replace mashed potatoes with this lighter version of brown sugar butternut squash. It is so rich and sweet that you will forget it's actually really good for you.

Mexican Quinoa

Instead of Spanish rice, add some Mexican quinoa to the table on Taco Tuesday. It has all the same spicy and zesty flavors but has more protein and fiber than rice.

Black Beans

This is such a simple side dish that even beginning cooks can whip it up! Slow cooker black beans are delicious all on their own. Of course, there are other ways to enjoy them, too - on top of tacos or mixed into your rice.

Balsamic Root Vegetables

Both tangy and sweet, slow cooker balsamic root vegetables are the perfect thing to add to your dinner table. This recipe works with any type of root vegetable - potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, turnips, or more!

Slow Cooker Soups

When the weather is cold, soups just hit the spot! Let these soups slow cook all day, and the flavors will mix and melt together in the most amazing way.

Butternut Squash Soup

Thick and creamy butternut squash soup is the epitome of comfort food. It also adds essential vitamins to your diet. It is a hearty and sweet soup at the same time. Plus, it just looks beautiful!

Black Bean Soup

As a basic soup, there are lots of ways you can customize easy black bean soup. The best way to customize it is with the toppings! Add avocado, sour cream, corn, or even cilantro.

Lentil Soup

Lentils are tiny beans, but this soup is packed with more than just beans. Squash, potatoes, carrots, and celery all combine to create a filling soup. It's actually more of a stew than a soup.

Healthy Lasagna Soup

Hearty vegetables in a zesty tomato broth, lasagna soup tastes just like the classic pasta dish. The biggest difference is that this doesn't have pasta, so it's a gluten-free way to enjoy the popular recipe.

Roasted Corn Chowder

Spice up this easy roasted corn chowder or make it nice and mild - the choice is up to you. Poblano peppers give the corn chowder the unmistakable spice and heat!

Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes

These are my favorite meatless recipes that you can make in the slow cooker. Hearty and healthy beans and other plant-based dishes taste amazing when you make them in the slow cooker.

Saag Paneer

Also called Indian spinach, this is a spicy way to prepare the iron-rich vegetable. This recipe includes instructions that show you how to make it on the stovetop, Instant Pot, or in the slow cooker. No matter how you make it, Saag Paneer is a popular vegetarian recipe.

Lentil Coconut Curry

Curry has an appetizing aroma that makes you hungry as you smell it. Lentil coconut curry is a vegetarian dish that is so full of flavor, you'll look forward to leftovers.

Mediterranean Chickpeas

If you love roasted red peppers and olives, then these slow cooker chickpeas are perfect for you. If you enjoy hummus, then you will like how these taste because they're made with a lot of the same ingredients.

Vegetarian Asian Meatballs

These appetizing meatballs are covered in a sweet Asian sauce. You won't believe the meatballs are vegetarian, but they are completely meat-free. Save yourself time and buy some pre-made vegetarian meatballs.

Creamy Chipotle Tomato Soup

Enjoy soup for lunch or dinner. This creamy and slightly-spicy tomato soup simmers all day in your slow cooker. Then, all you have to do is make a sandwich or some toast, and your meal is ready.

Tuscan Lentil Sloppy Joes

For a delicious vegetarian meal or meatless Monday option, make these easy crockpot lentil sloppy joes. They have Italian flavors and will please even the pickiest eaters.

Sweet and Spicy Chickpeas

Sometimes it can be hard to find vegetarian crockpot meals, but these sweet and spicy chickpeas should top the list. They are addictively delicious, versatile, and will quickly become a staple crockpot meal.

Best Slow Cooker Tips

Now that you have a bunch of new healthy slow cooker recipes to try, I want to share some of my most-used tips. These are tricks that will make everything easier - from food prep to clean-up. In fact, they'll help you fall in love with cooking with your slow cooker.

1. Use A Slow Cooker Liner

Even though it isn't required, use a slow cooker liner. It makes clean-up a lot easier and helps your slow cooker last longer. After your meal, all you have to do is throw away the liner and wipe out the pot.

Without a liner, you might spend quite a bit of time scrubbing your slow cooker pot. Some recipes stick worse than others, and it can be a hassle.

2. Prep Ahead Of Time

If you have a really busy week ahead of you, plan some slow cooker meals. Look at the recipes you'll make and do as much chopping and food prep as you can ahead of time. This includes things like slicing the meat, chopping the vegetables, or grating the cheese.

This way, all you have to do on your busiest days is add all the ingredients to the slow cooker and turn it on. It takes all the stress out of cooking.

3. Make Recipes You Can Use Again

Another way to make cooking easier is to make recipes that you can reuse in a different way later on in the week. For example, you might make slow cooker jerk chicken for dinner one night. Then, save the leftovers and use them inside jerk chicken tacos for lunch on another day.

I call these "cook once, eat twice" meals. You can usually reuse beef, chicken, or pork in soups, salads, and on top of sandwiches.

Frequently Asked Questions About Healthy Slow Cooker Meals

Here are some questions people often ask about making healthy meals in their slow cooker. If you don't see your question in this list, please leave it in the comments.

What cannot be cooked in the slow cooker?

You can make almost anything in the slow cooker. Just be aware that since you are cooking it slowly for a long period of time, some types of food might become too soft or mushy. They aren't suited to be cooked this way.

I don't recommend cooking pasta, rice, dairy, or couscous in the slow cooker. You should also avoid adding delicate vegetables to the slow cooker too. If you want to make recipes with these ingredients, add them during the last few minutes of cooking.

Can you put raw meat in a slow cooker?

Yes, you definitely can cook raw meat in the slow cooker. In fact, lots of my healthy slow cooker meals in this list tell you to just place the raw meat in the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. It will cook slowly and completely.

Can you leave the lid off the slow cooker to thicken a sauce?

Yes, if you have a sauce that you want to thicken, just remove the lid. Do this after it is completely cooked. The liquid will slowly evaporate and leave you with a delightfully thicker sauce.

Should you stir a slow cooker?

Unless the recipe tells you to, you should not. In fact, it could lose a lot of heat, which will slow down the cooking time.

There you go! I hope you enjoyed this list of healthy slow cooker recipes! Browse Slender Kitchen - we have a bunch of healthy recipes beyond this shortlist. I'm sure you'll find something new to cook.