7 Healthy and Easy Crock Pot Recipes (2024)

I love when 5pm rolls around and dinner is almost done! I don't know about you, but the last thing I want to dolate afternoon,is figure out what's for dinner, and be in the kitchen working. Crock pot recipes are fantastic but sometimes not on the healthy side. We found 7 great recipes we wanted to shaer with our Texas Fit Chicks to make dinner time easy breezy, and healthy! Hope you enjoy.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Ingredients:

3 pounds chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
2 onions, chopped
1 pound fresh mushrooms, thickly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup flour
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
Fresh basil to garnish
Hot cooked linguini
Grated cheese, Pecorino Romano or Parmesan

Directions

Add chicken to Crock-Pot slow cooker, and then top chicken with remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on Low 7 to 9 hours or on High 4 to 5 hours.
Garnish with fresh torn basil, and serve over linguini and pass the cheese.

Serves:6-8

Savory Bean and Spinach Soup
Makes: 6 servings
Ingredients
3 14-ounce cans vegetable broth
1 15-ounce can tomato puree
1 15-ounce can small white beans or Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup uncooked brown rice
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 garlic cloves, chopped
8 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach or kale leaves
Finely shredded Parmesan cheese
Directions
1. In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker, combine vegetable broth, tomato puree, beans, rice, onion, basil, salt, pepper, and garlic.
2. Cover; cook on low-heat setting 5 to 7 hours or on high-heat setting 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours.
3. Just before serving, stir in spinach or kale and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition facts per serving: 150 calories, 9g protein, 31g carbohydrate, 3g fat (1g saturated), 8g fiber

Beef Vegetable Soup
Makes: 4 servings
Ingredients
1 pound boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
3 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
2 small potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
2 14-1/2-ounce cans diced tomatoes
1 cup water
1/2 cup loose-pack frozen peas
Fresh parsley sprigs (optional)
Directions
1. In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker, combine beef chuck pieces, sliced carrots, cubed potatoes, and chopped onion. Sprinkle with salt and thyme. Add bay leaf, tomatoes with their juices, and water. Stir until all ingredients are combined.
2. Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours.
3. Remove and discard bay leaf. Stir in peas and garnish with parsley if desired.
Nutrition facts per serving: 269 calories, 28g protein, 29g carbohydrate, 4g fat (1g saturated), 4g fiber

Red Beans Over Spanish Rice
Makes: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
2 cups dry red beans or dry kidney beans
5 cups cold water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 pound boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 1/2 cups chopped onions
6 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
4 cups water
1 6-3/4-ounce package Spanish rice, cooked
Fresh jalapeno peppers, sliced
Directions
1. Rinse beans; drain. In a large saucepan, combine beans and the 5 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
2. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour. Rinse and drain beans.
3. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook pork in two batches; drain fat.
4. Coat a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Add beans, pork, onions, garlic, and cumin. Pour in the 4 cups water; stir.
5. Cover; cook on low heat 10 to 11 hours.
6. Using a slotted spoon, remove beans and pork. Serve beans over rice, and spoon liquid over the top. Garnish with sliced jalapeno.
Nutrition facts per serving: 344 calories, 19g protein, 68g carbohydrate, 1g fat (0g saturated), 17g fiber

Cajun Shrimp and Rice
Makes: 6 servings
Ingredients
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 14-ounce can chicken broth
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 6- to 6-1/4-ounce package long-grain and wild-rice mix, such as Uncle Ben's
1/4 cup water
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1 pound cooked, shelled and deveined shrimp
Hot-pepper sauce (optional)
Directions
1. In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker, combine tomatoes with their juices, chicken broth, onions, bell pepper, rice mix with seasoning packet, water, garlic, and Cajun seasoning.
2. Cover; cook on low-heat setting 5 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
3. Stir shrimp into rice mixture. Cover; cook for 15 minutes longer at high-heat setting. Sprinkle with hot-pepper sauce if desired.
Nutrition facts per serving: 223 calories, 21g protein, 32g carbohydrate, 2g fat (0g saturated), 3g fiber

Gingered Beef and Vegetables
Makes: 6 servings
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds boneless beef round steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1/2 cup sliced scallions
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons instant beef-bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons cold water
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 cups loose-pack frozen sugar snap peas, thawed
Cooked rice
Directions
1. In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker, combine beef, carrots, scallions, and garlic. In a medium bowl, combine the 1 1/2 cups water, soy sauce, ginger, bouillon, and crushed red pepper; pour over mixture in cooker.
2. Cover; cook on low-heat setting 9 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
3. If using low-heat setting, turn to high-heat setting. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and the 3 tablespoons cold water; stir into meat mixture along with bell pepper. Cover; cook 20 to 30 minutes more, or until thickened, stirring once. Stir in sugar snap peas. Serve with rice.
Nutrition facts per serving: 350 calories, 29g protein, 35g carbohydrate, 10g fat (4g saturated), 3g fiber
- Fitness 2009

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7 Healthy and Easy Crock Pot Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is cooking in a crock pot healthy? ›

The low heat helps less expensive, leaner cuts of meat become tender and shrink less. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking and steam created within the tightly-covered container combine to destroy bacteria and make the slow cooker a safe process for cooking foods.

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What is the healthiest meat to slow cook? ›

common lean roasts found in the grocery store

chuck tender roast. A lean roast that requires slow cooking to tenderize.
shoulder roast. An inexpensive chuck cut with good flavor and good for roasting or slow cooking.
rump roast. A boneless and lean cut ideal for slow cooking.
eye of round roast.

What is the difference between a slow cook and a crock pot? ›

A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker. Crockpot popularized slow cookers when they launched their version in the 1970s.

What is a healthy alternative to a crock pot? ›

If you don't have a slow cooker, you can slow cook right on stovetop using a cooking pot that has a heavy build (like a Dutch oven) so it can disperse heat evenly to the food cooking inside. You should cover it well with a lid, keep the heat low and keep checking food in between so it does not run out of liquid.

What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker

Raw Meat.
Seafood.
Pasta.
Rice.
Delicate Vegetables.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
Dairy.
Wine and Other Liquor.

More items...

Jan 19, 2024

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Is it safe to put raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

Research conducted by USDA FSIS indicates it's safe to cook large cuts of meat and poultry in a slow cooker.

Learn More Now ›

What is the healthiest meat a person can eat? ›

While meat can be a part of a healthy diet, not all sources are created equal. The leanest and healthiest meats to eat include poultry, pork, fish, and seafood. Eating a balanced diet is one of the keys to a healthy lifestyle, which means choosing various foods from different food groups, like proteins.

Do potatoes go on top or bottom of meat in a crockpot? ›

Place firm, slow-cooking root vegetables like potatoes and carrots at the bottom of the crock and pile the meat on top. Set the heat level: A general rule of thumb is that cooking on the low setting (170 degrees F for most models) takes about twice as long as cooking on high (280 degrees F on most models).

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What meat is the least unhealthy? ›

Poultry (such as chicken and turkey): Both chicken and turkey are considered to be healthy options when compared with red meat.

Is it better to cook food on high or low in crock pot? ›

Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low. However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting.

Get More Info Here ›

What cooks better in a crock pot? ›

Fattier meats and dark meat chicken are better options, as leaner cuts may dry out during the cooking process. Fattier meats are good, but trim the fat away before placing in the Crockpot slow cooker.

Read On ›

Are crockpot liners worth it? ›

Why should you use slow cooker liners? Slow cooker only keep cleanup fast and easy (after eight hours, food stuck to the pot can prove incredibly stubborn) but also protect your slow cooker itself from getting scratched and damaged from scrubbing.

Find Out More ›

What's better than a slow cooker? ›

✔️ Instant Pots are multi-functional.

Many people think that Instant Pots are just electric pressure cookers, but they're actually multi-cookers that cover a wide variety of functions: They slow cook, steam, warm, saute and work as a rice cooker in addition to pressure cooking.

Read The Full Story ›

Can I put frozen chicken in the crockpot? ›

It is best to thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Frozen pieces will take longer to reach a safe internal temperature and could possibly result in foodborne illness. Frozen or partially frozen foods can also cool everything else in the slow cooker.

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Do vegetables lose nutrients in crock pot? ›

Vegetables cooked in a slow cooker or crock pot retain more of their natural vitamins and nutrients than harsher cooking methods – such as boiling – because the temperatures are lower.

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Does slow cooking destroy nutrients? ›

Slow cookers cook food at a low temperature (usually around 93c) for anywhere between 4-8 hours. Because of the lower temperature, the nutrients in the food remain more stable than other methods of cooking.

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What are the advantages and disadvantages of a crockpot? ›

While there are some disadvantages to using a slow cooker, such as the risk of overcooking food or forgetting to turn it off, these generally pale in comparison to the benefits. For busy families or those who enjoy coming home to a hot meal, a slow cooker can be a great addition to any kitchen.

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What are the benefits of crock pot cooking? ›

Slow cooker benefits.

They use less electricity than an oven and can be used year-round. Because of the long, low-temperature cooking, slow cookers help tenderize less-expensive cuts of meat. They usually allow for one-step preparation; putting all the ingredients in the slow cooker saves time and reduces cleanup.

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Is it safe to run a crock pot all day? ›

Yes, it's safe to leave a slow cooker on when you leave the house. The purpose of a slow cooker is to allow you to cook while you aren't home. Slow cookers simmer food slowly, killing bacteria and raising meat to the perfect internal temperature.