42+ Best Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes for Weight Loss
On the quest to create wholesome, flavorful meals, there's often one serious hurdle: time. But whether you want a meal you can leave alone to cook slowly during the day or while you run errands, your Crock-Pot has got you covered. Plus, it saves energy and lowers the risk of burning food…so even the not-so-culinary-blessed can partake in these healthy slow cooker recipes.
From soups and meat dishes to oatmeal and cider, these healthy Crock-Pot recipes will get your meals on the table and a smaller waistline in the meantime. Sit back, relax, and tuck into these low-calorie Crock-Pot recipes—no matter which one you choose, you're in for a delicious meal.
And if you're feeling more adventurous, here are 30 Healthy Stuffed Chicken Recipes to Make Tonight.
Crock-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Nothing beats a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup on a cold day, does it? Especially if it can be cooked with minimal effort! This Crock-Pot chicken noodle soup recipe is the perfect meal to warm up a crowd on a winter day.
Get our recipe for Crock-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup.
BBQ-Rubbed Pork Shoulder With Creamy Slaw
There are many reasons why this recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight—the active cooking time is reduced to a minimum, you can use this versatile pork in many different ways, and it's one of the most delicious healthy slow cooker recipes we've ever tasted. You can wrap this pork with slaw in a low-carb tortilla and call it a keto taco, or simply enjoy it as a high-protein, low-carb bowl.
Get our recipe for BBQ-Rubbed Pork Shoulder With Creamy Slaw.
Slow-Cooker Beef and Beer
Not only do the Belgians drink the best beer in the world, but they also cook with it. This recipe is inspired by a Belgian dish called carbonnade, a hearty stew of beef and onions braised in beer. It's the type of dish you want to come home to on a blustery winter night. Plus, it's only 345 calories a serving!
Get our recipe for Slow-Cooker Beef and Beer.
Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos
This recipe can roast on high for four hours, but for best results, let it roast on low for eight. The meat will be falling off by the time you start breaking it apart! Serve it with tortillas, limes, queso fresco (or cotija!) cheese, and, of course, some pickled red onions.
Get our recipe for Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos.
Crock Pot Beef Ragu
Sick of the usual meat sauce and meatballs on a weeknight? Take your Italian cooking up a notch with this delectable beef ragu recipe. Not only is it easy to make, but this dump-and-go Crock-Pot recipe is perfect to prep and freeze for later!
Get our recipe for Crock-Pot Beef Ragu.
Asian Beef Noodle Soup
Craving takeout? Make a healthier option with this Asian beef noodle soup. Packed with garlic, ginger, and anise, this is one dish that's sure to please.
Get our recipe for Asian Beef Noodle Soup.
Crock-Pot Italian Meatballs
Can you ever go wrong with a spaghetti and meatball dinner? If you're looking for a meal to serve a crowd, throwing together a large crock-pot of Italian meatballs is one of the easiest tricks of the trade.
Get our recipe for Crock-Pot Italian Meatballs.
Crock-Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole
It sure is fun to make some enchiladas for dinner—especially if it means making our Red Chile Chicken Enchiladas or the Chicken Mole Enchiladas. But actually taking the time to fill and roll up the enchiladas can be tedious work for a quick weeknight dinner. So instead, why not make a chicken enchilada casserole right in the slow cooker?
Get our recipe for Crock-Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole.
Basque Chicken
This dish combines some of the great flavors of northern Spain—smoked paprika, sweet peppers, piquant chorizo in a slow-cooked stew that could warm even the most frigid of souls.
Get our recipe for Basque Chicken.
Crock-Pot Beef and Broccoli
Craving some Chinese takeout? This homemade Crock-Pot beef and broccoli will satisfy that craving for you faster than you think! While most healthy slow cooker recipes take longer to cook, this one is surprisingly short and sweet. Plus, it won't cost you as many calories to consume, making it one of your new favorite healthy slow cooker recipes.
Get our recipe for Crock-Pot Beef and Broccoli.
Crock-Pot Chili
Is there anything more classic than slow cooker chili? This recipe features chuck roast, pinto beans, and plenty of seasoning. Warm-up with a bowl on a cold winter night.
Get our recipe for Crock-Pot Chili.
Short Ribs Braised in Guinness
It seems like braised short ribs adorn every French and Italian menu in the country these days. And why not? It's an inexpensive dish that takes minimal effort from the chef but that can still fetch a $20+ price tag wherever it's served. Why pay the money for something you can do just as well at home, especially if you can cut the calories in half with this short ribs recipe?
Get our recipe for Short Ribs Braised in Guinness.
Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos
Even though taco recipes are some of the easiest to make, sometimes it's nice to just dump some food in the slow cooker and let it do the cooking for you. That's why one of our easiest healthy slow cooker recipes is the perfect alternative for your Taco Tuesday needs!
Get our recipe for Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos.
French Pot Roast
Every culture has its version of pot roast, that amazing slow-cooked amalgamation of hearty meat, vegetable chunks, and flavorful broth. When it comes to picking the best rendition, we have to side with Julia Child, who believed the French boeuf bourguignonne was the world's finest pot roast. Here's an easy, healthy version to tackle the French pot roast.
Get our recipe for French Pot Roast.
Creamy Split Pea Soup
Split peas rank up there as one of the heroes of the health-food world, boasting deep reserves of fiber, B vitamins, and dozens of other vital nutrients. This split pea soup is a classic for a reason, and it is one of those few and far between comfort foods that are comforting, delicious, and healthy for you, too.
Get our recipe for Creamy Split Pea Soup.
Cuban Tomato and Black Bean Soup
Whether or not you're a vegetarian, you'll love this fiber-packed chili recipe. And with 16 grams of protein, this dish will satisfy you long after you eat it.
Get our recipe for Cuban Tomato and Black Bean Soup.
Crock-Pot Jambalaya
There's nothing like a steaming, spicy bowl of jambalaya to warm you up! While you can make a faster jambalaya recipe, using a slow cooker helps to savor all of the flavors. Between the sausage, tomatoes, and spicy cajun seasoning, this crock-pot jambalaya recipe is bursting with flavor.
Get our recipe for Crock-Pot Jambalaya.
Pulled Pork Sandwich
We get back to the humble hog treatment and turn out a sandwich flush with flavor and light on calories—making it one of our favorite healthy slow cooker recipes to make.
Get our recipe for Pulled Pork Sandwich.
Crock-Pot Vegetarian Chili
Just because a meal doesn't have meat in it doesn't mean it can't be a hearty one! This crock-pot vegetarian chili is stocked with all sorts of filling foods you'll love mixing together in the slow cooker.
Get our recipe for Crock-Pot Vegetarian Chili.
Lamb Tagine
Served over a bed of couscous, this meat is about to become your new go-to comfort food. The best part? It's only 440 calories a serving!
Get our recipe for Lamb Tagine.
Green Chile Pork Soup
Warm-up your insides with this delicious green chile pork soup. With way less sodium (and way more flavor) than you'd find in a canned soup option, this is a must-try recipe for those cold winter months.
Get our recipe for Green Chile Pork Soup.
Braised Brisket with Horseradish Cream
Brisket is a notoriously tough piece of meat. It takes the best pitmasters up to 18 hours of low-temperature smoking to wrestle the beef into a state of acceptable tenderness. But through the miracle of the slow cooker, where moisture and heat combine to turn even the toughest cuts into spoon-tender masterpieces, this braised brisket can be worked into a state of soul-soothing deliciousness with only about 15 minutes of prep work.
Get our recipe for Braised Brisket with Horseradish Cream.
Corned Beef
Here's a fun fact for you. Did you know that corned beef is actually pickled brisket? It's true! A slab of brisket sits in salty water and "pickles" in a brine for a few days, then it's boiled to perfection. Hence why corned beef is one of the saltiest pieces of meat. Enjoy it with a side of roasted cabbage!
Get our recipe for Corned Beef.
Beef Stew in Red Wine
Picture it: It's the dead of winter. You arrive home cold, wet, and famished. But when you open the front door, the smell hits you: beef and red wine and vegetables, slow-cooked into a state of deliciousness while you were gone for the day. Now that's comfort. Behold, our classic beef stew in red wine recipe.
Get our recipe for Beef Stew in Red Wine.
Slow Cooker Turkey
Why roast a turkey when the slow cooker can do it for you? Here's how to perfectly slow cook a turkey. And if it's not around the holidays, turkey can be a great meal prep food—like with this Protein-Packed Turkey BLT Salad Recipe.
Get our recipe for Slow Cooker Turkey.
Pumpkin Chicken Chili
Pumpkin is good for way more than pie (and lattes). This chili is jam-packed with flavor and nutrition—it just might become one of your favorite healthy slow cooker recipes.
Get our recipe for Pumpkin Chicken Chili.
Pork Chile Verde
Pork chile verde isn't a dish that's on most Americans' radar, but it should be. Tender pieces of pork stewed in a lively, slightly spicy broth studded with vegetables—what could be better than that? Add a few warm tortillas, a hunk of lime, and a cerveza, and you're halfway to Mexico with a huge grin on your face.
Get our recipe for Pork Chile Verde.
Slow Cooker Chicken in Red Wine
If you can't take a vacation to France, the next best thing might be this slow cooker Coq au vin recipe. Simple and delicious, you'll wow all your dinner guests with this low-calorie Crock-Pot meal.
Get our recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken in Red Wine.
Beef Goulash
This beefy stew will keep you satisfied, and it's super easy to make, too. It's no wonder this made our list of healthy slow cooker recipes for weight loss.
Get our recipe for Beef Goulash.
Slow Cooker Turkey Cassoulet
If you haven't tried this French casserole, this recipe is a great place to start. Packed with protein and low in calories, you can't beat this hearty crock-pot meal.
Get our recipe for Slow Cooker Turkey Cassoulet.
Slow Cooker Maple-Balsamic Chicken and Vegetables
If you're craving a simple chicken and vegetable recipe, you can't go wrong with this low-calorie Crock-Pot meal. You'll get plenty of fiber and protein, along with the delicious flavors of maple and balsamic.
Get our recipe for Slow Cooker Maple-Balsamic Chicken and Vegetables.
One-Pot Chicken Bacon Orzo Soup
Low cal, low carb, and high protein—this bowl is one serious weapon for weight loss. It contains detoxing celery, Vitamin A boasting carrots, and endurance-boosting onion. Plus, unlike most soups, it's salt count isn't through the roof. This especially important when you're trying to shed a few because sodium causes water retention.
Get the recipe from Savory Simple.
Creamy Potato Soup
This skinny take on traditional creamy soups cuts calories, sodium, and fat without compromising flavor. You don't have to nix all the things you love to lose belly fat. Just make sure to opt for a low-sodium chicken broth and reduced-fat or greek yogurt cream cheese.
Get the recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything.
Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Soup
While this concept may be a new one, we love this spoonable version of chicken parm. It's low in calories, carbs, and sugar, but it packs in nearly 26 grams of protein per serving. But when it comes to noodle choice, go for the brown stuff. According to registered dietitian Isabel Smith, MS, RD, CDN, "it's better to choose whole-grain or less refined more often because it contains more fiber, vitamins, minerals and protein as the husk of the grain is left on, making it 'whole grain.'"
Get the recipe from Foxes Love Lemons.
Slow Cooker Veggie Tortilla Soup
Not only is this soup packed with nourishing veggies, but it's also got a lethal weight-loss weapon: the black bean. Its high fiber, high protein content help to keep you fuller longer without much caloric cost and no saturated fat. Without a doubt, this tiny bean contributes to the 11 grams of satiating fiber and 14 grams of muscle-building protein in this recipe.
Get the recipe from Oh My Veggies.
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal with Whipped Maple Cream
Despite looking like a dessert, this wholesome bowl is just a little over 200 calories. Plus, it contains fat from the magical coconut, which is metabolized differently than other fats, thanks to their rich lauric acid content. This potent weight-loss food quells hunger, provides the body with quick energy, and helps reduce abdominal fat.
Get the recipe from How Sweet Eats.
Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal
With six simple ingredients, this Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal blows packaged varieties out of the water. It just under a cup serving contains 115 calories and 3.6 grams of fat, so it won't break your nutritional bank. Bonus: Cinnamon is one of the healthiest spices, can boost your metabolism and help moderate blood sugar.
Get the recipe from Fit Foodie Finds.
Rosemary Garlic Mash
No peeling, chopping, or boiling involved here. Simply combine ingredients, let them boil for anywhere from 3-8 hours (depending on preference), mash and serve. And with boasting amounts of potassium and glycogen restoring starch, this a perfect dish to accompany any lean protein for a post-workout dinner.
Get the recipe from Oh My Veggies.
Quiona Black Bean Stuffed Peppers
Who doesn't like a good stuffed pepper recipe–especially when it involves quinoa and a Crock-Pot? Quinoa is the only grain that contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. Plus it's got a healthy amount of hunger-squashing fiber. Naturally, these peppers are overflowing with protein and fiber. Added bonus: it knocks out over two day's worth of daily vitamin C demands (262%).
Get the recipe from Pinch of Yum.
Slow Cooker Barley and Chickpea Risotto
Barley aids in digestion, decreases inflammation, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and suppresses appetite, making it one of the best carbs for weight loss. Sub it in traditional rice dishes like this Barley and Chickpea Risotto for a serious nutritional punch.
Get the recipe from Foxes Love Lemons.
Chicken Fajitas
As if fajitas weren't quick and simple enough, this slow cooker version just made things even easier. Low in calories and high in protein, this Mexican dish will sizzle more than just your taste buds. Looking for a low-carb option? Ditch the tortilla and pair this dish with a side of veggies instead.
Get the recipe from Cooking Classy.
5-Ingredient Honey Sriracha Chicken
With chicken, tamari, honey, sriracha, and garlic, you can create a high protein, low-calorie fat-burning meal. Sriracha fires up more than your tongue. Capsaicin, the compound that gives the sauce its signature kick, has been proven to boost metabolic rate, reduce belly fat, and suppress appetite.
Get the recipe from Fit Foodie Finds.
Spicy Hawaiian Carnitas Tacos
These Spicy Hawaiian Carnitas Tacos will transport your taste buds to paradise. And with metabolism-boosting and fat-blasting cayenne, cancer-fighting pork, and energy-boosting pineapple, you'll be doing right by your body, too.
Get the recipe from Real Food By Dad.
Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Although many lettuce wrap varieties allow you to cut carbs without compromising flavor, this recipe isn't one of them. Rather it contains 39 grams of slow-digesting carbs, that come from wholesome brown rice in place of nutrient-void white wraps. And you can have two for just 359 calories and 30 grams of protein.
Get the recipe from Cooking Classy.
Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip
Cheesy dip on a list of healthy slow cooker recipes? Yes, really! If you've ever had a spinach artichoke dip, you know how divine a combo spinach, artichokes, and cheese are. However, you also know it's a diet disaster. TGI Friday's Tuscan Spinach Dip has a horrifying 870 calories, 29 grams of saturated fat, and 1,440 milligrams of sodium. That's why we love this slow cooker version with just 116 calories, 1/6 of the saturated fats, and 1/8 of the sodium.
Get the recipe from Your Cup of Cake.
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