Get these 50+ Easy Healthy Crockpot Meals for Dinner that will make your life a breeze in the kitchen. From poultry, beef, lamb, and pork to vegetarian recipes, there is a delish meal for all! Just press a button and let your slow cooker do the job for you!
If you love your slow cooker, you're not alone! I am a big fan of it due to its great convenience.
It's especially useful if you work outside the home!
You can place a dinner meal to cook in the morning and have it ready when you get back without any assistance during the day.
The beauty of these healthy crockpot dinners is they will turn raw meats and vegetables into a tender and flavorful meal you can enjoy without stretching your waistline.
Plus, some of them are dump-and-go crockpot meals!
This means they don't require any sauteeing, browning, or other cooking methods previous to cooking in the slow cooker.
Ready to cook these and some more easy slow cooker recipes?
Table of Contents
- 1 Why You'll Love These Easy Healthy Crockpot Recipes
- 2 Healthy Crockpot Chicken Recipes
- 3 Healthy Crockpot Beef Recipes
- 4 Easy Healthy Crockpot Lamb Recipes
- 5 Healthy Crockpot Pork Recipes
- 6 Healthy Crockpot Turkey Recipes
- 7 Healthy Crockpot Vegetarian Recipes
- 8 FAQs' for Healthy Slow Cooker Meals
- 9 How to Store and Freeze Healthy Crockpot Meals
- 10 More Healthy Recipes for Dinner
- 11 50 Easy Healthy Crockpot Meals for Dinner
Why You'll Love These Easy Healthy Crockpot Recipes
Here are a few reasons we love to cook meals in the crockpot:
- Minimal prep time: Preparing a crockpot meal often requires little time. What takes longer is to cook the meal, but the slow cooker does it for you -- most of the time without calling for any stirring or standing by the stove.
- Simple: While some cooking methods require browning before cooking the meal, the slow cooker doesn't. Of course, browning the meat before cooking it in the crockpot will optimize its flavor, yet it is not necessary. After placing the ingredients into the crockpot, you will have to pretty much press a button and allow the meal to cook until cooked through. This means you don't need to have any special cooking skills to make them!
- Make ahead: You can place the ingredients to cook in the morning and have any of these healthy crockpot meals ready in the evening when you get back from work. You can also meal prep it on the weekends and have ready for the week or freeze it for later.
- It does the job for you: I can't emphasize enough how great it is not to have to stand by the stove for hours while cooking a meal. You can go to work or do errands outside the home and have it a meal ready when you get back.
- No special cooking skills required: The slow cooker can't be any simpler. Just dump the ingredients into the pot, press a button, and let the meal cook by itself for hours. Something that anyone can do it!
This said I've prepared for you a list of healthy crockpot recipes for dinner that are easy to make!
You'll find chicken, beef, pork, turkey, lamb, and vegetarian crockpot meals that are healthy -- some are also vegan, low-carb or keto, high-protein, Whole 30, Paleo, Mediterranean, and so on.
All are perfect for families like yours!
Healthy Crockpot Chicken Recipes
Chicken is a great source of protein and one of the most budget-friendly in the United States. Plan to make several of these easy healthy crockpot chicken recipes for dinner and save both time and money.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs take just 10 minutes to prep and then are cooked in a delicious honey garlic sauce until tender. You can serve over (cauliflower) rice or with steamed vegetables.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Curry is a dish inspired by the popular chicken satay. The difference is ours is cooked in a rich sauce in the crockpot, requiring neither skewering nor grilling.
- Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff in the Crockpot is one of our most popular recipes for its superb flavor and low-carb content. If you have never made it, put it on your must-cook list!
- Weight Watchers' Chicken Tortilla Soup is made with chicken bone broth, boneless chicken breast, and low-carb veggies in the crockpot, stovetop, or pressure cooker. It will help you to shed a few pounds and keep you warm!
- Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore Recipe is a breeze to make with boneless skinless chicken breasts, veggies, & your favorite jarred pasta sauce. Just toss everything in & let the slow cooker works its magic.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki is prepared with healthy ingredients, including chicken breast, making the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors. It's one of those easy healthy crockpot meals perfect for busy weeknights!
- Chicken Taco Soup in the Slow Cooker is a dump-and-go recipe that combines white meat chicken, corn, and beans in a tomato-based broth. A super comforting meal for busy days!
- Pesto Ranch Chicken in the Crockpot calls for 4 ingredients, making tender juicy chicken thighs in a flavorful pesto ranch sauce. You can prep this meal in advance and then pull it out later to cook on busy days and still get a great meal on the table with even less work.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are an easy and comforting family meal. Made with a handful of simple ingredients and makes the most tender and flavorful chicken. Perfect for taco night!
Healthy Crockpot Beef Recipes
Another popular source of protein, beef makes a great alternative to poultry and fish. Cooked in the crockpot, tough cuts of beef can become fork-tender and quite flavorful saving you big bucks.
- Healthy Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff is a low-carb beef and mushroom stew with a healthy creamy base. Unlike other recipes out there, it is healthy yet comforting!
- Slow Cooker Beef Oxtail has my heart and soul. Prepared with lots of veggies and a rich sauce, this meat stew comes out so tender that the beef falls apart.
- Brazilian Beef Stew in the Crockpot is also a low-carb meat stew that is packed with veggies and rich in flavor. It is one of those cheap and healthy crockpot meals you can make ahead and freeze well.
- Slow Cooker Chili Mac and Cheese are one of my family's favorite meals made with just 5 humble ingredients. It is quite budget-friendly and tasty, making a complete hearty meal!
- Beef Brisket cooked slowly in a rich bbq sauce until tender and juicy. It makes one of those easy crockpot meals that are perfect for dinner, barbecue parties, and also get-togethers.
- Slow Cooker Beef Chow Mein is a leaner take on the traditional takeout dish, making an easy and healthy weeknight meal with so much flavor. It calls for flank steak, low-sodium soy sauce, and lots of veggies!
- Beef Shin in the Slow Cooker is super quick to prepare and is an easy healthy family meal. It's got lots of veggies, and delicious tender melt-in-the-mouth beef.
- Easy Whole30 Pot Roast in the Crockpot has a chuck roast with carrots, potatoes, celery, and seasonings simmered low and slow until tender. It's also gluten-free, Paleo, and dairy free!
- Crockpot Beef and Broccoli is the high-protein classic dish in your slow cooker! The tender and juicy beef in this recipe combined with the crunchy and slightly bitter broccoli creates a balance of textures and flavors.
Easy Healthy Crockpot Lamb Recipes
As turkey, lamb shouldn't be a choice only for holidays and special occasions. It can really upgrade any meal without costing an arm and a leg.
- Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks in Red Wine are seared and then cooked low and slow in a tasty red wine sauce until falling-off-the-bone tender. It makes a great Sunday supper or Easter meal.
- Slow Cooker Morrocan Lamb Shoulders consists of a lamb meal packed with veggies and Morrocan spice rub cooked low and slow in beef broth until fork-tender. It calls for only 6 ingredients yet it has exotic flavors everyone will love!
- Easy Lamb Roast in the Crockpot makes the perfect meal for Sunday supper! The herbs and garlic add a lot of flavor to the lamb roast and also the vegetables.
- Slow Cooker Lamb Chops are well-seasoned and cooked until tender. Then, a velvety gravy garnishes them adding extra flavor and moisture to the meat. It makes one of those healthy crockpot meals you'll want to make many times!
- Leg of Lamb in the Crockpot cooked with lots of seasonings and herbs in a mixture of broth and red wine until tender. Serve it with a gravy prepared with its strained juices. It makes a wow meal for any special occasion!
- Crockpot Lamb Chili is a ground lamb and bean soup cooked for a few hours, rendering a super flavor dinner meal that is pure comfort. Right before serving, top it with cheddar cheese and sliced jalapeños, and enjoy it while hot.
- Slow Cooker Lamb Stew is simmered in a rich red wine sauce until tender, making a cozy lamb and veggie dinner that is full of flavor.
- Keto Slow Cooker Lamb Meatballs is a simple and delicious meal that consists of ground lamb, mushrooms, and a rich tomato base sauce cooked until tender and flavorful. Serve it on a bed of cauliflower mash for a low-carb crockpot dinner meal that you'll want to make again and again!
Healthy Crockpot Pork Recipes
Tired of chicken and beef? Grab some different cuts of pork and cook some of the best meals in the crockpot!
- Easy Slow Cooker Pork Stroganoff is the easy and healthy version of the classic, making the perfect keto dinner for busy weekdays. It consists of tender beef and mushrooms in a rich and creamy nonfat Greek sauce.
- Slow Cooker Ham Recipe is rubbed with brown sugar and spices, cooked until tender, and then topped with an orange glaze, making a sticky, sweet, tangy, and full-of-flavor meal.
- Chinese BBQ Ribs in the Crockpot have falling-off-the-bone tender and tasty pork ribs cooked in the crockpot and then broiled in the oven. It is inspired by the famous dish, Char Siu, making a restaurant-quality meal at home!
- Creamy Ham and Cabbage Soup in the Crockpot has leftover ham and veggies simmered in a thick and hearty broth for a low-carb dinner meal that is perfect for cooler days.
- Feijoada is Brazil's national dish! The recipe calls for black beans and pork meats to be cooked low and slow until the meats are tender and the bean broth is thick and flavorful. It is simply the best bean stew will ever have and one of several easy healthy crockpot meals your family will love!
- Crock Pot Pork Loin is easy to prepare, super juicy, and melt-in-your-mouth-tender, making the perfect comforting family dinner meal or holiday main dish.
- Pork Tenderloin Carnita Tacos is so much healthier using the leaner cut of meat without sacrificing any flavor! The crock pot does the heavy lifting by cooking the meat and then after shredding, it spends a few minutes under the broiler to crisp it up like traditional carnitas.
- Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Gravy have tender chops smothered in a rich and silky gravy everyone will love!
- Crockpot Pork Tenderloin is so easy to make with just a 10-minute meal prep! It is tender and juicy with sweet and savory flavors. It is also low-carb and gluten-free!
Healthy Crockpot Turkey Recipes
This animal protein shouldn't be popular only during the holidays or to take care of leftovers. In fact, you can easily add it to your everyday healthy meals to replace chicken.
- Slow Cooker Turkey Chili is an easy and healthy crockpot dinner recipe that calls for ground turkey, beans, tomatoes, and spices. This is a kid-friendly chili recipe that the entire family will love!
- Crockpot Turkey Legs with Gravy consists of slow-cooking turkey legs in chicken stock and seasonings until tender; then serving them with gravy made with the pan juices. It requires a minimum of prep work, and the meat is always juicy and delicious!
- Slow Cooker Turkey Chowder consists of a creamy and chunky soup made with leftover turkey, broth, and lots of veggies, making a rich and comforting hearty dinner for busy days.
- Crockpot Turkey with Garlic Butter is not only a meal for the holidays that you can cook low and slow, slathered in garlic butter. You can make it ahead and use it for preparing other dishes. But it's an alternative to roast turkey.
- Asian-Style Turkey Lettuce Wraps in the Slow Cooker is a light and lean meal made with ground turkey and Asian condiments cooked slow and then served in lettuce wraps for a healthy and tasty dinner.
- Slow Cooker Greek Turkey Pita Sandwich consists of lean ground turkey and seasonings cooked in the crockpot and then served on pita topped with diced tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and tzatziki sauce. It makes an easy, fresh, and delicious cozy dinner meal!
- Turkey Casserole in the Slow Cooker makes a comforting dish packed with veggies and leftover turkey, helping to avoid food waste after the holidays. It's for sure one of our healthy crockpot meals to make many times!
- Make this Slow Cooker Turkey Meatloaf with ground turkey, egg, herb garlic seasoning, and panko. Cook in the crockpot for 4 hours and serve with bbq sauce. It is a simple yet quite comforting meal!
Healthy Crockpot Vegetarian Recipes
Are you on a plant-based diet? You will love these slow-cooker vegetarian meals. But if you aren't, add them to your list of meatless Mondays.
- Best Cabbage Diet Soup is a low-calorie, low-carb, vegan meal with anti-inflammatory properties. Packed with vegetables and turmeric, this soup makes one of the tastiest dinners even if you're not on a diet.
- Vegetarian Feijoada is the meatless version of the classic Brazilian dish. It consists of black beans and lots of veggies stewed in the crockpot until tasty and tender, making a high-protein cozy meal that is also rich in fiber.
- Panera Autumn Squash Soup has butternut squash and pumpkin purée cooked in the crockpot, rendering a creamy, hearty, and delish homemade meal that will save you money.
- Slow Cooker Chickpea Curry is an easy and delicious vegetarian meal, loaded with veggies and plant-based protein. It'll become a family favorite for sure!
- Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Peanut Soup makes a creamy and comforting vegan African sweet potato and peanut stew for a healthy weeknight dinner!
- Crockpot Vegetarian Chili is one of those meals rich in plant-based protein from beans, resulting in an easy and healthy dinner that is full of flavor!
- Mushroom Barley Soup is a flavorful yet simple meatless meal full of nutrients and fiber that even the most dedicated carnivores will love.
- Slow Cooker Mexican Soup is a black bean, corn, tomato, and vegetable broth soup cooked low and slow in the crockpot, resulting in a meal with rich Indigeneous-Spanish flavors. Serve it with garnishes such as avocado, sour cream, and jalapeno.
FAQs' for Healthy Slow Cooker Meals
What is the difference between a slow cooker and a crockpot?
There is no difference between a slow cooker and a crockpot. They are the same electric appliance that cooks food at a low temperature over hours. The term “slow cooker” is a generic term for the same utensil that you can buy under the name brand “Crock-Pot”.
What is the difference between the LOW and HIGH settings on my crock-pot?
The LOW setting is used to cook meals for a longer time (4-8 hours) while the HIGH setting cookies for shorter cooking times (2-4 hours). The time will depend on the cut and weight of the meat as well as the target texture of the food.
What are the typical cooking times for slow cookers?
It depends on the brand of your slow cooker. Some start at 2 hours while others at 4 hours ranging up to 8-10 hours. The Crockpot brand has some models that come with a manual function that allows you to easily set the cooking times on your own.
Can you put raw meat in a crock pot?
Yes! You can put raw meat with a liquid and have it simmered in your crock pot until cooked through, becoming tender and delish.
Is the food cooked in a slow cooker healthier?
It can be because you can use less fat to cook in the slow cooker than is usually required on the stovetop. Most stovetop recipes call for browning meats first before simmering them. If it is lean meat or the pan is not nonstick, it will require a type of fat such as vegetable oil. On the other hand, browning meat before cooking it in a slow cooker is not necessary although it will boost its flavor. Anyways, by simmering food low and slow, the slow cooker often preserves more nutrients than baking or frying for example.
How to Store and Freeze Healthy Crockpot Meals
- FRIDGE: These slow cooker recipes will keep well in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Remove it from the crockpot, let the meal cool completely, and then place it in an airtight container before refrigerating.
- FREEZER: Many of these are also easy freezer meals. After letting them cool, place these healthy crockpot meals in freezer-safe containers for up to 2-3 months.
- REHEATING: The reheating method and time will vary according to each recipe. But you can reheat most of them, covered, in the microwave until hot.
More Healthy Recipes for Dinner
- 55 Easy Beef Recipes for Dinner
- 70 Easy Chicken Recipes for Dinner
- 80 Low-Calorie Dinners
- 30 High-Protein Dinners
- 50 Easy Gluten-Free Dinners
- 75 Best Easy Dinner Ideas
- 30 Quick and Easy Low-Carb Dinners
- 35 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes
- 20 Easter Dinner Ideas
- 15 Birthday dinner ideas
PIN AND ENJOY!
50 Easy Healthy Crockpot Meals for Dinner
Equipment
- 1 large pan
- 1 whisk
- 1 tongs
Ingredients
- 4 lamb shanks trimmed of excess fat (4 to 6 lamb shanks depending on their size)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 large white onion diced
- 2 large carrots peeled and sliced ½-inch thick. If on a keto diet, replace with celery
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 ½ cups red wine like Carbenet Saunignon, Merlot, or Pinot Noir
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch or xanthan gum or 6 tablespoons of flour. Xanthan gum is the best thickener for a low-carb diet and cornstarch makes a great gluten-free thickener.
- 2 cups beef stock or broth
- 14 oz tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 beef bouillon cubes crushed
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary finely chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the lamb shanks: Remove them from the fridge about 1 hour before cooking. Wash and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- (OPTIONAL) Sear: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a heavy-bottom pan over medium-high heat. Sear two shanks until browned on all sides. Repeat with remaining shanks and oil. Do not overcrowd the pan! NOTE: Although this step is optional, I recommend it because it will boost the color and flavor of the meat!
- Cook: Transfer them to a 6-quart slow cooker bowl. Add in the onions, carrots, and garlic. Season with ½ teaspoon coarse salt and ¼ teaspoon ground pepper, tossing well to combine. Reserve!
- Make the sauce: In the same pan that you seared the shanks, pour in the red wine and allow to simmer over medium-low heat for 4-5 minutes. Then add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch or xanthan gum (or 2 tablespoon flour) slowly, whisking constantly, until no lumps are found. Let it reduce and thicken slightly, then pour it into the slow cooker along with the beef stock, tomato sauce, tomato paste, bullion, rosemary, and bay leaves.
- Mix well to combine the ingredients. Cook on HIGH for 6 hours or on LOW for 8-10 hours, or until the lamb is fall-apart tender.
- Remove the lamb shanks and cover them well. Skim fat from braising liquid if needed, using a slotted spoon.
- Thicken the sauce: Transfer the sauce to the pan that you seared the shanks and turn on the heat to medium-low. In a small bowl, whisk 2 tablespoons of cornstarch or xanthan gum (or 4 tablespoons of flour) with ¼ cup of the sauce from the pan until completely dissolved.
- Pour the mixture into the pan, whisking quickly until completely smooth. The sauce must simmer for 4-5 minutes, or until thickened to desired consistency.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley and serve over mashed potatoes/cauliflower and a side of steamed peas.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
Leave a Reply