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Cold winter days call for meals that are cozy and satisfying, but if eating healthy is on your list of New Year's resolutions, you may be looking for some new, lightened-up family dinner ideas to add to your rotation of meal prep. Here, you'll find recipes for the best soups chock-full of veggies, protein-packed chili, pot roast, and even breakfast casserole to keep you full from sun up to sun down. The kicker? They're all made in a slow cooker!
That's right—your handy Crock-Pot can lend a helping hand in healthy eating, and you'll find fresh, delicious meals to satisfy every craving. For instance, there's slow cooker recipes like enchiladas made with quinoa and a mac and cheese that's loaded with creamy butternut squash for a healthy dinner. Looking for a lightened-up healthy breakfast? Try the overnight oatmeal sweetened with maple syrup. We all know that when it comes to keeping up with your healthy eating routine, planning ahead is the key ingredient! You can prep a big batch of slow cooker chicken, pulled pork, roast, or black beans to keep you satisfied throughout the week. And if you want to round out a meal, you might even check out the skinny slow cooker apple crisp—it's the easiest healthy dessert we've ever seen!
1
Crock-Pot Breakfast Casserole
Fuel your day with this slow cooker breakfast casserole. It combines eggs, sausage, hash browns, peppers, and onion into one crowd-friendly morning meal.
Get the Crock-Pot Breakfast Casserole recipe.
2
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
For a lighter meal, skip the bun and enjoy the meat atop a salad instead! You could also build a Tex-Mex bowl using brown rice, black beans, and all your favorite toppings.
Get the Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.
3
Slow Cooker Brisket
This slow-cooked brisket is the easiest way to get meat and veggies on the dinner table. Cooked with carrots, potatoes, celery, and onion, it's an all-in-one meal!
Get the Slow Cooker Brisket recipe.
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4
Slow Cooker Green Beans
These Crock-Pot green beans will become your new favorite way to eat veggies! The best part? They go with practically everything.
Get the Slow Cooker Green Beans recipe.
5
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
This set-and-forget pot roast meal is everyone's favorite for a reason. With tender beef and veggies, it's undeniably delicious, but prep and cleanup are a breeze, too!
Get the Slow Cooker Pot Roast recipe.
6
Slow Cooker Chili
This chili recipe calls for four cans of beans so there's plenty of filling protein. Feel free to mix and match whatever beans you like best: kidney, pinto, cannellini, or black beans.
Get the Slow Cooker Chili recipe.
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7
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Loaded with veggies, protein-packed black beans, healthy avocado, and satisfying chicken, this soup recipe is everything you want in a weeknight meal. Oh, and it's hands-free thanks to the slow cooker!
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.
8
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Split peas might be small but they sure are mighty! They're high in fiber, low in fat, and have a good source of protein. Not to mention they've been known to help lower blood pressure.
Get the Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup recipe.
9
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
This slow cooker chili recipe is comforting and fully satisfying thanks to the spiced, shredded chicken, masa harina, and white beans. And did we mention it's practically hands-free?
Get Ree's Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili recipe.
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10
Slow Cooker Applesauce
Making your own applesauce in the slow cooker means you can control how much sugar goes into the mixture. Serve it up with chicken or pork or use it in a healthy dessert recipe.
Get the Slow Cooker Applesauce recipe.
11
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
The base for this slow cooker chili is lean ground turkey, but there's also black beans, kidney beans, corn, and fire roasted tomatoes. Top is off with healthy avocado to garnish.
Get the Slow Cooker Turkey Chili recipe.
12
Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
For a healthier twist on this childhood favorite, try sneaking in a veggie, like butternut squash. It's gets so creamy, you won't even realize it's there!
Get the Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese recipe.
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13
Slow Cooker Pot Roast with BBQ Baked Sweet Potatoes
You can use this slow cooker pot roast recipe in so many ways, but we love this healthy variation that's served over roasted sweet potatoes with ranch dressing and broccoli on the side.
Get the Slow Cooker Pot Roast with BBQ Ranch Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe.
14
Slow Cooker Refried Beans
Refried beans are basically just pinto beans that have been cooked down with a ton of spices. They make for a healthy dip, taco filling, or side dish.
Get the Slow Cooker Refried Beans recipe.
15
Slow Cooker Chicken Lettuce Cups
To make this healthy appetizer, the chicken is slowly cooked in a sauce made from fresh ginger, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and honey. There's also a fresno chili for a pop of heat.
Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Lettuce Cups recipe.
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16
Slow Cooker Homemade Yogurt
Start your morning off on the right foot with this homemade yogurt recipe that you can prep ahead. Using the Crock-Pot actually helps to speed the process along. The yogurt, which normally takes up to 48 hours to set, can be done in just four to six hours.
Get the Crock-Pot Yogurt recipe.
17
Slow Cooker Red Curry Chicken and Carrot Bowl
Once you know how to make chicken in a slow cooker, all you need to do is add some red curry paste, shredded carrots, and serve it over rice (or brown rice if you want to be extra-healthy).
Get the Slow Cooker Red Curry Chicken and Carrot Bowl recipe.
18
Slow Cooker White Bean and Kale Soup
This beans and greens soup is guaranteed to warm your soul on a cold winter night! It's shockingly easy to make in a slow cooker.
Get the White Bean and Kale Soup recipe at Jessica in the Kitchen.
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19
Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
Turkey isn't just for Thanksgiving—you can make it year-round! Cook this juicy breast in your Crock-Pot and enjoy it all week long.
20
Crockpot Lentil Soup
This feel-good soup is chock full of butternut squash, carrots, potatoes, celery, split peas, and lentils to keep you full and satisfied while getting a healthy dose of veggies.
