30 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

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I’ve rounded up over 30 of the best healthy slow cooker recipes from around the internet to help make your life easier! From comforting soups and stews to hearty curries and family-friendly dinners, there is something for everyone here!

If you’re anything like me and those weeknights are really busy, then you need to make your slow cooker your new best friend. There is something so satisfying about throwing everything into the slow cooker in the morning and coming home to a house that smells incredible with dinner that’s ready to go. 

As a mum of three, I rely heavily on my slow cooker, especially in the cooler months. Spending a little time in the morning prepping a slow cooker meal really helps to take the stress out of dinner time. Personally one of my biggest struggles is figuring out what to cook when it’s the afternoon and my brain is tired, so knowing that it’s already been taken care of means I can spend time before dinner relaxing (kidding, I have 3 kids, I’m either doing laundry, working or driving them to sport!). 

Get the Most Out of Your Slow Cooker 

If you’re yet to buy a slow cooker or are in the market for a new one then I would highly recommend getting a slow cooker that has a sear function. It makes it so much easier as you can complete each step in the slow cooker without messing up extra pans. This is my absolute favourite slow cooker, I’ve had it for years and love that it’s low tox and has a sear function.

There’s a few different ways to use your slow cooker.

• use the slow cooker to make a complete meal totally hands-off, like this Chicken Minestrone Soup, 
• make a component of a meal like a rich pasta sauce like this Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu where you just need to cook the pasta in the evening 
• use it to make just the protein element that you can then add to different healthy meals like bowls, sandwiches, salads or wraps. For example a slow cooked pulled pork can then be used in nachos, burritos, tacos or salads.
• utilise the slow cooker for meal prep. For example, throw on a bolognese to slow cook that you can later divide between airtight containers and add to your freezer stash.

My go-to ingredients for slow cooker recipes

Proteins

• boneless chicken thighs – stay so juicy and tender with a longer cooking time, unlike chicken breast which can sometimes dry out. 
• chicken breast – chicken breast can work well in the slow cooker but in dishes that have a high liquid content like a soup. 
• beef brisket, beef chuck or gravy beef – these tougher, more affordable cuts of beef are actually perfect for the slow cooker because the long, slow cooking time breaks down the connective tissue and makes the meat fall-apart tender.
• lamb shoulder – similar to beef chuck, lamb shoulder becomes incredibly tender in the slow cooker and falls off the bone when slow cooked. 
• lamb shanks – a popular cut of lamb to slow cook, they are rich and flavoursome, perfect for a comfort dish.
• lentils and beans – whether you’re using canned or dried, lentils and beans are one of the best plant-based protein sources for the slow cooker. They’re also packed with fibre and make meals so much more filling.

Vegetables

• root vegetables – sweet potato, potato, carrot and parsnip are all amazing in the slow cooker. They hold their shape well and soak up all those delicious flavours.
• pumpkin and butternut squash – add flavour, complex carbohydrates and vitamin A to a dish. They can hold their shape but get more tender and fall apart the longer they are cooked for. 
• onion and garlic – the flavour base of pretty much every slow cooker recipe! I always sauté these first if my slow cooker has a sear function, as it improves the depth of flavour. 
• leafy greens – spinach, kale and silverbeet are best added in the last 20-30 minutes of cooking so they retain they’re nutritional value. 
• tomatoes – passata, canned crushed tomatoes or diced tomatoes are a slow cooker staple. They create a beautiful sauce and are packed with lycopene.
• zucchini and celery – great for adding extra veggies to soups and stews without overpowering the dish.
• dried or fresh herbs – like thyme, rosemary, sage and oregano add flavour and extra nutrients to a dish.

Carbohydrates 

• rice & quinoa – adding rinsed rice or quinoa to a slow cooker meal is great for adding complex carbohydrates and fibre. I recommend rinsing the rice or quinoa to remove excess starches (from the rice) and saponins (from the quinoa). 
• pasta – a lot of recipes generally recommend adding the pasta in the last 30-40 minutes to prevent it from going mushy. Make sure you check the recipe you are following for best results. 

I hope this collection of healthy slow cooker recipes has given you plenty of inspiration for easy, nourishing meals! The slow cooker really is one of the best tools for making wholesome, homemade food without spending hours in the kitchen. 

If you make any of these recipes, I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment below and let me know which one was your favourite!

And if you’re after more easy meal ideas, make sure to check out my cookbook Our Nourishing Week, which is filled with 85+ easy and nutritious recipes for the whole family, complete with 6 weeks of meal plans and shopping lists to help reduce the mental load around meal times.