31 Healthy Slow-Cooker Recipes That Will Become Your New Go-Tos

There’s no denying that a good slow cooker is a must for every home cook. Paired with a few reliable recipes it can handle weeknight chicken dinners, batches of chili and everyone's favorite sweets. It’s a great way to cook ribs, cobblers and potato salad during the summer (without heating up your entire kitchen!) and, believe it or not, you can even bake a loaf of homemade bread in one. So, it should come as no surprise that your trusty slow cooker is ideal for healthy meals too. One of our favorites? This wholesome vegetarian dinner that can be eaten the day you make it—or stowed in the freezer for busy weeknights. Quartering the cauliflower, rather than cutting it into florets, allows this meal to simmer all day without it becoming mush.

This slow-cooker chicken dinner ticks all the boxes for an easy and family-friendly weeknight dinner that's healthy, hearty and comforting. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs become super tender as they cook, and the apples help thicken the creamy sauce that’s lightly sweetened with apple cider. Mustard, parsley and fennel fronds bring fresh notes for balance and egg noodles added at the end help sop up the delicious sauce.

This healthy one-pot meal feeds a crowd and cooks while you go about your day. If your crowd’s a smaller one, the meatloaf makes amazing leftovers for sandwiches as well. The vegetable purée of scallions, carrot, garlic, parsley and thyme flavors the meatloaf and adds moisture without adding excess fat or calories, so this easy dinner feels light yet hearty. It’s perfect for busy days when you need a hands-off, family-friendly meal.

This healthy and easy spin on Buffalo chicken brings all the flavor but is lower in sodium and fat than the original. We start by using chicken breasts instead of wings and combine them with sweet, shredded carrots and store-bought Buffalo sauce in a slow cooker. Once cooked through, the chicken gets shredded and some of the cooked carrots are blended with protein-rich cottage cheese to create a sauce that has a cooling creaminess that’s always welcome with Buffalo spice. Toss everything together and it’s delicious on its own, but to make it a complete meal we serve it over a tender baked potato and load it with celery and a dollop of yogurt. This recipe makes a generous eight portions, perfect for a crowd or easy to store and reheat later in the week.

Prep this easy, fiber-packed breakfast porridge before you go to bed. All you need to do in the morning is give it a good stir and serve with maple syrup, cranberries and pecans. Add some low-fat eggnog for extra holiday cheer!

Tender chunks of chicken get cooked into a bright, saucy stew with complex flavors reminiscent of Mexico’s chicken tinga. Serve with warm tortillas and a variety of toppings for added satisfaction.

Curry powder is the secret ingredient in this easy slow-cooked soup. It adds to the depth of flavor and turns the soup golden yellow.

You can never go wrong with a hearty, nourishing pot roast: it's a breeze to make, it pairs well with a variety of sides and it's guaranteed to fill the whole family right up.

This healthy slow-cooker dinner is packed with flavor thanks to sweet apricots, tangy orange juice and a warm blend of spices that infuse the turkey breast and hearty vegetables with vibrant yet comforting flavor. The couscous stirred in at the end soaks up all the delicious juices and gets studded with tender carrots, butternut squash and onions. Enjoy it as a satisfying weeknight meal or cozy weekend dinner.

This party dip usually comes with bragging rights for an indulgent amount of fat. Our slow-cooker version is full of the same big flavors but with fewer calories and less fat.

A homemade sauce with vinegar, tomato paste, garam masala and curry powder is the flavor base for our fragrant curry inspired by murgir jhol, a Bengali chicken curry. Red wine vinegar stands in for the white vinegar or lemon juice typically used and adds sharp, tangy notes. Make sure you get every last bite by serving it over hot rice, letting the sauce soak in.

Alton brines pork chops overnight for maximum juiciness, then slow cooks them with dried apple slices until the pork is tender and falling away from the bone. The warm and satisfying meal clocks in at 347 calories and 17 grams of fat per serving.

This whole-grain porridge is a healthy way to start the day. Dehulled or hulless barley is unprocessed and takes longer to cook than the quicker pearled barley; use either for this recipe (servings of fiber will differ).

Snacking on a handful of nuts can be a great way to avoid indulging in sugary treats when you hit a midday slump. These have just a touch of sweetness from maple syrup and plenty of spiced flavor thanks to cinnamon and cayenne. Make a batch on the Sunday and you can enjoy them all week long.

This slow cooker version of the classic soup is super easy to make. We used chicken thighs because they're less expensive than breasts and tend not to dry out. If you like, skip the noodles and stir in your favorite cooked grain at the end.

Cocoa powder may seem a bit out of place in chili, but it has two jobs in this mole-inspired version: It adds depth of flavor and helps thicken the sauce. We suggest serving the chili with tortilla chips, but it would also be great with cornbread.

Ripe bananas are the secret ingredient in Valerie's steel-cut oatmeal, which gets creamier as it cooks overnight.

Some chili recipes read like extensive grocery lists, but this one comes together with just eight simple ingredients. Get it going in your slow cooker just before bed, and wake up to a healthy chili ready to be topped with chunks of creamy avocado for lunch or dinner.

This Mexican-inspired chicken, tomato, and bean soup practically cooks itself: just pile all the ingredients into a slow cooker, set and go. If you have leftover cooked rice in the fridge, a spoonful in the soup is a nice touch; for a less spicy flavor, remove the jalapeno seeds and ribs. 

This hearty, warming soup is packed with lentils and veggies like leeks, carrots, celery and sweet potatoes. Curry powder and ginger give it depth and heat, and fresh cilantro and lemon lend brightness.

Come home to something cozy with this vibrant take on the classic soup.

Creamy butternut squash, tender chickpeas, and earthy Swiss chard add vitamins and protein to this hearty soup. Serve it with crusty bread and a squeeze of lemon for a satisfying cold weather meal.