How to Slow Cook Healthy Meals

Co-authored by Claudia Carberry, RD, MS and Sophia Latorre

Last Updated: March 11, 2021 References

The slow cooker is a great tool for making healthy, delicious meals that require few ingredients and minimal effort. While most recipes for the slow cooker are relatively simple and straightforward, you can make certain modifications while cooking to ensure that you're making healthy meals. Using healthy ingredients and techniques that allow you to make the most of your slow cooker's utility, you can use your slow cooker to easily prepare a variety of healthy meals.

Ingredients

Chicken with Carrots and Potatoes

Cooking spray
1.75 cups (410 ml) of sliced onion
2 cups (470 ml) of chopped carrots
6 small red potatoes cut into 0.25 in (0.64 cm) slices.
0.5 cups (120 ml) of chicken broth
0.5 cups (120 ml) of white wine
1 US tbsp (15 ml) of chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp (4.9 ml) of minced garlic
0.75 tsp (3.7 ml) of salt
0.5 tsp (2.5 ml) of pepper
1 tsp (4.9 ml) of paprika
6 6-oz bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
Yields 6 servings

Veggie Stuffed Peppers

6 bell peppers
1 cup (240 ml) of quinoa, rinsed
1 14-oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 14-oz can of refried beans
1.5 cups (350 ml) of red enchilada sauce
1 tsp (4.9 ml) of cumin
1 tsp (4.9 ml) of chili powder
1 tsp (4.9 ml) of onion powder
0.5 tsp (2.5 ml) of garlic salt
1 cup (240 ml) of pepperjack cheese
¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) of water
Yields 6 servings

Hearty Beef Stew

1 pound (0.45 kg) of beef stew meat
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 can (14.5 oz) of beef broth
1 can (11.5 oz) of V8 juice
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
3 bay leaves
0.5 tsp (2.5 ml) of salt
0.5 tsp (2.5 ml) of dried thyme
0.5 tsp (2.5 ml) of chili powder
0.25 tsp (1.2 ml) of pepper
1 US tbsp (15 ml) of cold water
2 US tbsp (30 ml) of cornstarch
¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) of frozen corn
¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) of frozen peas
Yields 5 servings

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Replacing Ingredients with Healthier Options

Many recipes for slow cooked meals will call for beef, chicken, or vegetable stock. Substitute low sodium for regular broths for an overall healthier dish.^{[1]
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When cooking healthy meals in your slow cooker, opt for low fat cuts of meat, including chuck or eye round beef roasts, pork loins, and skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Trim any excess fat from these cuts before adding them to your slow cooker.^{[2]
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Eliminate sugar from recipes. Any added sugar to slow cooked meals will pack on the calories without nutritional value. If a recipe calls for added sugar or for any high-sugar processed ingredients, such as ketchup or barbecue sauce, opt for a lower-calorie substitute.
- Try making your own low-sugar barbecue sauce, or buy an alternative with no added sugar.
- Use Stevia as a low-calorie alternative to sugar.
- Incorporate apples into savory dishes for a lower-calorie flavor enhancer. Apples can add sweet, delicious undertones to slow cooked dishes like beef or pork loin roasts without the high sugar content of other sweetening ingredients.^{[3]
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When you’re using a slow cooker, avoid recipes that call for cream- or cheese-based soups, sauces, and dips to avoid excess fat and calories. Opt for broth-based recipes, instead.
It’s fine to incorporate fats into your dishes so long as you don’t go overboard. Measure out 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) of oil or butter to ensure that you’re not adding an excessive amount of fat to your meal.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Chicken with Carrots and Potatoes

Use 1.75 cups (410 ml) of sliced onion, 2 cups (470 ml) of chopped carrots, and 6 small red potatoes cut into 0.25 in (0.64 cm) slices.^{[5]
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Add chicken broth, white wine, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper. Use 0.5 cups (120 ml) of chicken broth, 0.5 cups (120 ml) of white wine, 1 US tbsp (15 ml) of chopped fresh thyme, 1 tsp (4.9 ml) of minced garlic, 0.5 tsp (2.5 ml) of salt, and 0.25 tsp (1.2 ml) of pepper. Combine the ingredients then pour them over the vegetables.^{[6]
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- Substitute the white wine with another 0.5 cups (120 ml) of chicken broth, if desired.
Use 1 tsp (4.9 ml) of paprika, 0.25 tsp (1.2 ml) of salt, and 0.25 tsp (1.2 ml) of pepper. Mix thoroughly then use the spices to coat 6 6-oz skinless chicken thighs (bone-in).^{[7]
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Use medium-high heat and cook until the chicken is browned. Then, arrange the chicken on top of the veggies in the slow cooker.^{[8]
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Make sure the chicken is cooked to 165 °F (74 °C) and the vegetables are tender when speared with a fork. Then, serve the dish and enjoy!^{[9]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Veggie Stuffed Peppers

Take care to remove only the stem from the top as you need plenty of room to stuff your peppers with delicious ingredients. Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and the ribs of the pepper.^{[10]
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First, rinse 1 cup (240 ml) of quinoa then drain and rinse 1 14-oz can of black beans separately. Then, dump the quinoa and black beans in a large bowl and add 1 14-oz can of refried beans and 1.5 cups (350 ml) of red enchilada sauce.^{[11]
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Use 1 tsp (4.9 ml) each of cumin, chili powder, and onion powder, and 0.5 tsp (2.5 ml) of garlic salt. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly.^{[12]
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Use a large spoon to fill each pepper with the mixture. Pour ¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) of water into the bottom of the crockpot, then carefully place the peppers in the pot so they’re sitting in the water.^{[13]
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Alternatively, you can cook the peppers on high for 3 hours, if desired.^{[14]
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After you take off the lid, sprinkle the remaining 0.5 cups (120 ml) of pepperjack cheese on top of the stuffing. Replace the lid and let the peppers cook for another 5 minutes to melt the cheese.^{[15]
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Use tongs to remove the peppers from the slow cooker so as not to burn your fingers. Top them with cilantro, avocado, and sour cream, then serve them.^{[16]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Hearty Beef Stew

You may want to use a slow cooker liner to cut down on mess and clean up time. You can find them in supermarkets and online.^{[17]
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Use low-sodium V8 juice, containing tomato and carrot juice, rather than a fruit-based flavor. Opt for a low-sodium variety of beef broth to make the dish healthier.^{[18]
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Chop 2 celery ribs, 2 medium carrots, and 1 medium sweet onion. Put them in the slow cooker along with 3 bay leaves.^{[19]
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Add 0.5 tsp (2.5 ml) each of salt, dried thyme, and chili powder and 0.25 tsp (1.2 ml) of pepper. Mix the ingredients thoroughly until everything is well combined and the meat is coated.^{[20]
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Check to make sure the meat is tender before proceeding. If it’s not, cook for another hour or so and check the tenderness again.^{[21]
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Mix 1 US tbsp (15 ml) of cold water and 2 US tbsp (30 ml) of cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth and well mixed. Then add the mixture to the stew.^{[22]
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Mix ¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) of frozen corn and ¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) of frozen peas into the stew. You don’t need to replace the lid, as you want the stew to thicken. After 30 minutes, turn off the slow cooker, mix the stew, and serve it.^{[23]
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Tips

You can leave meals in a slow cooker on low for 8 to 10 hours. Most slow cookers include timers that will switch over to a “keep warm” setting after an allotted time.

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If you start a meal in a slow cooker then head out for work or another activity, add a little extra water to account for evaporation.

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