15 Healthy Slow-Cooker Recipes for Cozy Winter Nights
The slow-cooker is one of our favorite kitchen appliances because it makes preparing dinner in one pot a breeze. Even better, while it's busy cooking everything low and slow, we can forget about it for five or six hours. Many quintessential slow-cooker recipes are hearty comfort foods (think braised meats and stews, like the Slow-Cooker Ropa Vieja pictured here), which are perfect for winter. But a slow-cooker isn't just for preparing meat. Case in point? We're sharing recipes for our Slow-Cooker Indian-Style Fish Curry and even a few vegetarian entrées, such as Slow-Cooker White Bean Soup, to prove just how versatile this appliance is.
Even though you can use it for other meals, there's no denying the fact that the slow-cooker is particularly adept at cooking large, tough pieces of meat. As they marinate with stock, herbs, vegetables, and other aromatics, cuts like pot roast, brisket, and short ribs transform into succulent and tender pieces of meat. Slow-Cooker Persian Lamb Stew is a prime example of this process—it breaks down lamb shoulder into a juicy, earthy bite.
Maybe one of the most classic slow-cooker recipes is chili. This Spicy Turkey Chili is lighter than the traditional beef version but packed with plenty of heat and body. Somewhere in between a stew and chili is this Tex-Mex-inspired Chicken and Beans recipe; using store-bought salsa saves time, so all you need to do is arrange the ingredients in the cooker and set it to low heat for eight hours. Top with tortilla strips, sour cream, and jalapeño slices for a stellar finishing touch.
When you want a healthy, cozy meal, break out the slow-cooker and make these nurturing, crowd-friendly recipes.
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Slow-Cooker Chicken with 20 Cloves of Garlic
Here's a milder version of the traditional French chicken with 40 cloves of garlic. Chicken legs cook with olive oil, garlic, lemon slices, and fresh thyme for five hours on low. Serve with plenty of crusty bread to soak up the aromatic liquid.
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Slow-Cooked Tex-Mex Chicken and Beans
This Tex-Mex chicken and bean stew is packed with nourishing ingredients. Pinto beans and chicken thighs add protein to the pot, while peppers and chipotle chiles bring on the heat.
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Slow-Cooker Persian Lamb Stew
Carb-free and topped with nutrient-rich vegetables and flavorful herbs, this hearty stew is exactly what you need on a chilly night. Serve slow-cooked lamb shoulder over quinoa and top with fragrant dill, tart pomegranate seeds, and pistachios for color and crunch.
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Slow-Cooker Ribollita
Upgrade your vegetable soup with this Italian-inspired recipe, a hearty bread and vegetable potage, featuring lacinato kale, zucchini, tomatoes, and cranberry beans.
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Slow-Cooker White-Bean Soup
Beans, leeks, butternut squash, and spinach each add a delicious texture to this soup. Everything cooks together low and slow for six hours until the vegetables are tender and the broth becomes so flavorful.
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Slow-Cooker Indian-Style Fish Curry
Choose a firm white fish, such as cod or halibut, for this spicy curry broth. Coconut milk adds creaminess and a hint of sweetness.
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Slow-Cooker Beef and Tomato Stew
Ward off the winter frost with a warm bowl of beef-and-tomato stew. Chopped beef chuck provides lean protein, while brown rice supplies a hearty dose of hunger-quelling fiber.
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Lamb with Olives and Potatoes
A delicately cooked dish of tender lamb, small potatoes, and green olives is the perfect one-pot meal for quality-conscious home cooks who are lacking in excess prep time. Zesty lemon juice, bright shallots, rosemary, and crisp pinot grigio enhance the recipe's complex flavor.
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Slow-Cooker Garlic Chicken with Couscous
Enriched with garlic, thyme, and dry white wine, this is one healthy slow-cooker recipe that will not force you to sacrifice flavor. After cooking seasoned chicken in a large skillet, place ingredients in a slow cooker to simmer for three and a half hours, then serve atop couscous.
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Loaded Slow-Cooker Baked Potatoes
Craving a loaded baked potato? Substitute crunchy, fiber-filled broccoli, nutty cremini mushrooms, and protein-rich plain yogurt for bacon crumbles and sour cream to create a well-rounded, mouthwatering meal.
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Soy-Ginger Chicken
An anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, ginger is an excellent dietary addition in this sweet and savory dish. A blend of ground coriander, fresh ginger, and garlic combine with soy sauce, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar to provide an aromatic foundation for chicken drumsticks.
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Chicken Cacciatore with Cremini Mushrooms
Selenium, potassium, antioxidants, and B-vitamins are in full-force in this wild mushroom and chicken dish. Dry sauvignon blanc and rosemary amplify the woody blend of mushrooms and vegetables.
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Garlic Chicken with Barley in the Slow Cooker
Give garlic a go this winter with a slow-cooker recipe whose star ingredient fights infection and gives the heart a healthy boost. Pearl barley and peas transform the recipe into a true one-plate meal.
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Slow-Cooker Cajun Stew
Characterized by a myriad of spices and seafood, traditional Cajun cuisine offers a delicious bite for the health-conscious cook. Succulent shrimp, chopped bell peppers, diced tomatoes, and celery simmer low and slow with garlic and cayenne pepper to produce a stew that is low in carbs, yet off the charts in flavor.