Slow cookers are a great way to make delicious, healthy meals with minimal effort. These six meals are sure to bring the whole family around the table for a hearty dinner. With the ingredients listed plus a little prep work, you can throw everything in the slow cooker and relax while it cooks.
1. Moroccan Vegetable Stew
This savory stew is filled with fiber-packed vegetables. It gets a burst of flavor from heating spices like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. You’ll just need to sauté the onion and prepare the sweet potatoes before putting everything in the slow cooker.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 1 cup uncooked couscous
Instructions:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 5 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker.
- Add the diced tomatoes, chickpeas, vegetable broth, and sweet potato. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
- In the last hour of cooking, stir in the couscous.
- Cover and cook for 1 more hour.
- Serve hot.
2. Homemade Chili
This classic chili is packed with protein-rich beans, ground beef, and plenty of bell peppers and onions. No matter what you add, it’s easy to make and sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, onion, and garlic. Cook until the beef is browned, about 5 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker.
- Add the bell peppers, beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, oregano, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
- Season with salt to taste.
- Serve hot.
3. Creamy Chicken and Rice
This creamy chicken and rice dish is comforting and delicious. It gets its flavor from spices like thyme, oregano, and garlic powder, plus a generous splash of white wine.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Instructions:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cubed chicken and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker.
- Add the onion, garlic, rice, chicken broth, white wine, thyme, oregano, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
- In the last hour of cooking, stir in the heavy cream.
- Cover and cook for 1 more hour.
- Serve hot.
4. BBQ Pulled Pork
This sweet and savory pull pork is perfect for sandwiches or to serve over mashed potatoes. For a smoky flavor, add a tablespoon of smoked paprika.
Ingredients:
- 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
- Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker.
- Add the onion, garlic, chicken broth, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
- Using two forks, shred the pork.
- Stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 1 more hour.
- Serve hot.
5. Lasagna Soup
This easy lasagna soup tastes like your favorite pasta dish but is way easier to make. For an extra burst of flavor, top with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup half and half
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Instructions:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken, onion, and garlic. Cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker.
- Add the rice, chicken broth, white wine, thyme, oregano, garlic powder and salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
- Stir in the half and half. Cover and cook for 1 more hour.
- Serve hot.
A sad summary of slow cookers is that, although they can produce delicious and healthy meals with minimal effort, they still require some preparation. With the right ingredients and a little bit of prep work, one can make a variety of delicious dishes, like Moroccan vegetable stew, homemade chili, and creamy chicken and rice, that the whole family can enjoy.
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