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Five Healthy Slow-Cooker Meals on a Budget

Slow cooker meals have been around for decades with the handy kitchen device being patented in 1940 and gaining popularity in the 1970s. They’re a key tool to having dinner ready after work without adding much time or effort for busy families. In today’s blog post we will be exploring five healthy slow cooker meals to help meet your nutrition goals! Each recipe costs $12 or less for ingredients.

Note: All recipes will be using a standard 3 quart-sized slow cooker.

This first meal is perfect for cold, cozy nights. It’s packed with legumes and veggies for a good balance of protein, carbohydrate, and fiber! For higher protein, you could also add a pound of browned ground turkey, chicken, or beef.

Sweet Potato Lentil Stew

Course Soup

Ingredients
  

  • lb Sweet Potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • cups Dried Lentils, rinsed
  • 3 Carrots (medium), peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 Onion (medium), roughly chopped
  • 4 cloves Garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp Ground Cumin
  • ¼ tsp Ground Ginger
  • ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 32 oz Low Sodium Vegetable Broth
  • ¼ cup Fresh Cilantro

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients except cilantro to the slow cooker.
  • Cook on low for 5-6 hours (if vegetables are not tender, cook longer).
  • Stir in cilantro and serve!

Who doesn’t love fajitas?! This slow cooker chicken fajita recipe will make for a simple yet delicious fajita night for a busy day. 

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

  • lb Chicken Breast (boneless, skinless)
  • tsp Garlic Powder
  • 2 tsp Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Onion Powder
  • ¾ tsp Ground Cumin
  • ½ tsp Black Pepper
  • ¼ tsp Paprika
  • ¼ tsp Dried Oregano
  • 10 oz Fire-roasted Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
  • 3 Bell Peppers (sliced)
  • 1 Onion (medium, sliced)
  • 1 tbsp Lime Juice
  • For serving: tortillas of your choice, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese and any other toppings you enjoy

Instructions
 

  • Season chicken with the dry spices and herbs. Place in a slow cooker.
  • Pour in diced tomatoes. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours or high for 3 hours.
  • Add bell peppers and onions. Cook for an additional 45 minutes on low.
  • Remove chicken and shred.
  • Add back to slow cooker along with lime juice. Mix to combine.
  • Serve as desired.

This next recipe takes a little longer to prep but is well worth it! Serve this Thai Slow Cooker Coconut Ground Turkey over rice or noodles and with an extra side of vegetables of your choice for a yummy, balanced meal!

Thai Slow Cooker Coconut Ground Turkey

Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

For the sauce

  • 15 oz Coconut Milk
  • ½ cup Soy Sauce
  • ¼ cup Hoisin Sauce
  • 2 tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 2 tbsp Sweet Chili Sauce
  • 1 tsp Sesame Oil
  • ¼ tsp Ground Ginger

For the turkey and vegetables

  • 2 oz Ground Turkey
  • 1 tbsp Garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp Sesame Oil
  • ½ cup Onion, finely diced
  • 1 Bell Pepper, diced
  • ½ cup Edamame
  • 1 tbsp Cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp Water

Instructions
 

  • Add sauce ingredients to slow cooker. Whisk until combined then set aside.
  • In a large skillet, heat sesame oil over medium heat. Add turkey, garlic, and onion.
  • Cook until browned (about 10 minutes), stir to prevent burning.
  • Add turkey to slow cooker and stir until sauce is evenly distributed.
  • Add bell peppers and edamame. Stir.
  • Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.
  • Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl or cup, add to slow cooker. Cook on high for 30-60 minutes, until sauce is thickened. Stir often.
  • Serve over rice or noodles.

Like our last recipe, this slow cooker picadillo has a higher prep time with browning meat but is well worth the extra 10 minutes! This is best served over rice with a veggie on the side!

Slow Cooker Picadillo

Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

  • ½ tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 lb Ground Beef (can substitute with chicken or turkey for lower fat)
  • 1 cup Onion, minced
  • 1 tbsp Garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp Jalapeno, minced
  • 28 oz Canned Crushed Tomatoes
  • 1 cup Bone Broth (or vegetable broth)
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Chili Powder
  • 2 tsp Cumin
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • cup Raisins
  • ¼ cup Green Olives

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a skillet. Brown ground beef until cooked, about 10-15 minutes.
  • Pour cooked meat and all remaining ingredients into a slow cooker. Stir to combine.
  • Cook on low for 8 hours.
  • Serve over rice and enjoy!

This recipe is one of my favorites: slow cooker beef and broccoli. In my house, we serve it with steamed rice and riced cauliflower.

Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

Course Side Dish

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb Round Steak, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 cup Low-sodium Beef Broth
  • ½ cup Low-sodium Soy Sauce
  • 1 tbsp Garlic, minced
  • cup Brown Sugar
  • 2 tbsp Sesame Oil
  • 2 tbsp Cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp Cold Water
  • 1 crown Broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tbsp Sesame Seeds

Instructions
 

  • Add cut up steak to slow cooker.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together broth, soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar, and sesame oil. Pour sauce over beef in slow cooker.
  • Cover and cook on low for 5 hours or high for 3 hours. Beef should be tender.
  • In a small bowl or cup, whisk cornstarch and water together. Stir into slow cooker.
  • Add broccoli to slow cooker and stir again. Cook on low for 30 minutes. Broccoli should be tender, and sauce should be thickened.
  • Serve over rice and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

I don’t know about you, but those recipes have my mouth watering! As mentioned before, it’s important to look at the nutrition of a recipe as a whole. If you come across a recipe you’re interested in but have questions about how to make it fit your personal nutrition goals better, ask your registered dietitian for help! Don’t have a dietitian on your care team? Reach out to our team to schedule your appointment.

If you try one of the recipes in today’s blog, let us know what you think! We’d love to hear feedback.