Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Every season can be “slow cooker season” if done properly! Slow cookers are an easy way to take the time-consuming dread of making healthy meals out of your meal planning. Simply prepare the ingredients, add them to your cooker, set the timer and off you go! Take a look at these health-conscious slow cooker meals for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Banana Nut Oatmeal (serves 4)

Ingredients

• 1 cup of steel cut oats
• 3 cups of water
• 1 cup (1%) of milk
• ¼ tsp. of salt
• 2 tbsp. almond butter
• 2 medium (approx. 120 grams each) bananas
• 1 tbsp. honey

Instructions

1. Lightly coat slow cooker with low-fat cooking spray
2. Combine oats, water, milk and salt in a slow cooker
3. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
4. Remove into bowls or containers (for meal prep)
5. When ready to eat, top evenly with banana slices
6. Stir almond butter and honey

Approximate Nutrition Details per 1 of 4 servings

• Calories: 336
• Fat: 8g
• Sodium: 177mg
• Carbohydrates: 57g
• Fibre: 7g
• Protein: 11g

Turkey Chili (serves 8)

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 ½ lbs. of lean ground turkey
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp. of tomato paste
• 1 28-oz. can of chopped tomatoes
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 ½ cups of low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 tsp. of chilli powder
• 1 tsp. of ground cumin
• 1 tsp. of dried oregano
• Sprinkle of kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
• Shredded low-fat cheddar, for garnish
• Sliced green onion, for garnish

Instructions

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil.
2. Add onion and pepper and cook until beginning to soften (about 4 minutes).
3. Add ground turkey and cook, occasionally stirring, until the turkey is golden (it doesn’t have to be thoroughly cooked through at this point).
4. Season with salt and pepper then stir in garlic and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
5. Transfer mixture to a slow cooker, adding the tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans, chicken broth, chilli powder, cumin and oregano.
6. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or high for 4 hours, until the chilli has thickened.
7. Garnish with cheese and green onion, if desired.

Approximate Nutrition Details per 1 of 8 servings

• Calories 251
• Fat 8g
• Protein 28g
• Fiber 7g
• Carbohydrates 28g

For more ideas on how to follow a more liver-healthy diet, learn how to eat the best and leave the rest.