Do you have a slow cooker at home? What kind of recipes do you make with it?
It’s Friday 5 time with Mar, Cynthia, and Courtney! This week’s theme is food and drink so today I’m rounding up some awesome, creative ways to use the slow cooker! 5 types of meals, 7 different recipes!
I’m also sharing this post with Julie for the Best of the Blogs linkup which takes place every last weekday of the month!
But before I talk recipes, I’m happy to announce the winner of the FREE entry to the Love Run Half Marathon is Billie! Congratulations! If you didn’t win, you can still get $5 off your race entry with code JANELLELOVE.
And now, on to the food!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
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7 Creative and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes
Who knew that you could do so much with a Crockpot?
In the past couple of years, I have had a lot of fun getting more comfortable in the kitchen, making real food from scratch instead of eating cereal or broccoli and pasta for dinner! And during that process, I learned that the slow cooker is a miracle worker!
I really like making chicken dishes in the slow cooker and once made a really interesting butternut squash chili, but I know that there are so many other ways you can use a Crockpot to make a healthy and delicious meal or snack! That’s why I thought I would put together some great recipes for inspiration!
For Breakfast:
Chai Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats from Chicago Jogger
I had heard of making oatmeal in the slow cooker, but Celia’s recipe really stopped me in my tracks! Chai spice? Almond milk? Cinnamon? Yes, please! This healthy breakfast cooks in the slow cooker for 6-8 hours.
For a Healthy Snack:
Slow Cooker Applesauce from Eat Pray Run DC
This homemade applesauce recipe from Courtney is just awesome and all from REAL ingredients, who knew you could use a slow cooker to make it?! The only downside is that it’ll take up 10 hours to finally enjoy!
For Lunch:
Easy 3-Bean Chili from Carlee McDot
Chili can be such a hearty meal and you can switch it up however you want! I love how Carlee came up with an easy-to-prepare, wholesome lunch that you can enjoy throughout the week! You can heat the chili on high for 4 hours in the slow cooker.
For Dinner:
Fall-Off the Bone Pepsi Ribs from A Traveling Wife
I’ve always been too intimidated to try to make ribs at home, but these delicious-looking ribs from Jennifer take 5 minutes of prep and slow cook for over 6 hours. What a great idea! I would have never thought it possible to make ribs this way…yum!
Italian White Fish Stew from Healthy Helper Blog
I love how Kaila created this fish stew recipe…honestly, I didn’t even know that fish stew was a thing! She used Bumble Bee SuperFresh tilapia, loads of veggies, and broth to create this stew using the slow cooker for 6-8 hours. An extra bonus is that the meal is gluten-free!
Slow Cooker Chipotle Pumpkin Chicken from Strength and Sunshine
Rebecca really came up with a unique way to cook chicken in the slow cooker with this recipe! It looks complex but has a very short list of ingredients and is ready in 6-7 hours! I’ve never had chicken and pumpkin together so I really want to give it a try!
For Dessert:
Slow Cooker Salted Caramel Chocolate Crunch from The Fit Fork
I really liked this idea from Jennifer as a sweet treat! Pretzels, almonds, cereal mixed with chocolate chips, butter, brown sugar and vanilla…need I say more? This dessert can be enjoyed after 2-3 hours in the slow cooker!
Are you drooling yet?! Hopefully, this collection of recipes has inspired you to try something new with your Crockpot!
Do you like cooking with a slow cooker? Of those on the list, which would you try first?
Great roundup! Thank you for featuring my recipe!
Thanks for being a part of it, Kaila! 🙂
I always forget about my slow cooker! I’m going to pin this post. Looks great!
Thanks, Wendy!
I love cooking chicken dishes in my crock pot. It made cooking dinner a lot easier this past summer since a lot of my chicken dishes were for the oven. I can make a lot more meals without heating up the kitchen.
I like doing the same! I really need to start checking out more recipes, it seems like the possibilities are endless!
I don’t use my slow cooker as often as I should. We are usually in a hurry to make meals and the slow cooker takes too long..lol. Although we do get it out every New years for our roast!
Ooh a roast sounds amazing! It’s true, if you need something quick the slow cooker is absolute torture!
I love cooking in my crockpot and am always looking for simple recipes. I’m very intrigued by pumpkin and chicken! I’ve never even considered cooking dessert in the CP. Thanks for that idea and all of the recipes!
I’m glad that you’re inspired! When I saw the pumpkin and chicken I was really intrigued!
I’m a huge proponent of the slow cooker. It takes so much pressure off dinner time!
Totally agreed!!
Slow cookers are the best! I’ve been using mine all winter for soup and chili. That chocolate crunch looks amazing!
I know right?! I still haven’t made soup, but I love chili in the slow cooker!
oooo these all look so good! Looks like I have to whip out my slow cooker!
It’s always great to get some cooking inspiration!
I LOVE the slow cooker. I use it at least twice a week, year round. It’s my saving grace when I have a busy day and need to make sure dinner will still get on the table. Your roundup is great. I’d definitely try the dessert one first, because well – dessert. 🙂
Thanks a lot, Chrissy! And yes, that dessert is just such a creative idea that I’d love to try!
OH wow, those all look amazing!! Pinning for later!! I love the crockpot!
Let me know if you try any of these 🙂
I want the 3 bean chili!
Right?! Looks so delicious!
I can’t wait to try every single one of these recipes! I love slow cooker recipes. I have been wanting to try Slow-Cooker ribs for a while now. I think I’m going to try them soon!
The ribs really got me, I’m like HOW?! Let me know if you give them a try!
OMG. All of those recipes look amazing. If I was a cook, I would definitely make them
I’d be more of a cook if I wasn’t so lazy! Using a slow cooker helps so much with that!
My favorite slow cooker recipe is chili. Its perfect for having lots of leftovers around.
Yes, and it seems that the “older” the chilli, the better it tastes! 🙂
I love my slow cooker, but I’ve never made dessert in it before. Now I need to…
It looks so tempting, I never would have guesse it was possible!
These all look delicious especially the last one/pretzels! I have a major sweet tooth so I def want to try this. As I get busier and busier I need to use my slow cooker more often.
Slow cookers are such a life saver! It’s great to have for those busy days for sure!
I’ve been loving using almond milk to make my oatmeal – I’ll have to try the chai spiced version.
It looks so tasty! Now I’m craving oatmeal again!
LOVE this!! I need recipes for my crockpot!!! Thank you, thank you!! 🙂
You’re welcome! 🙂 Let me know how it goes!
These all look great! I’ve got to use my slow cooker more. I think it would be perfect for those breakfast steel cut oats.
Yes, I really need to get the oats a try too!
I am just getting into cooking with my slow cooker. I could definitely see me doing the applesauce with the next fall harvest!
I’m glad these recipes could provide some inspiration 🙂