31-slow-cooper-meal-prep-recipes

31 Slow Cooker Meal Prep Recipes

31 Slow Cooker Recipes for Fall and Winter

We can't think of many things better than walking through the door after a long day and knowing that a warm, home-cooked, meal awaits us.

These easy to prepare slow cooker meal prep recipes take just a little bit of prep work in the morning, or the night before, and then rely on the slow cooker to do the rest of the work. Your future self will thank you...and us for this post! =)

Because there are so many dietary restrictions and needs, we broke these slow cooker recipes down by dietary preference;

Benefits of using a Slow Cooker:

  • The extended cooking times allow better distribution of flavors in many recipes.
  • The lower temperatures lessen the chance of scorching foods that tend to stick to the bottom of a pan or burn in an oven.
  • Less expensive or tough meats, such as chuck steaks, roast, and less-lean stewing beef, are tenderized through the long cooking process. The slow cooker is an excellent choice for cooking many venison dishes.
  • The slow cooker frees your oven and stove top for other uses, and it is a splendid choice for large gatherings or holiday meals. Many people swear by their slow cooker dressing or mashed potatoes.
  • There's no need to scrub several pots and pans. In most cases, you'll only have to wash the slow cooker and maybe a few prep utensils.
  • Slow cookers use less energy than a standard electric oven.
  • The slow cooker won't heat the kitchen up the way a large oven will, a real plus on a hot summer day.
  • A slow cooker travels well. Take it from your kitchen to the office or party. Just plug it in and serve.
  • Convenience! A slow cooker can usually be left unattended all day for many recipes.* You can put recipe ingredients in it before going to work and come home to a meal. A slow cooker meal is an excellent choice for a busy day, whether you work in or out of your home.

*Note: Whenever you purchase a new slow cooker, use it a few times on both HIGH and LOW settings before leaving it unattended.

More info here

Our Favorite Slow Cooker:

Slow Cooker Review from Maryann W:

UPDATE: Feb. 17, 2015. I have used this Crock-Pot a dozen times since writing my review ... and it gets better and better! I've made casseroles, breakfast dishes, beans, roast, ribs, Mexican food dishes - all just great (including the chicken/rice recipe with the rice cooked in the Crock-Pot)! The stoneware liner is easy to clean and food is NOT sticking to the sides or bottom. Warmer feature is super and it does not appear to be too hot. I found that when a cooking time range is given, such as 6-8 hours, I should probably go with the low or middle part of the range. For someone who actually HATES to cook, I'm becoming a regular Betty Crocker, and even experimenting, because cooking is SO easy with this appliance. I'm SO glad I made this purchase! Now ... back to your regular programming with the original review ...


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I have an old Crock-Pot and it still works, but is too small for a roast, etc. So I got this one for two reasons: 1) bigger, 2) can program the time and temperature setting. I've only used it twice and, at this point, I am extremely satisfied. Should things change, I most definitely will update.The programmable feature is really nice because you can set the cooking temperature on LOW or HIGH and set the cooking time in 30-minute increments all the way up to 20 hours. Some other "programmable" slow cookers have a few time/temp combination options but they are quite limited - this one gives you total control. Once the programmed cooking time is finished, the Crock-Pot automatically turns to "warm." The controls are touch (instead of turn dials) and very user-friendly. The user manual is small, but complete, and includes a couple recipes.

My first dish: Breakfast Casserole (photo attached). Very tasty and the Crock-Pot worked perfectly. There was some extra browning around the edges so I probably need to adjust the cook time a bit ... and you'll have to do that with any slow cooker. Second dish: Hot Sausage Stew. Again, the appliance worked perfectly and the "warm" feature is great because the food finished cooking before I was ready to eat. Keep in mind: you may consider the "warm" temp to be hotter than you expect but that's because of government regulations, not the Crock-Pot.

This Crock-Pot holds a LOT of food! I'm cooking for just me so I put some in the fridge and the rest in smaller containers in the freezer. And since I truly hate to cook, this is the best way to keep me out of the kitchen but still have good food to eat.

The food I prepared didn't stick to the stoneware and it was super easy to clean. Just hot, soapy water and rinse. You can also put the stoneware and the glass lid in the dishwasher. I will probably never use the "carry" function but I did try the locked lid and the rubber seal is tight and should make it easy to take your dish to the potluck, etc. Just don't lock the lid while you're cooking!

Bottom line: the ability to truly program the cooking time/temp ... and the "warm" function ... make this my top kitchen appliance (right along side my George Foreman grill). I'm actually looking for slow cooker recipes to try - and I can't believe I'm doing that! My old Crock-Pot is at least 15 years old and that's why I chose this brand. Because of the "computer" that allows the programming, I know the chances of it lasting that long are probably slim because the fancier you get, the more chances you have of something going wrong. But the price is right and, so far, I'm very happy with my purchase. Amazon shipping was fast and the slow cooker was packed in its original box with plenty of protection.

Gluten Free Slow Cooker Meals:

Slow Cooker Keto Pork Carnitas

Slow Cooker Keto Pork Carnitas Bowls

Slow Cooker Asian Pot Roast Meal Prep

Asian Style Slow Cooker Pot Roast Meal Prep

Slow Cooker Recipe: Ropa Vieja

ropa vieja - cuban beef stew meal prep

One Pot Crockpot BBQ Chicken Meal Prep

one pot bbq chicken and lentils meal prep

Watch the recipe video here:

Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken

slow cooker teriyaki chicken

Gluten Free Zuppa Toscana

gluten free slow cooker recipe

Clean Eating Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce with Meatball ecipe

slow cooker spaghetti recipe

Fire Roasted Slow Cooker Shrimp Taco Recipe

fire roasted slow cooker shrimp tacos

Low-Calorie Slow Cooker Meals

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken Meal Prep Recipe Video

slow cooker salsa chicken meal prep

Crock Pot Skinny Chicken Jambalaya

skinny chicken meal prep in a slow cooker

Crock Pot Tomato Soup

crock pot potato soup meal prep recipe

Weight Loss Vegetable Soup Recipe

low calorie vegetable soup recipe

The Best Healthy Turkey Chili Meal Prep Recipe

low calorie slow cooker chili recipe

One Pot Crockpot BBQ Chicken Meal Prep

Low Carb Slow Cooker Meals

Low Carb Crockpot Beef Ragu

Low Carb Crockpot Beef Ragu Meal Prep Recipe

Slow Cooker Eggplant Parmesan

Slow Cooker Eggplant Parmesan

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs

slow cooker spaghetti squash and meat balls

Slow Cooker Honey Sriracha Chicken

slow-cooker-honey-sriracha-chicken-therecipecritic

Crock Pot Low Carb Lasagna

crock-pot-low-carb-lasagna-wellplated

Crock Pot 3-Ingredient Balsamic Chicken

crock-pot-3-ingredient-balsamic-chicken-recipe-skinnyms

Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff with Zucchini Noodles

slow cooker chicken stroganoff

 

Paleo Slow Cooker Meals

Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken

Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken Meal Prep

Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

paleo slow cooker beef and broccoli

Slow Cooker Paleo Beef Stew

paleonewbie-beef-stew-main-1266x850

Slow Cooker Paleo Turket Meatballs

slow-cooker-paleo-turkey-meatballs-wholesomeelicious

Crock Pot Paleo Sweet Potato Chipotle Chili

sweet-potato-chipotle-chili-paleopin-cottercrunch

Slow Cooker Butter Chicken recipe

slow-cooker-butter-chicken3

 

Vegetarian Slow Cooker Meals

Slow Cooker Vegetarian Black Bean Enchiladas Recipe

slow-cooker-vegetarian-enchiladas

 

Slow Cooker Lentil and Quinoa Chili

slow_cooker_lentil_quinoa_chili_recipe-2aggieskitchen

Slow Cooker Coconut Quinoa Curry

slow-cooker-coconut-quinoa-curry-7-simplyquinoa

Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lasagna Soup

slow-cooker-vegetarian-lasagna-soup-foodiecrush-com-06

Slow Cooker Southwestern Fajita Quinoa

southwest-crockpot-quinoa-and-veggies2chelseamessyapron

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

Whole30-Crockpot-Breakfast-Casserole

Slow Cooker Meal Prep Ready Vegetables

slow-cooker-vegetables
31-Slow-Cooker-Meal-Prep-Recipes Pinterest