“Crockpot recipes are awesome because you can just set it and forget it,” says Vanessa Rissetto, RD. “Prep the ingredients the night before and literally throw them all in the crockpot before you leave for work so your dinner will be warm and ready when you get back home.” It sounds perfect! And it’s even better when you can limit the ingredient list to about 5 and still create a healthy meal that’s in line with your weight loss goals. Rissetto loves making stews, chicken breasts, baby back ribs, and even oatmeal in her slow cooker. “It’s an easy way to make something healthy without sacrificing the flavor or your time,” she says. Try these simple recipes.
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Honey Garlic Chicken, Vanessa Rissetto, RD
The secret is in the sauce. A combo of honey, minced garlic, low-sodium soy sauce, dried oregano and ketchup gives bone-in chicken thighs unbelievable flavor. The main ingredients are simple: baby red potatoes, carrots, onions and green beans – along with the chicken of course. Rissetto says to cook everything at a high setting for 2 ½ hours or on the low setting for 6-8 hours. The result is a filling and protein-packed meal. Switch up the veggies if you’re feeling something different or just want to use up what’s in your crisper.
Overnight Quinoa & Oats, Chelsea’s Messy Apron
Fiber is a weight loss ally. It keeps you satiated and helps you digest. This combo of two major fiber players – quinoa and steel-cut oatmeal - is a dream. There are so many mornings that we want a hot breakfast but lack time. Clearly we all have time to prep and set before bed. It’s brilliant! Load up your cooked porridge with healthy, anti-inflammatory add-ins like berries, cinnamon, almonds and chia seeds.
Lemon Pepper Chicken & Asparagus, Slow Cooker Gourmet
We’re suckers for any savory dish that’s flavored with lemon. It’s a great way to build flavor without adding sugar, fat or sodium that might sabotage your weight loss. Chicken and lemon is not a new concept for us but asparagus? We eat them roasted like chips but have never contemplated putting them in a slow cooker. Challenge accepted! We’d serve this dish over arugula to enhance the peppery taste of the chicken.
5-Ingredient Chili, The Typical Mom
This recipe has been the jumping off point for so many of our favorite chili meals. Its basic: ground beef, kidney beans, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes. Now let your imagination run wild. Do you want turkey chili with black beans, sweet potatoes and spicy salsa? Yes please! You clearly don’t need to pack in a zillion types of ingredients to make a solid chili. Marie Kondo your typical recipe and stick with the components that spark joy.
Chicken Fajitas, Simple Healthy Kitchen
Fajitas are something we save for restaurants. They just seem so complicated to make with all the moving parts – peppers, chicken, onions, toppings, etc. How can we time the cooking so all ingredients are done simultaneously? That’s why this crockpot version is genius! Everything is cooked at once and the flavors mingle in the slow cooker. Definitely forgo packaged seasoning and use the recipe included here. We changed the regular paprika to smoked and left out the red pepper flakes. Customization is everything.
[Photos: Shutterstock]
