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Eating well can often be a challenge for those with busy lifestyles – especially if you prefer making home-cooked meals. It is easy to plan to make meals, and always hard to fit time for cooking into a busy schedule.
This is why a slow cooker can be a game changer for so many people.
Slow cookers help turn meal planning into a reality, because they’re so simple and quick to use. Most slow cooker recipes require under twenty minutes of prep time, and when the machine is finished you’re left with a home cooked meal that took very little out of your day.
And, it is very easy to find slow cooker recipes that fit into just about any diet or weight loss plan, as so many slow cooker meals are anti-inflammatory by nature, including ingredients that can help boost the metabolism.
If your weekly meal prep is in need of a pick-me-up, take out your crock pot and read on for inspirations for six healthy dinner ideas.
Coq Au Vin
A traditional French chicken dish, coq au vin typically requires a fair amount of attention. But making it in a slow cooker allows you to braise the meat throughout the day while you take care of other tasks.
This slow cooker coq au vin recipe from Half Baked Harvest calls for wholesome ingredients that give you a delicious, well-balanced meal with minimal effort. It will take you a half hour to prep and then it cooks for four hours in the slow cooker.
What You Need To Make Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin
- Chicken
- Mushrooms
- Potatoes
- Wine
Get the full recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
Indian-Style Pulled Pork
Pulled pork may seem like a decadent or fattening meal, but it doesn’t have to be. This recipe from My Heart Beets takes an Indian-style approach to the dish, incorporating delicious spices that have anti-inflammatory benefits known to boost metabolism.
In this recipe, you cook the pork in a spiced tomato sauce made with ginger, coriander, chili powder and a homemade meat masala. It might be a bit intensive compared to most slow cooker recipes, but the results are worth the effort.
What You Need To Make Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Pork
- Tomato sauce
- Red Onion
- Spices
Get the full recipe from My Heart Beets
Chicken Congee
Epicurious explains that, “Congee is a savory rice porridge often served for breakfast in China.” And in this recipe, the dish is simplified to make it “a super comforting set-it-and-forget it dinner.”
This dish is basically just skinless chicken thighs and rice. Simple, right? This healthy recipe will quickly become a go-to!
What You Need To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Congee
- Chicken thighs
- Chicken stock
- Long-grain rice
- Dried chiles
Get the full recipe from Epicurious
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Red Beans And Rice
You only need 20 minutes to make this New Orleans-inspired bean recipe from New York Times Cooking. This comforting dish is high in protein, thanks to the beans, making it an excellent choice for eating healthy. You can serve this dish on its own, or treat it as a side dish and serve over another protein. Either way, it is a great recipe to have on-hand.
What You Need To Make Slow Cooker Red Beans And Rice
- Red kidney beans
- Pork sausage
- Cayenne
- Paprika
Get the full recipe from NYTimes Cooking
This metabolism-boosting stew is as flavorful as it is good for you. It uses harissa, which is a hot chili pepper paste, to add flavor and heat.
You only need to spend a half hour prepping this dish, then let your slow cooker do the rest. After about 7 hours, your delicious dinner will be ready.
What You Need To Make Slow Cooker White Bean Stew
- Dried cannellini beans
- Harissa
- Greek yogurt
- Tomato paste
