9 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes for Cold Winter Nights

Want something easy for dinner that will satisfy? These 9 healthy slow cooker recipes will fill your belly and warm you to the core.

There’s nothing quite as wonderful as coming home to a hot dinner after a long day. And when that dinner is healthy, high in flavor and easy to whip together? Even better — especially on cold winter nights.

Why not break out the slow cooker and create one of these mouthwatering recipes?

Crock Pot Chipotle Beef Barbacoa | Joyful Healthy Eats

The second I saw this juicy, flavorful, seductive recipe for barbacoa, I knew it was going to be included in this roundup. It’s one of those recipes that shows healthy doesn’t mean flavorless — quite the opposite, actually.  I would love this on a rice bowl, or you could swap the rice for quinoa for a more healthful option. Any way you do it though, this recipe looks gooooood.

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup | The Lemon Bowl

Soups are among my very favorite things to make in my slow cooker, especially in the depths of winter. And this one? It looks like a wonderful one to try. Leftover ham combines with a litany of beans, veggies, broth and seasonings to create this hearty, beautiful soup. Who wouldn’t want to dip their spoon into a beautiful bowl of this?

Light Crock Pot Quinoa Chicken Stuffed Peppers | Julie’s Eats and Treats

Are you a stuffed peppers fan? Then this recipe is for you … forget the ground beef and rice filling of your childhood and feast on these delightful creations … Quinoa, one of my favorite grains, combines with chicken, black beans, onions and cheese in these tasty stuffed peppers. What a mouthwatering idea!

Slow Cooker Tomato Lentil Soup | Sarah’s Cucina Bella

Did I mention that I love soups in the slow cooker? Because I really, really do. Like this tomato lentil soup. Flavored with garam masala, an Indian spice mix, and filled with tomatoes, lentils and more, this comforting soup is delicious alone, served over rice or quinoa or even with grilled cheese.

Slow Cooker Zucchini Chicken Parmesan  | Smile Sandwich

Love chicken parmesan? Than this creative recipe is for you. It combines chicken with veggies — onions, peppers and green peppers — in a cheesy, saucy, delicious concoction. Jordan from Smile Sandwich suggests serving this over pasta or quinoa, but I bet it would be delicious over zucchini noodles or on a whole wheat roll too.

Slow Cooker Hoisin Chicken Recipe | Cookin’ Canuck

Who loves flavorful chicken? Me! Me! And using the slow cooker is a great way to create it — like in this recipe, which looks amazing. But that sauce! The six ingredient sauce in this slow cooker recipe has me practically drooling. I seriously cannot wait to make this.

Vegan Slow Cooker Mole Mushroom Taco Filling | Healthy Slow Cooking

Mole is a classic Mexican sauce (well, actually a collection of classic Mexican sauces) that bring depth and excitement to dishes. With a combination of chiles, tomatoes, chocolate, spices and more, it’s complex and interesting … and in this slow cooker dish it flavors a totally vegan filling for tacos, burritos, enchiladas or whatever you want.

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Low-Carb Collards Wraps with Blue Cheese Coleslaw | Kalyn’s Kitchen

Whenever I see buffalo chicken on a menu, I want to order it. There’s something about the tangy buffalo sauce combining with tender chicken that I just love. So, when I saw this recipe for a slow cooker version that combines chicken breasts with a buffalo sauce, slow cooks ’em, shreds ’em and wraps it up in a collard leaf? I was totally in. Looks amazing, doesn’t it?

Thai Chicken Quinoa Bowls with Peanut Sauce | Food Faith Fitness

Love Thai flavors? Then this easy slow cooker recipe is right up your alley. Whip up a batch of this Thai chicken to enjoy in hearty quinoa bowls. Flavor? Yep, it’s got that in spades.