When it comes to crockpots, comfort food doesn't always mean calorie-packed. With vegan, Paleo, and low-calorie options, these 14 crockpot dinners are a healthier take on warm, cozy dishes.
— Additional reporting by Lizzie Fuhr, Nicole Perry, Brinton Parker, and Jenny Sugar
Santa Fe-Style Paleo Vegetable Soup
You can add shredded chicken to this Paleo-optimized recipe [1] for additional protein, but it's perfectly tasty as a vegetarian dish!
Chicken Fajitas
These chicken fajitas [2] require just five ingredients, with no additional cook time necessary. All you do is layer the ingredients and let your crockpot do its magic. This high-protein, low-calorie recipe is delicious, satisfying, and full of metabolism-boosting spice.
Squash, Sweet Potato, Carrot, and White Bean Soup
It may sound complicated, but this seasonal slow-cooker soup [3] only calls for eight ingredients!
Vegetarian Chili
You know those days where you have a bunch of random vegetables in the fridge? The simple solution to using them all is this vegetarian chili [4] loaded with zucchini, tomatoes, corn, and a ton of other pantry staples.
Butternut Squash Lentil Soup
After you finish making eight servings of this vegetarian butternut squash and lentil soup [5], you can freeze the leftovers for a rainy (or exceptionally busy!) day.
Low-Calorie Beef and Vegetable Stew
Paleo dieters will love this beef and veggie stew [6], which only requires 20 minutes of preparation time before slow-cooking to perfection.
Chickpea Coconut Curry With Sweet Potatoes
This delicious vegan dish of slow-cooker chickpea coconut curry with sweet potatoes [7] will leave you feeling super cozy (and full!) without excess calories.
Low-Calorie Sweet and Sour Chicken
At 48 grams of protein and fewer than 350 calories per serving, this healthy take on a Chinese takeout favorite [8] is so much better than Panda Express!
Protein-Rich Mexican Chicken
Thanks to lean chicken breasts and toasted pumpkin seeds, this tender Mexican chicken dish [9] is packed full of protein.
Split Pea Soup
Few comfort foods are quite as rich as split pea soup, but the vegetable and ham dish can be time-consuming at the best of times. Try preparing it in your slow cooker [10] for a warm, fiber- and protein-rich dinner that's ready when you get home!
Vegan Split Pea and Sweet Potato Soup
Here's a vegan take on the classic. You can make this on the stove much faster, but it's also a great slow-cooker recipe if you have the time to cook it while you're at work. Made with split peas, celery, and sweet potatoes, this hearty soup is only 254 calories [11] per serving.
Braised Chicken
Chefs swear by skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts because they provide the most flavorful, moist meat. Braising the chicken [12] also helps retain the moisture, and it leaves you with a flavorful – and lean – tomato-sage broth that can be poured over quinoa or your favorite healthy grains.
Roasted Chicken
Yes, it's entirely possible to roast a chicken in your slow cooker [13]. By doing so, you'll have the makings of healthy recipes for a week [14]!
Spicy Chicken Chili
Chili is one of the most common slow-cooker recipes, and this one made with ground chicken [15] and kidney beans is sure to satisfy without breaking the calorie bank — it's only 324 calories per serving. This dish is made using a Dutch oven on the stove, but you can easily adapt this recipe to be made in a slow cooker; just keep it on low.