11 Healthy Veggie Recipes That Prove Slow Cookers Are for More Than Meat
Move over, meat and potatoes.
As temperatures drop, firing up the slow cooker becomes more and more attractive. But using the slow cooker doesn't have to equal dining on pot roast and potatoes. Whether you're a vegetarian or just trying to get in your five daily servings, the slow cooker can help you hit your healthy eating goals. Here are 11 vegetable-packed, meat-free meals that are perfect for cold-weather days. So plop everything in the slow cooker, and go make a snowman.
Slow Cooker Ratatouille
It doesn't get any more veggie-packed than this easy-peasy ratatouille. After all, it doesn't contain any ingredients other than veggies -- no oil, no cheese, nothing. It tastes so good, it doesn't even need them.
Full recipe courtesy: Amuse-Your-Bouche.com
Crock-Pot Spaghetti Squash Thai 'Noodle' Bowl
Spaghetti squash is a pain to cook -- until you plop one in a slow cooker. Just poke holes in the gourd with a fork, set it in the slow cooker on low and when you get home from work, your veggie "pasta" will be ready for topping (and eating).
Full recipe courtesy: TheSkinnyFork.com
Quinoa Black Bean Crock-Pot Stuffed Peppers
These peppers are so pretty, they'll make anyone lucky enough to sit at your table drool. And between the quinoa, black beans, refried beans and pepper jack cheese -- plus the avocado and Greek yogurt (it makes a perfect sour cream swap) -- they have enough protein to help keep you from packing on the winter weight.
Full recipe courtesy: PinchofYum.com
Slow Cooker Veggie Omelet
An omelet in a slow cooker? You bet! As rich in protein as it is in veggies, this all-star omelet is the perfect way to fuel your day. Bonus: The recipe makes a half dozen servings at once.
Full recipe courtesy: Diethood.com
Slow Cooker Butter Chickpeas
This meat-free take on Indian butter chicken is made with chickpeas and tofu. Rich in protein, fiber, iron, calcium and antioxidants, this dish is a veritable superfood.
Full recipe courtesy: DelishKnowledge.com
Vegan and Full-of-Veggies Slow Cooker Lasagna
Between the kale, carrots, spinach, mushrooms, tofu-based cheese and made-from-scratch marinara (OK, you can buy premade varieties to cut your kitchen time), this vegan lasagna is about so much more than getting your pasta fix.
Full recipe courtesy: HappyCow.net
Slow Cooker Vegan Brown Rice Mexican Bowl
Black beans, bell peppers and a generous helping of chiles make this a nutrient-rich dish worthy of even summer days.
Full recipe courtesy: KalynsKitchen.com
Slow Cooker Lentil Soup
No recipe arsenal is complete without lentils. Rich in protein and fiber, they are a must for vegetarians and omnivores alike. And the only thing that makes this lentil soup more amazing is spooning it on top of a baked sweet potato.
Full recipe courtesy: VeggiePrimer.com
Slow Cooker Mushroom-Lentil Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
These cabbage rolls look so fancy, your guests will never suspect that they came from a slow cooker. And between the meaty mushrooms and lentils, this dish can even please carnivores.
Full recipe courtesy: OhMyVeggies.com
Slow Cooker Vegan White Bean Stew
After just 20 minutes of prep time, this recipe (go do something else for three hours while it simmers) makes enough stew to serve a dozen people. Our suggestion: Keep it all for yourself. Just freeze half, and save it for February.
Full recipe courtesy: CafeJohnsonia.com
Slow Cooker Black Bean & Mango Caribbean Chili
Meat-, dairy- and gluten-free, this sweet-and-savory chili satisfies even the pickiest of eaters. Plus, its Caribbean flavors blow away pretty much every beef- and cheese-packed chili ever made.
Full recipe courtesy: KitchenTreaty.com
K. Aleisha Fetters is a freelance Health + Wellness reporter at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter, connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at kafetters@gmail.com.
