Healthy Slow-Cooker Recipes: Soup, Chili, Breakfast & More (2024)

FAQs

What to add to chili to make it healthy? ›

"By adding extra veggies you'll increase nutrients, fiber, and satisfaction," the twins say. "Bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, crushed tomatoes, onions, and carrots are all great choices."

The tomatoes contain sugar, which caramelizes in the slow cooker, and will eventually burn if it cookes for too long. Anything longer than 10 hours on low is risky.

You can roll meat in a small amount of seasoned flour before adding it to the slow cooker or use a little cornflour at the end. If you want to do the latter, take a teaspoon or two of cornflour and mix it to a paste with a little cold water. Stir into your simmering slow cooker contents, then replace the lid.

Prop the lid up for evaporation.

While your dinner cooks, prop the lid open a bit so that moisture can escape and thicken the stew naturally without extending the cooking time too much. Skewers or chopsticks between the lid and the crock of the slow cooker work well for this.

Cocoa Powder

Chocolate might not be the first thing you think of when you're making a batch of chili but it pairs perfectly with peppers. Adding just a teaspoon or two of unsweetened cocoa powder like we do in our Instant Pot Chili (pictured above) will make your go-to recipe rich and flavorful.

Helps with weight loss

Other studies show that chili peppers can increase metabolism and help you burn off the calories you do eat. While eating them by themselves may not lead to a significant change in your weight, using them with your doctor-approved weight loss plan may help you see results more quickly.

Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on for 12 hours? Yes, you can use your slow cooker for longer than eight hours, as long as you keep an eye on it. Many slow cookers do have an automatic shutoff after 24 hours.

You don't HAVE to precook your ground meat before putting in a crock-pot. But if the crock-pot doesn't get hot enough within an hour or so the meat could be unsafe to eat. So I would just precook it in a skillet anyway just to be on the safe side.

The low and slow cooking process melds the flavors of the chili seasoning into every bite and the beef becomes so tender, juicy, and irresistible. You can slow cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours.

Take the lid off

Place the cooker on a high setting, and open the lid for 30-45 minutes to let excess moisture cook off. The liquid will reduce, leaving you with a thick and delicious gravy or sauce. (Tip: This trick can also be applied for thickening stews, or when you've accidentally added too much liquid.)

How do you thicken soup in a slow cooker? ›

As a rule of thumb, dissolve 2 parts cold water and 1 part cornstarch. Add the slurry to your sauce as it simmers in the slow cooker. Cornstarch is always a good way to thicken a sauce or soup but personally I would recommend going a different route as the cornstarch slurry may change the flavor of the meal.

When preparing the dish before you start to cook, use a nonstick cooking spray, butter or plastic slow cooker liners to decrease sticking. If simple soap, water and elbow grease don't do the trick in cleaning the pot, Lowe has these simple tips listed in her blog.

Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full.

In general, chili is seen as a healthy food since chili contains ingredients from key food groups. If you want to build a healthier bowl of beef chili, choose lean ground beef. Reducing the fat content in the meat is important for heart health and can lower your risk of developing diabetes.

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

Coleslaw: Creamy coleslaw is a cool, refreshing side dish that provides contrast to the heat of the chili. Garlic Bread: Toasted garlic bread or garlic knots are a tasty accompaniment. Green Salad: A simple salad with fresh greens, fruit, and a light vinaigrette can balance the richness of chili.

Freshen up the flavors of your canned chili by adding vegetables like garlic, corn, mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, spinach, or even diced sweet potatoes. You can use either fresh or canned vegetables, depending on your preference.