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  5. I'm a Dietitian & These Are My Favorite Slow-Cooker Dinners

I'm a Dietitian & These Are My Favorite Slow-Cooker Dinners

Jessica Ball
Jessica Ball, M.S., RD October 28, 2021
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Vegetarian Slow-Cooker Pozole

When I want a flavorful, healthy dinner with minimal effort, I turn to my slow cooker. In the morning, I'll add my ingredients before letting it simmer all day. Then, when I'm ready for dinner, I have a deeply flavorful meal ready to enjoy. As a dietitian on a budget, I am always trying to elevate low-cost ingredients like beans, canned vegetables and cheaper cuts of meat in creative ways and the slow cooker transforms those ingredients with ease. From tacos to soups and chilis, these slow-cooker recipes are some of my favorites for something nutritious and easy. With recipes like Vegetarian Slow-Cooker Pozole and Slow-Cooker Carne Picada Tacos with Avocado Salsa, you can simply set it and forget it for a delicious, healthy meal in a pinch.

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Vegetarian Slow-Cooker Pozole

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This healthy vegetarian take on the Mexican stew pozole gets tons of flavor from poblano peppers, ancho chile powder and dried herbs and spices, while cannellini beans provide substance, protein and fiber. Chewy hominy--corn that has been treated with lime to remove the tough hull and germ--is integral to the stew. Look for it in cans in the Latin section of your supermarket. Serve the stew with shredded cabbage, radishes, fresh cilantro and sour cream.

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Slow-Cooker Lemony Chicken Noodle Soup

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This is a classic chicken noodle soup with bright lemony flavor. Because the noodles are whole-wheat, they have added pleasant chewiness-not to mention more fiber and nutrients-than the regular variety. Pair this delicious soup with crusty bread and red wine.

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Slow-Cooker Carne Picada Tacos with Avocado Salsa

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Loosely translated as "minced meat," the traditional texture of carne picada ranges from finely chopped to ground. Here we start with brisket, which becomes nice and tender in the slow cooker, then shred and chop the meat before serving. The seasoning is flavorful but not too spicy. Blistered jalapeños added at the end will satisfy the heat-lovers in the family. Pile the brisket into warmed corn tortillas, with lettuce, the jalapeños, cheese and avocado salsa for a healthy dinner that'll wake up your taco night routine.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken & White Bean Stew

Slow-Cooker Chicken White Bean Stew
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This load-and-go slow-cooker chicken recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Serve this Tuscan-inspired dish with crusty bread, a glass of Chianti and a salad.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

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Turn classic chicken parm into meatballs with this easy load-and-go appetizer recipe with a cheesy surprise inside. Making meatballs for a party? Switch your crock pot to warm for serving all party long.

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Eggplant and Sausage Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

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Using a slow cooker makes this Italian style dish an easy meal for any night of the week.

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Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup

Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup
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A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor.

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Slow-Cooker Butter Chicken

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Browning the chicken and sautéing the aromatics before everything goes into the crock pot is key to building the flavors in our version of this popular curry.

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Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili

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Grab your crock pot for this delicious and easy slow-cooker vegetarian chili with beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, bell peppers and sweet potatoes. The recipe requires just 20 minutes of active time: after a bit of chopping, you just dump the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it do the work. Adding a squeeze of lime juice and a sprinkle of cilantro just before serving brightens up the flavors. Top it with some shredded cheese, if you'd like, or serve it as-is to keep it vegan. Either way, this healthy chili is sure to become a go-to when you want a satisfying and healthy dinner.

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Slow-Cooker White Bean, Spinach & Sausage Stew

slow-cooker white bean, spinach & sausage stew
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Reach for this recipe on a chilly morning when you know you'll want a steaming bowl of slow-cooker sausage stew for supper. To make this recipe gluten free, use gluten-free sausage.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken with Rosemary & Mushrooms over Linguine

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The classic pairing of shallots and mushrooms gives this easy slow-cooker chicken recipe a timeless quality that's sure to please everyone at your table. Swirling the stock and flour together at the beginning is a pro tip for creating a thick sauce that moistens the final dish and helps all the ingredients come together.

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By Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

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    1 of 11 Vegetarian Slow-Cooker Pozole
    2 of 11 Slow-Cooker Lemony Chicken Noodle Soup
    3 of 11 Slow-Cooker Carne Picada Tacos with Avocado Salsa
    4 of 11 Slow-Cooker Chicken & White Bean Stew
    5 of 11 Slow-Cooker Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
    6 of 11 Eggplant and Sausage Slow Cooker Baked Ziti
    7 of 11 Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup
    8 of 11 Slow-Cooker Butter Chicken
    9 of 11 Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili
    10 of 11 Slow-Cooker White Bean, Spinach & Sausage Stew
    11 of 11 Slow-Cooker Chicken with Rosemary & Mushrooms over Linguine

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