37 Healthy Crockpot Recipes To Make and Freeze Ahead of Time (2024)

Need some quick and easy dinner ideas for those nights when there is just no time to prepare anything, much less something nutritious and healthy? Try these healthy crock pot recipes that you can freeze ahead and then cook while you are at work or school. If you are looking for the best slow cooker recipes to make and prep ahead of time, want an awesome but easy dinner idea for your little party this weekend or you are just wanting to try your hand at some new healthy crockpot recipes to make before work, then we have 37 mouthwatering recipe ideas for you to check out. Whether you are looking for vegetarian or gluten-free or a hearty home-cooked Southern-style recipe, we have healthy versions of all your favorite slow cooker dishes.

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Cooking in a crock pot is no excuse not to make healthy food, and these awesome recipe ideas prove it. With so many ideas to make and freeze ahead, you can work on meal prep over the weekend, and never have to really cook during the week. Simply take one of these out of the freezer before work, place it in the crockpot, and come home to have an incredible home-cooked meal waiting for you. Break out the slow cooker this weekend so you can meal prep with one or more of these healthy crockpot recipes.

Healthy Crock Pot Recipes and Slow Cooker Ideas

37 Healthy Crockpot Recipes To Make and Freeze Ahead of Time (1)

1. Slow Cooker Chili Mac

countrysidecravings

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Nothing beats a hearty bowl on chili on a cold winter evening, especially after a long day of work. Nothing except possibly macaroni and cheese, anyway. Since I love both of those comfort foods, imagine how thrilled I was to find this chili mac recipe for the crock pot. An easy to make in a slow cooker recipe idea for busy days, you are going to love this one. My kids tried it last time they were home from college and all have requested I share the recipe with them. All you need is a simple list of ingredients, you may even already have them on hand.

2. Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

sweetcsdesigns

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Wow. I never knew you could make tacos in a crock pot. This slow cooker taco recipe is not only doable, it tastes amazing. Forget thinking that tacos are only for the weekends or nights where you have lots of prep time. Make these prep ahead tacos and enjoy a Mexican style dinner any night you wish. If you are looking for healthy crock pot recipes, this taco version is on the money.

3. Freezer To Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup

newleafwellness

37 Healthy Crockpot Recipes To Make and Freeze Ahead of Time (4)

This healthy crockpot recipes tastes nothing like what I think when it comes to healthy meals. A hearty soup made with meatballs and vegetables, this crockpot meal freezes well and is one of my husband’s favorite things to take to work. Easy to make ahead, you can have this one waiting for you when you come home. Freezer to slow cooker recipe make cooking simple.

4. Crock Pot Salsa Beef

getinspiredeveryday

37 Healthy Crockpot Recipes To Make and Freeze Ahead of Time (5)

For a flavorful, spicy crockpot dish you can make and freeze ahead, then add to a crock pot when you are ready to cook it, this beed crockpot recipe is sure to be a family favorite. With simple ingredients and easy preparation, this meal is sure to be requested again and again.

5. Slow Cooker Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Kale Stew

multiplydelicious

37 Healthy Crockpot Recipes To Make and Freeze Ahead of Time (6)

Not all chicken crock pot recipes are created equally. Sometimes, when you cook chicken in a slow cooker, it ends up dried out and overdone. The key to making moist, delicious chicken in a crockpot seems to be adding the right amount of broth and vegetables to keep the meat juicy. This recipe for chicken, sweet potato and kale stew certianly fits the bill when it comes to winning chicken recipes for the crockpot. I make this dish at least twice a month, and at our annual office potluck party we have every Christmas, people would complain if I did not show up without it. Last year, I went ahead and madce two batches, and did not have a single bite left at the end of the party.

6. Slow Cooker Creamy Portobella Chicken

cutefetti

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I’ve personally been playing around with some minimalist slow cooker dinner recipe ideas. This slow cooker recipe has only three ingredients and is perfect for adding your own flair to with spices and extra flavorings. The possibilities are endless. Dinner does not get any less complex than this one, my friends. Hope you love the simplicity and few ingredients. This was the first time using Portobello mushrooms (Baby Bellas in this case) in my slow cooker, but it sure won’t be the last. I just love them cooked almost any way, but they really add a lot to this very simple recipe. With only three ingredients, plus some salt and pepper, this is a no fuss simple dinner idea. If you are a mushroom lover, you will adore this quick fix! You just need 1 Pint of Baby Bellas (or equivalent in sliced portabella mushrooms), 1.5 – 2lbs Boneless Chicken Tenderloins or Sliced Chicken Breast, 1 Can of Cream of Chicken Soup, and Salt & Pepper to Taste. This is a simple dish and just delicious!

7. Quick Slow Cooker Recipe : Split Pea Soup

lemonsandanchovies

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This split pea soup had its start on the stove but I let my slow cooker do all the work while I busied myself with errands and chores last weekend. In just two hours I had a hearty, tasty soup that ended up lasting us a few days, only getting better each time I reheated it. This soup is completely meat free but feel free to use a meat stock and/or a ham bone but I promise you that you won’t need either. My husband announced a day or two ago that he has cleared a cabinet in the kitchen of long-unused items and offered the space for the small items without a home. Instead of jumping at the chance to fill it with random items, I committed to re-arranging all the other drawers and cabinets to see how we can optimize our space. I’m already sure of one thing: some things will have to go but my slow cooker will always have a place with me.

9. Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken And Potatoes

damndelicious

37 Healthy Crockpot Recipes To Make and Freeze Ahead of Time (9)

Crisp-tender chicken thighs cooked low and slow right alongside some baby red potatoes before they’re tossed in freshly grated Parmesan. Now. Two things here. I know some of you only like white meat. Sure, chicken breast can be substituted but I found that bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are best here, especially with that initial sear to really let the flavors seep in and caramelize. Also, if you are using massively-large red potatoes, you can cut them into quarters or even eighths. Most importantly. Please use freshly grated Parmesan cheese. And don’t skimp!!! You know the drill. The more the better.

10. Easy Crockpot Recipe for 20 Minute Tuscan Pasta

37 Healthy Crockpot Recipes To Make and Freeze Ahead of Time (10)

11. Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe

sidetrackedsarah

37 Healthy Crockpot Recipes To Make and Freeze Ahead of Time (11)

12. Healthyfied Crock Pot Beef Broccoli

theskinnyfork

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13. Twice Baked Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potatoes

thecreativebite

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14. Freezer Cooking Mexican Lasagna

cleverlysimple

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15. Chicken, Broccoli, Bacon & Potato Bake

kyleecooks

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16. Paleo Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

paleocupboard

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17. Crock Pot Cowboy Casserole

funnyisfamily

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18. Paleo Crock Pot Cashew Chicken

preppypaleo

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19. Crock Pot Pesto Chicken Salad

lexiscleankitchen

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20. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Quinoa

bobbiskozykitchen

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21. Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken

plaidandpaleo

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22. Easy Taco Rice Casserole

eatingonadime

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23. Bacon Covered Kalua Pork

happymoneysaver

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24. Crock Pot Roast With Green Beans

newleafwellness

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25. Slow Cooker Ginger Beef

kitchenstewardship

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26. Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken Wings

damndelicious

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27. Freezer To Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas

thehumbledhomemaker

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28. Crock pot Creamy Ranch Chicken

life-in-the-lofthouse

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29. Slow Cooker Sausage And Peppers

foodfolksandfun

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30. Honey Soy Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin

eatingonadime

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31. Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Bowls

sixsistersstuff

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32. Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie

eatingonadime

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33. Crockpot Orange Glazed Meatballs

familyfreshmeals

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34. Vegetable Rice Soup

spendwithpennies

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35. Crock Pot Mexican Chicken Salad

sublimereflection

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36. Simple Crock Pot Spaghetti Squash With Meat Sauce

confessionsofafitfoodie

37 Healthy Crockpot Recipes To Make and Freeze Ahead of Time (36)

37. Stuffed Pepper Soup

mycrazygoodlife

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38. Slow-Cooker Turkey Breast with Two Sauces

thefoodieandthefix

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37 Healthy Crockpot Recipes To Make and Freeze Ahead of Time (2024)

FAQs

Can you freeze meals from a slow cooker? ›

A dump bag is where you prepare all (or most) of the ingredients for a slow cooker meal, then: Put it into a freezer container. Label and freeze until you want to cook it.

How long do crockpot freezer meals last? ›

To save time, using pre-cut fresh vegetables or frozen vegetables is a great option. A vegetable chopper is also handy. Q11: How long can slow cooker meals be stored in the freezer? They can be stored in a standard fridge/freezer combo for at least three months.

Do you have to thaw freezer crockpot meals? ›

Always thaw the freezer meal first before adding it to the slow cooker… this is important for food safety.

Can I just throw a bunch of ingredients in the crockpot? ›

For many dishes, particularly soups and stews, you really can just throw all the ingredients in.

How do you pre cook and freeze meals? ›

There are just a few things to keep in mind:
  1. Cool precooked dishes as quickly as possible before they are placed in the freezer.
  2. For fastest cooling, place the pan of hot food in a sink filled with ice water (or in a larger pan of ice water). ...
  3. Once the dish is cooled, portion it into meal-sized containers or packages.
Sep 16, 2014

How do you cook then freeze meals? ›

Reusable freezer bags are great for sauces – freezing them flat also helps with space as you can stack them on top of each other. Muffin trays are also useful if you want to defrost smaller portions at a time. Cool the food quickly after cooking and before freezing.

What meals can I batch cook and freeze? ›

Freezable family recipes
  • Sausage pasta bake. A star rating of 4.4 out of 5. ...
  • Meatballs in tomato, cardamom & lime sauce. A star rating of 3.8 out of 5. ...
  • Chicken & chorizo ragu. ...
  • Broccoli stem falafel bowl. ...
  • Creamy halloumi & tomato curry. ...
  • Chicken & bacon pie. ...
  • App onlyCheesy potato patchwork pie. ...
  • Peanut butter chicken.

What dinners are best to freeze? ›

Soups, stews, lasagna, empanadas, and pie dough are some of our favorites to freeze—check out more ideas below.

What foods are good to make and freeze? ›

Here are 10 faves for the freezer – most will keep for up to six months.
  • Fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs**
  • Stocks and soups.
  • Hot and cold sauces (such as marinara and pesto**)
  • Chili and stews.
  • Baked pasta dishes**
  • Cookie dough (shape into balls before freezing)**
  • Baked brownies.
  • Bread, rolls and flour tortillas.

Can you reheat frozen meals in a slow cooker? ›

But slow cookers are not without their limits, so it is important to know that one of the things they cannot and should not do is heat up frozen food.

How long do cooked freezer meals last? ›

2 to 6 months

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

Can you put raw hamburger in crockpot? ›

You certainly can add raw ground beef to the crockpot. As a matter of fact, many (if not most) slow-cooker chili recipes ask for the meat to be added raw.

What is the best meat to cook in a slow cooker? ›

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

How do you store food after a slow cooker? ›

Cool properly.

Do not leave cooked food to cool down in the crock. Eat immediately or place leftovers in shallow containers and refrigerate.

Can you put food from slow cooker to to the fridge? ›

Keep the lid on: After cooking, keep the lid on the crock pot to prevent contamination from the outside. Refrigerate promptly: If you're not going to eat the food immediately, refrigerate it within two hours of cooking to prevent bacterial growth.

Is it OK to freeze cooked meals? ›

Some of the best leftover foods to freeze include cooked chopped meats, casseroles, pizza, soup, tomato sauce, breads and baked goods. Leftovers that don't like the freezer include hard boiled eggs, stuffed and uncooked meats like chicken breast and pork chops, cold tuna and pasta salads.

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