Low Calorie Slow Cooker Meals for a Budget!

babyworms
babyworms Posts: 1,304 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hey everyone!

I'm looking for some super-nommy slowcooker meals that i can make before work and come home to at the end of the day!

I've found some nice looking ones all over the internet, but i'm looking for some that are Tried-and-True, with real people telling me that they're super awesome!!

Thanks heaps!
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Replies

  • lil_pulp
    lil_pulp Posts: 701 Member
    Just bumping cuz I'm interested if anyone will share any slow cooker meals that are good for warmer weather.
  • Leslie85
    Leslie85 Posts: 265 Member
    I plan on trying this tomorrow night!


    2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 4-5 chicken breasts)
    1 onion, thinly sliced
    1 red bell pepper, sliced in half-circle slices
    1 green bell pepper, sliced in half-circle slices
    2 teaspoons chili powder
    1 teaspoon ground cumin
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    1/2 cup chicken broth
    2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

    I bought a bag of frozen peppers and onions from wal mart, so I just plan on dumping some of those in (they're not seasoned or anything- just frozen). Also, I'm always buying different seasoning packets, and I have some McCormick's Chicken Fajita seasoning, so I might just sprinkle some of that in, instead of the chili power and ground cumin.

    Also, I've tried the slow cooker recipe that I see show up on here all the time- the one with chicken breasts, salsa, and taco seasoning- and I wasn't a big fan. I love Mexican food, so I'm hoping I'll like this one better!
  • sc1572
    sc1572 Posts: 2,309 Member
    bump!
  • Laylasmom77
    Laylasmom77 Posts: 42 Member
    Can't go wrong with chicken breast and salsa in the crockpot!
  • TundraTed
    TundraTed Posts: 254 Member
    Chicken, Black Beans, Salsa, Rotel, Diced Tomatoes, Green Chili's- whatever you like. Shred chicken. Goes great in tortillas or with salad.

    Ground Turkey, Black Beans, Kidney Beans, Chickpeas, Onion, Green Peppers, Canned Tomatos, Chili Powder. Cook Turkey and Onion, add spices you like and cook all day. Awesome Chili- This makes a lot too!
  • angelew
    angelew Posts: 133 Member
    One of my fam's favorites...

    CURRIED PORK OVER BASMATI RICE

    3 1/2 cups cubed red potato
    1 cup chopped onion
    1 cup chopped red bell pepper
    1/4 cup fat free low-sodium chicken broth
    2 TBS flour
    2 TBS tomato paste
    1 TBS sugar
    1 TBS minced fresh ginger
    1 1/2 tsp salt
    1 tsp curry powder
    1 tsp ground cumin
    1 1/2 lbs boneless pork tenderloin (cut into 1" cubes)
    2 garlic cloves, minced
    1/2 cup coconut milk
    3 cups hot cooked basmati rice
    cilantro

    Combine first 13 ingredients in slow cooker, stir well to dissolve flour. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours. Stir in coconut milk before serving over rice. Top with fresh cilantro.

    6 servings (Per serving: 373 calories, 5.8 g fat, 29.3 g protein, 49.9 grams carbs, 3.5 g fiber, 75 mg chol, 3.1 mg iron, 731 mg sodium, 37 mg calcium.)
  • KatFierce
    KatFierce Posts: 252 Member
    Salsa chicken
    Its just a jar of salsa and some chicken breasts cook on low all day, then shred the chicken up and top on salad with some mexican type veggies and beans, or make a wrap with it. Its really good and you can play around with it alot.

    Sweet&sour meatballs (ive also done this with ground chicken as the meat or can use keilbasa or chicken sausage)
    Frozen turkey meatballs, 1 cup grape jelly ( you can get the no sugar kind or whatever your favorite is), 1 jar chili sauce(the kind for hotdogs and things), and 4tbsp lemon juice, mix together and cook about 2-4 hours till all is hot and yummy. Serve over quinoa, brown rice, or cauliflower rice with lots of veggies.

    Chili
    2 cans chili beans in sauce, 1 large can diced tomatoes ( use the juice too), 1 can tomato paste, 1 can black bean, 1 can kidney beans(bother drained and rinsed well), 1 bag of morningstar meat crumbles ( or can use ground turkey or no meats), diced up veggies you like ( spinach, carrots, zucchinni, cucumber, peppers and onions) Some chili powder, salt, ketchup, mustard, salsa picante(hot sauce), garlic, pepper. Cook on low as long as you like, the longer the better. Serve ontop of a baked potato or sweet potato, lop of rice or salad, or do some heated up V8 juice for tomato soup, top on some chilli, a little shredded cheese and some greek yogurt for sour cream.

    theres a website that I love to use....http://stephanieodea.com/ she does a new recipe every day theyre easy to tweak and make lower calorie and her family is gluten free
  • GermanicKnight
    GermanicKnight Posts: 445
    4-5lb# rump roast or chuck roast or something similar (Beef with some fat)
    1 package dry Italian salad dressing seasoning
    1 bay leaf 1 te basil
    1 te garlic powder 1 te oregano
    1 te parsley 1 te black pepper
    1 te onion powder 1 te salt
    te stands for teaspoon.
    3 cups water or beef broth
    1 jar pepperocini's
    Mix liquid and seasonings in a sauce pan, stir and bring to a boil,
    simmer for a couple minutes. You can add some pepperocinis and juice at this time.
    Put the roast into crock pot and pour hot mix over. *you can cut up meat as needed to
    fit into crock pot.
    Cook on low 10-12 hours or high for 5-6 hours.
    Take out meat & bay leaf, shred. *Add more pepperocinis or serve on the side.
    *put back into crock pot for 30-60 min on low...
    Sometimes you get more juice than needed, so drain and add back as needed after
    you shred the meat. Two forks work good to shred, hands do good sometimes.

    **Short version - you can use only the dry Italian salad dressing seasoning but use
    3 packages and forget the dry spices but use the same amount of liquid.
  • fontinathefox
    fontinathefox Posts: 124 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/484853-working-mom-needs-kid-friendly-crock-pot-recipe-s?hl=crock+pot
  • lesita75
    lesita75 Posts: 379 Member
    Great recipes. I will be trying these soon!
  • tdmcmains
    tdmcmains Posts: 227 Member
    Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

    Add to slow cooker:
    15 oz canned crushed tomato
    1 onion, chopped
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    2 T tomato paste
    2 t garam masala
    salt and pepper
    1 ½ lb boneless chicken thighs (we used breasts)

    Cook low 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours.

    Toss together for salad:
    ½ cucumber, sliced
    ¼ c. cilantro
    1 T lemon juice
    salt and pepper
    (refrigerate)

    Before serving chicken, stir in:
    ½ c. heavy cream (we used coconut milk)

    Serve chicken and salad with basmati rice.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    Boneless, skinless chicken breasts and a large can of corn and bean salsa! (Great value brand works perfectly) Just shred after cooked and use the chicken for tortillas, tacos, enchiladas, sandwiches, anything! It's kind of high in sodium but I suppose you could make your own salsa if you have time.
  • KatFierce
    KatFierce Posts: 252 Member
    Also my go-to is frozen meat ( any kind) and a jar of sauce or salad dressing ( any kind) cook on low all day
    Good Combos are>>
    marinara and chicken, chinese ahso sauce and pork, pork and apple sauce with cinnamon and some water plus hunks of apples, italian dressing and chicken or beef, beef roast with 1 can of coke(can use diet) and 1/2 package dry onion soup mix, beef and A1, anything with barbeque ( and HUngry girl website has a homemade low calorie barbecue sauce recipe you could use that ).
  • tdmcmains
    tdmcmains Posts: 227 Member
    Slow cooker Sweet and Spicy Chicken (this was OKAY but not spectacular)

    2 t cumin
    3 cloves garlic, minced
    ½ t cinnamon
    3" ginger, sliced
    4 chicken leg quarters
    28 oz diced tomatoes
    1 T olive oil
    ½ c. raisins
    1 onion, in wedges

    Dust chicken with cumin and cinnamon, salt and pepper. Brown in a skillet in the oil about 6 minutes total.

    Arrange chicken in the slow cooker and add onion, garlic, and ginger.
    Top with tomatoes and raisins.
    Cover and cook on high 3 ½ hours or on low 6 hours.

    Makes 6 servings, each 310 calories.
  • tdmcmains
    tdmcmains Posts: 227 Member
    Slow Cooker Chicken Mole

    4 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
    28 oz can whole tomatoes
    1 onion, chopped
    2 dried ancho chilies, stemmed
    1 chipotle in adobo
    ½ c. sliced almonds
    ¼ c. raisins
    3 oz bittersweet chocolate (½ c.)
    3 cloves garlic, smashed
    3 T olive oil
    ¾ t cumin
    ½ t cinnamon
    cilantro for serving

    Season chicken with salt and place in the slow cooker. In a blender, puree everything but cilantro until smooth. Add to the slow cooker. Cook on high 4 hours or on low for 8 hours. Serve chicken with sauce and cilantro.
  • Missy8856
    Missy8856 Posts: 29
    Bump
  • tdmcmains
    tdmcmains Posts: 227 Member
    Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken with Cous Cous

    1 whole chicken, cut into 6-8 pieces, patted dry
    salt and pepper
    1 T olive oil
    1 onion, halved and sliced thin
    6 cloves garlic, halved
    2 t dried thyme
    1 c. dry white wine
    ⅓ c. flour
    chopped parsley for serving

    Season chicken with salt and pepper and brown in hot oil in a skillet, skin side down, about 4 minutes.

    Add onion, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper to the slow cooker. Top with chicken, skin side up, in a tight layer.

    Whisk wine and flour until smooth and add to the slow cooker.

    Cover and cook on high for 3 ½ hours or on low for 7 hours.

    Serve with cous cous, sprinkled with parsley.
  • jenbroussard71
    jenbroussard71 Posts: 282 Member
    Bump. Some great ideas! Thanks for sharing...
  • terra32903
    terra32903 Posts: 185 Member
    WWW.skinnytaste.com has great crock pot recipes. I have NEVER gone wrong cooking with that site!
  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
    One of my fam's favorites...

    CURRIED PORK OVER BASMATI RICE

    3 1/2 cups cubed red potato
    1 cup chopped onion
    1 cup chopped red bell pepper
    1/4 cup fat free low-sodium chicken broth
    2 TBS flour
    2 TBS tomato paste
    1 TBS sugar
    1 TBS minced fresh ginger
    1 1/2 tsp salt
    1 tsp curry powder
    1 tsp ground cumin
    1 1/2 lbs boneless pork tenderloin (cut into 1" cubes)
    2 garlic cloves, minced
    1/2 cup coconut milk
    3 cups hot cooked basmati rice
    cilantro

    Combine first 13 ingredients in slow cooker, stir well to dissolve flour. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours. Stir in coconut milk before serving over rice. Top with fresh cilantro.

    6 servings (Per serving: 373 calories, 5.8 g fat, 29.3 g protein, 49.9 grams carbs, 3.5 g fiber, 75 mg chol, 3.1 mg iron, 731 mg sodium, 37 mg calcium.)

    This looks awesome and now I have this thread in my topics.
  • Levahna
    Levahna Posts: 132
    Lovin' the yummy recipes here!!
  • KristaPetraitis
    KristaPetraitis Posts: 38 Member
    bump!
  • sisswright
    sisswright Posts: 65 Member
    sounds like some great ideas, if no one minds I'm just gonna bump to use a few in the future :)
  • Alexagetsfit
    Alexagetsfit Posts: 313 Member
    Taco Chicken Bowls:

    These are delicious! And I love this website for eating healthy on a budget.

    http://budgetbytes.blogspot.com/2011/07/taco-chicken-bowls-1066-recipe-133.html
  • kylee_marie
    kylee_marie Posts: 299 Member
    i am trying that pork with basmati rice soon! sounds great
  • StrongerJess
    StrongerJess Posts: 185 Member
    Bump
  • tistal
    tistal Posts: 869 Member
    skinnytaste.com and look for crock pot Santa Fe Chicken. I have made it several times and the whole family loved it!
  • MommyTKD
    MommyTKD Posts: 61 Member
    Actually one of my favorites is extra lean turkey tenderloin and use green salsa with it. I then in a separate skillet take just a DROP of olive oil and sautee onions and peppers with garlic pepper. Shred the turkey and serve in whole wheat tortillas with the peppers and onions!
  • jencornelius
    jencornelius Posts: 24
    I do the chicken breast and salsa in crock pot too, but I add a bag of frozen corn and a can of black beans (rinsed and drained). Cook on low 4-6 hrs. I usually throw my chicken in frozen. Shred chicken and it's good alone, over rice or as tacos. Would probably be good on a salad too.
  • bren998
    bren998 Posts: 92 Member
    Slow Cooker Lasagna

    1 lb lean ground beef
    1 small onion, chopped
    1 medium garlic clove, minced
    28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
    15 oz canned tomato sauce
    1 tsp table salt
    1 tsp dried oregano
    1/2 tsp dried basil
    1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
    1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
    1 1/2 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded/divided
    6 dry lasagna noodles, no-cook
    1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese, strong flavored lie romano or parmigiano reggiano

    heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef, onion and garlic; cook, stirring freguently, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes, ,tomato sauce, salt, oregano, basil and red pepper flakes, simmer 5 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Stir together ricotta cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella. Spoon 1/3 of beef mixture into 5-quart cooker. Break 3 lasagna sheets in half and arrange over beef mixture; top woth half of ricotta mixture. Repeat with another layer.Cook on low setting for 4 to 6 hours. Remove cover; turn off heat and season to taste, if desired. Sprinkle remaing cheese over beef cover & set aside until cheese melts, about 10 minutes.

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