Are you feeling overwhelmed with cooking while trying to lose weight? These 8 simple and healthy crockpot recipes for weight loss will make your weeknights easier and help you stick to your diet! Sometimes, it feels like you’re burning extra calories just by preparing complicated healthy meals. Eating well doesn’t have to be stressful, though. You can simplify your cooking routine to eat healthier and lose weight.
A crockpot is a fantastic tool for weight loss cooking. You can toss in all the ingredients, set it, and forget it. This gives you extra time to take a yoga class or go for a walk. We all face the challenge of eating healthy while finding time to cook and making food that tastes good enough to enjoy!
The best advice we can give you at Avocadu for making healthy meals and sticking to your diet long-term is to SIMPLIFY! Avoid recipes with 25 ingredients; they are time-consuming, expensive, and often filled with unnecessary extras. Find a few spices you love that can be used in various recipes. As a Cajun girl from New Orleans, my go-to is Cajun Seasoning—I use it on everything! Seriously, veggies, eggs, meat, you name it. Garlic and onion are also staples for me, but the key is to find what works for you and stick with it!
Now, let’s dive into the recipes! I’ve gathered some of my favorites from around the web! This post may contain affiliate links, which help keep this content free. Please read our disclosure for more info.
If you were stuck on a desert island, Mexican food might be your top choice. Unfortunately, it’s not the best option for weight loss. Mexican restaurants often fry their food in unhealthy oils, and refried beans are made from a powder. Yikes! Instead, try a fajita-inspired soup that combines Mexican flavors in a warm, satisfying dish. Top it with avocado for healthy fats and a creamy texture. By Brittany at Eating Bird Food. Prep time: 20 minutes. Cook time: 4 ½ hours. Find the recipe here.
Protein is essential for your body, but not everyone consumes animal protein. Even if you do, varying your protein sources can be beneficial. Plus, having a vegetarian day once a week is eco-friendly and can save you money. This chili will satisfy your comfort food cravings while checking all the boxes. It’s virtually fat-free and low in calories, so you can enjoy a few servings without derailing your diet. By Vaishali at Holy Cow Vegan. Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 7 hours. Find the recipe here.
Next on our list of crockpot recipes for weight loss is a lasagna that shakes things up a bit. We recommend avoiding gluten by swapping the noodles for thinly sliced zucchini or eggplant. If you do this, salt the veggie “noodles” and let them sit for about 25 minutes on paper towels before layering them in the crockpot. Wipe them clean to remove excess water. Another tip: skip the bread crumbs and cheese! They add extra calories that you don’t need, and the dish tastes wonderful without them! If you make this with just veggies, it’s relatively low in calories, so you can enjoy it without worrying about your waistline. By Ashley at Oh My Veggies. Prep time: 30 minutes. Cook time: 3 ½ hours. Find the recipe here.
This casserole is packed with protein. The chicken provides protein, and quinoa is a grain with a complete protein profile. Research shows that getting enough protein can aid in weight loss. The best part is you can use any leftover chicken for this recipe. If you haven’t cooked chicken in a few nights, a rotisserie chicken works great. This hearty dish is loaded with vegetables and is pretty enough for a dinner party. Our modifications: skip the cheese and sour cream! By Katerina at Diethood. Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 6 hours. Find the recipe here.
If you’re craving takeout, Chinese food isn’t your best bet. However, you can recreate the flavors of your favorite Chinese dishes without all the oil and MSG. This recipe adds protein by including edamame with chicken breast. Feel free to add as many diced carrots and peppers as you like for extra servings of vegetables. Serve the meal over cauliflower “rice” or zucchini “zoodles” to boost nutrients. Using veggies instead of starches will fill you up with fewer calories than traditional rice or pasta. By Lizzie at Pop Sugar. Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 2-6 hours. Find the recipe here.
Shredded beef is very filling and versatile. Make a batch once a week! Enjoy it on salads and sweet potatoes for lunch, or pair it with roasted vegetables for dinner. It also works well as taco filling. This beef tastes amazing the next day when served with thinly sliced sautéed green cabbage, creating a texture reminiscent of pasta. You can even twirl your fork in it! If you’re worried about the sugar content in balsamic vinegar, remember there’s only ½ cup in the entire recipe. Unless you’re on a strict detox, that small amount shouldn’t disrupt your clean eating. By George at Civilized Caveman Cooking. Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 8 hours. Find the recipe here.
This is a crockpot recipe you can really enjoy. Meatballs are a comforting food often associated with pasta and home cooking. You can put almost anything in a meatball, which can make some recipes unhealthy. This one is different; it uses lean ground turkey instead of ground beef and quinoa instead of bread crumbs, providing protein and holding the meatballs together without gluten. They’re cooked in crushed tomatoes, resulting in a savory sauce perfect for spooning over spaghetti squash, zoodles, or cauliflower rice. These meatballs satisfy your comfort food cravings while helping you lose weight. Our modifications: skip the cheese! By Jessica at How Sweet It Is. Prep time: 30 minutes. Cook time: 6 hours. Find the recipe here.
Lastly, we have a delicious crockpot recipe that can be enjoyed for breakfast or dessert! Although it sounds indulgent, it contains no added sugar—the sweetness comes from the apples. The recipe suggests using rolled oats, but steel-cut oats will provide more flavor, making additional sweeteners unnecessary. Our modifications: use unsweetened non-dairy milk (coconut, cashew, or almond) and skip the butter, raisins, and honey! The apples will provide plenty of sweetness. Additionally, eating steel-cut oats can help lower your blood sugar, according to Dr. Diana Fleming. Over time, they can improve your body’s response to carbs and reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease. By Brenda at Sugar-Free Mom. Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 6 hours. Find the recipe here.
Remember to SIMPLIFY! That’s the key to sticking to your diet long-term! If you enjoyed this article on 8 easy and healthy crockpot recipes for weight loss or have any questions, please leave them in the comments below!
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