A slow cooker, also known as a crockpot, stands out as an exceptional kitchen tool for crafting protein-rich meals. For those aiming to enhance their health through superior nutrition and meals, or simply seeking to elevate their protein intake, a variety of high-protein crockpot recipes offer something for everyone. As a nutritionist, it's evident that many individuals struggle with afternoon sugar and carb cravings, often stemming from inadequate protein consumption earlier in the day.
Benefits of Using a Crockpot for High-Protein Meals
Simplicity and Ease
The beauty of most high-protein crockpot meals lies in their simplicity. You can add the ingredients to your slow cooker and let it cook.
Effortless Clean Up
Utilizing a crockpot for preparing high-protein dinners translates to fewer dishes to clean afterward.
Efficiency
Efficiency is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and prioritizing nutrition amidst busy schedules can be challenging. Using a crockpot simplifies the process of incorporating more nutrients and protein into meals for you and your family.
High-Protein Crockpot Recipes
Chicken Recipes
Chicken, a lean protein source, is ideal for high-protein meals. Its ability to absorb sauces and spices readily allows for the creation of lower-calorie, higher-protein meals that are both delicious and nutritious. Cooking chicken in a slow cooker is perfect for making healthy meals with chicken that are higher protein.
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High Protein Crockpot Barbecue Chicken
This simple shredded chicken recipe, made in a slow cooker with barbecue sauce, boasts 30 grams of protein.
High Protein Slow Cooker Hatch Green Chiles Chicken
For those who enjoy hatch green chile, this recipe offers a flavorful and protein-packed option.
High Protein Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Enjoy a guilt-free version of a classic winter comfort food with this recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
For a set-it-and-forget-it weeknight dinner, try slow cooker chicken tacos.
Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup
Looking for a dinner that’s creamy, cozy, and completely weeknight-ready? If you're looking for a cozy, creamy chicken enchilada soup that's super easy to make, this one's for you!
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Mexican Street Corn Chicken Chowder
This easy Mexican street corn chicken chowder is made in one-pot with charred corn, tender chicken, and a lightened-up creamy base. Ingredients include olive oil, corn, butter, onion, salt, granulated garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, chicken, chicken broth, cream cheese, cotija, and lime juice.
Slow Cooker Satay Chicken
Slow cooker satay chicken is a flavorful, versatile meal made with chicken thighs, coconut milk, and curry paste. A simplified take one Thai peanut chicken, it's a delicious and easy dinner recipe that's not only quick to prepare but also a great meal prep protein option.
Chicken Vegetable Soup
This easy chicken vegetable soup recipe is simple to make with easy to find ingredients, yet tastes like it’s from your favorite restaurant.
Chicken and Corn Soup
Brimming with sweet corn, succulent chicken, and hearty potatoes, this easy slow cooker chicken and corn soup is a simple dump-and-go recipe.
Thai Inspired Chicken Meatball Soup
Cozy and delicious Thai Inspired Chicken Meatball Soup can be made on the stovetop or slow cooker resulting in a super flavorful coconut curry broth.
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Sunshine Lemon Chicken Chowder
Light, nourishing, and bursting with flavor this Sunshine Lemon Chicken Chowder makes for an easy weeknight dinner or for anytime.
Tuscan Chicken Stew
This hearty slow cooker Tuscan chicken stew is the kind of comforting one-pot meal you’ll keep coming back to!
Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potato
This Buffalo chicken sweet potato recipe cooks completely in the slow cooker as a one-pot meal, requires no chopping, only 5-minutes of prep, and just 5 simple ingredients. It's packed with protein and completely crave-worthy.
Apple Chicken
The ultimate in simplicity, this slow cooker apple chicken is made with just 5 ingredients and comes together with just 5-minutes of prep.
Chicken with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil
Simple to make and bursting with fresh summer flavors, this light summer soup is made simple in the crockpot with chicken, and plenty of vegetables. This fresh & simple slow cooker chicken with cherry tomatoes and basil is an easy meal that draws on the flavors of bruschetta for a simple, flavorful meal.
Chicken, Black Bean, & Quinoa Stew
Super easy to prepare, Slow Cooker Chicken, Black Bean, & Quinoa Stew is full of hearty, nourishing ingredients and will be a hit with the entire family.
Peach Chicken with Basil
Slow Cooker Peach Chicken with Basil combines juicy peaches, balsamic vinegar, and fresh basil for an easy, flavorful dinner anytime.
Shredded Chicken for Enchiladas
This easy recipe for shredded chicken for enchiladas is totally simple, completely delicious and the perfect weeknight crockpot recipe.
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Easy to make and oh-so satisfying, this crockpot cilantro lime chicken is perfect for stuffing into warm tortillas or bowls!
Green Chili Chicken
With a short list of simple, real food ingredients this slow cooker green chili chicken is an easy and flavorful meal prep protein.
Greek Chicken
Slow cooker Greek chicken combines just 4 ingredients like lemon, garlic and Greek yogurt to create a fresh, delicious high-protein meal you can use in a number of ways.
Lemon Herb Chicken
Bright, tangy, and wildly simple to make, Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken is a no-fuss weeknight dinner made with pantry ingredients and chicken breasts or thighs.
Hawaiian Shredded Chicken
I think this Hawaiian shredded chicken is the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors. It’s flavorful, light, and a simple healthy slow cooker recipe I make often. Sometimes I follow the recipe as is to serve the chicken in chard wraps, but it’s also great on a bed of greens, on top of a sweet potatoes, or over cauliflower rice.
Butter Chicken
Inspired by the flavors of her favorite takeout cuisine (classic Indian butter chicken and tikka masala), Jessie created this healthy best crockpot recipe to be a creamy, dreamy easy dinner that’s packed full of protein. It’s made with tomato sauce, tender chunks of chicken, plenty of veggies, and a blend of flavorful spices.
Thai Peanut Chicken
Comfort food that’s healthy, too? Yes, please! That was Jess’ inspiration to create this easy crockpot version of Thai peanut chicken, which is one of her favorite Asian-inspired dishes.
Beef Recipes
From pot roast to beef stew, numerous delicious beef recipes can be made healthy and high-protein in your crockpot. These recipes are lighter with fewer calories while retaining amazing flavor.
High Protein Crock Pot Pot Roast
This recipe promises the best slow-cooked pot roast you will ever eat!
Mississippi Pot Roast
This slow cooker Mississippi pot roast recipe features a fork-tender chuck roast seasoned with a homemade blend of spices and peperoncini peppers.
Pot Roast
When I just want a very good and simple pot roast recipe, this is the one I make. This savory crockpot pot roast combines tender beef chuck roast and veggies. I finish it with a homemade gravy that I make right from the flavorful crockpot liquid.
Beef and Bean Chili
This hearty beef and bean chili is my favorite of all of the chili recipes on this site. Made with budget-friendly staples like canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, ground beef or ground turkey, and a trio of beans (pinto, kidney, and black beans), it’s so simple to throw together for game days and cozy weeknight meals.
Crockpot Shredded Beef
A freezer-friendly crockpot shredded beef, this flavorful recipe is freezer friendly.
Beef Tips
Jessie thinks that nothing quite hits the spot like this fork-tender beef coated in a simple gravy sauce. That’s why she developed this crockpot recipe for rich and decadent beef trips combined with pearl onions and sliced mushrooms for a clean comfort food that’s full of flavor.
BBQ Beef
I make this saucy BBQ Beef for a variety of occasions, from entertaining to meal preps to weeknights dinners straight out of your crockpot. This delicious high-protein dinner tastes great when served over baked sweet potatoes, added to a baked potato bar, stuffed into veggies, or served in buns and wraps, too.
Beef Stew
This nutrient-rich beef stew features parsnips plus carrots and veggies for a trio of root veggies that complement the chunks of tender beef so well.
Turkey Recipes
High-protein turkey recipes made in a crockpot are perfect for everyday comforting meals that are satisfying. These recipes are so delicious, you wouldn't even know they are lighter and good for you!
High Protein Crock Pot Chili Cheese Dip
Made with ground turkey, pinto beans, and cheese, this high-protein dip recipe has 30 grams of protein and irresistible flavor.
High Protein Crockpot Turkey Meatballs
These healthy meatballs are juicy and delicious, with 26 grams of protein per serving.
High Protein Crock Pot Turkey Sloppy Joe’s
This lightened-up sloppy Joe recipe has 19 grams of protein.
Ground Turkey Meatballs
Tender, juicy, and super delicious, these Buffalo ground turkey meatballs are simple to prepare, and come together simply and easily in the slow cooker or baked in the oven; no pre-cooking required!
Turkey Chili
Jessie loves this hearty slow cooker turkey chili recipe, where sweet potatoes stand in for beans. They make for a nice compliment to the smoky chipotle pepper, and butternut squash also can be used in place of the sweet potatoes.
Mini Turkey Meatball Vegetable Soup
Crockpot Mini Turkey Meatball Vegetable Soup is hearty one-pot meal that’s packed with the good stuff.
Paleo Turkey Apple Chili
Sweet, spicy, and easy to throw together, Slow Cooker Paleo Turkey Apple Chili is perfect for fall or anytime of year.
Pork Recipes
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Need a wow-worthy dish for last-minute entertaining? Slow Cooker Pulled Pork to the rescue!
Sausage and Peppers
Wildly easy to prepare with crowd-pleasing results, Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers requires no browning and makes a simple weeknight dinner.
Carnitas
This slow cooker carnitas recipe is super easy to prepare and yields wildly delicious, succulent results everytime.
Greek Pork Tenderloin
Juicy slow cooker Greek pork tenderloin made with Greek yogurt, garlic, and lemon.