For those following a ketogenic (keto) diet, finding convenient and delicious meal options can sometimes be a challenge. Slow cookers, also known as Crock-Pots, offer a fantastic solution, allowing you to prepare flavorful, low-carb meals with minimal effort. This article explores a variety of keto slow cooker recipes, from hearty stews and soups to tender roasts and flavorful mains, perfect for anyone looking to simplify their dinner routine while staying true to their dietary goals. These recipes are not only easy to prepare but also cater to a range of tastes, ensuring that you'll find several new favorites to add to your meal plan.
Hearty Soups and Stews
Meaty Cabbage Soup
This soup is a protein-packed, veggie-filled one-pot dinner that is both simple and delicious. The magic of the crockpot transforms basic ingredients like cabbage and meat into an irresistibly flavorful meal.
Creamy Lemon Chicken Soup
This comforting soup can be made on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, or in an Instant Pot, making it a versatile and easy one-pot meal. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser with its creamy texture and bright lemon flavor.
Creamy Tuscan Soup
Very similar to zuppa toscana, this soup boasts great flavors from sun-dried tomatoes and hot Italian sausages. It’s a hearty and satisfying option for a chilly evening.
Egg Roll Soup
This quick and easy soup captures the awesome flavors of a classic egg roll and can be ready in about 35 minutes. It's a perfect choice for busy weeknights and offers a no-carb alternative to traditional egg rolls.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Keto Chili
This recipe provides all the comforts of traditional chili in a keto-friendly form. It's filled with ground beef, tomatoes, and earthy spices, without any beans. Perfect for gatherings, this chili is so delicious that no one will realize it's naturally keto.
Flavorful Chicken Dishes
Crockpot Tuscan Chicken
This dish features a creamy, dreamy parmesan sauce with garlic, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes. It’s a low-carb treat that the whole family will enjoy and doesn't require too much effort.
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken
A large batch of buffalo chicken can be easily whipped up in a slow cooker, providing enough for a week of keto meals. Serve it in lettuce wraps, over a salad, or in a keto bun for variety.
Crack Chicken
This creamy, cheesy, and addictive dish is a definite keeper. It's a low-carb slow cooker recipe that's always a hit.
Crockpot Greek Chicken
Bursting with bright flavors, this Greek chicken recipe requires only 15 minutes of hands-on time. It’s easy, versatile, and super delicious, making it a great weeknight option.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Lemon Butter Chicken
Chicken seasoned well and cooked in a lemon butter sauce, this dish is incredibly delicious. Serve it over zoodles, cauliflower rice, or in keto bread sandwiches for a satisfying meal.
Succulent Pork Recipes
Chile Verde
This recipe features melt-in-your-mouth tender pork chunks in a flavorful, spicy tomatillo sauce. It’s a great warmer for fall or winter, but good enough to enjoy all year round.
Kalua Pork
Using minimal ingredients, this Kalua Pork recipe results in a super tasty and succulent dish. It's perfect for a Hawaiian-themed Luau party and can be cooked in the slow cooker, Instant Pot, or oven.
Islander Pork (Crock Pot Pork Chops)
These crock pot pork chops, also known as Islander Pork, are incredibly tender and bathed in a delectable sauce. With just 10 minutes of prep time, your slow cooker will do the rest.
Mojo Pork
For Cuban food fans on the keto diet, this Mojo Pork is a treat. It’s tender shredded pork cooked in a tangy citrus marinade with lots of garlic and herbs. The marinade is poured over the pork, then slow-cooked to perfection.
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto
Cochon de Lait
This pulled pork recipe from Louisiana features delicious seasonings and slow cooks to melt-in-your-mouth perfection. It’s a perfect keto crockpot recipe that brings a taste of the South to your table.
Beef-Based Delights
Barbacoa Beef Lettuce Wraps
If you're craving Chipotle, this recipe allows you to create the same bold flavors in your own crock pot with Barbacoa Beef. It goes great in lettuce wraps for a keto-friendly option.
Ropa Vieja
Cuba’s national dish, Ropa Vieja, is a favorite low-carb recipe. Tender shredded beef is slow-cooked in an amazingly flavorful tomato-wine sauce, with briny olives and capers adding an extra layer of flavor.
Maafe (West African Peanut Stew)
This West African peanut stew is loaded with rich savory flavors. Any meat of your choice works well in this perfectly spiced peanut butter and tomato-based sauce, becoming super tender as it braises in your crock pot.
Slow Cooker Low Carb Keto Pot Roast
This pot roast recipe is fork-tender and incredibly flavorful. It’s a yummy, filling comfort food that’s easy to prepare in a slow cooker.
Keto Mississippi Pot Roast
Adapted from the traditional recipe, this Keto Mississippi Pot Roast is naturally low carb with no potatoes or carrots. The key ingredients are a stick of butter, ranch dressing mix, and pepperoncini peppers.
Beef and Broccoli
This recipe recreates the Asian restaurant favorite in keto form with easy substitutions, without compromising on flavor.
Tips for Keto Slow Cooking
- Choose the Right Cuts of Meat: For roasts, tougher cuts of beef with lots of marbling often yield the best results in a slow cooker.
- Searing (Optional): While some prefer to sear the meat before slow cooking to enhance flavor, it’s not always necessary. Skipping this step can save time without significantly impacting the dish's taste.
- Adjust Cooking Times: Cooking times can vary depending on the size and shape of the roast. If the meat isn’t fork-tender after the allotted time, continue cooking it longer.
- Thickening Sauces: To thicken sauces without using cornstarch or flour, use a keto-friendly alternative like Xanthan Gum. Start with a small amount and let it sit for a few minutes to thicken.
Slow Cooker Low Carb Keto Pot Roast: A Detailed Recipe
This Slow Cooker Low Carb Keto Pot Roast Recipe is fork-tender and incredibly flavorful.
Ingredients:
- Chuck roast
- Butter
- Ranch dressing mix (or homemade seasoning)
- Pepperoncini peppers
- Bay leaves
- Beef broth
- Optional: Xanthan Gum for thickening
Instructions:
- Place the chuck roast in the slow cooker.
- Add all other ingredients, including a stick of butter on top.
- Cover and cook on low for 9-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.
- If the roast is not fork-tender after the allotted cooking time, continue to slow cook on high for another hour or so.
- Remove some of the excess liquid, leaving about 2-3 cups in the crockpot.
- Shred the pot roast using two forks.
- If desired, thicken the remaining sauce with a small amount of Xanthan Gum.