By 13 Big-Batch Slow-Cooker Recipes for Meal Prep—and 39 Ways to Eat Them
I’ve come to think of my slow-cooker as my kitchen sidekick. It can do just about anything, to delicious results. And, aside from a little maintenance at the beginning and the end, it does all of this work by itself while I tend to things on the stove, wash dishes, or sneak away for an episode or two of The Crown.
My slow-cooker is helpful no matter what I’m doing (or not doing) in the kitchen, but especially when it comes time for me to meal prep. Not only does it do the cooking for me, it also makes batches of food for tons of lunches and dinners—and sometimes even breakfast! I can make a giant pot of shredded pork to put in baked potatoes and salads, grains like farro to eat with everything, and hard-boiled eggs for when I need a high-protein snack, all in one little super powered gadget.
If you’re looking for a reliable slow-cooker that’s also relatively inexpensive, our food editor swears by her Hamilton Beach 6 Quart Portable Set ‘n Forget Probe Slow-Cooker:
It’s super affordable, easy to clean, and you can program it to cook on high or low for however long you need, without having to be there to tend to it.
Buy it here: $50, walmart.com
These 13 recipes are extremely simple and include an array of versatile proteins, grains, beans, and veggies that are perfect for meal prepping and repurposing into different meals throughout the week. If you’re not sure how to incorporate these ingredients into other recipes, I’ve provided some recipe suggestions to help you use each one. Even though you’re slow-cooking, your meal prep will be done before you know it.
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https://www.gimmesomeoven.com1 Rotisserie Chicken from Gimme Some Oven
No need to go to Costco for that rotisserie chicken—you can make one at home super easily with this handy tutorial. Gimme Some Oven seasons it with a hefty dose of paprika, but you can skip that spice if you prefer something else. Get the recipe here.
Use this rotisserie chicken in these recipes: Chicken, Parsnip, and Pomegranate Salad; Peachy Quinoa Salad With Grilled Chicken; Dill Honey-Mustard Chicken Pita
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https://www.wellplated.com/2 Baked Potatoes from Well Plated
Now you can finally live out your dreams of eating a baked potato every night. Get the recipe here.
Use your potatoes in these recipes: Slow-Cooker Braised Beef in Baked Potatoes; One-Pot Potato and Edamame Salad; Baked Potato With Ground Beef and Broccoli
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https://kalynskitchen.com3 Homemade Beans from Kalyn’s Kitchen
The nice thing about this tutorial is that it’s a great basic guideline for cooking any kind of bean in a slow-cooker. Get the recipe here.
Use your beans in these recipes: Cauliflower White Bean Soup; Smashed Chickpea and Avocado Toast; Brussels Sprouts, Black Bean, and Sweet Potato Hash
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https://cookeatpaleo.com4 Sweet Potatoes from Cook Eat Paleo
Cut these sweet potatoes up to put in salads or sautés, or top them off with fried eggs, chili, or anything you like. Get the recipe here.
Use your sweet potatoes in these recipes: Kale, Sweet Potato, and Parmesan Quesadilla; Swiss Chard Wraps With Sweet Potato and Chicken; Roasted Pork Loin With Apple Jus and Sweet Potato
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https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/5 Roasted Veggies from Chocolate Covered Katie
This recipe uses vegetables like zucchini and bell peppers, but you can swap in any vegetables that you prefer. Broccoli and brussels sprouts are great candidates because they’re sturdy and will hold up well in the fridge. Get the recipe here.
Use your roasted vegetables in these recipes: Healthy Roasted Chicken and Veggies; Whole30 Vegetarian Power Bowls; Roasted Veggie Black Bean Tacos
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http://www.52kitchenadventures.com6 Hard-Boiled Eggs from 52 Kitchen Adventures
Make a bunch of these for snacking or adding to your meals. Get the recipe here.
Use your hard-boiled eggs in these recipes: Warm Swiss Chard and Farro Salad With Parmesan; Tomato, Avocado, and Egg Sandwich; Sunflower Kale Salad With Sweet Potato and Egg
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http://cookthestory.com7 Farro from Cook the Story
Hearty and filling, farro makes a great base for salads, grain bowls, and even soups. Get the recipe here.
Use your farro in these recipes: Tomato-Garlic Steamed Cod With Chard and Farro; Shaved Carrot and Farro Salad With Chicken; Farro Bowl With Kale, Apples, and Eggs
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https://www.epicurious.com8 Shredded Chicken from Epicurious
This chicken is plain but you can mix it up with any sauces or spices that you like to give it flavor. Get the recipe here.
Use your shredded chicken in these recipes: Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Bowls; Moroccan Chicken Stew; Chipotle Chicken Taquitos
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https://www.budgetbytes.com9 Spaghetti Squash from Budget Bytes
Stick the whole spaghetti squash in your slow-cooker and in just a few hours it’ll be ready to pack up for lunch. Get the recipe here.
Use your spaghetti squash in these recipes: Garlic-Parmesan Spaghetti Squash; Spaghetti Squash With Prosciutto and Spinach; Italian-Style Spaghetti Squash Bake
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Andrew Purcell; Carrie Purcell10 Shredded Pork Shoulder from SELF
This shredded pork is great because it makes a dozen 3-ounce servings, and it’s Whole30-compliant (in case that’s something you’re interested in). Get the recipe here.
Use this pulled pork in these recipes: Pork With Potatoes and Mustard Greens; Warm Potato and Shredded Pork Salad; Sweet Potatoes Stuffed With Shredded Pork, Kale, and Avocado
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https://acleanbake.com11 Perfect Rice from A Clean Bake
This slow-cooker method for white rice also works for wild and brown rice. Get the recipe here.
Use your rice in these recipes: Green Chicken Curry With Brown Rice; [Shaved Zucchini and Brown Rice Salad With Chicken](https://www.self.com/recipe/shaved-zucchini-salad-brown-rice-chicken; Broccoli Cheddar Brown Rice Skillet
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https://addapinch.com/12 Shredded Beef from Add a Pinch
This tender beef is great for homemade burrito bowls and all of the Taco Tuesdays. Get the recipe here.
Use your shredded beef in these recipes: Beef Tacos;
Slow-Cooker Beef Enchiladas; Korean Beef Bowl -
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https://www.thehealthymaven.com13 Bone Broth from The Healthy Maven
Using a slow-cooker makes the whole bone-broth-making process a lot easier. Use it to make quick-cooking grains like quinoa or couscous or as a base for soups and stews. Get the recipe here.
Use your bone broth in these recipes: Stuffed Pepper Soup, Cauliflower Butternut Squash Mash, Ground Beef Chili
