Winter is nearly with us now which means it is time to pack away the BBQ and break out the slow cooker. But, what will you be cooking in your crockpot this year?
We’re going to be sharing with you our top 4 healthy, diet-friendly slow cooker recipes that are easy to make, full of flavour and perfect for enjoying during your Bodyline journey.
Classic Chicken Casserole
You can’t beat a plain and simple chicken casserole, cooked slowly on a low temperature for nearly 8 hours, so if you’re new to the slow cooker world and looking for a simple, staple chicken casserole recipe, this is it!
Ingredients:
1 Onion
650g Boneless Chicken Thighs
3 Garlic Cloves
400g Baby New Potatoes (or tinned new potatoes)
2 Sticks of Celery
2 Carrots
250g Mushrooms
500ml Chicken Stock
2 Teaspoons Dijon Mustard
2 Bay Leaves
Method:
- Fry your chopped chicken thighs in a pan with the chopped onion and crushed garlic cloves with a little low-calorie cooking spray for 4-5 minutes or until your chicken has browned.
- Transfer the contents of the pan to your slow cooker and add your chopped baby new potatoes, celery, carrots and mushrooms as well as your chicken stock, mustard and bay leaves.
- Give everything a good stir and cook on a low temperature for around 7 hours or if you want it sooner, cook on high for around 4 hours.
Slow Cooker Turkey Chilli
Turkey mince is becoming a staple ingredient for many people watching their weight and it is no surprise really as this alternative to beef or lamb is lower in fat and calories as well as being higher in protein, a perfect substitute!
Ingredients:
1 Red Onion
1 Bell Pepper
680g Turkey Mince
2 Garlic Cloves
2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
1 Tin Chopped Tomatoes
1 Tin Kidney Beans
2 Teaspoons Chilli Powder
1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
150ml Chicken Stock
Method:
- In a large frying pan, fry off your onion and peppers in a little low-calorie cooking spray, salt and pepper before adding your turkey mince and frying until browned. Add your garlic and tomato paste to the pan and fry for a further couple of minutes until warmed through.
- Transfer this mix to your slow cooker and add your tinned tomatoes, kidney beans and seasonings, as well as your stock.
- Cook on high for around 4 hours and serve with rice, taco shells or in pepper shells once ready.
Sweet Potato, Chickpea and Spinach Curry
A vegetarian option that can be cooked up over an hour in a frying pan or left to simmer in the slow cooker all day for a fuller flavour and much easier option!
Ingredients:
400g Sweet Potato
1 Red Onion
2 Garlic Cloves
1 Teaspoon Fresh Ginger
200g Spinach
1 Tin Chopped Tomatoes
1 Tablespoon Tomato Puree
1 Teaspoon Curry Powder
1 Teaspoon Paprika
½ Teaspoon Cinnamon
½ Teaspoon Turmeric
200ml Vegetable Stock
Method:
- Use a frying pan with some low-calorie cooking spray to fry off your onion, garlic and ginger.
- Add these to your slow cooker with the drained chickpeas, peeled and chopped cubes of sweet potato, chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, spices and vegetable stock.
- Cook on high for around 4 hours. Around 10-15 minutes before serving, add in your spinach and lower the temperature.
- Serve with brown rice.
Classic Beef Stew
As we all need a recipe for a classic chicken casserole, a traditional beef stew is also a must-have and although we often think of red meat as a less healthy option than poultry, it is still great to have a portion of red meat or two in your diet every week as it is a great source of iron!
Ingredients:
1 Onion
2 Celery Sticks
3 Carrots
2 Bay Leaves
½ Pack of Thyme
2 Tablespoons Tomato Puree
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
2 Beef Stock Cubes
900g Beef Chunks (skirt works well for stewing)
Method:
- Use a small frying pan to fry the onion and celery before adding the carrots, bay, thyme, tomato puree and Worcestershire sauce along with 600ml of boiling water and simmering for a couple of minutes.
- Tip all of this in the slow cooker and add your stock cubes and stir with a little black pepper.
- Fry your beef off until browned and then add to your slow cooker, cooking on low for around 8 hours.
- Serve with potatoes, homemade Yorkshire puddings or just more vegetables.
If you need to thicken the gravy, a little cornflour and cooking on high for half an hour should do the trick.
The slow cooker is definitely your best friend when it comes to cooking during autumn/winter and with the help of these tasty recipes, you’ll have delicious food on the menu every day throughout the colder months!
