Keep dinnertime simple with these easy-to-make, high-protein slow cooker meals! The best kind of meal prep, these dinnertime recipes are all dairy-free, gluten-free, and loaded with nutrients. Perfect for days when you don't have it in you to cook.
As a Certified Nutrition Coach, my goal is to help busy moms make healthy food practical for their families and lifestyle. These high protein slow cooker meals to just that, and more (learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet and how to increase protein easily).
These recipes all have two things in common: they're protein-packed and they're easy to make. In my mind, slow cookers save sanity because they help get dinner on the table quickly. Pick some new favorites to cycle through your go-to dinner recipes and take some stress off your evenings.
Slow Cooker Meal Perks
All of the recipes below use easy proteins like chicken breasts or thighs, flank steak, or ground beef to come together easily and pack in protein. Check out these high protein food staples to stock up.
- Set it and forget it (no evening stress)
- Great for batch cooking + leftovers
- Still nourishing even on chaotic days
- Kids can help dump ingredients = time saver
Maple Balsamic Chicken
Tender, juicy chicken breasts with just 5 minutes of prep! This slow cooker gluten-free balsamic chicken is as easy as it gets for a weeknight dinner. Soaked in maple balsamic dressing and cooked slowly over the day, this chicken recipe makes the perfect busy mom, weeknight dinner.
Perks: My kids love this one for it's sweet flavor. You can shred it and serve it over rice or noodles or keep it intact and enjoy it with roasted potatoes or veggies.
Get the recipe: Maple Balsamic Slow Cooker Chicken
5-Ingredient Honey Garlic Chicken
Tender, juicy bites of shredded chicken simmered in a paleo honey garlic sauce. This 5-ingredient crockpot chicken makes for the perfect weeknight dinner.
Tips: Make double and store some in the fridge or freezer. Add a splash of broth to reheat it.
Get the recipe: 5 Ingredient Crockpot Chicken
Gluten-Free Salisbury Steaks
Deliciously seasoned ground beef patties cooked in the slow cooker and then smothered in a savory mushroom gravy. This gluten-free Salisbury steak recipe makes for a tasty Sunday night dinner.
Serve it with sweet potato mash for total comfort food.
To learn more: Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
Foolproof Slow Cooker Hunters Chicken
Tender, juicy chicken simmered to perfection in a savory medley of tomatoes, mushrooms, and herbs. This slow cooker hunters chicken recipe is a fail-safe staple for busy weeknights!
Tip: This a great one to use up all the random leftovers in the fridge as it's a "gathering" kind of meal.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Hunters Chicken
Honey Sweetened Chicken Teriyaki
A tender, slow cooker teriyaki chicken recipe that takes under ten minutes to prep! This easy teriyaki chicken recipe is sweetened with honey to give you a sweet but healthy teriyaki sauce.
Perks: Kid-approved as it's sweet. This high-protein meal makes for great meal prep as it's tasty on salads or wraps a few days later. You can even freeze it with the juices and reheat it with some extra liquid.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki
Easy Crockpot Beef and Broccoli
Tender and juicy beef and broccoli all whipped up in the slow cooker. This gluten-free dinner recipe makes busy weeknights easier! Prepped in just minutes and sweetened with just a hint of smoky maple syrup, this slow cooker dinner will become a staple in your house in no time!
Perk: Great for low-carb diets as well, you can use cauliflower rice or skip the rice all-together end enjoy a crazy protein-packed meal.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Coconut Milk Tuscan Chicken
A creamy, dairy-free Tuscan chicken recipe made in the slow cooker. Infused with garlic, leek, and basil undertones, this crockpot Tuscan chicken could be right out of Italy. Made with a base of coconut milk and bone broth, this easy weeknight dinner is also paleo and whole30 approved.
Notez: This slow cooker dinner works in both the cooler months as comfort or the warmer months because it's so light.
Get the recipe: Dairy-Free Tuscan Chicken
Gluten-Free Chicken Pot Pie
Thick, creamy, comfort food made all in just one slow cooker. This dairy-free chicken pot pie has all the traditional pot pie flavors but with a healthy gluten-free twist. And because it’s made in a slow cooker, it’s a great option for chilly, busy weeknights.
Hack: Serve this one easily with some tortilla chips (which is what the kids like) or pop it into a pre-made pie crust if you have the time.
Get the recipe: Chicken Pot Pie In The Slow Cooker
Healthy Beef Fajitas in the Slow Cooker
The perfect recipe to come home to! These slow cooker beef fajitas are delicious no matter how you serve them. Made with homemade, healthy fajita seasoning and simmered all day in a savory blend, these steak fajitas are a recipe you’ll want to keep on hand!
Tip: This is my go-to for potlucks as it can feed a crowd and everyone can make their own fajita with their own flavor preferences.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Fajitas
Fall of the Bone Chicken Drumsticks
A delicious and simple meal that requires minimal effort on your part. These slow cooker chicken legs are made with just a few ingredients and come out with juicy, tender chicken that falls off the bone. Seasoned in a simple dry rub, these chicken drumsticks are the perfect easy weeknight dinner!
Tip: Another one that's great for potlucks, as it's so simple to whip up and the drumsticks can stay warm as long as you need them to.
To learn more: Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks
Juicy Chiptole Chicken
The meal prep recipe you didn’t know you needed. This slow cooker chipotle chicken is sweetened with honey, super juicy has just the right amount of heat. Use it for quesadillas, bowls, or a new taco night, it’s a shredded chicken recipe you’ll soon rely on.
Note: A bit spicy for the kids but great to freeze and remake later!
To learn more: Juicy Chiptole Chicken
Honey Mustard Chicken
An effortless weeknight dinner. This slow cooker honey mustard chicken is cooked to perfection in a sweet and tangy glaze.
Note: Kids love this one because of the delicious honey flavor!
To learn more: Honey Mustard Chicken
Slow Cooker Steak Bites
Tender bites of beef simmered all day in a honey garlic sauce these slow cooker steak bites are an effortless recipe. Made with only four ingredients, you can use these steak bites for easy meal prep, a tasty appetizer, or just a high-protein snack.
Serve the steak bites on top of salad, in leftover steak pasta, with rice, or even in wraps. It's the easiest recipe ever.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Steak Bites
Dinner doesn’t have to be chaotic—this eBook gives you 20+ protein-packed meals ready in 30 minutes or less (even when the day’s already gone sideways)
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