20 Low-Carb Slow Cooker Recipes That Don’t Take Forever to Prep

updated Jul 28, 2021
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While the slow cooker can feel like a lifesaver in the kitchen, it’s especially helpful to those who follow a low-carb diet. That’s because it’s incredible at cooking protein-rich meat in bulk, which often is the go-to on the diet (although it can make vegetables pretty tasty, too). Whether it’s boneless chicken breast, a whole chicken, pork chops, or a large beef roast, the slow cooker is a whiz at tackling it all.

These 20 low-carb slow cooker recipes don’t require a whole lot of upfront prep and deliver feel-good meals that everyone at your table will love, whether they’re cutting back on carbs or not.

1 / 20
Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast
This simple, five-ingredient pot roast is savory, spicy, and tangy, thanks to a packet of ranch salad dressing mix and a jar of pepperoncini peppers.
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2 / 20
Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheddar Soup
This ultra-luxe recipe from The Pioneer Woman comes together easily with the help of frozen broccoli and a can of cream of celery soup.
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3 / 20
Slow Cooker Shredded Balsamic Beef
Balsamic vinegar adds lots of tang and just the right amount of sweetness to this shredded beef.
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4 / 20
Trader Joe's Slow Cooker Spicy Mediterranean Chicken
Gather a few ingredients from Trader Joe’s and you can pull off this colorful dinner without a hitch.
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5 / 20
Everyday Green Vegetable Slow Cooker Soup
This light and brothy soup is packed with a mix of well-loved veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, and peas.
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6 / 20
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken
Grab a rotisserie chicken, butter, and a bottle of hot sauce and you can have saucy, flavorful Buffalo chicken in under an hour. Serve it over cauliflower rice or a salad for a fast and easy dinner.
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7 / 20
Big-Batch Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Seasoned with just salt, sugar, and apple cider vinegar, this pulled pork is a perfect blank canvas for a mustard-forward BBQ sauce and tangy slaw.
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8 / 20
How To Cook a Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Pair this “roast” chicken with a salad or your favorite roasted vegetables and you’ve got a classic dinner that is painless to prepare.
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9 / 20
Easy Slow Cooker Ratatouille
Ratatouille is something that benefits from cooking low and slow, so it’s perfect for the slow cooker. You can enjoy it on its own as a stew, or serve it over cauliflower rice.
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10 / 20
Slow Cooker Pork Chops
Although pan-seared pork chops are delicious and fast, there’s something about set-it-and-forget-it cooking that is much more relaxing. Brining your pork chops helps give them extra flavor and prevents them from drying out, but if you don’t have the time or don’t feel like making the effort, you can definitely skip it.
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11 / 20
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
It takes a few extra minutes to toast the spices for this recipe, but it’s 100% worth it if you want that depth of flavor that makes the Indian dish so special. Serve over cauliflower rice to keep it low-carb.
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12 / 20
Slow Cooker Sausages with Peppers and Onions
The peppers and onions soak up a whole lot of flavorful juices here, making them nearly as good as the main attraction.
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13 / 20
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Enjoy this spicy shredded pork tucked inside low-carb tortillas and alongside all the usual fixings for an easy taco night.
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14 / 20
Slow Cooker Lemon-Garlic Chicken Breast
There’s plenty of lemony sauce here that needs to be soaked up, so try serving this chicken over cauliflower rice or even zucchini noodles.
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15 / 20
Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Brussels Sprouts
Cubes of cream cheese melt slowly as the Brussels sprouts cook here, forming a rich, decadent sauce for them to bathe in.
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16 / 20
Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Ragù
This deeply flavored ragù is absolutely fancy enough to serve at your next dinner party. Spoon it over creamy mashed cauliflower to keep the whole meal low-carb.
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17 / 20
Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Chicken
This simple-yet-fancy-feeling dinner proves just how magical your slow cooker really is. Here, poached chicken breasts are bathed in a luxurious lemon broth with wisps of green spinach and forkfuls of tender, nutty artichokes.
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18 / 20
Slow Cooker Pesto Chicken
If you don't feel like making your own pesto, simply swap in your favorite store-bought stuff.
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19 / 20
Slow Cooker Coconut Milk Chicken
Cooked with coconut milk and tons of fresh basil, ginger, and garlic, this just might remind you of Thai basil chicken.
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20 / 20
Slow Cooker Salsa Pulled Chicken
Meet our best recipe for shortcut salsa chicken in the slow cooker.
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