When one thinks of cooking using a crock pot, one would automatically think of making meats juicy and tender. But slow cookers aren’t just good for meats, they’re great for all kinds of ingredients, including fresh fruits and vegetables. So if you’ve recently started a healthy diet, you can count on your trusty crock pot to whip up delicious meals!
Here are 3 slow cooker vegetable recipes you should try:
The Best Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
What do you need:
- 2 1/4 kilograms red potatoes, diced
- 3 chicken bouillon cubes
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and boil the potatoes with the chicken broth and garlic until the potatoes are tender but still firm. Drain the potatoes in a bowl, reserving the water. Mash potatoes with sour cream and cream cheese, with a tablespoon of water reserved for desired consistency. Transfer the mashed potatoes to a slow cooker, cover, and cook for 2 to 3 hours on low. Add the butter, salt and pepper before serving.
Crock Pot All-Veggie Chili
What do you need:
- 2 zucchini, thinly sliced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can whole peeled tomatoes with juice
- 1 can chickpeas, drained
- 1 small can of chopped green chilies
- 1/3 cup chili powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
Combine zucchini, carrots, celery, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, onion, garlic, tomatoes, chickpeas, and green chilies in a slow cooker. Stir to combine the ingredients well. Season with chili powder, oregano, cumin, and salt. Cover and cook 6 to 8 hours on low or 3 to 4 hours on high.
Slow Cooked Creamy Potato Soup
What do you need:
- 10 red potatoes cut into cubes
- 1 red onion, minced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3 cups of water
- 1 cup half and half
- 3/4 cup real bacon bits
- 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped green onion
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
- 1 tablespoon ranch dressing mix
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
In a large bowl, toss potatoes in all-purpose flour to coat. Place coated potatoes, onion, garlic, chicken bouillon granules, ranch dressing mix, parsley, seasoned salt, and black pepper in a crock pot. Stir to combine the ingredients well. Add the water to the mixture. Cover and cook for 7 to 9 hours on low heat. When ready, add half and half to the soup, stir and cook for a further 15 minutes. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese and garnish with green onions to serve.
Enjoy healthier meals – try these slow cooker vegetable recipes!