Do you love your Crock Pot as much as I do?! There are so many versatile and nutritious ways to prepare dinner in the slow cooker in order to make your weeknights easier and less stressful. With this 30-Day Healthy Slow Cooker Challenge, I have pulled together a full month of good-for-you recipes in a complete meal plan -- with printable shopping lists included! Whether you start on January 1 or any other date this year, use these options to guide your family dinners and to streamline your busy evenings!
For the Healthy Slow Cooker Challenge, I opted for 3 slow cooker dinners each week. Nobody wants a Crock Pot meal every single night, and most of these recipes create enough food for leftovers. That gives you some flexibility in your week and allows you the opportunity to enjoy dining out, pizza and a movie, or any of your family's other favorite dinners!
I have also included suggestions for side dishes, but you can obviously choose your own favorites where necessary. I love steam-in-the-bag frozen veggies that can be microwaved just before serving; and I almost always opt for wholegrain pasta, brown rice, or wholegrain tortillas and bread when possible. Again, do what works best for you and your family!
30-Day Healthy Slow Cooker Challenge
{Download a printable copy of the Calendar HERE!}
Week One Recipes:
{Download the printable Week One Shopping List HERE or HERE!}
Teriyaki Chicken served with rice and steamed broccoli.
Pork with Spiced Apples served with steamed green beans.
Healthy Lasagna Soup served with crusty bread or dinner rolls.
Week Two Recipes:
{Download the printable Week Two Shopping List HERE or HERE!}
Chicken Tikka Masala served with rice and peas.
Greek Chicken served with pita bread; hummus; tzatziki sauce; and sliced cucumber.
Chicken & Shrimp Jambalaya served with cornbread (use leftover cornbread with next week's meal -- it keeps well in the freezer).
Week Three Recipes:
{Download the printable Week Three Shopping List HERE or HERE!}
Pulled BBQ Chicken served with leftover cornbread from the previous week and salad or coleslaw.
Korean Beef served in tortillas or lettuce wraps; with brown rice and broccoli on the side.
Week Four Recipes:
{Download the printable Week Four Shopping List HERE or HERE!}
Italian Pot Roast served over wholegrain pasta.
Carnitas (Shredded Pork Tacos) served in tortillas with corn on the side.
Meatball Soup served with a wholegrain dinner roll.
So what do you think? Want to join in the fun? Let me know if you plan to try some of these meals over the next few weeks, and feel free to share links to some of your own favorite healthy slow cooker dinners as well!
Gina Kleinworth
I'm jumping in - can't wait to try these!!!!!!!
Blair
Awesome, Gina! Thanks so much for stopping by -- I hope that you find some new recipes to make life a little bit easier!
Robyn
These all sound too yummy! Are you sure they are healthy? I've definitely eaten so much junk I need to get back on track!
Blair
Yep, eating good, real food can be yummy too! 🙂 Hope you give it a try, Robyn!
Kristy from Southern In Law
This is such a great idea! I need to save this for autumn/winter in Australia!
Blair
Thanks, Kristy! I know you're in the middle of salad season in Australia! 🙂
Lisa
Got off track over the holiday's - so hard to prepare healthy good meals for the family when you have to work late. I am jumping in to give these a try - all sound very good, but what I really like is the idea of putting together and throwing in the freezer. Thanks for doing all the leg work and sending it out!!! 🙂
Blair
Awesome, Lisa! I agree -- the freezer option is KEY to making weeknight dinners a success. Enjoy! 🙂
Hailey
Me and my husband are totally doing this. All the recipes look amazing. However I just wanted to point out when you click on the tiki masala it doesn't bring you to the right recipe ?. My husband is really excited about that one during week 2.
Blair
Hi, Hailey! That's great -- I hope you love the recipes! If you click on the Tikka Masala, it takes you to the All Day Slow Cooker Recipes post, and the tikka masala recipe is at the bottom (just scroll down). Hope that helps, and enjoy!
Joella
Hello! I can't wait to try these recipes. Hitting the store tomorrow. I can't get any of the shopping lists to show up with items, they are just blank categories. Any suggestions? Thanks for the great meals!
Blair
Hi, Joella! I honestly have no idea why the shopping lists aren't working for you. I just tested them again on my end and they seem fine. 🙁 I will email them to you directly! Hope that helps!
Liela
I have just bought a new crockpot so can't wait to try these out
Blair
Perfect timing! Enjoy, Liela!
Virginia
Grocery lists are also coming up blank for me. Can you email them to me? Thanks!
Blair
Yep, sent you an email! I uploaded the lists in another format as well, so hopefully that is an alternate option for folks who have trouble reading the PDFs. Enjoy!
Chad
I cant get them to download either. Can you e-mail me all the shopping lists by chance?
Blair
Hey, Chad! I just sent you an email!
Margaret Owens
The shopping list are coming up blank for me too can you email them to me also. And cant get the download able recipes to come up please email them to me
Blair
Yes, just sent you an email, Margaret. Enjoy! 🙂
Colleen
Can you email the shopping lists to me As well! They are blank.
Itscolleen1@aol.com
Thx
Blair
Hey Colleen! I sent you an email earlier today. Let me know if you have any questions!
Emily
So I'm doing low carb, high protein...can I still make these?
Blair
Hi Emily! These are not specially designed for a low carb diet, but a lot of the recipes would probably work for you. I would just focus on the meats and instead of serving with rice/tortillas etc, try salad, cauliflower rice, and other lower-carb options. Hope that helps!
Jonnel Kelley
Can you email me the shopping lists. The layout prints but none of the items on the list print. The words look highlighted. Do you think that is the problem?
Blair
Yep -- just sent them Jonnel! 🙂
Reina
I will definitely try these as well. I love a good crackpot meal!! My husband is trying to lose weight, so perfect timing. I absolutely love that you provided the shopping lists.
Thank you!
Blair
Excellent! Enjoy, Reina!
Amy Jo
These recipes look fantastic, I used your shopping list to prepare the week one meals and I was so pleased to cross off a large number of pantry items! It's always harder to believe a "great" recipe when it includes a bunch of ingredients you never use and don't have on hand.
Blair
Hi, Amy Jo! That's great -- I'm so glad that you've found it helpful. I totally agree -- a recipe is always the best when it takes advantage of pantry staples! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Monika Blair
Thank you for sharing this challenge! This is exactly what I needed! I truly appreciate it!
Victoria
Is there a vegetarian version? 🙂
Blair
Hi, Victoria! No, unfortunately I don't have a separate vegetarian version. No one in our house is a vegetarian, so while we love a lot of plant-based recipes, I usually include lean meat or seafood in our dinners. 🙂
Patty
Most of these recipes serve 6 - 8 that means a ton of leftovers for us. It's just my husband and I. I guess I can refreeze after cooked for the next month and must mix up the recipes you've provided and that I choose to cook. I just wish my husband's palette was open for more vegetables. He wants to loose weight so we'll see. I wish you had more Mexican recipes. He loves that stuff.
Blair
Hi, Patty! Some of the recipes can be cut in half to make smaller quantities. You can also freeze most of the dinners once they are cooked to save for later, as you noted. Also, be sure to look around the website for other easy Mexican options. I have a ton of them, since that's one of our family's favorite cuisines too. Try searching for "Taco" or "Enchilada" and see what comes up. 🙂
Amanda VanLanen
Can you email me the recipes? I am only able to print the first 2. Can't wait try these with my busy schedule.
Blair
Hi, Amanda! I just sent you an email! 🙂
Terri
I made the Cinnamon apples and pork dish tonight. Winner!!!! Next up teriyaki chicken. Thanks so much for putting this all together.
Blair
That's great, Terri! Doesn't the pork smell so good while it's cooking? Love the apples! Enjoy the teriyaki, too. 🙂
Jamie
Thank you so much for all this. As a working mom (of two soon-to-be-adopted kids) who has a commute, homework, and all other manner of things to tend to, cooking has been ... a struggle. To not have to think about three meals a week and to have them mostly ready when I get home!? Priceless. Thanks for giving me back my sanity for awhile.
Stephanie
Hello Blair! I can't wait to try the 30 day challenge. The recipes look delicious. I was wondering if you have the nutrition information for the recipes. Thanks in advance.
Blair
Hey, Stephanie! I'm so glad that you'll give it a try! Unfortunately, I do not have the nutrition information for all of the recipes. It should be there for some of the more recent posts, but I didn't start adding that panel until about a year ago. If you need the details for the older recipes, you can try using an online calculator like My Fitness Pal or Spark People. Hope that helps!
Jennifer Wise
Hi Blair ,
First time visitor here. But I already fell in love with what you have here!
Thank you for sharing this healthy challenge. This recipe list will definitely be on my to-try list in the near future. Thanks for sharing it with us ????
Jennifer .
Blair
Hi, Jennifer! I'm so glad that you found the blog and that you might try the healthy slow cooker recipes. I hope that they make dinnertime a little bit easier in your house! 🙂
Jody
Loved all these recipes. Joined your e-mail list too! Can't wait for your next 30 day healthy eating challenge. Found the shopping lists so helpful. Loved that there were enough leftovers for lunches and food was super tasty and easy to make. Thanks so much Blair!
Blair
That's so great, Jody! Thanks for following along! I have another 30-Day challenge coming up in about 2 weeks, so stay tuned! 🙂
RUSSELL
Blair I feel inspired as a single guy I usually waste to much money on take out meals or bland microwave food that is not healthy. Thank you for the inspiration. I can do this!
Blair
Hi, Russell! I love to hear that! I'm so glad that you'll give these recipes a try. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy!
Jacqui
So glad I saved this post! Heading into winter in Australia so the slow cooker will be getting a workout. Love coming home after a long day at work/school/daycare to dinner all ready - I'm going to try the Greek chicken first!
Blair
That's great, Jacqui! I'm so glad that it will be helpful, and I agree -- cool weather is perfect for slow cooker meals!
Christi
These look great! I was wondering if you've ever tried making these recipes as crock pot freezer meals, or do you always make them fresh?
Blair
Hi, Christi! Yes, I've definitely made some of these as freezer meals. The pork with spiced apples is one example, as well as the Chicken Tikka Masala, Pulled BBQ chicken, and Korean Beef (among others). If you are looking for more freezer meal inspiration, just type "freezer meals" in the search box on the right sidebar on my homepage (it's under my photo). That search will pull up a bunch of different freezer meal blog posts that I've done in the past! 🙂