Special Diets Diabetes 23 Three-Step Slow-Cooker Recipes for Healthy Blood Sugar Levels By Dillon Evans Dillon Evans Dillon Evans fell in love with cooking at a very young age. He remembers the novel experiences of microwaving a bowl of oatmeal without his parents' permission and asking to make his mother's morning pot of coffee. These moments became catalysts for his interest in cooking and baking. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on December 22, 2023 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Cooking is easy with a slow cooker, but it just got easier with these recipes! Whether you want a satisfying entrée, a delicious side or a full meal, these mouthwatering dishes have you covered in just three steps or less. Plus, these flavorful dishes are made with sodium-conscious ingredients and low counts of saturated fats to seamlessly fit into a diabetes-appropriate eating pattern. With nutritious recipes like our Black-Vinegar-Braised Beef and Slow Cooker Chicken, Bacon & Potato Soup, dinner is made simple, yet very tasty. 01 of 23 Black-Vinegar-Braised Beef Leigh Beisch The fragrant aroma of star anise will welcome you home after this braise cooks throughout the day. Serve with rice or rice noodles. View Recipe 02 of 23 Slow Cooker Chicken, Bacon & Potato Soup Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas This chicken potato soup is perfect for ushering in fall: It's hearty enough for the beginning of soup season, yet brothy and veggie-packed so it doesn't feel too heavy. This recipe is ideal for a weekend, when you can check on the slow cooker after just a few hours. Although you can't leave it unattended all day, this chicken potato soup still offers the benefit of hands-free, fuss-free cooking. Baby red, Yukon Gold, or fingerling potatoes will all work well here, as they'll maintain their shape nicely during cooking. Pair this easy chicken and potato soup with a slaw or kale side salad and crusty whole-grain bread for a healthy, satisfying dinner. View Recipe 03 of 23 Slow-Cooker Chicken & Brown Rice with Roasted Corn & Black Beans Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Prop Stylist: Christine Keely With plenty of spice from ground cumin, cayenne and paprika and the bit of char that frozen roasted sweet corn brings to the dish, you won't miss the browning step in this easy load-and-go recipe. If frozen roasted corn isn't available, substitute regular. View Recipe 04 of 23 Salsa Verde Slow-Cooker Chicken Ali Remdond Chicken breasts are transformed when they get slow cooked in salsa verde. Shredding the chicken and returning it to the sauce ensures the end result is juicy and delicious. Serve the shredded meat over brown rice or use as a filling for tacos or enchiladas. View Recipe 05 of 23 Chile-Spiced Pork Tacos with Cucumber-Mango Salsa Leigh Beisch Feel free to use just one type of chile powder in this dish, but we find that the combo of ancho and chipotle delivers the most nuanced flavor. The chipotle (dried, smoked jalapeño peppers) adds fire, while the anchos (dried poblanos) lend a fruity, more moderate heat. View Recipe 06 of 23 Spicy Tomato-Braised Pot Roast Jacob Fox This tomato sauce gets its heat from Calabrian chiles. Find them whole or chopped packed in jars near the pickles in well-stocked grocery stores. If you don't have any, just a bit of crushed red pepper will do the trick. Serve over polenta, mashed potatoes or pasta. View Recipe 07 of 23 Creamy White Bean Soup with Smoked Ham Hocks Iain Bagwell; Styling: Cindy Barr Creamy, starchy and filling, this hearty, rustic soup is the epitome of comfort. And convenient: Beans go in dry—no need to soak. View Recipe 08 of 23 Slow-Cooker Chicken Chili Ali Redmond This simple slow-cooker chili features plenty of veggies and shredded chicken breast simmered in a smoky broth of chipotle chiles and tomato. The chili is finished with shredded cheese, avocados and cilantro, but feel free to add your own favorite toppings to jazz it up! View Recipe 09 of 23 Slow-Cooker Kale & White Bean Stew Ali Redmond Warm up to a hearty bowl of soup made with winter vegetables and protein-rich white beans. Comforting spices like oregano and thyme build flavor, while Parmesan provides an irresistibly savory finish. View Recipe 10 of 23 Slow-Cooker Corn Casserole With just five ingredients, you can make this healthy corn casserole with ease. The tang of the cream cheese and sour cream balances the sweetness of the corn. Frozen corn can vary in sweetness, so taste the brand you're using to determine if the optional sugar is needed. This creamy corn casserole makes the perfect veggie side for any meal. View Recipe 11 of 23 Slow-Cooker Kale & Sausage Stew Ali Redmond Turkey sausage gets transformed in this rich stew made with hearty winter vegetables like carrots, kale and potatoes. Perfect for meal prep or family dinners, this stew comes together easily in the slow cooker. View Recipe 12 of 23 Slow-Cooker Wings Photographer: Brie Goldman Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly Prop Stylist: Holly Raibikis Slow-cooker wings are a fuss-free way to prepare wings for game day. The wings are tender, and they brown nicely under the broiler. After broiling, they're tossed in the tangy, sweet sauce they're cooked in, with the remaining sauce served on the side for dipping. View Recipe 13 of 23 Spanish-Inspired Slow-Cooker Meatballs Photographer / Brie Passano, Food Stylist / Annie Probst, Prop Stylist / Holly Raibikis You may want to serve these slightly smoky, fragrant, briny little meatballs over pasta or polenta. The sauce, which has depth from red wine, is low in sodium because of its no-salt-added tomato base, and the meatballs are lighter than the usual suspects due to the addition of shredded zucchini and chopped Spanish olives. Do drizzle on some best-quality olive oil and a sprinkle of shredded manchego cheese. View Recipe 14 of 23 Slow-Cooker Honey Whole-Wheat Rolls Victor Protasio The slow cooker yields super-tender, pillowy whole-wheat rolls. If you prefer them crustier, arrange the finished rolls on a baking sheet, brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if desired. Broil, watching carefully, until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. View Recipe 15 of 23 Slow-Cooker Peanut-Achiote Chicken & Vegetables Leigh Beisch This satisfying dish has a depth of flavor that belies its short ingredient list. Sazón seasoning typically includes coriander, cumin and oregano—look for one that also has achiote (annatto). The ground seeds of the evergreen Bixa orellana shrub, achiote gives the dish a bright orange hue. These blends, along with jarred sofrito, can be found with other Latin ingredients at most grocery stores. View Recipe 16 of 23 Lemon Chicken-and-Egg Soup Leigh Beisch Taking inspiration from egg drop, this chicken-and-egg soup is enriched by drizzling in eggs whisked with fragrant sesame oil at the end of the cooking time. If in-season sweet corn is available, by all means use it—you'll need kernels from 3 to 4 ears. Add it in Step 3 when you return the shredded chicken to the soup to heat through just before serving. View Recipe 17 of 23 Slow-Cooker Chicken, Spinach & White Bean Stew Ali Redmond Warm up to a comforting bowl of chicken stew scented with thyme, oregano and smoked paprika. Adding spinach and white beans provides a hearty dose of fiber that will keep you satisfied until the next meal. View Recipe 18 of 23 Cacio e Pepe White Beans & Escarole Photographer: Brittany Conerly These satisfying beans are inspired by cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper) pasta, a classic Roman dish where black pepper and Pecorino cheese combine with pasta cooking water to make a creamy, punchy sauce. Here, the creaminess of the beans stands in for pasta, and escarole makes it a meal. Escarole is milder than other winter greens like kale or collards, and has a crisp, hearty texture and sweet flavor that is delicious in this dish—but feel free to substitute another winter green of your choice. View Recipe 19 of 23 Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili Will Dickey Ground turkey and canned kidney beans combine in this easy slow-cooker turkey chili. A tomato base, plus cumin and garlic powder, supplies plenty of flavor, while jalapeño and chili powder bring on the heat. View Recipe 20 of 23 Sweet & Spicy Soy-Braised Short Ribs Dera Burreson The sticky sauce on these ribs, made with tamari (or soy sauce), gochujang, grated pear and honey, is inspired by bulgogi, a staple of Korean barbecue. Don't skip the step of running them under the broiler before serving—it gives the ribs the crisp edges you'd get from grilling. Serve with stir-fried baby bok choy and brown rice to sop up the delicious sauce. View Recipe 21 of 23 Load-&-Go Slow-Cooker Soup with Mushrooms & Kielbasa Photographer / Brie Passano Styling / Annie Probst / Holly Raibikis The aromatic trio of garlic, cumin and thyme harmonize in this hearty soup that comes together quickly before the slow cooker does most of the work for you. Kielbasa adds protein and a deeply savory note to this dinner in a bowl. View Recipe 22 of 23 Barbecue Grape-Jelly Meatballs Greg Dupree These barbecue grape-jelly meatballs are meatballs smothered in a sauce of sweet grape jelly, barbecue sauce, hot sauce and ketchup. They're sweet, salty and incredibly tender after their long cook time in the slow cooker. You can serve them right from the slow cooker or stack them on toothpicks for easy finger food. View Recipe 23 of 23 Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Ali Redmond If you like Buffalo wings, you'll love the flavors in this warm, hearty chili that comes together easily in the slow cooker. Sour cream helps cut the heat, but you could also use plain strained yogurt. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit