Mac & cheese, lasagna, pot pie — all keto. Warm Up →
The slow cooker is my set-it-and-forget-it solution for keto meals. Dump the ingredients in the morning, come home to dinner. These 19 recipes cover soups, chili, shredded chicken, stews, pork ribs, party dips, and even hot chocolate for a crowd.
Soups and chili are what the slow cooker was built for. Low heat and long cook times build deep, complex flavors.
Green chiles, chicken thighs, cauliflower rice, and a creamy, slightly spicy broth. I make this in the Instant Pot or slow cooker depending on how much time I have. Either way, it's the recipe I come back to most.
Taco-seasoned ground beef with bell peppers, diced tomatoes, and cream cheese stirred in at the end. Dump everything in the slow cooker in the morning, come home to dinner. Freezes well too.
The dumplings are made from almond flour and they come out fluffy and light in the broth. Add shredded chicken, leeks, celery, and zucchini. This is what I make when someone in the house needs comfort food.
Real beef bones simmered with cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and ginger for a broth that's deeply aromatic. The slow simmering is what builds the flavor. Pressure cooker or slow cooker both work.
A whole chicken's worth of bones simmered low and slow with onions, celery, garlic, and fennel seeds. I strain it, jar it, and sip it throughout the week or use it as a base for soups.
Shredded chicken and braised beef that fall apart with a fork. I make these for easy meal prep throughout the week.
Chicken cooked with cream cheese and ranch seasoning, then shredded and topped with bacon and cheddar. It's called crack chicken for a reason. I eat it in lettuce wraps or straight from the pot.
Pour salsa over chicken, add cream cheese and taco seasoning, slow cook, shred. Five ingredients, five minutes of prep. This is the dinner I make when I have nothing planned and need food fast.
Chunks of beef stew meat, daikon radish instead of potatoes, mushrooms, green beans, and a thick gravy. Dutch oven, slow cooker, or Instant Pot. The kind of meal that tastes better the second day.
Italian herbs, garlic, mushrooms, and tomatoes braised with beef stew meat until everything is tender and the broth is rich. A big bowl of this with some crusty keto bread is my cold-weather ritual.
Chuck roast with sliced bell peppers and onions, slow cooked in liquid aminos, crushed tomatoes, and a splash of vinegar. It shreds into Philly cheesesteak-style strips. I serve it over cauliflower rice or in lettuce wraps.
Pork ribs, tenderloin, and party dips that cook themselves. These are what I prep before guests arrive.
Season a rack of ribs, splash apple cider vinegar in the bottom, and let the slow cooker go for six hours. The meat falls off the bone. I brush on BBQ sauce at the end for a little char under the broiler.
The marinade is liquid aminos, sesame oil, dry mustard, and a touch of sweetener. The pork tenderloin absorbs it all while it slow cooks. Slice thin and serve with whatever vegetables are in the fridge.
Three kinds of cheese melted into buffalo sauce with shredded chicken. I scoop it with celery sticks, but honestly a fork works just as well. This is the first thing gone at every game day spread.
Cream cheese, pizza sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni layered and baked until bubbly. The slow cooker keeps it warm for hours, which makes it ideal for parties. Serve with keto chips or vegetable sticks.
Cocktail sausages simmered in sugar-free BBQ sauce and grape jelly. Three ingredients, five minutes of prep. The slow cooker keeps them warm all afternoon. I put these out at every holiday gathering.
The slow cooker keeps hot chocolate warm for hours, which makes it ideal for holiday gatherings.
Cocoa powder, heavy cream, chocolate chips, and a splash of vanilla simmered on the stove. The slow cooker keeps a batch warm for hours during parties. My base recipe that I customize with different flavors.
Sugar-free white chocolate chips melted into heavy cream with a quarter teaspoon of peppermint extract. Warm, minty, and creamy. This is my favorite hot drink during the holidays.
The same white chocolate base without the peppermint. Rich, sweet, and warming. A nice change when regular hot chocolate feels too heavy or dark.
Coconut milk replaces the heavy cream for guests who skip dairy. Topped with a meringue made from whipped egg whites and sweetener. Same chocolate depth, no dairy needed.