Slow cookers are amazing! They are one of the most useful cooking applications to invest in, especially for those busy days and weeks. They’re great for cooking a variety of home cooked meals without having to spend a ton of time in the kitchen. With a slow cooker or crock pot, you can just dump and go then set it and forget. Go to work or take the kids to sports practice then come home to a perfectly cooked meal that’s been brewing low and slow for a few hours that’s now hot and ready to eat whenever you make it back home.
Slow cooker recipes can help you stay on track with your health and wellness goals like if you’re wanting to stick to a high protein diet plan because it can help eliminate your need to constantly eat out and you can be sure to actually cook the healthy items you purchased from the grocery store without letting all the produce go to waste.
So today, I’m sharing a round up of high protein recipes that you can meal prep using a crockpot or slow cooker, which will make your life a whole lot easier!
8 High-Protein Slow Cooker Recipes
But first – let’s talk about whether or not slow cooking can destroy protein. Have you heard that? Find out everything you need to know when it comes to meal prepping a crockpot recipe so you can decide if using a slow cooker when preparing high protein dishes is right for you.
Does Slow Cooking Destroy Protein
So to answer the question- does slow cooking destroy protein? According to the American Meat Science Association, no significant changes in the protein value of cooked meat have been found. While some nutrients can be lost during cooking, the overall protein value in slow-cooked foods tends to be well-maintained.
It may also be helpful to know that all cooking methods can cause some nutrient loss, but the low, steady heat of a slow cooker can actually help preserve nutrients. This is especially true for vegetables too. Cooking protein in general denatures them and can change the shape, but the nutrients are still there.
But if you’re really interested in loading up on protein, not many people really know what does 100 grams of protein look like.
What Are The Best High Protein Slow Cooker Recipes
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Salad
If you want to talk about an easy high protein crockpot recipe, it doesn’t get too much easier than this shredded bbq chicken meal. Just dump in the chicken and bbq sauce, then serve with a side of tortillas and avocado or guac if you prefer. This dish is packed with protein — 46 grams, most of the protein comes from the chicken itself.
Ingredients
6 oz Chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw – 190calories
4 Tbsp Barbeque sauce, unsweetened – 30 calories
1 oz Tortilla chips – 123 calories
4 cups Leafy green, spinach – 28 calories
1 Tbsp Red wine vinegar (Tbsp) – 3 calories
¼ tsp Salt – 0 calories
¼ tsp Pepper, ground – 0 calories
½ Avocado, small – 117 calories
Instructions
This recipe works best when making multiple servings of the bbq chicken at once in the crock pot
Step 1
Place chicken breasts and bbq sauce in the crock pot (or instant pot on slow cooker setting). Stir to coat the chicken breasts.
Step 2
Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Remove chicken and shred with a fork, return to the pot to coat the shredded chicken again before serving.
Step 3
When you’re ready to eat: mix together your spinach, red wine vinegar, salt & pepper.
Step 4
Crumble tortilla chips, dice avocado, and slice parsley.
Step 5
Extra bbq sauce from the crock pot? Drizzle it over your bowl as an extra sauce.
Step 6
Top your salad with tortilla chips, avocado, and chicken.
Slow Cooker Shredded Taco Chicken
This glory dish rings in an impressive 56 grams of protein, and is surprisingly easy to make.
Ingredients
8 oz Chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw – 257calories
1 Onion, yellow – 55 calories
1 Bell pepper, orange, large – 50 calories
1 tsp Avocado oil (tsp) – 41 calories
⅛ tsp Salt – 0 calories
1 tsp Taco seasoning – 5 calories
½ tsp Garlic, minced (tsp) – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1
Chop onions into large chunks and peppers into strips.
Step 2
Add oil, garlic, seasonings, and chicken to your crockpot.
Step 3
Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.
Step 4
Shred chicken, and add in your sliced peppers for another hour (on low, covered).
Step 5
Serve!
Optional: top with cilantro and fresh lime juice when serving.
Step 6
No crockpot? Make a stir fry on the stove top with thinly sliced chicken (instead of shredded).
Salsa Verde Slow Cooker Chicken
Coming in at 41 grams of protein, you’ve got to add this salsa verde dish to your crockpot recipe list.
Ingredients
6 oz Chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw – 190calories
1 Onion, yellow – 55 calories
⅛ tsp Garlic salt – 0 calories
1 Tbsp Avocado oil (Tbsp) – 124 calories
½ cup Salsa verde – 32 calories
1 Tbsp Parsley, fresh – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1
Peel and quarter onions.
Step 2
Add oil, chicken breasts, onions & seasoning to a crockpot/slow cooker.
Step 3
Cover, and cook on Low for 6-8 hours.
Step 4
With 30 minutes left in your slow cooker, shred your chicken and add in salsa verde, mix to combine.
Step 5
Enjoy!
Mississippi Pot Roast in a Bun
Looking for another high protein slow cooker recipe? This delicious pot roast boasts an impressive 43 grams of protein. It’s the perfect dish to come home to after a long day that’s super filling and loaded with nutrients.
Ingredients
6 oz Beef, chuck roast (stew meat), raw – 364calories
½ Onion, yellow, large – 28 calories
2 tsp Ranch Seasoning – 16 calories
1 Tbsp Gravy mix (seasoning) – 20 calories
6 Peperoncini, jarred – 20 calories
1 Hot dog bun, whole wheat – 114 calories
Instructions
Step 1
Chop onion into medium-sized chunks.
Step 1
Add roast, onion, seasonings, and drained peperoncini to your slow cooker.
Step 3
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Step 4
Add to your bun.
Step 5
Enjoy!
No meat? Use chicken or the vegetarian option.
Slow Cooker Enchilada Bake
One of my favorite crockpot recipe ideas to make is this yummy enchilada bake. Coming in at a nice 37g protein, it’s one of those dishes that the whole family will love. Load it up with your favorite taco inspired veggies and legumes like black beans, cilantro greens, onions, and corn.
Ingredients
6 oz Chicken thigh, boneless, skinless, raw – 190calories
¼ cup Beans & legumes, black beans, cooked – 57calories
½ cup Corn, canned – 63 calories
¼ cup Enchilada sauce – 24 calories
⅛ cup Salsa – 8 calories
1 Tbsp Green Chiles, canned – 5 calories
2 Tbsp Cheese, shredded, cheddar (Tbsp) – 60calories
1 tsp Taco seasoning – 5 calories
Instructions
Note: this recipe works best when making multiple servings at once
Step 1
Add chicken, enchilada sauce, salsa, green chiles, and taco seasoning to your slow cooker
Step 2
Cook on low heat for 6 hours or high heat for 2-3 hours
Step 3
Shred chicken with a fork, then add in corn, beans, and top with cheese
Step 4
Heat in the slow cooker for another 30 minutes
Step 5
No dairy? Top with diced avocado.
Step 6
Note: I ate this dish on top of stir fried cauliflower rice, so you can do so too, or regular rice if you prefer!
Interested in more high protein ideas? Discover how many calories in 4 eggs.
