5 wonderful winter crockpot recipes

November 14, 2022

Winter is here, which is the perfect time to share some of our favorite winter crockpot recipes. Using a crockpot is especially useful when the weather is cold and the days busy. Whether you're working or spending time with your family, it's always convenient to prepare crockpot meals for dinner in the morning and have it ready for when you get home!

So what makes a hearty crockpot recipe? Well, these meals are primarily made up of meat and veggies. If you want to make one at home, keep reading and we'll show you how to make some simple and healthy crockpot recipes. You'll need the fundamentals for crockpot meals, which include meat, vegetables, and broth. You can also include pasta, rice, or potatoes. Here are some recipes to get you started.

Tuscan Sausage and White Bean Ragu with Buttered Gnocchi

Who doesn’t love Italian food? This delicious crockpot recipe includes sausage, beans and everyone’s favorite – buttered gnocchis. It’s quick and easy and will warm up everyone at the table.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 of a sweet onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced or grated
• 2 (28 ounce) cans whole San Marzano tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and pepper
• 1 pound ground spicy Italian sausage
• 1 bunch Tuscan kale, chopped
• 3 cups cooked white beans
• 1 pound gnocchi
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Fresh basil and parmesan cheese for topping

Directions:

1. Crush the tomatoes in the bowl of a 4-8 quart slow cooker with your hands. Combine the onion, garlic, tomato paste, red wine, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Stir everything thoroughly.
2. Take the sausage and roll it into very small, bite-sized balls, adding them to the crockpot as you go. The smaller the balls you can roll, the better. Stir the sausage into the sauce gently. Cook for 6-8 hours on low in a covered crockpot. Stir in the kale and white beans 30 minutes before serving. Turn up the heat to high, cover, and cook for another 20-30 minutes.
3. In the meantime, cook the gnocchi according to package directions, then toss with 2 tablespoons butter and a pinch of salt, basil and parmesan.
4. Divide the gnocchi among plates or bowls to serve. Garnish with basil and parmesan after topping with ragu.

Mexican Chili Lime Chicken

To liven up your Sunday dinner after a day of sled riding we've got the perfect, easy crockpot Mexican chili lime chicken dish for you. This chili lime chicken is a wonderfully tender and flavorful recipe that is great with tacos, salads, pasta, burritos etc.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• 1/2 of a small sweet onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 canned chipotle chilies in adobo, chopped (not the whole can, just the 2 chilies)
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt and more to taste
• 1/3 cup salsa (and more for serving)
• 4 ounces diced green chilies
• Juice of 2 limes
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 8 soft tortilla taco boats, warmed
• Shredded cheese and guacamole for serving 

Directions:

1. Combine the chicken, onion, garlic, honey, chipotle chile peppers, paprika, oregano, cumin, salt, salsa, and diced green chiles in the bowl of your crockpot. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 4-6 hours, adding 1/2 cup water as needed.
2. When the chicken is done, shred it with two forks and mix in the lime juice and cilantro.
3. Serve the chicken in warmed taco shells, tortillas, or wraps. As desired, garnish. 

Vegan Pumpkin Beef Chili

For all of our meatless meal lovers, the pumpkin beyond beef chili is the ideal Fall chili! This easy chili will warm your spirit on a cold day and is simple to make. Put it in the crockpot before work and you'll have a full dinner waiting for you when you come home! 

If you are interested in more vegan friendly recipe ideas, check out our Meatless Meals blog!

Ingredients:

• 1 package Beyond Beef Crumbles or any other vegan beef crumbles
• 1 15 ounce can pinto beans
• 1 15 ounce can black beans
• 1 15 ounce can kidney beans
• 2 15 ounce cans fire roasted tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 red onion
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 3 cloves garlic 

Directions:

1. Rinse and drain beans, then dice the onion and bell pepper.
2. Place all of the ingredients in the slow cooker and layer with vegetable broth.
3. Keep covered and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
4. Top with vegan sour cream, jalapeno slices, cornbread, or avocado.

Ham and Bean Soup

This hearty, delicious Ham and Bean Soup Recipe is loaded with fifteen different types of beans, nutritious veggies, and delicate leftover ham. This crockpot ham and bean soup is simple to make and requires no soaking. It will keep you toasty all winter.

Ingredients:

• 1 (1 pound) package 15 bean soup mix - seasoning packet discarded
• 1 leftover ham bone with meat - (or ham hocks, diced ham, ground pork, or pork sausage)
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 6 large carrots, chopped
• 4 stalks celery, chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh black pepper
• 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper - optional
• 1 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 10 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth 
• 2 bay leaves
• Fresh thyme and rosemary for garnish 

Directions:

1. Rinse the beans thoroughly in cold, clean water. Place aside.
2. To the crockpot, add the beans, ham bone, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, dried Italian seasoning, cumin, crushed red pepper, and canned tomatoes. To combine, mix everything together.
3. Add the chicken broth and bay leaves and mix well. To combine, mix everything together.
4. Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 7-8 hours, covered.
5. Remove the ham bone from the pot and set aside to cool for 5-10 minutes before removing any meat from the bone and returning it to the pot.
6. Cook for another 30 minutes before serving. 

Mississippi Roast

This crockpot Mississippi Roast with potatoes and fresh vegetables will quickly become a family favorite. This crockpot pot roast will be ready in 10 minutes!

Ingredients:

• 3-4 pounds organic grass-fed top round roast
• 1 packet of Ranch Dip Seasoning
• 13.5 ounces Imagine Organic Savory Beef Gravy
• 1/2 cup jarred sliced pepperoncini + 1/4 cup juice from the jar
• 40 ounces fresh stew vegetables
• 1/3 cup of butter
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Layer stew vegetables in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Arrange the roast on top of the vegetables.
3. Sprinkle the roast with the ranch dip packet, pour in the gravy, then add the butter on top of the roast, lightly pressing it down on the roast.
4. Finally, drizzle with pepperoncini liquid and sprinkle with peppers.
5. Cook for 6-8 hours on high. It's easy to become uninspired and fall into a rut with your meals.

When the weather turns cold and the days grow shorter, it's a great opportunity to dig out the crockpot and you can try some of these recipes. These meals are a great option for dinner this winter season and is sure to be a new family favorite.

References:

1 Crockpot Mexican Chili Lime Chicken. Last updated May 1, 2016. Accessed August 26, 2022.

2 Crockpot Tuscan Sausage and White Bean Ragu with Buttered Gnocchi. Accessed August 26, 2022.

3 Mississippi Pot Roast {The Best Pot Roast Ever}. Last updated November 26, 2019. Accessed August 26, 2022.

4 Ham and Bean Soup Recipe (Crock Pot). Last updated December 21, 2021. Accessed August 26, 2022.