15 Low-Cal Slow-Cooker Recipes That Taste Like Autumn In A Bowl

Is there anything more wonderful than crisp fall weather? Answer: Yes! Crisp fall weather with amazing seasonal treats—like pumpkin bread, creamy soups, stout beers, mulled wine and sweet potatoes. Winter is coming, so the urge to carb up and pack on a few is hard to resist. After all, it is bye-bye bikini season and hello, sweater weather! (Dusters are much more forgiving than a French-cut bikini!)

That being said, eating healthy during the cooler weather is a must. You can still enjoy delicious fall foods without breaking your caloric bank—all you need is a Crock-Pot! Yep, it is possible to eat healthy with a Crock-Pot. Don’t believe us? Well, check out some of these dreamy and autumn-appropriate recipes.

1. Slow-Cooker Balsamic Mushroom and Chicken Stroganoff

The secret behind this creamy dish is non-fat Greek yogurt. Balsamic vinegar adds plenty of punch. You can eat it as is, or serve it on top of a heart-healthy grain like quinoa, brown rice or even chickpea noodles. Here is the recipe.

2. Slow-Cooker Pinto Bean Stew With Cornbread Dumplings

Cornbread dumplings!? Yes, please. Best of all, these dumplings cook right in the slow cooker. You can add shredded chicken to make it even heartier and please the meat-lovers in your family. Check the recipe out here.

3. Autumn Minestrone Soup

Oh my gosh, we have autumn in a bowl right here! This recipe is a breeze to put together, and best of all, it will allow you to use seasonal veggies like butternut squash. Top it off with fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese, and you won’t even realize you are eating healthy!

4. Slow-Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

Sigh! Creamy, luscious autumn flavors in a bowl, just begging to be gobbled up with a warm roll of crusty bread. This amazing recipe has so many palette-pleasing layers: apple, sage, cinnamon, coconut—pretty much all the best flavors Mother Nature has to offer. Recipe here.

5. Banana Slow-Cooker Overnight Steel Cut Oats

Um, who doesn’t want to wake up to a warm, sweet breakfast that tastes exactly like banana bread? This easy overnight oatmeal recipe uses steel cut oats, bananas, flaxseed and freshly grated nutmeg. Yep, it might be time to step up your nutmeg game. You will see why after you try this heaven in a bowl.

6. Slow-Cooker Turkey Lasagna

Lean ground turkey, spinach and flavorful tomato sauce make this simple weeknight dinner healthy and impressive. And, yes, lasagna in a slow cooker—sounds crazy, works perfectly.

7. Slow-Cooker Pumpkin Chickpea & Red Lentil Curry

Nothing fills you up like a warm bowl of lentils and chickpeas, and with this fall-friendly recipe, you can also enjoy pumpkin AND curry. Win-win-win! You have to try this (use light coconut milk to cut back on calories, but with a stew this healthy and good for you, why bother?). Best of all, this soup is so perfect for bringing to work for lunch the next day. A thermos full of warm soup to look forward to will make even the worst Monday morning fly by.

8. Crock-Pot Pumpkin Butter

Crock Pot Pumpkin Butter—yes, it bears repeating! This stuff will blow your mind, and you seriously only need about four ingredients to make it. And, of course, that includes pumpkin! Spread it on a whole-wheat English muffin or eat it straight out of the jar. No judgment! After all, it’s healthier than any store-bought fare with loads of sugar and preservatives. Recipe here.

9. Slow-Cooker 5-Ingredient Thai Curry Butternut Squash Soup

A creamy vegan soup that tastes like everything wonderful about fall—rich, deep flavors, spicy aromas, hearty veggies, soothing broth. So light, so simple, so easy to make!

10. Slow-Cooker Applesauce

We adore this recipe because it is a great use of fresh, fall apples (bonus points if you pick them yourself!). It also requires no added sugar. But when it comes to spices, you can be as creative as you wish. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, even cayenne. Leave it lumpy or blend it smooth—you’re the boss, applesauce!

11. Slow-Cooker Spiced Wine

Autumn would be incomplete without an earthy, spicy mug of mulled wine. With this slow cooker recipe, you can make a decadent drink for your party guests without having to use any added sugar.

12. Slow-Cooker Gingerbread Pumpkin Lattes

Another slow-cooker winner: gingerbread…pumpkin…lattes. So good, and they can easily be made vegan. Thank you, universe. Thank you, Great Pumpkin! (And thank you Kitchen Treaty for the recipe!)

13. Slow-Cooker Split Pea Soup

Peas are like the Kanye West of the veggie world. You either love ’em or you hate ’em! Well, here’s hoping that you love them because they are so good for you and so perfect for fall soups and stews. Try this slow cooker split pea soup and tell us if it doesn’t make you respect the little green guy a bit more.

14. Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Chili

It just wouldn’t be fall without a hearty bowl of chili, now would it? With this recipe, you can enjoy all the best that autumn has to offer. You can add in lean ground turkey or keep it veggie-friendly. Top with onions, cheese, crackers, cornbread. Or just shovel it in your face while it is still too…HOT! (Not speaking from personal experience or anything.)

15. Crock-Pot Pumpkin Bread

Baking bread in a slow cooker? Heck yeah! We adore this recipe because it is so foolproof and it makes the whole house smell pumpkin-y and yummy all day. You can use any oil you like, but we loved coconut best. Recipe here.

Now you have a whole bunch of Crock-potting to do! Get out there make the most of this fall weather with awesome meals and baked goodies.