26 Slow-Cooker Dinners That Are Whole30-Approved
If you've decided to try out Whole30—a restrictive 30-day diet that eliminates all dairy, grains, soy, legumes, added sugars, and processed foods, and instead focuses on meat, fish, fruits, and veggies—then you're probably in desperate need of recipes. Thanks to an enormous amount of online support, there's no shortage of yummy ideas that comply with the rules.
The only catch is that in an effort to creatively work within the Whole30-limitations, many of these dishes tend to be a little complicated or overly involved. That's fine when you have time, but not so much when you're hungry after work and need food ASAP to keep from going into full hangry Hulk-mode.
Instead of trying to pull something together when you're tired from a long day and don't have the brain power, make one of these slow-cooker dinner recipes that's compliant with Whole30. Since these ideas were formed with Whole30 restrictions in mind, most of them are pretty meat-heavy, which means that you should expect a lot of tender fall-off-the-bone fare.
Get these Whole30 Crock-Pot recipes ready to go either ahead of time by turning them into frozen meal packs (which you can find out how to do here), or before you leave for work in the morning. When you get home, a dinner you can actually eat will be waiting for you.
http://www.paleorunningmomma.com1Meatballs in Marinara Sauce from Paleo Running Momma
These meatballs taste great all by themselves, but you can also serve them over a bed of zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash. They're also great served alongside a bed of roasted vegetables—whatever you have on hand works fine! Get the recipe here.
http://www.cottercrunch.com2Beef Chili from Cotter Crunch
Bet you're wondering how a chili can be a chili and also be Whole30-approved (I mean, this popular stew is famous for its beans, right?). Cotter Crunch uses a mix of sweet potato and ground beef to get a similarly hearty texture, without any beans at all. Get the recipe here.
http://physicalkitchness.com3Pork Carnitas from Physical Kitchness
Cooked with a healthy serving of chili powder and jalapeños, this slow-cooked, shredded pork is not for the faint of heart. Serve the meat in a lettuce leaf for a taco-esque experience. Or try it over a bed of finely chopped cauliflower for a burrito bowl-style meal. Get the recipe here.
http://therealfoodrds.com4Buffalo Chicken from The Real Food Dietitians
Frank's Red Hot Sauce is the secret ingredient behind this chicken and your new best friend for the next 30 days—it's totally free of added sugar, but it basically tastes like buffalo sauce anyway. For a full meal, the Real Food Dietitians serve the meat in a baked sweet potato. Get the recipe here.
http://cookeatpaleo.com5Chicken Soup from Cook Eat Paleo
As long as your chicken soup nixes the noodles, odds are it's totally Whole30 compliant. This version is better than the rest because, of course, you can make it in a slow-cooker. Prep it before you leave for work and it'll be ready by the time you get home. Get the recipe here.
https://stupideasypaleo.com6Lamb Roast With Root Veggies from Stupid Easy Paleo
This lamb roast will impress the best and make your house smell like the holidays, no matter what time of year it is. Make it for a Whole30 dinner party or cook it for yourself and eat it all week long—just make sure to store it in an airtight container in your fridge. Get the recipe here.
http://www.foodfaithfitness.com8Mango Chicken and Sweet Potato Bowls from Food Faith Fitness
With the help of some sliced mango, this chicken recipe is nice and sweet without any added sugar. Paired with a sweet potato mash and topped with a bit of shredded coconut, it's exactly the sorta sweet dinner you'll be craving the very end of your Whole30 journey. Get the recipe here.
https://www.eatingbirdfood.com9Ratatouille from Eating Bird Food
Vegetarian and Whole30-approved, this vegetable-filled dish will make you feel like you're dining in the south of France. And it's one of the rare completely vegetarian Whole30 recipes out there. Pair it with any shredded, meal-prepped pork or chicken you might have made earlier in the week. Get the recipe here.
http://www.foodiecrush.com10Slow-Cooker Whole Chicken from Foodie Crush
Yes you can cook a whole bird in a slow-cooker and it really isn't that hard. Foodie Crush says the secret is to stack the chicken on top of a layer of vegetables. That way, it won't burn, and the vegetables will infuse the chicken with a delicious aroma from underneath. Get the recipe here.
Tiffany Azure via lecremedelacrumb.com11Mediterranean Chicken from Creme de la Crumb
Bright and briny thanks to capers, roasted red peppers, and kalamata olives, this chicken dish is one that you'll want to keep eating long after you're finished with Whole30. Pair it with a hearty roasted vegetable (like cauliflower and broccoli) for a full and satisfying meal. Get the recipe here.
http://meljoulwan.com125-Spice Pork Ribs from Well Fed
Who says you can't have ribs on a weeknight? This slow-cooker-friendly recipe will make all your saucy BBQ dreams come true. The sauce is made from a flavorful blend of Chinese 5-spice powder, garlic powder, rice vinegar, and tomato paste, and jalapeños, and it packs a very powerful punch. Get the recipe here.
http://www.wellplated.com13Chicken Curry from Well Plated
The chicken in this dish is just the right amount tender thanks to the fact that it's slow-cooked in coconut milk. Skip the rice if you want to keep this dish Whole30 compliant and instead serve it with a side of starchy roasted veggies like sweet potatoes. Get the recipe here.
http://nomnompaleo.com14Lemongrass and Coconut Chicken Drumsticks from Nom Nom Paleo
There is no such thing as too many slow-cooker chicken recipes, and this dish proves it. Citrusy, aromatic, and totally alluring, you're going to want to make these legs every night. But don't eat them all alone—try them with a bed of roasted veggies for a full meal. Get the recipe here.
Keri Bouika via fashionablefoods.com15Chipotle Pulled Pork from Fashionable Foods
Back at it again with the pulled pork. In this spicy recipe, Fashionable Foods uses a sprinkle of chipotle powder, as well as a bit of paprika, cumin, and oregano to deliver an excellent smoky punch. Eat it in lettuce leaves for something like a taco. Get the recipe here.
https://paleoleap.com16Herb Mushrooms from Paleo Leap
These tender 'shrooms are slow-cooked in ghee, a type of clarified butter that's totally free of milk solids and therefore completely Whole30-approved. So yeah, these bad boys are bonkers. Try eating them with one of the other slow-cooked meat recipes in this roundup for a meal that really fills you up. Get the recipe here.
https://nomnompaleo.com17Korean Short Ribs from Nom Nom Paleo
These short ribs are the perfect combination of sweet and savory. Instead of added sugar, Nom Nom Paleo uses Asian pears to sweeten the recipe. A bit of ginger adds some heat, while coconut vinegar and fish sauce kick up the savory aspects. Try it with a side of roasted veggies. Get the recipe here.
https://meljoulwan.com18Italian Roast Pork from Well Fed
This incredibly delicious and tender roast pork recipe comes together with only four ingredients: pork shoulder, salt, garlic, and a store-bought dried herb mix. It's a great addition to all sorts of Whole30-friendly meals, and it's perfect for meal prep because it makes a bunch of servings and it's easy to pack up. Get the recipe here.
https://fashionablefoods.com19Pot Roast With Mashed Sweet Potatoes from Fashionable Foods
Mashed sweet potatoes might just be the most genius thing we've heard of all year. Topped with this super tender, slow-cooked pot roast, it's the perfect meal to get you through cold winter nights. Store what you don't eat in the freezer so you have a hygge-perfect meal whenever the mood calls for it. Get the recipe here.
https://cookeatpaleo.com20Turkey Bolognese With Zucchini Noodles from Cook Eat Paleo
Even when you're doing Whole30, it can be hard to go the whole time without eating a big bowl of red sauce. If you know zucchini noodles won't be enough to fill you up, though, serve this sauce over a bowl of something a little heartier, like meatballs or mashed potatoes. Get the recipe here.
https://cookeatpaleo.com/21Sesame Beef from Cook Eat Paleo
No need to marinate these tender cuts of beef—you get the same effect by letting them cook in the slow-cooker for more than eight hours. Before you serve this dish, definitely don't skimp on the flavorful sesame sauce, and be sure to serve them with a side of vegetables. Get the recipe here.
https://therealfoodrds.com22Chicken Sloppy Joe Sliders from The Real Food Dietitians
That sandwich may look like it's made of two slices of bread, but those are actually two slices of sweet potatoes. The Real Food Dietitians make the Sloppy Joe filling taste like the real deal by using a few chopped dates instead of added sugar to sweeten it. Get the recipe here.
https://therealfoodrds.com23Picadillo from The Real Food Dietitians
This Spanish dish is basically ground beef cooked with olives, tomatoes, spices like cumin, herbs like oregano, and a bit of raisins for a touch of sweetness. It's best served over a bed of rice, but if you're doing Whole30 you'll want to swap in something that isn't off limits, like plantain chips or finely chopped cauliflower. Get the recipe here.
https://www.cottercrunch.com/24Vegetable Soup With Ham from Cotter Crunch
If you're unfamiliar with cooking with parsnips, this recipe is a great crash course. The root vegetable is slightly sweet and creamy when blended, and it pairs well with creamy ingredients, in this case a bit of almond milk. And it's perfect when paired with salty ham like it is here. Get the recipe here.
https://paleoleap.com25Cabbage Casserole from Paleo Leap
Like a classic cabbage casserole, this one is packed with ground beef, tomatoes, onions, and lots of herbs. Paleo Leap uses finely chopped cauliflower in place of the rice you'd normally find, and it's just as delicious. Not to mention, it'll easily help you use up that whole cabbage head in your fridge crisper drawer. Get the recipe here.
https://paleoleap.com26Breakfast Casserole from Paleo Leap
Just because this is called a breakfast casserole doesn't mean you can only eat it at breakfast. It's totally delicious for lunch or dinner, too! Stuffed with eggs, sausages, mushrooms, peppers, and sweet potatoes, it'll fill you up and definitely keep you full until your next meal. Get the recipe here.
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