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Home Recipe Round-Ups

20+ High Protein Slow Cooker Recipes

By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 2/21/25Updated: 4/7/25

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for family-friendly dinners that boost your protein intake, you’re in the right place! This list of high protein slow cooker recipes is packed with delicious, well-tested recipes with 15-25 grams of protein per serving.

various slow cooker recipes that are high in protein. this …


 

About These High Protein Crock Pot Recipes

  • They’re easy, delicious, and made with mostly whole food, recognizable ingredients. Most of them also include freezer meal instructions (our speciality).
  • Many of these recipes come from our slow cooker cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker, which means they’re super well-tested.
  • Each one has 15-25 grams of protein per serving (sometimes more), which is at least 20% to 25% of the daily protein needs for most adults according to our friends over at The Real Food Dietitians.
  • Our pal and dietitian Hannah Holzum from Wholesome Nutrition Co says, “I believe that at least 25% of the calories in a food should come from protein to be called ‘high protein’.” She shares more about why protein is important as we age and gives tips for adding in more protein on her podcast.
  • We did our best to follow these dietitians’ guidelines in the high protein meal prep recipes we selected below.

High Protein Slow Cooker Recipes

Turkey and sweet potato chili in a slow cooker with chopped chives on top.

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili with Sweet Potatoes

This lean, healthy slow cooker turkey chili is not only hearty and absolutely delicious, but it’s also chock full of fiber, protein, and nutrients. It’s also gluten-free & dairy-free! This crockpot chili is delicious and fresh but is also a great make-ahead meal.

You can also make this as Instant Pot Turkey Chili or Stovetop Turkey Chili.

Easy Turkey Chili
Three carnitas tacos on a plate with toppings in bowls in the background.

Slow Cooker Carnitas

This is the type of recipe our readers go crazy over. Slow Cooker Carnitas are a dump-and-go crock pot meal that is easy, freezes well before or after cooking, and feeds an army. Give the tender, shredded meat at the end for that extra crisp!

Carnitas
Balsamic shredded beef served over polenta.

Balsamic Shredded Beef

Slow Cooker Shredded Balsamic Beef might be the easiest and very best slow cooker meal I’ve ever made for my family. You simply can’t beat the aroma of slow cooked chuck roast. It’s one of the best dump-and-go meals you’ll find!

Balsamic Shredded Beef
A slice of crockpot breakfast casserole with ham and gruyere on a spatula to be served.

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole with Bacon and Gruyere

Friends and family will oooh and ahhhh over this gourmet Crockpot Breakfast Casserole that includes bacon, Gruyere cheese, and a host of colorful veggies. Our well-tested method yields a perfectly cooked, mouthwatering casserole for Christmas breakfast, Easter lunch, or dinner for a group!

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
Instant Pot teriyaki chicken thighs on a grey plate garnished with sliced green onion.

Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Thighs are easy, tasty, freezer-friendly, and made in the Crock Pot. Shred up those tender chicken thighs and serve it over rice for a delicious, filling dinner. For a dump-and-go freezer meal, it doesn’t get much better!

Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
BBQ chicken sliders on a cutting board.

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sliders

With three simple steps, you’ll have this finger-licking good BBQ Chicken Sliders recipe on the table. Make it in the crock pot or Instant Pot as a dump-and-go meal. Be sure to double and freeze the recipe to save your future self time!

BBQ Chicken Sliders
Three shredded beef tacos served on a plate with bowls of lettuce, salsa, and shredded cheese next to it.

Shredded Beef Tacos

With only 6 main ingredients, you can have this “dump-and-go” recipe of easy Shredded Beef Tacos into your crock pot or Instant Pot in minutes. This Mexican-inspired shredded beef will fall apart after cooking and pack so much flavor into each taco.

Shredded Beef Tacos
A platter of honey bourbon chicken served on top of rice with stir-fried veggies.

Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Chicken

A little sweet and a little spicy, our EASY Crock Pot Honey Bourbon Chicken recipe is BIG on flavor and a dump-and-go meal. This fan-favorite is made with simple ingredients and is freezer-friendly.

You can also make Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken!

Honey Bourbon Chicken
A bowl of beef bourguignon with crusty bread on the side.

Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

A slow cooker spin on a classic, rustic French stew. While this rich, melt-in-your mouth Crock Pot Beef Bourguignon is easy to make, it results in an impressive cold weather dinner or holiday dish.

Or try our Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon for a faster version.

Beef Bourguignon
Mexican Chicken served in a white bowl with avocado chunks, shredded cheese, and chopped cilantro on top.

Crockpot Mexican Chicken

This creamy, comforting Crockpot Mexican Chicken makes for a delicious, healthy, and EASY meal. Serve over brown rice or Cilantro Lime Rice with your favorite Mexican toppings. Freezer meal instructions included, so you can double the batch and have another later.

Or, try our Instant Pot Mexican Chicken recipe instead.

Mexican Chicken
Two white bowls of lemon chicken orzo soup with crusty bread on the side.

Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup

Featured in People Magazine, this colorful, healthy lemon chicken orzo soup can be made in either the slow cooker or Instant Pot.

Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup
Steak chili in a bowl with toppings to the side.

Slow Cooker Steak Chili

A dump-and-go steak chili recipe with stew meat that is hearty, mouthwatering, and deeply flavorful. Simply dump all the ingredients in a crock pot and let it slow cook all day. The result is a slightly spicy, fall-apart tender, slow cooker steak chili you’ll love coming home to!

Or try our Instant Pot Steak Chili instead.

Steak Chili
BBQ chicken drumsticks lined up with bowls of ranch and BBQ sauce on the baking sheet too.

Crockpot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Our Crockpot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are sticky, sweet, and just a little spicy. Drumsticks made in the slow cooker are economical, kid-friendly, and tasty. The secret to making these crispy is giving them a few minutes under the broiler at the end.

BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken parmesan sliders on a cutting board.

Chicken Parmesan Sliders

Say hello to one of our easiest recipes: Chicken Parmesan Sliders. Throw a few ingredients into the crockpot (or Instant Pot), and you’ll have a family-favorite dinner for a busy night.

Chicken Parmesan Sliders
A Greek pork pitas with cucumber, tomato, and tzatziki sauce.

Greek Pitas with Pulled Pork

Both picky and adventurous eaters will go for this Mediterranean spin on pulled pork. Greek Pitas with pulled pork are made in the slow cooker or the Instant Pot. They can also be prepped ahead and made into a freezer meal!

Greek Pitas with Pulled Pork
Whole chicken on top of cooked carrots and potatoes on a platter.

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken and Veggies

An easy and healthy weeknight dinner that can stretch a buck. Put this one on your repeat list.

Whole Chicken and Veggies
Chicken Taquitos piled on a serving platter with avocado lime salsa on top.

Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Our easy, creamy Slow Cooker Chicken Taquitos are kid-friendly, freezer-friendly, and absolutely delicious! After the chicken mixture is seasoned and cooked to perfection in the crockpot, it’s wrapped up in a flour tortilla with cheese and baked until melty and crispy.

You can also make these as Instant Pot Chicken Taquitos or Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos.

Chicken Taquitos
Baked chicken drumsticks on a plate with broccoli and mashed potatoes.

5-Ingredient Crockpot Drumsticks

Our Crockpot Drumsticks require only 4 pantry ingredients and come out moist and delicious every time. Not only are they gluten-free and dairy-free but they work great as a make-ahead freezer meal too. All ages love these.

Crockpot Drumsticks
French dip sandwiches on a baking sheet with a crock of au jus.

Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches

There’s no getting around the truth–this dump-and-go Crockpot French Dip Sandwich recipe is absolutely mouthwatering! Perfect for busy nights or to serve to groups. As always, we’ll show you how to prep this meal ahead for the freezer, too.

Or try making Instant Pot French Dip instead.

French Dip Sandwiches
Baby back ribs on a cutting board with extra sauce on the side.

Crockpot Baby Back Ribs

These baby back ribs are legit! You don’t need a smoker or to heat up your kitchen with the oven for hours. Your slow cooker and a few minutes under the broiler will do all the hard work for you, resulting in fall-off-the-bone, caramelized BBQ pork ribs.

Or try our Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs instead.

Baby Back Ribs
Three bowls of white chicken chili with avocado slices, sour cream, tortilla strips, fresh cilantro, and shredded cheese on top.

Crockpot White Chicken Chili

This healthy Crockpot White Chicken Chili recipe is a little lighter than others yet still so comforting and packed with flavor! It’s also gluten-free, dairy-free, and freezer-friendly. You may also like our healthy Chicken Taco Soup or Instant Pot White Chicken Chili, too.

White Chicken Chili
Pot roast on a platter with potatoes and carrots.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

This Slow Cooker Pot Roast yields a tender, shredded chuck roast with baby Yukon gold potatoes and carrots smothered in a velvety, complex-tasting brown gravy. No cream soups or gravy packets here! Just real food goodness that’ll have you asking for seconds!

Pot Roast
Pulled Pork sandwich and coleslaw on a plate with a small bowl of homemade BBQ sauce next to it.

Crockpot Pulled Pork

With only 5 ingredients, this Crock Pot Pulled Pork recipe a great weeknight meal (that will leave you with leftovers) or an easy meal for a large group. It just takes minutes to throw in the slow cooker and then hours later yields a flavorful, fall-apart-tender shredded pork.

You may want to try our Instant Pot Pulled Pork or Smoked Pork Shoulder instead.

Pulled Pork

We hope these high protein slow cooker ideas make your family’s life a little easier and tastier, while meeting your protein goals for the day.

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Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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