|August 27, 2021

14 Keto Slow Cooker Recipes for Hands-off Cooking

By Julie Hand
Reviewed for Scientific Accuracy

14 Keto Slow Cooker Recipes for Hands-off Cooking

Slow cooker recipes are the ultimate solution for hands-off cooking. If you need an easy weeknight dinner that fits a keto diet, nothing beats having a batch of shredded chicken breasts for easy lettuce wraps, a keto taco casserole for emergency comfort food or saucy meatballs to enjoy with zoodles.

These keto low-carb meals are high-fat and high-flavor, but made without potentially inflammatory ingredients like cream cheese and artificial flavors. The only problem you’ll have is picking which keto-friendly recipe to cook first.

14 keto slow cooker recipes

Slow Cooker Pot Roast and Brussels Sprouts Recipe

This easy low-carb recipe recipe offers a simple, refined take on the traditional pot roast. Because brussels sprouts contain oxalates—compounds in plants that can cause health problems—it’s best to cook them to minimize any discomfort. Slow cooking is a great way to reap their numerous benefits: high levels of potassium, folate, vitamin C, calcium, fiber and iron.

Crockpot Steak Bites

Crockpot steak bites
Image via Stockpiling Moms

This recipe features keto and low-carb steak with only a handful of other ingredients, so it’s super easy (and tasty) to make. If you have it handy, use homemade bone broth instead of beef broth. And if butter beckons you, this recipe has your name on it.

Keto Beef and Pumpkin Stew

Keto Beef and Pumpkin Stew
Image via Recipe This

While pumpkin gives this recipe its sweet and creamy flavor, other veggies suffice if you can’t find pumpkin or it’s out of season. Carrots and zucchini make great alternatives. The slow-cooked beef is the highlight of this recipe. Seasoned with aromatics like rosemary and thyme, this recipe is pure comfort food. (Heads up: Stews reheat well, which makes this recipe great for meal prep!)

Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

Keto slow cooker beef and broccoli
Image via Wicked Stuffed

A keto take on classic beef and broccoli, this recipe weighs in at only 3 net carbs, 54 grams of protein and 19 wholesome grams of fat. Pair it with cauliflower rice for a slow cooker low-carb meal that tastes better than takeout.

Related: 12 Takeout-Inspired Recipes for Fast, Delicious Meals at Home

Bacon Cabbage Chuck Beef Stew

Slow cooker stew with bacon, beef and cabbage
Image via The Nourished Caveman

Some veggies turn to mush after long cooking times, but cabbage is a delicious and nutritious exception. This veggie is loaded with fiber, vitamins and minerals like vitamin K, C, B6, manganese and copper. Add this stew to your meal plan for a satisfying, stick-to-your bones dinner without all the carbs.

Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

Keto crockpot chicken fajitas and peppers
Image via Stockpiling Moms

The secret to this Mexican-inspired recipe is all about how you dress up your fajitas. Keep it keto-friendly with lettuce wraps or top a burrito bowl with your chicken and veggies. Alternatively, keep it low-carb and gluten-free with a batch of cauliflower tortillas from this recipe. Garnish with guacamole for an extra kick of flavor. Here’s a great Bulletproof Guacamole recipe that will do the trick.

Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken

Slow cooker jerk chicken recipe
Image via Dinner Then Dessert

This recipe takes tender to new heights. Jerk chicken is typically rubbed with dry seasoning, then grilled. But you’ll find that slow cooking jerk chicken enhances the flavor and juiciness amazingly well. Just whip up a flavorful sauce in the blender or food processor, then pour over browned chicken thighs. You’ll have an easy slow cooker chicken dinner that fits a ketogenic diet (and satisfies tastebuds, too).

2 Ingredient Whole Chicken

Whole chicken in a slow cooker
Image via Stockpiling Moms

This chicken recipe is super simple, but still delivers maximum flavor. Coat your chicken with olive oil, or use Bulletproof Grass-Fed Ghee for a deliciously buttery flavor. This is another meal prep-friendly recipe that fits a range of diets, including the ketogenic diet—with tender, moist chicken prepped and ready to go, you’re one step closer to quick chicken salads and lettuce wraps.

Slow Cooker Bacon Chicken

Slow cooker bacon chicken and cucumber
Image via Paleo Flourish

It’s a not-so-scientific fact that bacon makes the best keto crockpot recipes even better. This recipe combines boneless chicken breasts, bacon and seasoning to create a shreddable, flavorful main dish. Serve it with a keto-friendly side dish like roasted brussels sprouts or Keto Cobb Salad.

Slow Cooker Coconut Turmeric Chicken

Coconut turmeric chicken on white plate
Image via Meal Garden

Coconut and turmeric are a perfect match, and this dish is no exception. While this recipe calls for the whole bird, you can also use a mix of chicken thighs and breasts. Serve your chicken with cauliflower rice or Mashed Turnips, or keep it simple with steamed veggies on the side.

Crockpot Spaghetti Squash

Cooked spaghetti squash
Image via Stockpiling Moms

Arguably the easiest way to make spaghetti squash, this recipe only requires the vegetable and some water. It takes five mins to prep, then about six hours in the slow cooker. You can make it on Sunday, then rest assured you’ll have your low-carb starches covered for the entire week. Pair it with this simple meat sauce made from ground beef.

Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken 

Slow cooker Instant Pot lemon chicken
Image via Fit Slow Cooker Queen

Lemon, butter and basil—a perfect medley that’s entirely delicious (and paleo, keto and Whole30-friendly). The zesty, fresh flavor and tender texture of this recipe make it unique. If you want a set-it-and-forget-it dinner that tastes like a five-star meal, one is a home run. And if you’re tight on time, this recipe also features instructions for electric pressure cooker/Instant Pot cooking

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

Slow cooker buffalo chicken
Image via Whole Kitchen Sink

Featuring ghee, buffalo sauce and boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders, this recipe is big on flavor without requiring a ton of prep work. Enjoy this buffalo chicken recipe in a salad, wrap or even buffalo chicken tacos for a next-level lunch or dinner (with low-carb taco shells, naturally).

Keto Chili

Slow cooker keto chili recipe
Image via That Low Carb Life

You won’t miss the beans in this keto chili recipe. Let the ground beef slow-cook in the background for a few hours, and you’ll be rewarded with a satisfying, meaty main dish that feeds a crowd.

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This is an updated version of an article originally published March 2018.