Slow Cooker Recipes Under 300 Calories

Updated October 07, 2010
Credit: Mark Thomas; Styling: Lynn Miller

With 300 calories or less, these light entrees deliver the kind of deep, rich flavors that come from cooking low and slow.

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Sweet and Spicy Satsuma Turkey

Credit: Oxmoor House

Sweet and Spicy Satsuma Turkey Recipe

Fresh mandarin oranges, riesling, and orange marmalade provide the highlights for the sweet profile, while crushed red pepper adds the spicy kick to this Asian-inspired turkey dish. Serve with hot steamed rice as an accompaniment to soak up the delicious sauce.

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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Bourbon-Peach Barbecue Sauce

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Bourbon-Peach Barbecue Sauce Recipe

Smoked paprika comes from a centuries-old tradition in which chile peppers are slowly dried over low-burning fires of Spanish oak and then ground into powder. In the slow cooker, this earthy, aromatic spice adds outdoor smoked barbecue flavor.

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Santa Fe Black Beans

Credit: Oxmoor House

Santa Fe Black Beans Recipe

Black beans are a staple side to any Mexican dish. Serve these beans warm and tender after 10 hours in the slow cooker.

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Chicken Enchilada Stack

Credit: Oxmoor House

Chicken Enchilada Stack Recipe

You can enjoy the flavor and texture of enchiladas in a slow cooker; just stack the tortillas instead of rolling them. We suggest lining your slow cooker with a slow-cooker bag so you can easily remove the stack from the cooker.

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Amaretti Cheesecake

Credit: Oxmoor House

Amaretti Cheesecake Recipe

Cheesecake in a slow cooker is a brilliant idea for a heavenly fall dessert. Top with fresh raspberries to complete your sweet treat.

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Smoked Sausage Cassoulet

Credit: Oxmoor House

Smoked Sausage Cassoulet Recipe

For a thicker consistency, let the cassoulet stand 30 minutes before serving.

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Balsamic Collard Greens

Credit: Oxmoor House

Balsamic Collard Greens Recipe

Serve these greens with pork tenderloin and garlic mashed potatoes.

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Bolognese

Credit: Oxmoor House

Bolognese Recipe

Spoon this savory Italian meat sauce over any pasta of your choice. We love the long, ribbon-style pappardelle.

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Maple-Hazelnut Oatmeal

Credit: Oxmoor House

Maple-Hazelnut Oatmeal Recipe

The soothing aroma of fresh oatmeal is the ultimate comfort food. Savor happiness in a bowl with the flavors of brown sugar, cinnamon, and maple syrup topped with chopped hazelnuts and apples.

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Plum Pork Tenderloin

Credit: Oxmoor House

Plum Pork Tenderloin Recipe

Serve with jasmine rice to help soak up some of the sauce. Snow peas make a great side dish for rounding out your meal.

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Herb and Sausage-Stuffed Peppers

Credit: Oxmoor House

Herb and Sausage-Stuffed Peppers Recipe

You can set up this recipe in less than fifteen minutes, turn on the slow cooker, and go. Come back in four hours, and your supper will be ready.

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Pineapple-Coconut Tapioca

Credit: Oxmoor House

Pineapple-Coconut Tapioca Recipe

Small pearl tapioca combined with coconut milk and fresh pineapple makes a simple tropics-inspired treat. The key to success is using small pearl tapioca, not instant or minute tapioca. Fresh mango or papaya works equally well as a substitute for the fresh pineapple.

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Chicken Thighs with Olives and Tomato Sauce

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Chicken Thighs with Olives and Tomato Sauce Recipe

Chicken thighs take on rustic, bold Italian flavor notes with just a few pantry staples including canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and white wine. Just before serving, add Kalamata olives and fresh parsley to finish things off on a rich note.

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Double Apple Cake

Credit: Oxmoor House

Double Apple Cake Recipe

If you’re an apple lover, look no further for dessert than this tasty cake recipe. With only 1 to 1/2 hours in the slow cooker, this apple cake is the perfect, mouth-watering treat.

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Chunky Applesauce

Credit: Oxmoor House

Chunky Applesauce Recipe

We left the skins on the McIntosh apples to provide texture and color to this favorite fruit dish.

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Buffalo-Style Drummettes with Blue Cheese Dip

Credit: Oxmoor House

Buffalo-Style Drummettes with Blue Cheese Dip Recipe

Heating the chicken drummettes in the oven helps to brown them. You can also brown them, in batches, in a skillet on the cooktop.

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Slow-Cooker Barbecue Chicken

Credit: Kate Mathis; Styling: Paul Grimes

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Chicken Recipe

Cook chicken breasts in a mixture of bottle barbecue sauce, Italian dressing, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce for a sweet and tangy barbecue chicken that’s great on a bun over even over a baked potato.

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Chilaquiles

Credit: Oxmoor House

Chilaquiles Recipe

Before there were nachos, there were chilaquiles. Tomatoes and spices simmer with any kind of meat to make the ideal topping for tortilla chips. Here, chipotle, chicken, and cilantro meld in this filling Mexican favorite.

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Berry-Lemonade Tea

Credit: Oxmoor House

Berry-Lemonade Tea Recipe

Here's a refreshingly fruity mix of tea and lemonade that is delicious hot or cold--depending on the season. You can even spike it!

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Potato Soup

Credit: Oxmoor House

Potato Soup Recipe

This classic soup gets a double hit of cheese--stirred into the soup and sprinkled over the top.

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Mediterranean Chicken

Credit: Oxmoor House

Mediterranean Chicken Recipe

Capturing the simplicity found in sun-drenched Mediterranean cuisine, these braised chicken thighs melt under the influence of bright, vibrant lemon, briny olives and capers, and juicy plum tomatoes. Serve with rosemary mashed potatoes or over hot basmati rice.

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Beer-Braised Beef

Credit: Oxmoor House

Beer-Braised Beef Recipe

It’s hard to believe that seven ingredients, including the unusual additions of molasses and light beer, can create such fork-tender top round steak. Serve this quintessential comfort food over mashed potatoes, polenta, or egg noodles.

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Slow Cooker Veggie Chili

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Buffy Hargett; Vanessa McNeil Rocchio

Slow Cooker Veggie Chili Recipe

A colorful combo of canned, frozen, and fresh vegetables, this hearty meatless chili is one of our most popular. Serve toppings alongside for a chili bar: low-fat sour cream, low-fat cheddar, green onions, and minced jalapeño.

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Easy Beef Osso Buco

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Easy Beef Osso Buco Recipe

Brimming with rich, deep flavors, Easy Beef Osso Buco is a slow cooker classic. With just 30 minutes of preparation in the morning, this warm stew cooks in 8 hours while you are at work or running errands throughout the day and is ready to eat when you get home.

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Poblano Corn Pudding

Credit: Oxmoor House

Poblano Corn Pudding Recipe

Guaranteed to heat up any meal, this corn pudding is a tasty menu item for a Mexican-themed buffet.

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Provençal Beef Stew

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Provençal Beef Stew Recipe

For deep French flavor without a lot of effort, this stew steeps boneless chuck roast with tomato paste, vegetables, spices, and a little bit of red wine. To keep the lid on carbs and calories, potatoes are left out of the mix.

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Black Bean Soup

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Black Bean Soup Recipe

For days when you feel lazy, this easy black bean soup lets the slow cooker build that “made from scratch” flavor with dried beans and traditional seasonings. Not fond of spicy dishes? Use Anaheim chile instead of serrano.

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Rosemary Chicken Noodle Soup

Credit: Oxmoor House

Rosemary Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Light and dark meat chicken and vegetables simmer in broth with baby spinach, onions, and celery for a different twist on a classic. A splash of lemon juice and a sprinkle of rosemary help give this soup “fresh off the stovetop” flavor.

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Slow-Cooker Meatloaf with Shiitake Mushrooms

Credit: Photography: Karry Hosford

Slow-Cooker Meatloaf with Shiitake Mushrooms Recipe

A mixture of ground round, turkey, and meaty shiitake mushrooms, this easy meatloaf saves the mess and fuss of lighting the oven. Use leftovers for sandwiches or to create flavorful stuffed bell peppers.

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White Bean and Chicken Chili

Credit: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford

White Bean and Chicken Chili Recipe

One of those “killer” recipes that will wow any crowd, this nine-ingredient chili relies on pantry staples including canned white beans, broth, and roasted chilies. To build rich flavor, the chicken and onions are browned first in a skillet with garlic and cumin.

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Slow Cooker Char Siu Pork Roast

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Slow Cooker Char Siu Pork Roast Recipe

Boston pork butt roast becomes meltingly tender in a bath of Chinese barbecue flavors including five spice powder and hoisin sauce. Add a side of steamed rice or serve it on a hot dog bun and you’ll still stay under 300 calories.

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Thai Red Curry Beef

Credit: Oxmoor House

Thai Red Curry Beef Recipe

Jalapeño seeds add a slight kick to this Thai beef dish. If you want to decrease the heat, seed the jalapeño before mincing.

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Slow-Cooker Blood Orange Fizzy Mulled Wine

Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart

Slow-Cooker Blood Orange Fizzy Mulled Wine Recipe

The slow cooker offers great convenience here, keeping the stovetop open for meal prep. With only five minutes of work on your end, this technique is the perfect go–to recipe when you’re craving a warming cocktail in the cooler months.

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Rosemary Slow-Cooker Chicken

Credit: Kate Sears; Styling: Elizabeth Blake

Rosemary Slow-Cooker Chicken Recipe

Perfectly seasoned and incredibly moist, this chicken is the perfect solution to a comforting homemade meal without all of the work standing over the stove. We suggest you serve with mashed sweet potatoes.

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