10+ High Protein Crockpot Recipes to Keep You Fueled and Happy

If you’re after easy, protein-rich meals, high protein crockpot recipes are honestly a lifesaver. Toss everything in, walk away, and let the magic happen while you do, well, anything else.

High protein crockpot meals fuel your day with those key nutrients, and you don’t have to camp out in the kitchen.

Using a crockpot lets you throw together simple ingredients and end up with something that actually keeps you full. Whether it’s just you or a whole crew, these recipes fit into a packed schedule and help keep your diet on track.

Slow cooking really brings out the flavors, and you barely have to lift a finger.

1) Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

This honey garlic chicken is as straightforward as it gets and has plenty of protein. Chicken thighs or breasts both work, and the sauce is that perfect mix of sweet and savory.

Let it cook slowly—your chicken will turn out tender and juicy every time.

You only need a handful of ingredients. On those days when you don’t want to think about dinner, this one’s a winner.

That sticky honey garlic sauce clings to the chicken, so every bite packs a punch. Serve it up with rice or veggies and you’ve got a full meal.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs or breasts
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken in the slow cooker.
2. Mix honey, soy sauce, garlic, and vinegar in a bowl.
3. Pour sauce over the chicken.
4. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
5. Check chicken for doneness and season with salt and pepper.
6. Serve warm.

2) High Protein Crockpot Chili Mac

This chili mac is hearty, filling, and honestly just easy. You get all the comfort of slow-cooked beef chili mixed with cheesy, protein-packed mac.

Each serving clocks in at around 37 grams of protein, so it’s great if you’re aiming to stay full and fueled.

Just toss everything in your crockpot and let it do its thing. At the end, you get a warm bowl of ground beef, cheese, pasta, and chili spices.

It’s quick to throw together and perfect for those days when you don’t want to fuss over dinner.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 1 can chili beans
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain excess fat.
2. Add beef, macaroni, beans, tomatoes, broth, and spices to crockpot.
3. Stir well and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
4. About 30 minutes before serving, stir in cheese until melted.
5. Serve warm and enjoy.

More details are available at Masonfit High Protein Crockpot Chili Mac.

3) Slow Cooker Burrito Bowls

Burrito bowls in the slow cooker? Yes, please. You get a high-protein meal with almost no effort.

Chicken, beans, corn, and rice all cook together in one pot. The flavors blend while the slow cooker works away, and you end up with super tender chicken and perfectly seasoned rice.

Top it with avocado, salsa, or maybe a drizzle of cilantro lime dressing. It’s a total time-saver and works great for meal prep.

You just need basic ingredients and a little patience while everything cooks. The result? A nutritious, filling bowl you’ll want to make again.

Ingredients:

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• Brown rice
• Black beans
• Corn
• Diced tomatoes
• Chili powder
• Cumin
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• Optional: avocado, cilantro lime sauce

Cooking Instructions:

1. Add chicken, rice, beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and spices to the slow cooker.
2. Stir everything together.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
4. Shred the chicken with forks.
5. Serve with your choice of toppings.

4) Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

Orange chicken in a slow cooker is a total game changer for busy days. The chicken cooks slowly, turning out super tender and juicy, and soaks up all that sweet, tangy orange sauce.

Prep takes maybe ten minutes, then you let the crockpot do the heavy lifting. The sauce is just orange juice, honey, and a little vinegar for balance.

It’s lighter than takeout but still tastes amazing. Serve it with rice or veggies—honestly, whatever you have on hand works.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken stock
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: minced garlic and soy sauce for extra flavor

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
2. Mix orange juice, honey, rice vinegar, chicken stock, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
3. Pour sauce over the chicken.
4. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
5. Remove chicken and shred or leave whole.
6. Stir sauce, then return chicken to coat well.
7. Serve warm with your favorite sides.

Find more details in this slow cooker orange chicken recipe.

5) Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Salsa chicken in the slow cooker is as easy as it gets. Just toss chicken breasts in, pour over salsa, sprinkle on some spices, and walk away.

It’s a true dump-and-go recipe. The chicken stays juicy and picks up all the salsa flavor.

This dish is perfect for tacos, salads, or burritos—whatever you’re in the mood for. Add chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, and onion powder if you want a little extra kick.

After a few hours, you’ve got a healthy meal ready to go. It’s great for meal prep and super flexible.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 to 1.5 cups salsa
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon onion powder

Cooking Instructions

1. Place the chicken breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Sprinkle chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, and onion powder over the chicken.
3. Pour salsa evenly on top.
4. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours or high for 2.5 hours.
5. Check that chicken is fully cooked and shred if desired.

Find more details on this slow cooker salsa chicken recipe.

6) Pulled Beef Chili

Pulled beef chili is one of those high-protein meals that’s way easier than it looks. The beef cooks low and slow until it’s fall-apart tender.

You just need beef, some spices, and tomatoes—nothing fancy. Let everything simmer away and you’ll come back to a pot of rich, hearty chili.

The beef soaks up all those chili flavors, making every bite awesome.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef chuck roast
• 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Place the beef in your crockpot.
2. Add diced tomatoes, beans, onion, and garlic on top.
3. Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper over everything.
4. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
5. Remove beef and shred with two forks.
6. Stir shredded beef back into the sauce. Serve warm.

This recipe is similar to a slow cooker shredded beef chili you can try.

7) Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs with Vegetables

Chicken thighs and veggies in the slow cooker make the whole kitchen smell amazing. You get juicy chicken and a medley of carrots, potatoes, and green beans.

No need to add extra liquid—the veggies and chicken create their own while cooking. Just set it and come back to dinner that’s ready to go.

Chicken thighs stay juicy and the veggies soak up all those good flavors. It’s a balanced, high-protein meal that’s hard to mess up.

Ingredients

• 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 3 large carrots, cut into chunks
• 4 medium potatoes, cubed
• 1 cup green beans, trimmed
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Place carrots, potatoes, and green beans in the slow cooker.
2. Season chicken thighs with salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, and garlic.
3. Place chicken on top of vegetables.
4. Cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
5. Check that chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender before serving.

For more details, see slow cooker chicken thighs with vegetables recipe.

8) Slow Cooker Black Bean and Quinoa Stew

This stew is a solid option if you want a high-protein meal that’s actually simple. Black beans and quinoa both bring the protein, so you stay full and energized.

Just add everything—beans, quinoa, spices, broth—to your slow cooker. Let it cook low and slow, and that’s about it.

You can toss in extras like sweet potatoes or corn if you’re feeling it. This stew is cozy and works for any night of the week.

Ingredients

• 1 cup black beans (cooked or canned)
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 1 sweet potato, diced
• 1 cup corn kernels
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.

2. Stir everything together.

3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or if you’re in a rush, high for 3-4 hours.

4. Give it another stir before serving.

5. Taste and add salt if you think it needs it.

You can check out a more detailed recipe at Slow Cooker Black Bean and Quinoa Stew.

9) Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Making turkey meatballs in the slow cooker is surprisingly easy. They turn out juicy and flavorful, soaking up the tomato sauce as they cook.

No need to brown the meatballs first—just drop them right into the sauce. That’s less mess and less time.

Garlic, onions, and herbs go in too, and honestly, that’s where the magic happens. Everything gets a fresh, herby kick without any extra fuss.

After a few hours, you’ll have tender meatballs ready to eat.

This dish packs in protein and goes great with pasta or veggies. It’s a healthy, low-effort dinner that feels pretty satisfying.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds ground turkey
• ¼ cup minced onion
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 ¼ cups Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon Italian-style salad dressing
• 3 cups tomato sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix the turkey, onion, garlic, bread crumbs, salad dressing, salt, and pepper in a bowl.

2. Roll the mixture into small meatballs. Set them in the slow cooker.

3. Pour the tomato sauce right over the meatballs.

4. Cook on low for 5-6 hours, or high for 3-4 hours.

5. Serve hot, maybe with your favorite side.

Find more details at slow cooker turkey meatballs in tomato sauce.

10) Slow Cooker Lentil and Sausage Soup

This soup is honestly one of the easiest ways to get a hearty meal on the table. Lentils bring the fiber and protein, while Italian sausage adds a lot of flavor—especially with those fennel and garlic notes.

Just toss sausage, lentils, carrots, onions, and broth into your crockpot.

Let it go on low for hours, and by the end, everything’s soft and the flavors have melded together.

The slow cooker does all the work, so you can just set it up and forget about it.

On a chilly night, coming home to this is pretty comforting.

Ingredients

• 1 pound Italian sausage, removed from casing
• 1 cup dried lentils, rinsed
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown the sausage in a skillet, then drain off the fat.

2. Toss the sausage, lentils, carrots, onion, garlic, celery, chicken stock, tomatoes, and a bay leaf into your slow cooker.

3. Give it all a good stir and pop the lid on.

4. Let it cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or if you’re in a hurry, go with high for 3 to 4 hours.

5. Fish out the bay leaf, sprinkle in some salt and pepper, and serve it up warm.

If you want the full recipe, check out slow cooker lentil soup with sausage and greens.