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Crock pots are a popular kitchen cooking appliance that is especially well-suited for group cooking. They are fantastic for making cheap stews, soups, pasta, and other easy dinner recipes. Generally speaking, crock pot cooking is also healthy, safe, cheap, convenient, and easy to do for large families and crowds. And among the variety of creations that can be made in them, crock pots are also great for vegetarian recipes, which are quite budget-friendly!
A Little Background on Crock Pots
If you were not aware, a crock pot is a type of slow cooker. They originated in the 1970s and have been used by families ever since. Crock pots have a ceramic or porcelain pot that sits snugly inside a heating unit with a glass lid on top to trap heat and moisture. Crock pots also usually have two heat settings – high and low. They cook food slowly and continuously using direct heat from the crock along with steam created from inside the pot.
Well, if you are looking for some delicious, money-saving, and vegetable-filled crock pot recipes for your family, you have come to the right place! We’ve included six cheap and healthy vegetarian crock pot recipes for you to try out. Using a crock pot, you can easily make inexpensive meals for a large group of people. Plus, they are perfect for doing affordable family meal prep for the whole week!
6 Cheap Vegetarian Crock Pot Recipes
Family Crock Pot Spaghetti Casserole
This crock pot dish is cheap, easy, and will be loved by the whole family, kids included! Because who doesn’t love spaghetti?
Recipe: Family Crock Pot Spaghetti Casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 5 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
- 1 jar of pasta sauce
- 1 can of tinned tomatoes
- 2 tins/cans of beans of choice
- 250g or 9 oz. spaghetti
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp thyme
- Sprinkle of pepper
- 1 cup of cheese of choice
- 1 cup water
- To serve – fresh basil and cheese
Method:
- Place all ingredients into your crock pot with pasta and cheese on top.
- Cover and cook on low for three-to-four hours.
- Serve and garnish with fresh basil and a sprinkle of cheese.
- Enjoy!
Easy Potato Chickpea Stew
Packed with protein and fiber-filled carbohydrates, this Easy Potato Chickpea Stew is an excellent option for energetic, growing kids and busy parents who have to keep up with them! It can also be used for meal prep and frozen into portions for a quick midweek dinner that is cheaper than ordering takeaway (or as Americans say, “takeout”).
Recipes: Easy Potato Chickpea Stew
Ingredients:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
- 2 tins/cans of chickpeas, drained
- 6 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 4 cups vegetable stock
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly shredded
Method:
- Add all the ingredients to your crock pot (except for the spinach).
- Cover and cook on low for six hours or on high for three hours.
- Add in the spinach leaves and stir through.
- Serve and enjoy!
Cheap Lentil and Carrot Ginger Soup
An inexpensive but extremely healthy soup that is loaded with flavor, this Lentil and Carrot Ginger Soup will become a regular recipe in your household. If you want to make it go even further, you can add a healthy grain like quinoa or brown rice when serving.
Recipe: Cheap Lentil and Carrot Ginger Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 tbsp ginger, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 6 large carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 tin/can of lentils, drained
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- ½ tsp turmeric
- Sprinkle of pepper
- 1 liter (or 4 ¼ cups) of water
Method:
- Place lentils, carrots, onion, ginger, garlic, turmeric, paprika, and pepper into your crock pot. Pour in water and vegetable stock.
- Cover and cook on low for six to eight hours.
- Serve and enjoy!
For more easy soup recipes that are crock pot-friendly, see my 6 Healthy and Tasty Vegetarian Soup Recipes (Vegan Options included). Also, here are 5 Healthy, Delicious Fall Soup Recipes with 10 Ingredients or Less that you can also try in your crock pot.
Slow Cooker Ratatouille
Ratatouille, a French stewed vegetable dish, is healthy and a great lunch or dinner option for a large family. Cooking ratatouille in your crock pot is easy, making it another great meal prep option. To bulk up this meal, serve on a bed of quinoa or brown rice.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Ratatouille
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
- 1 capsicum, chopped
- 2 medium eggplants, chopped
- 1 orange bell pepper, chopped
- 3 zucchinis, chopped
- 2 cups of cherry tomatoes
- 1 can of beans of choice, drained
- 1 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground pepper
Method:
- Place all ingredients except basil into your crock pot.
- Cover and cook on high for three-to-four hours or on low for five-to-six hours.
- Before serving, gently stir in fresh basil. Enjoy!
Simple Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
We all love a bowl of delicious cheesy mac and cheese, and now you can make mac and cheese in a crock pot! This super simple mac and cheese recipe is perfect for those nights when you just can’t be bothered to cook. It’s alright; we all have those days!
Recipe: Super Simple Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of macaroni noodles
- 2 tins/cans of tomatoes
- 1 cup of cheese of choice
- 1 cup of baby spinach, shredded
Method:
- Cook macaroni according to packet instructions.
- Place macaroni in a crock pot and add tomatoes and cheese. Cover and cook over low heat for two hours.
- Stir through baby spinach and serve. Enjoy!
Crock Pot Baked Beans
Baked beans are always a cheap and healthy option. Amazingly, you can make them in a crock pot too! The next time your family wants baked beans, try this easy baked beans crock pot recipe.
Recipe: Crock Pot Baked Beans
Ingredients:
- 3 cups navy beans
- 3 tins/cans of tomatoes
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 large onion, very finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 4 tbsp tomato paste
Method:
- Place all ingredients into a crock pot and set to high. Add one cup of water and cook on low for eight hours.
- Serve with crusty bread and enjoy!
Conclusion
Crockpot meals are a cheap and easy way to cook for large groups or the whole family. They are versatile and great for making vegetarian dishes, including pasta, soups, beans, and stews. I would love to hear if you try any of these vegetarian crock pot recipes! Also, please share any of your own favorite/ crock pot recipes that you cook for your family.
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Is a crock pot worth it for vegetarians?
Although frequently used to prepare inexpensive cuts of meat, a slow cooker can also make wonderful use of vegetables, as our simple meat-free suppers demonstrate.
What vegetables should not be added to a slow cooker?
In a slow cooker, vegetables like peas, asparagus, and peppers can turn into a flavorless mush. Avoid adding tender veggies until the last 30 to 40 minutes of cooking, or stick to heartier root vegetables like potatoes, onions, leeks, and yams.
Is it cheaper to use a crockpot or stove?
Simply put, absolutely! Compared to ovens, slow cookers cost less to operate. Not to mention an oven and many other kitchen equipment, utilize less electricity than standard light bulbs.
- Affordable Cooking 101: How To Meal Prep On A Budget (With Recipes)
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Lover of health, fitness, and summer, Rebecca Gawthorne (BNutrDiet Hons. I, APD, AN) is a dedicated and energetic dietitian with a powerful influence in the online health space. Her credible, yet easy to relate to tone, has made her one of the media’s go-to girls for professional nutrition advice. Rebecca has extensive experience in working with brands to advocate healthy, nutritious living by capturing bright and inspiring images and showcasing these on her popular Instagram and blog, as well as working with the media to positively promote brands and educate consumers.
