10 Holiday Slow-Cooker Recipes Under 400 Calories (2024)

Holidays are a joyous time for family and friends to gather. That’s why we’ve rounded up 10 easy, healthy slow-cooker recipes so you can just set it and forget it. Less time in the kitchen, plus more time with your special ones? It’s a win-win scenario!

SIDES& STARTERS

1. SLOW COOKER ITALIAN TURKEY MEATBALLS | SKINNYTASTE

Want the secret to making the juiciest turkey meatballs ever? Add shredded zucchini. Rather than frying or baking the meatballs first, this recipe cuts down on prep time by plopping the meatballs right into the sauce and lets them slow-cook together. Recipe makes 6 servings at 4 meatballs and 2/3 cup sauce each.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 235; Total Fat: 11g; Saturated Fat: 4g; Monounsaturated Fat: 1g; Cholesterol: 104mg; Sodium: 471mg; Carbohydrate: 10g; Dietary Fiber: 3g; Sugar: 5g; Protein: 22g

2. CROCK POT PUMPKIN RED LENTIL CHILI | KITCHENTREATY

Thick and hearty, this vegetarian chili radiates comforting vibes with every spice-infused bite. For the cherry on top, this hassle-free recipe requires only 10 minutes of prep! Cooking Tip: Use reduced-sodium ingredients whenever possible, so that you can control the amount of salt in your dish. Recipe makes 6 servings.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 221; Total Fat: 1g; Saturated Fat: 0g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 304mg; Carbohydrate: 40g; Dietary Fiber: 12g; Sugar: 8g; Protein: 13g

Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Potatoes | Damn Delicious

3. SLOW COOKER GARLIC PARMESEAN POTATOES | DAMN DELICIOUS

MAIN DISHES

4. SLOW COOKER HOLIDAY POT ROAST | EVERYDAY GOOD THINKING

It’s easy to see why slow-cooker meats are popular weekday entreées — just dump ingredients into a pot and come back in a few hours. This holiday season, make a holiday roast that’s as easy as any weekday dinner, but with all the thoughtful touches that makes the season special. Recipe makes 8 servings.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 396; Total Fat: 13g; Saturated Fat: 4g; Monounsaturated Fat: 6g; Cholesterol: 100mg; Sodium: 302mg; Carbohydrate: 36g; Dietary Fiber: 5g; Sugar: 23g; Protein: 34g

5. SLOW COOKER GARLIC CHICKEN | COOKING LIGHT

This pan-fried garlic chicken is slow-cooked to perfection in wine, cognac and thyme. Don’t let those creamy cloves of garlic go to waste — spread them on chunks of crusty baguette or mix into brown rice and soak up the fabulous sauce as you enjoy every morsel of this super-tender chicken. Recipe makes 5 servings at 4 ounces chicken, 3 tablespoons sauce and 8 garlic cloves each.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 265; Total Fat: 10g; Saturated Fat: 3g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 80mg; Sodium: 264mg; Carbohydrate: 12g; Dietary Fiber: 1g; Sugar: 1g; Protein: 30g

6. CROCK POT QUINOA PILAF | COTTER CRUNCH

DESSERTS

7. CLEAN EATING SLOW COOKER BROWNIES | THE GRACIOUS PANTRY

If you didn’t think desserts could be made in a slow cooker, check out this recipe. Chocolaty brownies take a clean-eating turn with simple pantry staples and fruit, a perfect respite from the sugar overload of the season! Recipe makes 32 servings.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 95; Total Fat: 4g; Saturated Fat: 2g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 25mg; Carbohydrate: 17g; Dietary Fiber: 2g; Sugar: 10g; Protein: 3g

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake | Amy’s Healthy Baking

8. SLOW COOKER PUMPKIN STREUSEL COFFEE CAKE | AMY’S HEALTHY BAKING

A moist, tender pumpkin coffee cake with a thick cinnamon oat streusel topping? And made without refined flour or sugar? Yes, please! Serve this comfort food with tea at your next holiday gathering — you won’t have any leftovers. Recipe makes 12 servings.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 171; Total Fat: 4g; Saturated Fat: 2g; Monounsaturated Fat: 1g; Cholesterol: 8mg; Sodium: 169mg; Carbohydrate: 31g; Dietary Fiber: 4g; Sugar: 8g; Protein: 4g

DRINKS

9. CREAMY CROCKPOT HOT CHOCOLATE | PRACTICAL STEWARDSHIP

Creamy, rich hot chocolate is a must during cold weather. Skip the packaged hot cocoa packs for this easy-peasy slow-cooked holiday drink that’s made with less fat, sugar and additives. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, top your hot cocoa with marshmallows and chocolate chips. Recipe makes 4 servings at 1 cup each.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 124; Total Fat: 5g; Saturated Fat: 5g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 41mg; Carbohydrate: 21g; Dietary Fiber: 4g; Sugar: 16g; Protein: 1g

10. SLOW COOKER PUMPKIN LATTE | FAMILY FRESH MEALS

Forgo the classic PSL at Starbucks, and save yourself 14 grams of sugar with this recipe. A warm cup of homemade spiced pumpkin latte certainly hits the spot during the holidays! If you’re on a strict sugar limit, reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe by one-third (it doesn’t ruin the taste). Recipe makes 10 servings at 1 cup each.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 119; Total Fat: 6g; Saturated Fat: 4g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 24mg; Sodium: 48mg; Carbohydrate: 12g; Dietary Fiber: 0g; Sugar: 12g; Protein: 4g

About the Author

MyFitnessPal’s Recipes

Healthy, delicious and simple: That’s what we’re about at MyFitnessPal! We make ourrecipes in our own test kitchen or our registered dietitian hand-selects them personally. Look for nutrition information at the bottom of the recipe or log it directly to MyFitnessPal through the “Log-It” button. Check out our entire collection or explore: low-carb,high-protein • high-fiber • gluten-free • dairy-free • vegetarian • vegan • low sodium

10 Holiday Slow-Cooker Recipes Under 400 Calories (2024)

FAQs

What are some foods you can eat for 400 calories? ›

400 calorie meal recipes

Meatballs with fennel & balsamic beans & courgette noodles. ...
Bean & feta spread with Greek salad salsa & oatcakes. ...
Mexican bean soup with guacamole. ...
Poached eggs with smashed avocado & tomatoes. ...
Turkey piccata. ...
Egg Niçoise salad. ...
Slow-cooker chicken casserole. ...
Wild salmon veggie bowl.

More items...

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Is 10 hours too long for a slow cooker? ›

Yes, you can use your slow cooker for longer than eight hours, as long as you keep an eye on it. Many slow cookers do have an automatic shutoff after 24 hours.

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How much liquid in slow cooker recipes? ›

How much liquid do I add? Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full.

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What is the best alternative to a slow cooker? ›

While a slow cooker offers convenience, it's not the only route to slow cooking. With alternative methods like Dutch ovens, stovetop simmering, oven baking, pressure cooking, and utilising crockery, you can still savour the joys of slow-cooked meals. The results will be worth the wait.

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How much weight will you lose on 400 calories a day? ›

How Much Weight Can You Lose Burning 400 Calories a Day? You need to burn 3,500 calories per week (500 calories per day) to lose one pound. If you burned an extra 400 calories per day, that would equal 2,800 calories per week. This means you could, in theory, lose 0.8 lbs per week by burning 400 calories every day.

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What happens if you only eat 400 calories? ›

Eating only 400 calories per day would be considered an extremely low-calorie diet and could have serious consequences for your health. At such a low calorie intake, your body would not be getting enough nutrients to function properly. You would likely feel fatigued, weak, and experience difficulty concentrating.

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What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker

Raw Meat.
Seafood.
Pasta.
Rice.
Delicate Vegetables.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
Dairy.
Wine and Other Liquor.

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Jan 19, 2024

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What is the equivalent of 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

Cooking Conversions for Slow Cookers

Traditional Oven or Stovetop Low	Low Slow Cooker Setting (about 200°F)	High Slow Cooker Setting (about 300°F)
15-30 minutes	4-6 hours	1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours
35-45 minutes	6-8 hours	3-4 hours
50 minutes- 3 hours	8-10 hours	4-6 hours

Dec 8, 2016

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Is it safe to put raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

"Raw meat is a slow-cooker staple, but you may need to add it to the pot before adding other ingredients like green vegetables," she shared. "Browning meat in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker has been a game-changer for my slow-cooker meals.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

Can I leave food in a slow cooker overnight off? ›

It is not recommended to keep food warm in a slow cooker overnight by turning it off and not opening it until the next morning. Doing so could create an environment that allows bacteria to grow, which can make the food unsafe to eat.

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What is the difference between a slow cooker and a crockpot? ›

However, Crockpots generally have ceramic or porcelain pots, while most slow cookers have a metal pot. As with a lot of cooking appliances, the biggest difference comes from the distribution of heat.

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What is a healthy alternative to a Crockpot? ›

If you don't have a slow cooker, you can slow cook right on stovetop using a cooking pot that has a heavy build (like a Dutch oven) so it can disperse heat evenly to the food cooking inside. You should cover it well with a lid, keep the heat low and keep checking food in between so it does not run out of liquid.

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Can you slow cook in an air fryer? ›

Yes, you can slow roast pork in an air fryer. In fact, it's a great way to cook pork because it results in tender, juicy meat with crispy crackling.

What snack is 400 calories? ›

The following 400-calorie snacks are options you can enjoy wherever you are, from the vending machine to happy hour, and everywhere in between.

Popcorn Party Trail Mix. ...
Chocolate-Vanilla Twist Ice Cream.
Mediterranean Munchies. ...
Brownie Bites + Milk. ...
Peanut Butter Break.
Cheese Lover's Snack. ...
Beer + Nuts At The Bar.

More items...

Jan 29, 2015

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Is 400 calories a lot for a meal? ›

Although every person's daily caloric intake is individual, based on their personal goals and needs, nutrition experts estimate that average daily consumption at each meal should be broken down as follows: 300 to 400 calories for breakfast, and 500 to 700 calories each for lunch and dinner.

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Is 400 calories a big meal? ›

A 400 calorie meal may seem restrictive or unfulfilling, but according to experts in the dietetic field, it's actually quite the opposite. In this guide you'll learn why eating three to five small, nutritious meals will help you reach your goals and maintain overall wellness.

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Is 400 calories enough for a meal? ›

between 200 and 400 calories for breakfast, 500-700 calories for lunch, and 500-700 calories for dinner. You could also incorporate a morning and evening snack for a total of about 400-500 more calories. Hopefully, this helps you on your health journey.

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