The crockpot (a.k.a. slow cooker) is great because you just throw ingredients in, set it, and forget it. (Until it’s time to eat.) Pretty much as low-maintenance as it gets.
If you’re a vegan, though, you might not think that the crockpot is your thing. I don’t blame you; there are so many meat-focused slow cooker recipes out there. Beefy pot roasts, saucy BBQ pulled chicken, slow-braised short ribs, tomato-y pork ragu, chorizo chili…I could go on. It’s time to change that image, though.
Frankly, there are so many healthy, hearty, and oh-so-comforting vegan crockpot recipes out there just waiting to be discovered—and they’re just as delicious (and easy-to-make) as their meat-laden counterparts.
Lots of vegan staples are actually perfect for the crockpot. Dried beans, which are cheaper than canned but take a long time to cook, plump up beautifully in the slow cooker. Canned beans, meanwhile, soak up extra flavor and release some starch to thicken a soup or stew. And, sturdy root veggies (like potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, and carrots) stand up to hours of slow cooking like champs.
Ready to swap that heavy cream for coconut milk, ground meat for beans and lentils, and pulled pork for jackfruit? These 45 vegan crockpot recipes deliver all the rich, hearty goodness you expect from a slow cooker meal. Top ‘em off with a little vegan cheese (or nutritional yeast) and even your meat- and dairy-loving friends will be coming back for seconds.
Chicken noodle soup is great. But the next time you’re feeling under the weather, try this easy mushroom noodle soup instead.
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Per serving: 400 calories, 5 g fat (1 g saturated), 951 mg sodium, 14 g sugar, 5 g fiber, 17 g protein
If you love sweet potatoes’ creamy texture and caramel-y taste, you absolutely NEED to try this sweet, hearty chili.
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Per serving: 316 calories, 11 g fat (2 g saturated), 1612 mg sodium, 47 g carbs, 8 g sugar, 12 g fiber, 11 g protein
Think cream is necessary for creamy mushroom soup? Think again. This one achieves thegoodness with coconut milk and a thickening roux of vegan butter and flour.
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Per serving: 153 calories, 9 g fat (6 g saturated), 52 mg sodium, 17 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 4 g protein
This soup is practically a produce aisle in a pot. Canned tomato sauce adds tangy umami, while corn adds a little sweetness.
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Per serving: 202 calories, 5 g fat (1 g saturated), 398 mg sodium, 31 g carbs, 8 g sugar, 9 g fiber, 7 g protein
You won’t miss the beef in this chili one bit because you’ll get plenty of texture from three different kinds of beans. Serve it over a pile of rice for extra color, texture, and flavor.
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Per serving: 241 calories, 1 g fat (0 g saturated), 1315 mg sodium, 45 g carbs, 9 g sugar, 36 g fiber, 13 g protein
Both chickpeas and potatoes contain starch, which helps thicken upthis soup and give it serious staying power. To make it spicier, just add red pepper flakes.
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Per serving: 404 calories, 21 g fat (17 g saturated), 857 mg sodium, 38 g carbs, 6 g sugar, 8 g fiber, 12 g protein
Cooking the quinoa right into this soup makes it plump and super tasty. If you don’t have kale, substitute in another sturdy green, like collards or mustard greens.
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Per serving: 214 calories, 2.8 g fat (0.5 g saturated), 211.6 mg sodium, 38.3 g carbs, 3.4 g sugar, 6.7 g fiber, 12.3 g protein
Traditional butter chicken masala is made of a sauce that combines tomatoes, Indian spices, and heavy cream. This version is different but still has that complex flavor. It’s made with the same spices, but coconut milk instead of cream and tofu instead of chicken.
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Per serving: 512 calories, 32 g fat (17 g saturated), 935 mg sodium, 25 g carbs, 14 g sugar, 7 g fiber, 30 g protein
Collard greens are usually made with bits of pork for flavor, but this vegan version gets a welcome kick from fire roasted tomatoes, instead.
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Per serving: 92 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated), 1388 mg sodium, 18 g carbs, 7 g sugar, 7 g fiber, 5 g protein
If you’re a vegan who still craves a little meaty flavor sometimes, this chili is for you. It’s made with plant-based beef crumbles, get you pretty much as close to the real thing as possible.
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Per serving: 316 calories, 8 g fat (1 g saturated), 1374 mg sodium, 36 g carbs, 6 g sugar, 12 g fiber, 26 g protein
Have you ever tried using shredded jackfruit in place of meat? While it doesn’t have much protein, the texture is right on.
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Per serving: 242 calories, 7 g fat, 41 g carbs, 29 g sugar, 5 g fiber, 6 g protein
Vegan sausage and butternut squash make this sweet-savory stuffing a perfect cold-weather recipe. Serve it up as a Thanksgiving side or a weeknight main.
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Per serving: 421 calories, 19 g fat (2 g saturated), 918 mg sodium, 48 g carbs, 10 g sugar, 5 g fiber, 14 g protein
This light hot and sour soup is packed with flavor but low on calories. If you want to make it a meal, bulk it up with some more tofu and add rice noodles.
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Per serving: 120 calories, 4 g fat (0 g saturated), 764 mg sodium, 14 g carbs, 7 g sugar, 4 g fiber, 8 g protein
Yes, you can cook delicate summer vegetables in the slow cooker. To make this recipe vegan, omit the Worcestershire sauce.
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Per serving: 74 calories, 4.8 g fat (0.7 g saturated), 453 mg sodium, 8.2 g carbs, 2.7 g sugar, 0.9 g fiber, 0.7 g protein
If you like tortilla soup, this enchilada casserole will be your new favorite vegan slow cooker dish. It’s filling and decadent.
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Per serving: 332 calories, 5 g fat (2 g saturated), 995 mg sodium, 56 g carbs, 5 g sugar, 12 g fiber, 16 g protein
Apples in…chili? Don’t knock it ‘til you try it. This recipe also packs lentils, kidney beans, pinto beans, chipotle chilis in adobo, and tons of spices for a vegan meal that’s bursting with flavor.
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Per serving: 101 calories, 520 mg sodium, 20 g carbs, 8 g sugar, 5 g fiber, 4 g protein
This will be a staple at every party (or, erm, night in) you ever throw. Vegan parm, mozzarella, cream cheese, and mayo make this dip nearly identical to the dairy-filled original.
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Per serving: 224 calories, 21 g fat (3 g saturated), 327 mg sodium, 1 g sugar, 2 g fiber, 1 g protein
This easy vegan taco soup is similar to chicken tortilla soup, but gets its flavor from spices and other plant-based ingredients (including meatless beef crumbles). Scroll to the bottom of the recipe card for instructions on how to make it in the slow cooker.
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Per serving: 323 calories, 5 g fat (0 g saturated), 1522 mg sodium, 59 g carbs, 12 g sugar, 16 g fiber, 23 g protein
Love oatmeal but don’t have the time to throw it together in the morning? Prep this vegan recipe before bed and it’ll be ready as soon as you wake up!
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Per serving: 194 calories, 3 g fat (0 g saturated), 232 mg sodium, 31 g carbs, 17 g sugar, 4 g fiber, 4 g protein
This classic combo is a vegetarian staple. If you don’t feel like making it on the stovetop, you can cook it in your crockpot on low for six hours instead.
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Per serving: 248 calories, 5 g fat (1 g saturated), 922 mg sodium, 38 g carbs, 4 g sugar, 9 g fiber, 15 g protein
This recipe was originally created for the Instant Pot, but can be made in a slow cooker, too. Just add all of your ingredients and cook on high for three to four hours.
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Per serving: 200 calories, 1 g fat, 469 mg sodium, 36 g carbs, 6 g sugar, 14 g fiber, 11.5 g protein
This quinoa and vegetable soup is packed with fiber (hello, butter beans) to keep you full and satisfied.. If you can’t find butter beans, sub in white beans for an equally tasty meal.
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Per serving: 350 calories, 7 g fat (1 g saturated), 1525 mg sodium, 61 g carbs, 9 g sugar, 11 g fiber, 14 g protein
This luscious vegan pumpkin soup is the perfect healthy fall comfort food. Thanks to the coconut milk in it, it’s super creamy. Psh, who needs dairy?
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Per serving: 220 calories, 17 g fat (12 g saturated), 713 mg sodium, 18 g carbs, 7 g sugar, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein
When you think of slow cooker recipes, you probably think of chili and this lentil chili hits all the marks—without meat or dairy.
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Per serving: 283 calories, 1.7 g fat (0.2 g saturated), 51.1 g carbs, 5.9 g sugar, 52.7 mg sodium, 8.8 g fiber, 18.1 g protein
A rich, creamy soup flavored with cashews? Where do I sign up?
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Per serving: 393 calories, 21.7 g fat (4.1 g saturated), 38.7 g carbs, 5.1 g sugar, 1307 mg sodium, 7.5 g fiber, 15.1 g protein
Just toss quinoa, chickpeas, black beans, vegetables, and spices into your slow cooker, and press start. In a couple of hours you’ll have a meal loaded with flavor.
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Per serving: 316 calories, 3 g fat (0 g saturated), 58 g carbs, 5 g sugar, 396 mg sodium, 8 g fiber, 11 g protein
This soup blends the nutty flavor of squash, the fruity sweetness of apples and dates, and warm spice of turmeric into a bowl of golden deliciousness. Bonus: It’s Paleo and Whole 30-friendly, too!
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Per serving: 283 calories, 9.1 g fat (7.6 g saturated), 50.1 g carbs, 36.1 g sugar, 587.4 mg sodium, 6.9 g fiber, 3.8 g protein
Skip the takeout. This hearty veggie dish is loaded with sweet and spicy flavors for an easy, satisfying dinner.
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Per serving: 741 calories, 14 g fat (1 g saturated), 131 g carbs, 34 g sugar, 1639 mg sodium, 26 g fiber, 28 g protein
Warm up with this jam-packed soup on Sunday and enjoy it all week long. It’s layered with so many great flavors and textures, thanks to beans, caramelized onions, and lemon juice.
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Per serving: 348 calories, 10.7 g fat (1.5 g saturated), 52.3 g carbs, 8.4 g sugar, 573.5 mg sodium, 9.5 g fiber, 14 g protein
You’ll think that you’re eating pulled pork, but these slow cooker jackfruit tacos are 100 percent vegan. Taco night, anyone?
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Per serving: 319 calories, 2 g fat , 74 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 559 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 4 g protein
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