Is there any food as humble-yet-perfect as beans? Whether you’re a vegetarian or just want to incorporate more plant-based protein into your diet, beans are an immediate go-to ingredient. And when you whip up these slow cooker bean recipes for set-and-forget cooking, you can enjoy their creamy texture and ample nutrition even more conveniently.
Despite their longtime reputation as low man on the dinnertime totem pole, beans are not only an excellent source of protein, they’re mini-capsules of fiber, folate, potassium, iron, magnesium, and sometimes even calcium. Plus, serving for serving, they’re almost always cheaper than other protein sources like meat, seafood, and eggs. In their canned form, they don’t even require cooking before eating!
Looking to pair the magical fruit with the magical slow cooker? Here are nine slow cooker bean recipes.
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1. Slow Cooked Spicy Caribbean Black Bean Soup
Courtesy of Ambitious Kitchen
Black beans are a staple food in the Caribbean, where their mellow taste is often perked up with spicy ingredients like garlic, jalapeño, and peppers — as in this slow-cooked black bean soup. Try this one for a meal that’s as satisfying as it is complexly flavored.
Try the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.
2. Sweet Apple Baked Beans
Courtesy of The Endless Meal
Barbecue baked beans are the king of slow cooker bean recipes, so you may have used your handy-dandy pot to crank out this low-and-slow side dish in the past. But we’re guessing you’ve never tried baked beans quite like this. Here, cannellini and white navy beans get a surprising addition of skin-on apples, making them extra sweet.
Try the recipe from The Endless Meal.
3. Kung Pao Chickpeas
Courtesy of Detoxinista
If you’re craving Chinese takeout but want something a little lower in sodium (or don’t feel like paying restaurant prices), try these Kung Pao chickpeas. The spicy beans get their firecracker flavor from a tamari-based sauce that contains an entire teaspoon of red pepper flakes. (Though, of course, you can cut back on the spice if you like.)
Serve the finished chickpeas over rice as a hearty vegan meal that’s also allergy-friendly. This recipe is free of gluten, dairy, and nuts.
Try the recipe from Detoxinista.
4. Tuscan Soup with White Beans
Courtesy of Haute and Healthy Living
Fiber and vitamins are never so delicious as when they’re wrapped up in the creamy, nourishing package of soup. This Tuscan-themed comfort food just so happens to be vegan, its thick texture supplied by coconut milk and protein-rich canned white beans. Choose low-sodium beans and broth to keep salt in check.
Try the recipe from Haute and Healthy Living.
5. Easy Slow Cooker Refried Beans
Courtesy of 100 Days of Food
Refried beans take hours of soaking, cooking, and vigilant stirring to prepare — don’t they? Not in the slow cooker they don’t! This easy recipe suggests letting refried beans simmer in the Crockpot overnight as you sleep. This way, you’ll wake up to a rich, ready-to-roll vegetarian dish you can easily stash away for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and more.
Try the recipe from 100 Days of Real Food.
6. Creamy Vegetarian White Bean Buffalo Dip
Courtesy of Everyday Homemade
No casual party spread is complete without a slow cooker brimming with bean dip. Take this one to your next family gathering or game day hangout and watch it disappear atop crunchy chips or crudites.
With just five ingredients, this classic buffalo dip is a snap to prepare — just note that, as written, it’s made in the oven. Check the blogger’s notes for how to make it in the slow cooker.
Try the recipe from Everyday Homemade.
7. Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup
Courtesy of Well Plated
Slow cooker bean recipes tend to be soups — and we’re not mad about it. The little workhorse of an appliance is the perfect vehicle for creating hearty soups and stews that go straight from countertop to table.
This slow-cooked ham and bean soup is no exception. It jazzes up a dry bean soup mix by marinating it for hours with savory ham, veggies, herbs, broth, and tomatoes. The result: a comforting blend with epic levels of nutrition. Each serving packs 34 grams of protein and 19 grams of fiber.
Try the recipe from Well Plated by Erin.
8. Slow Cooker Chickpeas and Red Beet Hummus Bruschetta
Courtesy of Healthy Nibbles by Lisa Lin
For an appetizer that’s totally unexpected, check out this beet hummus bruschetta. Chickpeas get nice and creamy after a stint in the slow cooker, then get pureed with cooked beets for eye-popping pink color. Eat the finished product all by itself or slather the mixture on toasty baguette slices and top with salsa for next-level bruschetta.
Try the recipe from Healthy Nibbles by Lisa Lin.
9. Slow Cooker Black Bean Tacos
Courtesy of 100 Days of Real Food
What happens when Taco Tuesday meets Meatless Monday? These slow cooker black bean tacos! The night before your fiesta, soak black beans in water. Once softened, toss them in the slow cooker with veggies and spices and let them simmer all day. When you get home, all you have to do is grab some tortillas and fill ’em up.
Try the recipe from 100 Days of Real Food.
Read more: 6 Slow Cooker Breakfasts for Easier, Healthier Mornings
The post 9 Slow Cooker Recipes That Harness the Power of Beans appeared first on Clean Plates.