Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Why Trust Us?
Yeah, yeah, the Instant Pot pressure cooker took 2019 by storm. But so did the keto diet, and there's a better prep option for that one: the slow cooker (a.k.a. Crock-Pot).
Unlike the sped-up version that lets you cook an entire meal in minutes instead of hours, a slow cooker actually gives food enough time to develop flavors and the meat to become fork-tender—which you absolutely need when you're already so restricted by the types of food you can eat.
But beyond that, a slow cooker allows keto dieters to master meal prep—a crucial component to sticking to keto, since finding restaurant options can be disastrous. With a slow cooker, you simply throw a few things (ahem: cream, cheese, butter, meat, and low-carb veggies) inside the pot before you leave for work in the morning, and by the time you get home—bam, keto meal at the ready.
Because the keto diet (and any diet, really) can make it tough to come up with fresh and exciting recipes on your own, I pulled together the best keto slow cooker/Crock-Pot recipes that'll hit that sweet high-fat, low-carb spot every time. Enjoy!
1
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
They don’t call it “crack” chicken for nothing, folks—it’s meaty, it’s creamy, it’s sprinkled with bacon...and it’s addictive AF.
Get the recipe from
Wholesome Yum.
Per serving: 346 calories, 23 g fat, 6 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 1 g fiber, 24 g protein.
2
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Fajitas
You know what’s better than coming home to warm, spicy fajitas after a long day at work? Only needing to throw five ingredients in the crock pot on your way out the door in the morning.
Get the recipe from Fit Slow Cooker Queen.
Per serving: 242 calories, 8.1 g fat, 7.7 g carbs, 2.4 g sugar, 2 g fiber, 33.8 g protein.
3
Meatballs and Zoodles
Spaghetti? You won’t even miss it when you chow down on this alternative to the Italian favorite, which throws in zucchini noodles for regular ones and does not skimp on the meatball goodness.
Get the recipe from Fit Slow Cooker Queen.
Per serving: 218 calories, 5.8 g fat, 9 g carbs, 5.4 g sugar, 2.7 g fiber, 29.7 g protein.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
4
Slow Cooker Low-Carb Beef Short Ribs
Is there anything better than having short ribs cook all day in a slow cooker and ready to eat for Sunday dinner? I don't think so. Also: Those aren't mashed potatoes under those short ribs—it's mashed cauliflower, a.k.a. your new favorite side dish.
Get the recipe from Sugar Free Mom.
Per serving: 489 calories, 42 g fat (17 g saturated), 3 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 179 mg sodium, 16 g protein.
5
Crock Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken
It'd be pretty damn hard to go to Italy on a day's notice—but you can feel like you're in Italy with this slow-cooker take on creamy Tuscan chicken. It has the word cream right there in it, so it's clearly a keto winner.
Get the recipe from Wholesome Yum.
Per serving: 542 calories, 35 g fat, 9 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 1 g fiber, 45 g protein.
6
Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
Craving Chinese food? Serve this copycat takeout version over cauliflower rice and totally satisfy those late-night urges, all while staying keto-friendly.
Get the recipe from Wholesome Yum.
Per serving: 207 calories, 8 g fat, 5 g carbs, 2 g sugar, 0 g fiber, 26 g protein.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
7
This Cookbook Is Here to Satisfy All Your Carb Cravings
Want serious results on the keto diet, but can't imagine a world without bread?! Our new cookbook, filled with more than 100 recipes, is for YOU!
8
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Change up your keto burrito bowl by using shredded pork instead of chicken. This recipe also tosses in chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for a serious kick of flavor.
Get the recipe from Skinnytaste.
Per serving: 160 calories, 7 g fat, 1 g carbs, 20 g protein.
9
Slow Cooker Steak Lovers Chili
If you love steak and you love chili, this slow cooker meal is clearly right up your alley. Amp up the fat content even more by topping with a heaping dose of both avocado and sour cream—because you're keto now, you know?
Get the recipe from Ruled Me.
Per serving: 477 calories, 37 g fat, 10 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 28 g protein.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
10
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
Hello, these are garlic parmesan chicken wings. Do I really need to say any more? Oh, they'll also be ready for you as soon as you walk in the door.
Get the recipe from Wholesome Yum.
Per serving: 426 calories, 34 g fat, 1 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 0 g fiber, 27 g protein.
11
Crock Pot Picadillo
Never had picadillo before? With ground beef, peppers, olives, cumin, and tomato sauce, it’s kind of like Italian food and Mexican food had a baby. Oh, and it’s delicious.
Get the recipe from Skinnytaste.
Per serving: 207 calories, 8.5 g fat, 5 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 1 g fiber, 28 g protein.
12
Sugar-Free BBQ Pulled Chicken
You won't miss the bun at all if you pile this barbecue pulled chicken on coleslaw. But stick to the sauce, as instructed! Lots of store-bought sauces contain sugar—and you know sugar equals carbs.
Get the recipe from Sugar Free Mom.
Per serving: 219 calories, 7 g fat, 4 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 1 g fiber, 34 g protein.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
13
One Pot Creamy Chicken Marsala
This is the dish that date nights are made for. Full of savory, simmering flavor, this marsala dish will satisfy anyone who loves when chicken and creamy mushrooms get together (a.k.a. practically everyone).
Get the recipe from Sweet C’s Designs.
Per serving: 312 calories, 5 g fat, 7 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 33 g protein.
14
Keto Low-Carb Chili
Here's another chili recipe, because honestly, winter is long and you need as many keto chili options as possible. Go crazy this time and top it with avocado, sour cream, and shredded cheese (for the fat, obviously!).
Get the recipe from Wholesome Yum.
Per serving: 306 calories, 18 g fat, 13 g carbs, 5 g sugar, 3 g fiber, 23 g protein.
15
Italian Pulled Pork Ragu
Ragu sauce is basically Italian for any sauce cooked with meat and vegetables, but I bet you never thought about using pulled pork (instead of bolognese-favorite ground beef) in your ragu. Well, you’re missing out—one bite of this dish and you’ll be a forever convert.
Get the recipe from Skinnytaste.
Per serving: 93 calories, 1.5 g fat, 6.5 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 11 g protein.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
16
Creamy Sausage and Broccoli Cheese Soup
When you put the words cheese and soup together, good things happen...but even better things happen when you throw sausage into the mix. Though not officially a “keto” recipe, the ingredients here are compliant and the carbs come in at a cool 7 grams.
Get the recipe from Sweet C’s Designs.
Per serving: 229 calories, 7 g fat, 7 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 15 g protein.
17
Slow Cooker Stuffed Taco Peppers
How much did you love mom's stuffed peppers growing up? Now, you can make the keto version—I won't tell her this one's tastier (and, duh, keto-friendlier) than hers.
Get the recipe from Ruled.Me.
Per serving: 250 calories, 16 g fat, 6 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 22 g protein.
18
Low-Carb Blueberry Lemon Custard Cake
I get it, you probably miss cake a ton. Luckily, this custard cake is keto-friendly and, you know, still tastes like cake (it uses coconut flour instead of the real stuff). Bonus points for not having to watch it, British Bake-Off-style, in the oven as it bakes.
Get the recipe from Sugar Free Mom.
Per serving: 191 calories, 17 g fat, 4 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 153 mg sodium, 4 g protein.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
19
Low-Carb Balsamic Chicken Thighs
It's super-easy to over-cook chicken...but not if it's done in a crock pot. When it's cooked for hours, the chicken gets perfectly tender and juicy (basically, everything a piece of chicken should be). Make this one even more keto-friendly with a side of cauliflower rice.
Get the recipe from Sugar Free Mom.
Per serving: 285 calories, 20 g fat, 4 g carbs, 2 g sugar, 236 mg sodium, 18 g protein.
20
Artichoke Spinach Dip
TBH, this creamy dip with artichokes and spinach was cool before keto was even a thing. Talk about being ahead of the times.
Get the recipe from Ruled.Me.
Per serving: 231 calories, 19 g fat, 3 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 13 g protein.
Amber Brenza
Amber Brenza is the health editor at Women's Health, and she oversees the website's health and weight loss verticals. She has years of expereince interviewing top medical and nutrition experts, as well as interpreting peer-reviewed studies in order to give readers a clear and concise understanding of the latest health news and topics. Amber has her master’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University and has held editorial or writing positions at Men’s Health, Prevention, Dr. Oz The Good Life, Tonic, and SELF prior to working at Women's Health.
Sarah Bradley
Sarah Bradley is a freelancer writer from Connecticut, where she lives with her husband and three sons. Her reported features and personal essays on parenting and women's health have appeared at On Parenting from The Washington Post, Real Simple, Women's Health, The Writer, Today's Parent, and Romper, among others. In her so-called "free time," Sarah is an amateur baker, homeschooler, and aspiring novelist.
