Easy Keto Crockpot Recipes

Deliciously Simple: Your Go-To Guide for Easy Keto Crockpot Recipes

We know how challenging it can be to stick to a ketogenic lifestyle when life gets hectic. Juggling work, family, and everything in between can make cooking healthy meals feel like an insurmountable task. But what if we shared a secret for creating incredible, low-carb dinners with barely any hands-on time? Allow us to introduce you to the magic of easy keto crockpot recipes, your perfect partner for stress-free weeknight cooking.

At our core, we believe that a keto diet should be enjoyable, not a chore. Your slow cooker (or crockpot) is the unsung hero that can transform your meal prep, delivering tender, flavour-packed dishes with minimal fuss. Simply prepare your ingredients, let the crockpot work its magic, and return home to the wonderful aroma of a ready-to-eat dinner. In this guide, we’re excited to reveal our all-time favourite Creamy Tuscan Chicken recipe and empower you to make your slow cooker a central part of your keto journey.

Why Your Slow Cooker is a Keto Diet Game-Changer

Before we introduce our star recipe, let’s explore why we’re so passionate about using a slow cooker for keto meals. It’s far more than a convenient gadget; it’s a brilliant tool that makes maintaining a low-carb lifestyle both sustainable and genuinely pleasant. If you’re searching for simple keto recipes, look no further than your crockpot.

  • Deep Flavour Development: The long, gentle cooking process allows herbs, fats, and spices to meld together over many hours, creating a depth of flavour that’s hard to achieve with quicker cooking styles.
  • Melt-in-the-Mouth Meats: The crockpot works wonders on tougher, more budget-friendly cuts of meat, like chuck roast or chicken thighs, transforming them into succulent, fall-apart delights that have absorbed every drop of sauce.
  • Effortless Time-Saving: The real beauty lies in its convenience. Most crockpot recipes require just 10-15 minutes of morning prep, freeing up your evening completely. It’s a genuine lifesaver for busy weeknights.
  • Perfect for Meal Prep: Slow cookers are fantastic for preparing large quantities. We love making a big batch on a Sunday to have delicious, keto-friendly lunches ready for the week ahead, making it easier to resist high-carb alternatives.

Our Favourite Keto Crockpot Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Prepare to fall in love with what we consider the ultimate keto comfort food. This Creamy Keto Tuscan Chicken is an absolute dream—it’s luxuriously rich, deeply satisfying, and brimming with the bright, zesty notes of sundried tomatoes, spinach, and garlic. While it tastes like a special treat, it’s remarkably straightforward to prepare. We find it’s perfect served over a bed of cauliflower rice or courgetti for a well-rounded meal. Its simplicity is on par with a classic Low Carb Chicken Casserole, but it brings a delightful Italian-inspired elegance to the table.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Bursting with flavour: The blend of creamy sauce, sharp sundried tomatoes, and aromatic garlic is truly divine.
  • Quick and easy prep: You can get everything ready for the slow cooker in less than 15 minutes. Ideal for hectic mornings!
  • A hit with everyone: Even those not following a ketogenic diet will be coming back for a second helping.
  • Flexible serving ideas: It’s wonderful on its own or paired with your favourite low-carb side, such as steamed broccoli or a crisp green salad.
  • Gourmet taste at home: This dish delivers restaurant-quality flavour without you ever having to leave your kitchen.

Ingredients

  • 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1kg)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 80g sundried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
  • 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil)
  • 240ml double cream
  • 60ml chicken broth or stock
  • 50g grated Parmesan cheese
  • 150g fresh spinach

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Begin by patting the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. Season them liberally on all sides with the salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
  2. Sear for Flavour (Optional but Recommended): In a large frying pan, warm the olive oil and butter over a medium-high heat. Place the chicken breasts in the pan and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until they develop a lovely golden-brown crust. This step is optional but adds a fantastic layer of flavour. Move the seared chicken into your slow cooker.
  3. Create the Sauce: Lower the heat under the same frying pan to medium. Add the minced garlic and cook for around 30 seconds until it becomes fragrant. Stir through the chopped sundried tomatoes and Italian herbs. Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, making sure to scrape up any flavourful browned pieces from the bottom.
  4. Combine and Cook: Pour this beautiful sauce mixture from the pan over the chicken in the slow cooker. Place the lid on and cook on a LOW setting for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
  5. Add the Creaminess: Roughly 30 minutes before you plan to serve, stir the double cream and grated Parmesan cheese into the slow cooker. Add the fresh spinach, gently pushing it down into the sauce. Put the lid back on and let it cook until the spinach has wilted down and the sauce has thickened nicely.
  6. Serve and Enjoy: Have a taste of the sauce and add any extra seasoning if you think it needs it. You can serve the chicken breasts whole or shred them with two forks right in the crockpot, stirring everything together to coat the chicken in that incredible sauce. Serve hot and enjoy!

Expert Tips for the Perfect Tuscan Chicken

To elevate this dish from great to absolutely exceptional, we recommend swapping chicken breasts for thighs. They contain more fat, resulting in an even more succulent texture after slow cooking. Another tip is to use freshly grated Parmesan; it melts into a much smoother, creamier sauce than its pre-shredded counterpart. This technique of searing and building a pan sauce before adding everything to the crockpot is a fantastic way to boost flavour, and it works wonderfully in other dishes too, such as our Garlic Butter Chicken And Veggies.

More Delicious Low Carb Slow Cooker Meals to Try

After you’ve experienced the delicious simplicity of our Tuscan Chicken, you’ll undoubtedly be inspired to explore more low carb slow cooker meals. The crockpot opens up a world of culinary possibilities! To spark your imagination, here are a few other fantastic ideas we turn to time and again:

  • Keto Pulled Pork: Take a pork shoulder, a sugar-free BBQ rub, and a little apple cider vinegar. Cook it on low for 8 hours for tender, pull-apart pork.
  • Spicy Chicken Curry: Combine chicken thighs, full-fat coconut milk, curry powder, ginger, garlic, and a generous handful of spinach for a rich and comforting meal.
  • Hearty Beef Stew: Use beef chuck with onions, celery, mushrooms, and beef broth. A small amount of tomato purée adds depth. You can thicken the gravy at the end with a tiny bit of xanthan gum.
  • Zesty Salsa Verde Chicken: All you need are chicken breasts and a jar of sugar-free salsa verde. It’s an amazing two-ingredient recipe, perfect for filling keto tacos or topping a salad.

Top Tips for Perfecting Healthy Crockpot Dinners

To help you achieve flawless results on your slow-cooking adventure, we’ve gathered a few essential tips. Following this advice will help you consistently produce wonderful and healthy crockpot dinners.

  1. Don’t Overfill: For the best cooking results, your slow cooker should be between half and two-thirds full. If it’s too full, your food may not cook evenly.
  2. Thicken Sauces at the End: Keto recipes avoid traditional thickeners like flour. To thicken your sauce, mix a tiny amount of xanthan gum with water to form a slurry, or simply stir in some cream cheese or double cream during the final 30 minutes of cooking.
  3. Add Fresh Herbs and Dairy Last: To maintain their vibrant taste and prevent dairy from splitting, it’s best to stir in fresh herbs like parsley or basil, and dairy items like cream or cheese, right at the end of the cooking process.
  4. Get to Know Your Crockpot: Every slow cooker behaves slightly differently. Pay attention to yours, as some models run hotter than others, which might require you to adjust the cooking times accordingly.

FAQ

Q: Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?
A: We strongly advise against using frozen chicken. It’s safest to thaw it completely before putting it in a slow cooker. Cooking from frozen can mean the chicken remains in the food temperature “danger zone” (between 4°C and 60°C) for too long, creating a risk of bacterial growth. For peace of mind, always use thawed chicken.
Q: My sauce is a bit thin. How can I make it thicker?
A: The simplest keto-friendly way to thicken a sauce is with a very small amount of xanthan gum. Whisk in about 1/4 of a teaspoon at the end and let it sit for a few minutes to work its magic. Remember, a little goes a very long way! Another option is to remove the lid for the final 15-20 minutes of cooking to let some of the liquid evaporate.
Q: What are the best keto-friendly side dishes for Tuscan Chicken?
A: This dish is wonderfully versatile. We adore serving it with cauliflower rice, courgetti (zucchini noodles), or steamed green beans. A simple side salad dressed with an olive oil vinaigrette also works beautifully, adding a lovely freshness. For more insights into low-carb principles, we recommend this great resource from Diet Doctor.
Q: How should I store and reheat any leftovers?
A: Keep any leftover Tuscan Chicken in an airtight container in the fridge, where it will last for up to 3-4 days. You can reheat it gently in a saucepan on the hob over a low heat, or in the microwave. The creamy sauce might separate a little when reheated, but a thorough stir will bring it back together perfectly.

Your Journey to Effortless Keto Dinners Starts Now

We truly hope this guide has demonstrated just how effortless and enjoyable keto cooking can become when you embrace your slow cooker. By adopting these straightforward recipes and tips, you can take back control of your evenings and savour wholesome, flavourful meals without the usual kitchen stress.

Why not make our Creamy Keto Tuscan Chicken this week? It’s the perfect way to experience the joy of a home-cooked dinner that seamlessly fits into both your busy schedule and your healthy lifestyle. Don’t stop there—continue to experiment and let the crockpot become an indispensable tool in your keto kitchen.

We would be delighted to hear about your slow-cooking triumphs! What are your go-to keto slow cooker recipes? Please share your favourites and any tips in the comments below – we’d love to hear from you!

Recipe Card

Creamy Keto Tuscan Chicken


Pin Recipe
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 4-5 hours
Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1kg)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 80g sundried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
  • 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil)
  • 240ml double cream
  • 60ml chicken broth or stock
  • 50g grated Parmesan cheese
  • 150g fresh spinach

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Begin by patting the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. Season them liberally on all sides with the salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
  2. Sear for Flavour (Optional but Recommended): In a large frying pan, warm the olive oil and butter over a medium-high heat. Place the chicken breasts in the pan and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until they develop a lovely golden-brown crust. This step is optional but adds a fantastic layer of flavour. Move the seared chicken into your slow cooker.
  3. Create the Sauce: Lower the heat under the same frying pan to medium. Add the minced garlic and cook for around 30 seconds until it becomes fragrant. Stir through the chopped sundried tomatoes and Italian herbs. Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, making sure to scrape up any flavourful browned pieces from the bottom.
  4. Combine and Cook: Pour this beautiful sauce mixture from the pan over the chicken in the slow cooker. Place the lid on and cook on a LOW setting for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
  5. Add the Creaminess: Roughly 30 minutes before you plan to serve, stir the double cream and grated Parmesan cheese into the slow cooker. Add the fresh spinach, gently pushing it down into the sauce. Put the lid back on and let it cook until the spinach has wilted down and the sauce has thickened nicely.
  6. Serve and Enjoy: Have a taste of the sauce and add any extra seasoning if you think it needs it. You can serve the chicken breasts whole or shred them with two forks right in the crockpot, stirring everything together to coat the chicken in that incredible sauce. Serve hot and enjoy!


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