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    20 of the Best Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes

    by Melanie Davis
    February 19, 2021
    Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes Happy young woman eating pumpkin soup in kitchen

    Alliance Images/Shutterstock

    As OOLA editors, we select and write about stuff we love and think you’ll like too. OOLA has affiliate and advertising partnerships so we may earn a commission if you make a purchase.

    There’s something about chilly weather that makes a hot, slow-cooked meal exceptionally satisfying. And while slow cooker meals and comfort foods are often associated with meat-based dishes, the vegetarian options of these warm, cozy meals are virtually endless.

    Vegetarian slow cooker meals are packed with nutrients, many freeze well, and almost all of them are less expensive than meat-based dishes. These delicious, editorially chosen slow cooker recipes are no exception.

    Cajun 15-Bean Soup

    Multiple bean soup with green garnish in white ceramic bowl sitting on dish towel

    bhofack2/Canva.com

    Leave your preconceived notions that “vegetarian meals don’t stick to the belly” behind with this Cajun-style 15-bean soup. All 15 magical fruits combine to create a savory blend of flavors and textures highlighted by bold Cajun spices, fresh veggies, and salsa.

    Thai-Inspired Butternut Squash and Peanut Soup

    Pureed butternut squash soup with seed garnish on plaid towel next to spoon

    bhofack2/Canva.com

    Full of warm south Asian flavors like ginger, curry paste, cilantro, and fish sauce, this butternut squash and peanut soup is a thick, creamy soup perfect for colder weather. Serve in a bowl with chopped cilantro and peanuts or over a bed of basmati rice.

    Hungarian Goulash with Tempeh

    Hungarian goulash in black bowl with chili pepper, garlic, bay leaves, bread, and spoon beside it on wooden table

    Andrey Zhuravlev/Canva.com

    Traditional Hungarian goulash is served with paprika-spiced beef, onions, and other vegetables, but tempeh—one of our favorite vegetarian meat substitutes—can be used to make an amazingly delicious plant-based alternative. Sauerkraut, dry white wine, and caraway seed add complex flavors to the tomato-based dish that take this goulash from good to amazing.

    Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese

    Mac and cheese in ceramic dish, bigger casserole dish with mac and cheese behind smaller bowl

    vm22tv/Canva.com

    Vegetarians, it’s time we elevate mac and cheese from “this is all I can order at this restaurant” to a show-stopping entree in and of itself. This creamy crockpot mac and cheese is the perfect place to start (just make sure to sub cream of potato or mushroom soup for the cream of chicken soup).

    Mushroom Barley Risotto

    Mushroom risotto in wooden bowl set on a burlap placemat with fork

    Mizina/Canva.com

    Risotto is an Italian rice dish in which grains are sauteed and cooked with wine, vegetables, and seasoning. In this slow-cooked mushroom barley risotto, pearl barley, cremini mushrooms, fresh thyme, and parmesan create an irresistible blend of earthy, hearty flavors.

    Buffalo Chik’n Sandwiches

    Shredded buffalo chik'n sandwich with slaw on a sesame seed bun

    tvirbickis/Canva.com

    Jackfruit is a natural marvel, mimicking the texture of shredded or diced meat and absorbing seasoning, broth, and sauce extraordinarily well. Because of its meat-like consistency, jackfruit is the perfect base for this savory, tangy, and incredibly easy-to-make buffalo chik’n sandwich recipe.

    Slow Cooker Ratatouille

    Ratatouille in white ceramic dish on blue wooden surface, white napkin, herb sprig, and cutlery beside bowl

    OlgaLepeshkina/Canva.com

    Ratatouille is a traditional French vegetable stew of tomatoes, squash, zucchini, eggplant, and bell pepper. This cozy stew is great for winter, and it’s also a creative way to use up the surplus of gourds and tomatoes from a late-summer garden.

    Slow Cooker Asian “Meat”balls

    Sesame meatballs in black skillet with parsley garnish

    SStajic/Canva.com

    Step up your frozen plant-based meatball game with this deliciously sweet and sour Asian “meat”ball recipe. This particular recipe uses Trader Joe’s brand meatless meatballs, but Morning Star and Gardein make great options as well. Pair with a bed of white rice, edamame, or cabbage. Yum.

    Vegetable Lasagna

    Vegetarian lasagna on white plate with fork and rosemary sprigs

    Anna Guerrero/Pexels

    All those delicious layers of sauce, noodles, cheese, and vegetables in a veggie lasagna can seem like a lot of work. Luckily, this slow cooker vegetable lasagna recipe requires only 15 minutes of prep time and two hours in the crockpot.

    Butternut Squash Dal

    Butternut and lentil dal in white bowl with wooden spoon, chili, peppers, ginger, and naan

    Olena/Canva.com

    Dal refers to both an ingredient (dried split peas) and an intensely spiced stew popular in Indian cuisine. The dal and butternut squash in this recipe breaks down into a thick, creamy stew with a gorgeous, warm blend of spices that make it difficult not to stick your nose down into the slow cooker.

    Vegan Split Pea Soup

    Split pea soup and metal spoon in brown bowl surrounded by dried split peas on wooden surface

    thefurnaceroom/Canva.com

    While we’re talking about split peas, we have to mention another slow cooker classic: split pea soup. Packed with nutritious greens, flavorful herbs, and robust onions, this vegan split pea soup can be made even creamier and richer with an immersion blender.

    Slow Cooker Enchilada Quinoa

    Enchiladas topped with onion, sour cream, avocado, and cilantro on decorative plate with Southwest-style placemat underneath

    carlosrojas20/Canva

    As if the delectable blend of black beans, corn, enchilada sauce, chiles, quinoa—and of course, lots of melted cheese—wasn’t enough, this slow-cooked enchilada quinoa recipe only requires five minutes of prep time. FIVE. It takes us longer to decide what we even feel like having for dinner.

    Tuscan Pumpkin Soup

    Pumpkin soup topped with seeds and spices on white tablecloth with leaves, bread, spoon, and pumpkins

    Mizina/Canva.com

    Who says pumpkin-flavored foods should only be enjoyed in the fall?! In this recipe, tomato sauce, pumpkin puree, onion, garlic, spices, and maple syrup simmer down into a warm, flavorful, perfectly sweet-and-savory Tuscan pumpkin soup. Coconut milk, not cream, contributes to this soup’s mouthwatering texture, making it 100% vegan as well!

    Lentil and Quinoa Chili

    Lentil chili in ceramic bowl topped with sour cream and parsley

    Oleksandr Prokopenko/Canva.com

    A moderately-sized bag of lentils or quinoa can easily last for weeks, even months, making both of these veggie superfoods a thrifty kitchen must-have. When cooked down with vegetables, tomatoes, broth, and spices, lentils and quinoa create a wonderfully hearty vegetarian chili that’ll stick to and warm up your belly.

    Sweet and Sour Tempeh

    Sweet and sour dish in wooden bowls topped with cabbage and green onions

    Oleksandr Prokopenko/Canva.com

    Craving Chinese takeout but not trying to get back out in freezing cold weather? Try this unbelievably tasty sweet and sour tempeh recipe packed with spicy, piquant flavors of tamari, apple cider vinegar, and ginger. No muss, no fuss, just amazing food that tastes just as good (if not better) than take-out.

    Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes

    Scalloped potatoes in white baking dish on yellow and white gingham towel

    Azurita/Canva.com

    If mashed or roasted potatoes seem too blasé, try scalloped instead. Also known as potatoes au gratin, this creamy potato dish is smothered in Gruyere, cheddar cheese, and cream and cooked for several hours in a slow cooker. wipes drool from keyboard

    Mushroom Bourguignon

    Mushrooms in cast iron skillet topped with green garnish on wooden table

    Tatiana Volgutova/Canva.com

    Bourguignon dishes refer to a preparation style specific to France’s Bourgogne region (known as Burgundy in English). These red wine-based dishes are commonly served with beef, but this wonderfully flavorful mushroom bourguignon offers a vegetarian alternative that is insanely good.

    Vegan Slow Cooker Tofu Tikka Masala

    Tofu tikka masala in metal pot with bowl of rice and turmeric, sprigs of parsley, ginger, lime, and cherry tomatoes nearby

    Natalia Klenova/Canva.com

    Tikka masala is a traditional Indian dish full of warm spices, creamy coconut milk, and in this vegan slow cooker tikka masala recipe’s case, perfectly marinated tofu chunks. With just 30 minutes of prep time and up to six hours of slow cooking, this tikka masala is as delicious as it is easy to make.

    Broccoli Turmeric Soup

    Broccoli soup in metal pot topped with parsley, broccoli, and croutons; broccoli florets, spoon, and burlap fabric in bottom of frame

    Natalia Klenova/Canva.com

    Chilly weather can bring stuffy noses, sore throats, and rattling coughs. Soothe inflamed sinuses and respiratory tracts with this broccoli turmeric soup, full of powerhouse anti-inflammatory ingredients like ginger, turmeric, and leeks. Getting rid of a stuffy nose never tasted so good.

    Slow Cooker Veggie Loaf

    Nut loaf slices and whole loaf topped with brown sauce and green onions on wooden surface, small lights on a string in background

    Carlos Santos/Canva.com

    Veggie loaves make fantastic plant-based entrees for holiday dinners, potlucks, or just because. For this vegan slow cooker veggie loaf, kidney beans, rolled oats, pecans, and minced portobello mushrooms are used to create a savory, hearty dish that’s able to keep its shape when sliced like meatloaf.

    Related Reading:

    1. 17 Low-Cal Vegetarian Meals You Can Make in Minutes
    2. Vegetarian Breakfast Casserole
    3. 14 Quick and Easy Vegan Dinners

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