It’s Fall Y’all! This is one of my absolute favorite times for food. This blog will share my favorites for healthy slow cooker recipes, some of my best soup recipes, healthy crockpot meals, of course… fall soups, topped off with a healthy broccoli cheese soup because everyone needs a good broccoli cheese recipe that feels a little less guilty!

Let’s get started with my best slow cooker recipe.

Slow Cooker Roast

This recipe is so insanely easy and so helpful when you have a busy work and/or mama schedule. 

Ingredients:

• 4-6 lb chuck roast
• salt + pepper
• 32 oz Organic Beef or Vegetable Broth
• Rosemary Sprigs
• Carrots (I like heirloom so you get lots of different vibrant colors)
• Potatoes
• Garlic 
• Onion
• Celery (if desired)

Start by seasoning the roast with salt and pepper. Then brown both sides of the roast in a saucepan. Chop carrots, potatoes, and onion into large pieces (celery if desired). Add garlic and broth to a large crockpot. Add vegetables. Add roast. Top with rosemary sprigs. Cook on low for approximately 8 hours. Enjoy!

Healthy Chicken Crockpot Recipes

One of my favorite and easiest things to do in the crockpot is making:

Chicken Taco Filling

Ingredients: 

• Chicken Breasts
• Jar of Salsa

Mix together and cook on low for 4-5 hours. Shred the chicken and you have an easy taco, taco salad, or tostada filling.

Another favorite chicken crockpot dish comes meal plan approved from the Team Beach Body Blog (TBB): Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas 

Best Soups Ever

There is nothing better than a hot bowl of soup and maybe a grilled cheese treat if you feel like splurging during that cooler weather season. Here are some yummy soup recipes that can be done on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.

Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 can organic black beans
• 1 can diced green chiles
• 1 yellow onion
• 1 can roasted tomatoes
• 1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro
• 3 garlic cloves
• Chili powder to taste
• Sea salt to taste
• 32 oz organic chicken broth
• Monterey jack cheese (optional)
• Lime wedges
• Avocado
• Tortilla chips or thinly sliced corn tortillas to fry into strips

Combine all ingredients (except tortilla, avocado, cheese, and lime) into the slow cooker and cook on low for 5-6 hours. Add all garnishes as desired. Side note: I like to add a lot of lime juice!

Butternut Squash Soup

This is one of the best seasonal soups you can eat, packed with nutrients and comforting powers.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp butter or olive oil or ghee
• 1.5 cups chopped yellow onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1 3- lb roasted butternut squash
• Smoked paprika to taste
• 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
• 6 cups organic vegetable or chicken broth
• A drizzle of heavy cream optional, for garnish
• Toasted pumpkin seeds optional, for garnish

To prepare the butternut squash cut into cubes. Roast in oil of choice, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika in the oven at 425 degrees for 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on your oven. 

1. Melt the butter (oil or ghee) in a large pot over medium heat, then add the onion, garlic, salt, and pepper, and cook for 10 minutes, until the onions are soft.
2. Add the cubes of butternut squash and cinnamon, and stir for 2 minutes, until the cinnamon smells fragrant.
3. Add the broth and bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 2 minutes at a simmer.
4. Add all ingredients to a blender and puree
5. Add any additional seasoning to taste.
6. Add any desired garnish.

Vegan Cauliflower Soup

One of my new favorite creamy soups comes from one of my favorite cookbooks and meal plans Fixate 2

Ingredients:

• 2 bulbs garlic
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 chopped yellow onion
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 7 cups chopped cauliflower
• 5 fresh thyme sprigs
• 4 cups organic vegetable broth
• 3/4 tsp sea salt
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 2 tsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

 

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Bake garlic bulbs for approximately one hour until they are able to squeeze out and release the cloves.
3. Forty minutes before the garlic is done, heat oil in a large soup pot, add onion and cook until translucent.
4. Add wine, then cauliflower, thyme, broth, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and gently boil covered for 22-25 minutes or until cauliflower is very soft.
5. Remove thyme sprigs and discard. Add garlic, lemon, and cheese. Blend together and serve with desired garnish.

Italian Wedding Soup

I love traditional Italian meals but as we know many Italian meals are carbohydrate-heavy and don’t ALWAYS have the healthiest ingredients, so here is my healthy spin on a traditional soup. 

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 pound extra-lean ground turkey
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons Italian bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 5 3/4 cups organic chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 cups thinly sliced escarole
• 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
• 1/3 cup finely chopped carrots 

In a medium bowl, combine meat, egg, bread crumbs, cheese, basil and onion powder; shape into 1/2 inch balls. 

In a large saucepan, heat broth to boiling; stir in escarole, orzo pasta, chopped carrot, and meatballs. Return to boil, then reduce heat to medium. Cook at a slow boil for 10 minutes, or until pasta is al dente. Stir frequently to prevent sticking.

Broccoli Cheese Soup inspired by Melissa’s Healthy Kitchen

I don’t have an instant pot, so when I see instant pot recipes that look delicious, I adapt them to my liking and abilities in my kitchen.

Ingredients: 

• 2 CUPS broccoli stems included
• 2 CUPS cauliflower stems included
• 1 CUP chicken bone broth
• 1 CUP coconut milk
• 2 TBSP tapioca flour
• 2 CUPS cheese
• Salt + pepper to taste
• 1/2 yellow onion diced
• 1 TBSP ghee

Saute` diced onions, salt + pepper to taste in ghee for about five minutes. Add to a slow cooker with broccoli, cauliflower, broth, and coconut milk. Cover and cook on low for about 4 hours.

Pout into a blender and add cheese, tapioca flour; blend until creamy.Top with bacon, green onions, cheese and enjoy!

If you feel like you are wanting more recipes, tips, and tricks to living your healthiest life no matter how busy you are, I have lots more tips where those came from, but for the sake of space and time, these are my favorites. All of my meal plans include access to hundreds of recipes and short, easy, all levels workouts. If you have any specific recipes you would like or fitness questions, always feel free to reach out to me. 

Love and Light Always 

Sarah 

“Sarah Savino is my recommended Wellness and Nutrition Coach who resides in Colorado but has a community of clients she guides and manages nationally. She has her frequent retreats that her clients are encouraged but not required to attend and someone who knows first hand how it is to be overworked and overweight. She is a living truth that once within the right community and with the right guide, everything is possible. She can be reached thefitphilanthropist@gmail.com and facebook.com/sarah.savino IG- the_fit_philanthropist ”- Dr. Shakib, your Irvine Chiropractor