Mighty but meatless, this vibrant & fresh collection of 30+ super easy vegan slow cooker recipes that are all simple to prepare, completely delicious, and perfect for cozy meals at home.

top down view of ingredients for crockpot lentil soup in a black slow cooker pot

Meatless But Mighty Slow Cooker Recipes

Yes, the slow cooker can be busy plant-based person’s best friend, as it makes it simple to cook fresh, hearty meals – even when you’re not at home. From refried bean tacos to creamy chowders & curries, the recipes in this collection are all simple to prepare and fantastic meals for busy people who want to eat more plant based meals.

Table of Contents

As a healthy habits expert, I wrote the book on simplifying things, and that’s why these meatless crock pot recipes need only a few hands-on minutes of prep time and just few easy to find ingredients. Click on each category to go straight to the recipes.

Starters

Vegetables

Curry

Main Dishes (That Aren’t Soup)

Soup

Tip: A few of these recipes require light adaptations to be fully vegan, including swapping in vegetable stock, plant based butter, and/or plant based yogurt. Modifications are noted in each recipe, but be sure to use all plant based ingredients to ensure recipes are vegan.

These Recipes Are…

Starters

bowl of artichoke dip with bread on white plate with striped napkin
5 stars (8 ratings)

Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free)

Rich, creamy, and oh-so delicious, Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free) will be the hit of your next party or gathering!
Ingredients: frozen spinach, artichoke hearts, raw cashews, almond milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, mayo or veganaise
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5 stars (5 ratings)

The Best Dairy-Free Salsa Cheese Sauce

Dairy-Free Salsa Cheese Sauce is an ooey-gooey, totally delicious alternative to traditional cheese sauce. Packed with veggies, and totally dairy-free, you’ve got to try this one to believe it!
Ingredients: Russet potatoes, carrots, chicken or vegetable stock, cashews, nutritional yeast, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, chunky salsa, and salt.
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Vegetables

Close up of sliced baked sweet potatoes topped with butter in a black slow cooker.
5 stars (3 ratings)

Easiest Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes

Nearly effortless to prepare, slow cooker sweet potatoes are an easy side dish for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or for the holidays. This is my absolute favorite way to cook whole sweet potatoes, with just one ingredient and three hours!
Ingredients: sweet potatoes.
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close up of slow cooker baked potatoes in a black crockpot with chives and sour cream on top
5 stars (2 ratings)

Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes (No Foil, Fluffy & Hands-Off!)

Yes, you can make the perfect baked Russet potatoes in the slow cooker! With just 3-ingredients, this is the easiest, hands-off method to make fluffy, steamy slow cooker jacket potatoes with almost no effort, and no foil required.
Ingredients: Russet potatoes, olive oil and salt.
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top down view of sliced carrots in a black crockpot on white background
5 stars (17 ratings)

Slow Cooker Honey Glazed Carrots

Elevate everyday carrots with this incredibly easy and elegantly simple side. Perfect for every day dinners, brunch, and special holiday spreads; these slow cooker carrots make an impressive vegetable side dish and are easy to make with carrots, honey (or maple syrup) and just a touch of butter.
Ingredients: carrots, butter, lemon zest, maple syrup and salt.
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Curry in the Slow Cooker

white bowl filled with slow cooker vegetable curry with a striped blue napkin on the side
4.86 stars (49 ratings)

Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry

Slow cooker vegetable curry combines sweet potato, chickpeas, cauliflower, spinach, coconut milk, and Indian-style curry powder for an easy dump-and-go, hearty crockpot meal. Makes for the perfect hearty vegetarian and meal that will have you going back for seconds!
Ingredients: chickpeas, sweet potato, cauliflower, onion, vegetable broth, peas, spinach, coconut milk, curry powder, turmeric, ginger, garlic powder, tomato paste, lime juice, and salt
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5 stars (9 ratings)

Slow Cooker Veggie Coconut Curry

Bursting with vibrant vegetables, Slow Cooker Veggie Coconut Curry is easy to pull together and is the perfect dinner, any night of the week.
Ingredients: baby potatoes, carrots, chickpeas, stock, asparagus, peas, coconut milk, red Thai curry paste, lime juice and cilantro.
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Vegan Crockpot Main Dishes That Aren’t Soup

close up of crockpot vegetarian chili in a white bowl with toppings
4.99 stars (196 ratings)

Crockpot Vegetarian Chili

This easy crockpot vegetarian chili recipe tastes delicious and is easy to make with basic pantry ingredients, three beans, vegetables, and spices. Gluten free and vegan!
Ingredients: black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, bell peppers, onion, fire roasted tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, lime juice, and other spices
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Image of Slow Cooker Enchilada Quinoa (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free)
5 stars (33 ratings)

Slow Cooker Enchilada Quinoa (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free)

A simple drop, stir, cover, and go recipe; Slow Cooker Enchilada Quinoa (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free) is so easy to prepare, tastes amazing, and packs well for lunch the next day.
Ingredients: quinoa, canned black beans, bell pepper, onion, cumin, garlic powder, mild chili powder, tomato sauce, diced fire-roasted tomatoes, green chilis, lime juice and salt
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4.91 stars (11 ratings)

Slow Cooker Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (5-Ingredients!)

Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes just got easier because now you can make them in the slow cooker, with just 5 simple ingredients, and without chopping or pre-cooking! Yes, easy recipes like this one are my specialty, so let me show you how easy fresh & filling slow cooker meals can be.
Ingredients: black beans, sweet potatoes, salsa, garlic powder and smoked paprika.
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Image of Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Fire Roasted Marinara
5 stars (1 rating)

Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Fire Roasted Marinara

Make your own pasta sauce at home the easy way with this simple recipe for Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Fire Roasted Marinara. You’ll love the homemade flavor, how easy it is to prepare, and that there’s none of the processed stuff!
Ingredients: fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, onion, smoked paprika.
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Image of Slow Cooker Barbecue Chickpeas
5 stars (8 ratings)

Zesty Slow Cooker BBQ Chickpeas (for Sandwiches + Bowls!)

A plant-based, cozy-but-light dinner base ready to top a sweet potato, stuff a wrap, or pile in buns, these slow cooker BBQ chickpeas use a sweet and spicy homemade barbecue sauce and canned chickpeas for an easy, crowd-pleasing vegetarian meal.
Ingredients:  chickpeas, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, tomato paste, maple syrup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and water.
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Image of Slow Cooker Refried Bean Tacos
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Slow Cooker Refried Bean Tacos

With just 2 ingredients and minimal prep, you can whip up a batch of homemade refried beans. Fold into a warm tortilla, pile on the toppings, and you’ll have yourself quick and delicious Slow Cooker Refried Bean Tacos for dinner in no time!
Ingredients: dry pinto beans, water, salt and any taco toppings you like.
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Overhead shot of a bowl of sweet potato black bean chili garnished with avocado slices and sliced green onions. You can see a second bowl of chili, a lime wedge, cilantro, and a kitchen towel in the background.
5 stars (35 ratings)

5-Ingredient Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili (Slow Cooker, Instant Pot)

5-Ingredient Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili is simple to prepare, totally nourishing, and absolutely delicious.
Ingredients: sweet potatoes, black beans, salsa, vegetable stock, cumin, smoked paprika and salt
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Image of Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Apple Cider Chili
5 stars (2 ratings)

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Apple Cider Chili

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Apple Cider Chili is a hearty sweet and savory vegetarian chili, combining a few simple ingredients into a quick, easy, and filling meal.
Ingredients: sweet potato, black beans, kidney beans, tomato sauce, onion, stock, apple cider, chili powder, and other spices
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4.89 stars (18 ratings)

Slow Cooker Lentil Chili (w/ Beans)

This Slow Cooker Lentil Chili is made with brown or green lentils, beans, turmeric, simple spices, and is creamy with coconut milk. Reminiscent of Madras lentils, it's hearty, it's filling, and it's oh-so simple to make!
Ingredients: kidney beans, lentils, stock, onion, tomato paste, coconut milk, cumin, turmeric and other spices
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Vegan Crock Pot Soups

Minestrone soup with butternut squash, beans, and pasta in a bowl on a blue background.
5 stars (13 ratings)

Winter Minestrone

A delicious, nourishing winter season soup that’s beyond easy to make at home, this vegetarian winter minestrone combines a mixture of flavors and textures, resulting in a cozy and hearty dinner soup you'll love!
Ingredients: Chickpeas, white beans, butternut squash, diced tomatoes, kale, stock, onion, garlic, pasta.
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top down view of white bowl of vegetable soup with striped blue napkin
5 stars (51 ratings)

Easy Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup (Dump and Go!)

This easy, hearty slow cooker vegetable soup is made with a mix of cut veggies that stand up well to a longer cook time, such as carrots, potatoes, and celery (no mush veggies here!) Best of all, you can make it without sautéing the vegetables first, which is a nice time-saver, too! 
Ingredients: potatoes, celery, carrot, onion, fire roasted tomatoes, tomato paste, peas, corn, green beans, stock, garlic powder, smoked paprika, bay leaves and salt.
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white bowl of crockpot lentil soup with fresh herbs and crusty bread on the side
4.93 stars (53 ratings)

Easy Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

This easy slow cooker lentil soup is made with simple pantry ingredients like green lentils, celery, carrot and spinach making for a hearty vegan and vegetarian meal. Plus instant pot and stovetop directions!
Ingredients: Green (or brown) lentils, stock, onion, celery, carrot, diced tomatoes, garlic, red wine vinegar, spinach, salt and bay leaves.
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Overhead shot of a white bowl with pumpkin and sweet potato soup
5 stars (7 ratings)

Easy Pumpkin + Sweet Potato Soup (w/ Canned Pumpkin)

Creamy and warming, pumpkin and sweet potato soup is an easy, healthy, vegetarian soup that can be made with canned pumpkin on the stovetop or in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Ingredients: sweet potatoes, pumpkin puree, chipotle peppers, vegetable broth, coconut milk or cream, pumpkin pie spice, olive oil, onion, garlic powder, fresh lemon juice, maple syrup and salt.
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Overhead shot of a white bowl filled with sweet potato peanut soup, topped with fresh herbs, on top of a white background.
5 stars (8 ratings)

Sweet Potato Peanut Soup

Made with simple pantry ingredients, sweet potato peanut soup is a hearty, satisfying vegetarian meal that will have everyone heading back for seconds.
Ingredients: sweet potatoes, onions, garlic, fire roasted tomatoes, vegetable broth (or chicken broth), coconut milk, creamy unsweetened peanut butter, baby spinach, lime juice and salt.
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White bowl filled with slow cooker potato leek soup topped with chives, with cut leeks and a napkin on the side, on top of a white background.
5 stars (3 ratings)

Creamy Slow Cooker Potato Leek Soup (No Cream)

Lusciously creamy (with no cream) this simple dump-and-go slow cooker potato leek soup is vegetarian, requires no pre-cooking, and is packed with Yukon gold potatoes, leeks, carrots, and is made creamy with a "secret" ingredient – raw cashews (or coconut milk) for a sustaining, nourishing meal with very little effort.
Ingredients: leeks, potatoes, celery, carrots, garlic, vegetable stock, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, cashews (or cream / coconut milk), butter (traditional or plant-based) and salt.
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Top down view of a white bowl filled with butternut squash and red pepper soup, with a striped napkin on the side.
4.91 stars (10 ratings)

Butternut & Red Pepper Soup (w/ Coconut Milk)

This easy butternut squash and red pepper soup recipe is so smooth, creamy, and is made with simple ingredients like butternut squash, jarred roasted red pepper, and coconut milk. Plus I've streamlined things by skipping any pre-roasting, so this creamy, dreamy soup comes together in under 30 minutes on the stovetop, or with no pre-browning in the slow cooker.
Ingredients: butternut squash, roasted red peppers, tomato paste, coconut milk (or heavy cream), chicken stock (or vegetable stock), garlic, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, red wine vinegar, olive oil and salt.
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Top down view of a white bowl filled with crockpot black bean soup on top of a striped blue napkin.
5 stars (12 ratings)

Simple Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup (w/ Canned Beans!)

Super easy and incredibly delicious, this easy black bean soup uses canned black beans; plenty of vegetables like carrots, celery, and onion; plus a little kick from chili powder for a simple, filling and hearty soup.
Ingredients: canned black beans, stock, celery, carrot, onion, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, chipotle chili powder, lime juice, olive oil and salt.
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5 stars (22 ratings)

Easy Red Lentil Soup w/ Coconut Milk (Crockpot + Stovetop!)

This easy red lentil soup is an easy one-pot meal you'll want to make again and again. Using dried red lentils, plus simple spices like ginger and turmeric; it comes together with coconut milk for a creamy (without a drop of cream), hearty, and seriously simple vegetarian meal made in the crockpot or stovetop.
Ingredients: red lentils, coconut milk, tomatoes, onion, lime juice, garlic, ginger, turmeric and other spices.
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Overhead shot of bowls of creamy potato corn chowder with corn kernels and basil leaves. The bowl in the middle has a spoon in it.
5 stars (35 ratings)

Slow Cooker Creamy Corn Chowder (Vegetarian)

This easy slow cooker corn chowder is a breeze to prep, and is a veggie-packed vegetarian recipe that’s luxuriously creamy without a drop of cream. A surprisingly simple yet deliciously vibrant soup that can be made with fresh or frozen corn! 
Ingredients: russet potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, broth, coconut milk, onion, garlic, white wine vinegar and other spices
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Three bowls of tomato soup topped with basil, parmesan, with crusty bread on the side.
5 stars (19 ratings)

Slow Cooker Tomato Soup (Canned Tomatoes, No Cream)

Slow-cooked in the crockpot, this easy slow cooker tomato soup is decadently creamy, made with of canned tomatoes, and with no milk or cream.
Ingredients: canned tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, tomato paste, stock, onion, garlic, raw cashews, Italian seasoning, salt.
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Image of Slow Cooker Sweet Potato, Apple, & Turmeric Soup
4.92 stars (25 ratings)

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato, Apple, & Turmeric Soup

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato, Apple & Turmeric Soup is a simple chop and drop recipe that yields creamy, nourishing results. It’s a hit with the entire family, plus is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, paleo and Whole30 friendly!
Ingredients: sweet potato, apple, potatoes, stock, coconut milk, onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, turmeric and other seasonings
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Image of Slow Cooker Butternut Squash, Kale & Quinoa Stew
5 stars (22 ratings)

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash, Kale & Quinoa Stew

A simple and delicious plant-based meal, Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Stew is hearty, nourishing and packed with all the good stuff.
Ingredients: butternut squash, quinoa, kale, tomatoes, broth, onion, garlic, white wine vinegar, cumin, paprika, and other spices
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Pumpkin soup in a black slow cooker with fresh herbs on white background.
5 stars (23 ratings)

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup (with Canned Pumpkin!)

This easy slow cooker pumpkin soup recipe is so easy to prepare with canned pumpkin! It's a simple dump-and-go slow cooker meal that's perfectly rich, creamy and oh-so cozy.
Ingredients: canned pumpkin puree, vegetable stock, canned tomato sauce, cream or coconut milk, onion, garlic, cinnamon and salt.
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Ladle pouring yellow butternut squash soup into a black slow cooker.
5 stars (12 ratings)

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup (w/ Coconut Milk)

Cozy & flavorful, this easy slow cooker butternut squash soup requires no pre-cooking so you can just dump the ingredients, set-it, and forget it. With an extra boost of flavor from carrots and sweet apple, it's blended together with coconut milk, making for an absolutely delightfully simple and creamy soup.
Ingredients: Butternut squash, apples, onion, carrot, turmeric, coconut milk, vegetable stock, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon and other spices.
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5 stars (2 ratings)

30+ Easy Vegan Recipes in the Slow Cooker: Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

by Robyn Conley Downs
Servings: 4
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
These slow cooker Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are so easy to prepare, taste amazing and are great for meal prep on busy weeks. Everything cooks together in just one pot! Plus, 30+ more easy vegan slow cooker recipes that I know you'll love!
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Ingredients

  • 2 (15-oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 ⅓ cup chunky salsa, divided*
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ⅓ cup water
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes (or 4 small sweet potatoes), scrubbed
  • Optional toppings: plant based sour cream, cheese, chopped scallion, sliced avocado, chopped cilantro, pickled or fresh jalapeño, shredded cabbage, fresh lime wedges for squeezing, .

Equipment

Instructions 

  • In the base of a 6-quart slow cooker, stir together the beans, 1 cup salsa, garlic powder, smoked paprika, water and salt. Place the sweet potatoes on top of the bean mixture.
  • Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4, or until the sweet potatoes are tender and cooked through.
  • Carefully remove the sweet potatoes, slice in half, and serve topped with the black beans, the remaining salsa, and any other toppings you like.

Notes

All slow cookers are different, so you may need to adjust the time up or down depending on your particular model.
 
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 (of 4), Calories: 127kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 0.3g, Saturated Fat: 0.1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g, Sodium: 780mg, Potassium: 626mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 16694IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 61mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition disclaimer
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