25 So-Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Lent

Who doesn't love fuss-free meals? These slow cooker recipes for Lent are so easy to put together. They're also so hearty you won't miss the meat.

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Slow-Cooked Vegetable Curry

I love the fuss-free nature of the slow cooker, but I don’t want to sacrifice flavor for convenience. This cozy, spiced-up dish has both. It’s one of my favorite slow cooker recipes for Lent. —Susan Smith, Mead, Washington

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Greek Shrimp Orzo

This is one of our favorites. It’s delicious, satisfying and reheats well. My husband would rather have “the orzo dish” than go out to eat. Serve it with crusty bread and salad. —Molly Seidel, Edgewood, New Mexico
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Chickpea & Potato Curry

I make chana masala, the classic Indian chickpea curry, in my slow cooker. First browning the onion, ginger and garlic really makes the sauce amazing. —Anjana Devasahayam, San Antonio, Texas
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Potluck Macaroni and Cheese

You'll always have a winner at the potluck when you bring macaroni and cheese. Here's an extra-rich, creamy version for the slow cooker. —Jennifer Blondek, Chicopee, Massachusetts
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Seafood Cioppino

If you’re looking for a great seafood recipe for your slow cooker, this classic cioppino recipe is just the ticket. It’s brimming with clams, crab, fish and shrimp, and is fancy enough to be an elegant meal. —Lisa Moriarty, Wilton, New Hampshire. Get to know if you can eat meat on Ash Wednesday.
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Mushroom Marsala with Barley

This vegetarian recipe is a tasty mashup of chicken Marsala and mushroom barley soup. It's terrific as a main dish, but it can also be served, with or without the barley, as a side. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
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Slow-Cooker Clam Sauce

Serve this delectable clam sauce as a hot dip for holiday get-togethers. The sauce is bright and fresh with pasta, too. —Frances Pietsch, Flower Mound, Texas
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Slow-Cooked Fish Stew

I love fish and chowder, so this stew is a favorite of mine. It’s made without cream or whole milk for a healthier touch. To add richness and extra flavor, top servings with a little grated cheddar. This is a great dish to make on Fridays in Lent. —Jane McMillan, Dania Beach, Florida
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Greek-Style Lentil Soup

This healthy, warming soup is a satisfying vegetarian recipe, but you can use chicken broth or add cooked meat if you like. —Mary E. Smith, Columbia, Missouri
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Slow-Cooker Chickpea Tagine

While traveling through Morocco, my wife and I fell in love with the complex flavors of the many tagines we tried. Resist the urge to stir it­—doing so will break down the veggies. Add shredded cooked chicken in the last 10 minutes, or serve with grilled fish. —Raymond Wyatt, West St. Paul, Minnesota
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Shrimp Chowder

I simmer my rich and creamy shrimp soup in the slow cooker. Because the chowder is ready in less than four hours, it can be prepared in the afternoon and served to dinner guests that night. —Will Zunio, Gretna, Louisiana
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Vegetarian Tortilla Lasagna

You won't miss the meat in this savory delight. The layered main course is as tasty as it is impressive. Serve warm wedges alongside tortilla chips or a green salad.—Connie L McDowell, Greenwood, Delaware
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Zippy Bean Stew

This bean stew is a staple for my co-workers and me once the weather turns cool. It’s meat-free and the perfect Good Friday dinner. —Debbie Matthews, Bluefield, West Virginia
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Simple Poached Salmon

I love this recipe because it’s healthy and almost effortless. The salmon always cooks to perfection! —Erin Chilcoat, Central Islip, New York
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Shrimp Marinara

Flavorful marinara sauce simmers for just a few hours. Right before mealtime, toss in the shrimp to cook quickly. Serve over hot spaghetti for a delicious weeknight dish that feels dressed up. —Sue Mackey, Jackson, Wisconsin
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Slow-Cooker Frittata Provencal

This recipe means that a delectable dinner is ready when I walk in the door from work. The meatless slow-cooker meal also makes an elegant brunch for lazy weekend mornings. —Connie Eaton, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Slow-Cooked Stuffed Peppers

My favorite kitchen appliance is the slow cooker, and I use mine more than anyone else I know. It does a great job with this good-for-you dish. —Michelle Gurnsey, Lincoln, Nebraska
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Jalapeno Mac and Cheese

Many years ago after I had had knee surgery, a friend brought me a big casserole of mac and cheese along with the recipe. I have fiddled with the recipe over the years, most recently adding jalapenos at the request of my son. What an awesome spicy twist! —Teresa Gustafson, Elkton, Maryland
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Tomato Basil Tortellini Soup

When my family tried this soup, they all had to have seconds, and my husband is happy any time I put it on the table. Sometimes I include cooked, crumbled bacon and serve it with mozzarella cheese. —Christina Addison, Blanchester, Ohio
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Slow-Cooked Lentil Stew

This vegetarian stew is perfect when you want to take a break from meat. Adding the cream at the end gives it a smoother texture.—Michelle Collins, Suffolk Virginia
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Carolina Shrimp & Cheddar Grits

Shrimp and grits are a house favorite—if only we could agree on a recipe. I stirred things up with cheddar and Cajun seasoning to find a winner. —Charlotte Price, Raleigh, North Carolina
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Slow-Cooker Spicy Sweet Potato Chili

While this recipe contains no meat, it still has plenty of protein—plus vitamins and minerals. I love sweet potatoes, and they're even better mixed with black beans. Serve the chili with crackers or even spooned into tortilla shells (yes, I made sweet potato tacos out of this). —Jennifer Butz, Atlanta, Georgia
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Red Clam Sauce

This recipe tastes like an Italian restaurant specialty and cooks while you take care of other things. What a marvelous way to jazz up pasta sauce! It’s also a great slow cooker recipe for Lent. —JoAnn Brown, Latrobe, Pennsylvania
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Slow-Cooker Veggie Lasagna

This veggie-licious alternative to traditional lasagna makes use of slow-cooker convenience. I suggest using chunky spaghetti sauce. —Laura Davister, Little Suamico, Wisconsin
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Spicy Seafood Stew

The hardest part of this quick and easy recipe is peeling and dicing the potatoes—and you can even do that the night before. Just place the potatoes in water and store them in the refrigerator overnight to speed up assembly the next day. —Bonnie Marlow, Ottoville, Ohio

Grace Mannon
Grace is a full-time mom with a Master's degree in Food Science. She loves to experiment in the kitchen and writes about her hits (and misses) on her blog, A Southern Grace.
Lisa Kaminski
Lisa is a former Taste of Home editor and passionate baker. During her tenure, she poured her love of all things sweet (and sometimes savory) into Bakeable, Taste of Home's baking club. Lisa also dedicated her career here to finding and testing the best ingredients, kitchen gear and home products for our Test Kitchen-Preferred program. At home, you'll find her working on embroidery and other crafts.