A crockpot is an essential piece of equipment in many kitchens. It’s easy to see why. You can produce maximum flavor with minimal effort with these high protein crockpot recipes. Countless crockpot recipes are of the “dump and go” variety. This means you can dump your ingredients in your pot, turn it on, then let it do its magic. Some recipes require a little prep before cooking in your crockpot. However, this doesn’t tend to take long at all.
This dish has quickly become one of our most requested family recipes. Between the silky textures, balanced seasonings, and wholesome pantry ingredients, it delivers gourmet dining satisfaction in minimal kitchen time. Whether prepping for a weeknight dinner or entertaining guests, this foolproof guide guarantees rave reviews.
Chef's Secret Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Whole30 compliant bacon – I find that Whole Foods usually has a good selection. Obviously, if you don’t need this soup to be strictly Whole30 compliant you can use regular bacon, but try to choose one without nitrates and with as few additives as possible in order to keep the soup as healthy as possible!
- Crushed red pepper flakes – To add warmth and spiciness to both the soup and the homemade Italian sausage. If your family is particularly sensitive to heat, leave the 1/2 teaspoon out of the soup, and use it just in the sausage mix.
- Yellow potatoes – Diced into bite-sized pieces. Do try to find yellow ones like Yukon Golds, as they hold their shape nicely in the soup and white ones like Russets are more likely to dissolve into it! If you want to avoid potatoes, cauliflower florets are a good swap — I use them in my . You could also try celery root.
- White, brown or yellow onion – It doesn’t matter which!
- Garlic – As this is a soup where the vegetables really stand out fresh is much better than dried here, but you could use the pre-minced stuff from a jar if you don’t need it to be preservative-free for Whole30.
- Chicken stock – This will give the richest flavor, but you could use vegetable stock in a pinch.
- Kale – Stems removed and leaves chopped.
- Coconut milk – Choose an unsweetened (obviously!), full-fat variety. If you’re allergic to coconut or are worried it might have a “coconutty” flavor, swap the coconut milk out for cashew cream. Combine 1 cup raw cashews with 3/4 cup water in a high-speed blender and blend until completely smooth.
- Ground pork – For the homemade Italian sausage. Use ground chicken in place of the pork, if you prefer or don’t eat pork (and use turkey bacon also if avoiding pork!)
- Red wine vinegar – This brings essential acidity to the sausage mix to balance out all the dried herbs and spices.
- Fresh chopped parsley – This adds some freshness to the mix, again balancing out all of the dried herbs and spices.
- Dried herbs and spices – Garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, paprika, ground fennel seed, dried oregano and dried thyme are the perfect combination to mimic the taste of store-bought Italian sausage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this taste like Olive Garden’s zuppa toscana?
Does this taste like Olive Garden’s zuppa toscana?
31 High Protein Crockpot Recipes
A crockpot is an essential piece of equipment in many kitchens. It’s easy to see why. You can produce maximum flavor with minimal effort with these high protein crockpot recipes. Countless crockpot recipes are of the “dump and go” variety. This means you can dump your ingredients in your pot, turn it on, then let it do its magic. Some recipes require a little prep before cooking in your crockpot. However, this doesn’t tend to take long at all.
Ingredients
Homemade Whole30 Italian Sausage