Easy Slow Cooker Beans with Vegetables Recipe
A Simple Nutritious Crock Pot Dish for Cold Days
Dec 14, 2008
This is a recipe that is short on preparation time, and cooks on its own during the day, leaving the cook free to pursue other activities. At dinner time, there is a nutritious and satisfying meal ready to eat. Some favorite bread on the side makes it complete.
Beans are a healthy choice by themselves, but adding chopped vegetables to the recipe supplies an even higher intake of vitamins and minerals.
Health Benefits of Beans
According to The World’s Healthiest Foods website, beans are a nutritious food choice for several reasons:
- Beans are a good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber.
- They help to regulate blood sugar, which benefits diabetics.
- Beans are a good source of fat-free protein, making them an excellent choice for vegetarians.
- They are a good source of several vitamins and minerals.
- Beans make a very satisfying meal and provide needed energy for the day’s activities.
Slow Cooker Beans with Vegetables Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 x 19 fl oz (540 ml) cans of organic bean medley
- 2 cups chopped vegetables (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup chopped tomato (fresh or canned)
- 2 cups water (if the vegetables are frozen reduce by 1/2 cup)
- 3 tbsp barbeque sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 tsp basil
- 1/2 tsp parsley
Steps
- Beans are drained and rinsed.
- Any fresh vegetables are prepared.
- All ingredients are added to the slow cooker and mixed together.
- The dish is left to cook for 8 hours on the LOW setting.
Notes:
- Some examples of vegetable are onions, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, parsnip and turnip. The cook can choose her favorites.
- This recipe does not need salt because the canned products and tomatoes usually have sodium already. People who wish to avoid sodium should be cautious about using this recipe.
- Pepper can be added to suit personal taste. 1/2 tsp of cilantro and a dash of cayenne pepper can be added to create a spicy flavor.
- The cover must not be removed during the 8 hours of cooking time.
- This recipe is for a 3 quart slow cooker, but can be adjusted to a smaller or larger pot.
Gluten-free Alternative for Slow Cooker Beans with Vegetables
This recipe can easily be used as a gluten-free meal of slow cooker beans with vegetables. The cook will need to ensure that all of the pre-packaged ingredients do not contain gluten. Many of the ingredients in this dish are generally gluten-free to start with. Gluten-free bread can be added to make a complete gluten-free meal.
This easy and nutritious meal is great as a warm-up on a cold winter day. Some fresh bread on the side makes it very satisfying.
For other slow cooker recipes see Simple Gluten-free Slow Cooker Recipes. For other complete meal ideas see Gluten-free Vegetarian Tofu Meatballs and Healthy Lentil Brown Rice Soup.
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