Slow Cooker Roasted Vegetables Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What vegetables should not be added to a slow cooker? ›

Tender vegetables

Vegetables such as peas, asparagus and peppers can become a flavorless, mushy mess in a slow cooker. Stick to heartier root vegetables like potatoes, onions, leeks and yams, or wait to add the tender vegetables until the last 30 minutes or so of cooking time.

Tender vegetables such as zucchini and beans can be added to your dish in last ¾ - 1 hour of cooking when cooking on High, or 2 hours if cooking on Low. Hard, starchy vegetables like potato and carrots are best added around 3 hours before the meal is done if cooking on High, and 4 hours on Low.

The perfect temperature– 400 degrees Fahrenheit is the perfect temperature for most roasted vegetables. It allows for a crispy, perfectly browned exterior and a fork tender interior.

Since you have time, try roasting your carrots low and slow.

Let's hit those carrots at 300°—hell, you can go as low as 250°! —for as long as it takes (probably closer to an hour, depending on the size). We can do that, because we have a solid chunk of time at home.

Put potatoes, carrots and onion on bottom of crockpot. Place the roast on top, fat side up. Pour in water or beef broth. Sprinkle chives, parsley, pepper and Onion Soup mix over the meat.

Using tongs, sear meat on all sides until browned and place on top of vegetables in the crockpot. Add whole garlic cloves into the crevices of the roast (on the top and bottom usually where there is a seam of fat).

The best vegetables for a slow cooker are sturdier veggies like celery, carrots, tomatoes, onions, peppers and green beans, like we used in this recipe.

Certain vegetables: Delicate herbs and veggies like fresh tomatoes, zucchini, and peas won't fare well in the slow cooker, as their individual textures may become mushy and flavorless if left for too long. If your recipe calls for these vegetables, try adding them close to the end of cooking time.

Reduce liquid when using a slow cooker

It should just cover the meat and vegetables. Don't overfill your slow cooker, or it may start leaking out the top, and the food won't cook so well.

The Oven Temp Is Too Low

But, they'll turn out soft and soggy instead of crispy and caramelized. The solution: Turn the oven temperature up to 400°F to 425°F.

Which vegetables are best for roasting? ›

Best Vegetables To Roast

Obvious choices are root veg like carrots, potatoes, and parsnips. But crucifers like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower roast well, too. More delicate veggies like cabbage, tomatoes, onions, and squash roast spectacularly well.

Adding Delicate Vegetables Too Early

Due to the slow cooker's lengthy cooking time, most vegetables will become overcooked and mushy if they're added too soon, says Stephen Chavez, chef instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles.

Root vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots and turnips take the longest, followed by hard squash and cruciferous vegetables like butternut squash, cauliflower and broccoli. Tender items like cherry tomatoes or zucchini come next, then cooking greens, which have the shortest roasting time.

But here's why: smaller vegetables take less time to cook throughout. On the other hand, harder and bigger vegetables are better cooked at 350-400 to prevent the vegetables from burning. Additionally, some vegetables with high water content (like tomatoes) should be slow roasted around 250F.

The slow cooker is great for tenderizing tough cuts of meat, preparing a stew, or whipping up a rich, flavorful bowl of chili. It's not great, however, for cooking delicate vegetables such as spinach, asparagus, and peas.

Small diced potatoes and veggies will get mushy when cooked in the slow cooker for 8 or more hours. If you'd like to use small diced veggies, add them in the last 2 hours of cooking.