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Crockpots are the one tool that no kitchen should be without, and it turns out they’re not just great for tenderizing meat. If you’re in the mood for a meat-free feast and happen to have a slow cooker handy, we’ve found some great vegetarian crockpot recipes that can inspire to create something hearty and delicious.

There’s nothing like the ease of cooking in a crockpot. You put the ingredients in before you start your day and by the time dinner rolls around it’s all cooked and ready to go. People often mistake the crockpot for a meat lover’s best friend, but it turns out there are plenty of hearty and delicious vegetarian crockpot recipes you can try for your next meal.

This famous Italian soup is a vegetarian’s dream come true, and it gets even better when you know that you can create it in your crockpot. Simply add a bunch of vegetables like peas, carrots, celery, canned tomatoes, and onion to get your base, then add pasta 10 minutes before it’s ready to serve. Shave some vegetarian parmesan on top and it’s ready to enjoy.

When you’re looking for the perfect winter feast, you can whip up this butternut squash soup with ease. A few key ingredients including squash, onion, apples, carrot, and stock, and mixed with coconut milk to make it vegan. Spice it up with cayenne, paprika, and cinnamon for a flavor sensation.

 If you want to enjoy the richness of lasagna without the heavy calories or long cooking time, why not turn to your crockpot? Simply replace the noodles with zucchini noodles and you’ll save yourself a lot of time and carbs in this healthier version. If you still want a few carbs, you can add a few sheets on instant lasagna to fill you up a little more.

For those who have young mouths to feed, this is an exciting dish that they’ll be licking from their bowls. Think of a traditional chili con carne sans the meat, but with a whole lot of cheese and macaroni pasta added into the mix. Be sure not to add the pasta until right at the end though.

 This is one of the most filling dishes you can make in your crockpot, and it’s all thanks to the protein-rich quinoa and black beans that make up the base. Add some extras like roast tomatoes, enchilada sauce, cheese, cream cheese and corn, and you have a delicious and flavor-rich Mexican vegetarian dish. Dip into it with corn chips or tortillas to make it even better.

If you’ve never cooked an omelet in your slow cooker there’s a first time for everything! You can simply put everything together and leave it for a couple of hours to cook, and you have free reign over the ingredients. Think eggs, milk, cheese, herbs, tomatoes, and spinach, then add whatever you fancy on top. This is a healthy meal with plenty of protein and would go down perfectly with a nice green salad.

This might sound like a complex meal but it couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is cook up some quinoa and then stuff it into peppers with their tops cut off and mix in other ingredients like black beans, refried beans, enchilada sauce, and more. Serve with heaps of fresh avocado and sour cream if you’re feeling decadent.

There are plenty of tasty meatless curries out there but what better to cook than one that’s full of chickpeas? This is a simple meal that you can set up at the start of the day and the flavors will only get better as time progresses. Think chickpeas, curry powder, and a whole lot of vegetables of your choice. Serve with papadams and basmati rice.

Tortellini in a soup? Yes, it somehow works. This vegetarian dish is serious comfort food for when you want a good serving of pasta with the heartiness of hot soup. Use store-bought tortellini shells stuffed with spinach and ricotta and add them to a creamy tomato soup base. Be careful, you probably won’t stop at just one plate.

If there’s one thing vegetarians can attest to, it’s how hard it can be trying to find a substitute that can replicate that meaty feel that you get when eating Bolognese. Surprisingly enough, cauliflower happens to be that substitute. Cook it up with your usual Bolognese ingredients like canned tomatoes, herbs, carrot, celery, onion, and garlic, and surprise yourself with how scrumptious it ends up turning out.

There’s no rule that claims stroganoff can only be made with beef, and we think it actually tastes better with some delicious mushrooms instead. Mushroom stroganoff can be served with rice or pasta, and there are only a few ingredients including sour cream , mushrooms, and stock, so it can be made with most things you have laying around

Sort of like the minestrone, but without the pasta, you can have free reign over what you put in your crockpot veggie soup. Carrots, celery, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, and onion are just a few suggestions, but to make it truly great you should serve it up with some freshly buttered bread. The perfect food for a cold winter’s night.

Most people hear the word ‘risotto’ and imagine slaving away constantly stirring a pot until it cooks to perfection. However, this crockpot risotto doesn’t require any effort at all and it tastes amazing. Rather than stirring until the stock absorbs the risotto, simply put all of the ingredients into the crockpot and it will do the rest for you. You’ll never cook risotto on the stovetop again!

If you’re sensing a Mexican theme when it comes to slow cookers, you’re right. These handy devices are perfect for this type of cuisine, and they make amazing veggie fajitas. Add in your peppers, roasted tomatoes, onions and spices to the slow cooker and then dish it up into tortillas with cheese. Optional extras include avocado, sour cream, cilantro, or freshly squeezed lime.

Some people go their whole lives without realizing you can make desserts in a crockpot, but we won’t let that happen to you! Make a double berry cobbler in this amazing appliance that’s so simple with soft biscuits, berry sauce, and coarse sugar. Serve up with cold vanilla ice cream and wow yourself with just how good it tastes.

Chickpeas are a vegetarian’s best friend, and they can be found in most of the foods that we love. Why not make a chili that’s packed full of them then, and add some sweet potato in as well. You can experiment with flavors and make it as hot or mild as you wish, then let it cook for six hours. When it’s ready, serve with rice and enjoy how deep the flavors go.

Beans are another great option for a meat alternative when you’re a vegetarian, and white beans can be especially tasty. Make up a white bean stew that includes the popular beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, stock, carrots, celery, and onion. Serve with rice or bread for a seriously hearty feast. This is a vegan-friendly meal as well, in case you have guests with extra special dietary requirements.

One more decadent dessert to add to the list is this triple chocolate peanut butter cake. Bake the chocolate cake base in your slow cooker and then layer with biscuit, peanut butter pieces, and melting chocolate. To get really serious about your sweet tooth, you can even add a dollop of cream or vanilla ice cream to the mix.

It might sound like a mouthful but it’s seriously easy to make. Cook the squash in the slow cooker for eight hours to get it nice and soft, and then top with broccoli, noodles, and creamy Thai sauce. This is one of those meals that tastes even better the next day, so make sure you cook enough for leftovers.

When you can’t be bothered thinking of a lavish meal and need to get rid of the vegetables lying in the bottom of your crisper, this should be your go to. Put a bunch of vegetables, some stock and herbs, and uncooked quinoa into your slow cooker and let it work its magic on the flavors over the day.

Coming up with tasty meals for the family each night can be a chore, and so can spending hundreds of dollars each week on the ingredients. We’ve rounded up some cheap dinner ideas that will please both kids and adults, to give you a little inspiration in the kitchen.

If it seems like your grocery shopping bill gets higher and higher each week, you’re probably not wrong. Food prices are skyrocketing and our inspiration for what to make each night starts to dwindle, so how do we keep everyone happy? We’ve found 20 cheap dinner ideas to inspire you in the kitchen, and best of all? They’re easy to make, easy to please, and barely cost a thing.