Variations and recipe tips Make this a non-vegan/vegetarian dish by substituting vegetable broth with low-sodium chicken broth. Easy substitutions include sweet potato for winter squash, pear for apple and a portion of broth with dairy/non-dairy milk or coconut milk. Easily prepare the recipe using a slow cooker. Follow steps numbers 1 and 2. When you are ready to turn your slow cooker on, combine all the ingredients and follow the slow cooker instructions as a cooking guide.