For stress-free family dinners, these easy slow cooker recipes are hard to beat: just prep, set and forget. I love the feeling of preparing dinner in the morning and then leaving it to cook, knowing that whatever happens that day, whether I am working, taking my family to sports, or dashing around with jobs; dinner is done.
Slow cooking is also great for cooking more budget friendly cuts of meat that require long, slow cooking to make them tender; and is a way I often include meat in our weekly menu without going over budget.
These slow cooker recipes are ones that I turn to time and time again, and I hope you will too!
Slow Cooker Lamb Shoulder
This simple slow cooker lamb recipe with lemon and fresh herbs is so tender, and the potatoes are cooked with the lamb, absorbing all that beautiful flavour.
Slow Cooker Lamb
Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole
This fuss free sausage casserole is packed with vegetables and loved by kids. Serve with cooked pasta, rice or mashed potatoes.
Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole
Slow Cooker Beef Curry
This mild beef curry is suitable for kids and those that aren’t fans of spicy heat. It is great for making ahead as the flavours improve over time. Serve with rice, chapati or if you have a little more time, some fluffy naan on the side.
Slow Cooker Beef Madras
Slow Cooker Chilli con Carne
With minced beef and kidney beans in a flavour packed sauce, this recipe is delicious served with rice, on jacket potatoes or, for a super easy dinner, on corn chips as nachos!
Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne
Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
This is such a winter warmer! It has all the classic lasagna flavours, but in soup form. It is a meal in itself, but some crusty bread or garlic bread is always a favourite side!
Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks
Lamb shanks are slow cooked with Greek spices and then orzo (risoni) is added towards the end of cooking which absorbs all the delicious flavours and creates a comforting dish.
Slow Cooker Greek Lamb Shanks
Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
This stroganoff is a great simple stewing beef recipe. Meltingly tender beef with mushrooms in a sour cream gravy – this is comfort food at its best!
Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Slow Cooker Meatballs
A recipe my son insisted I put straight on the website! Minced beef meatballs are cooked in a thick tomato sauce until soft and tender. This recipe freezes beautifully too.
Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs
Slow Cooker Bolognese
This easy spaghetti bolognese sauce is not only delicious on pasta or polenta but this versatile recipe can be used to make lasagna or a beef pie!
Slow Cooker Bolognese
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup
This vegan and gluten free soup is made from just 6 ingredients and takes 10 minutes to prepare. It’s warming, comforting, and filling thanks to the addition of red lentils.
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup
FAQ
Quite often, yes you can just throw the ingredients in the slow cooker; however browning the meat first adds flavour and colour, as does cooking the onions and softening vegetables.
Lean cuts of meat (they’ll go tough!), seafood, chicken with skin, delicate vegetables, some dairy products (they can split), and frozen meat.
Tips when using a slow cooker
- Try not to lift the lid off too often – it will cause the temperature inside the slow cooker to drop.
- Thaw / defrost frozen food before adding to the slow cooker – it takes too long for the slow cooker to reach a safe temperature for frozen food.
- Prepping ahead – if you want to prep the recipe the night before, prepare and place the ingredients in a bowl(s) in the fridge, don’t store the slow cooker insert in the fridge as it will take too long to get up to temperature.
Let me know your thoughts!