Slow cookers are perfect for making tougher cuts of beef tender and buttery with barely any effort. From curries to ribs and stews, these beef recipes will inspire you to break out the slow cooker!
If you can’t get enough of slow cooking then you can also try our slow cooker chicken recipes.
How to adapt your favourite recipes for a slow cooker
When it comes to winter comfort food, you can’t go past a heart slow cooker recipe. These one-pot wonders, perfect with almost any cuts of meat, are guaranteed to turn out fragrant, tender meals every time. Best of all, you can just pop your ingredients in and return in a few hours with all the work done for you.
However, not all of our favourite recipes were designed with the slow cooker in mind. Luckily, most of your favourite casserole, curry and soups can easily be converted for a slow cooker.
Here, we’ll take you through what you need to know for adapting your favourite recipes.
Keep in mind that a recipe that takes 2 hours to simmer or slow-roast will take about 6-8 hours on Low or 3-4 hours on High in the slow cooker.
And, as a general rule, a slow cooker should be at least half-full when cooking casseroles, curries and soups. Place vegetables into the cooker, put meat on top, then add the liquid.
Do you need to brown the meat first?
You can just throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker, but browning the meat first gives far better colour and flavour.
Do this in a frying pan with a little oil over a high heat, as shown in the video below.
For more tips on adapting recipes to suit your slow cooker.
01
Vietnamese beef brisket
Slow cooked to tender perfection, this fragrant beef brisket with Asian spices and vegetables, is beautiful served atop steamed rice.
02
Veal and tomato meatloaf
We’ve made the simple family meal even easier by cooking it in your favourite winter appliance, the slow cooker. Made with veal mince for added tenderness but would work well with beef mince if you prefer.
04
Coriander beef curry
A slow cooked beef that will melt in your mouth in a rich and herbaceous coriander curry.
05
Lasagne-style crock-pot
Here’s another way of making this humble family favourite even easier! I have added the grated carrot and baby spinach to the mix so you will only need a simple salad to serve. Plus my cheat’s version of a white cheese sauce make this dish as easy as possible.
06
Slow-cooked Mexican beef chilli mole
Slow-cooked Mexican beef chilli mole
This traditional Mexican meat dish, where chocolate, chilli and beef are combined in a delicious, hearty casserole, is even more flavoursome in this gorgeous version of the recipe made in a slow cooker.
07
Slow-cooker veal with balsamic sage sauce
Slow-cooker veal with balsamic sage sauce
Feed the family with this succulent and flavoursome slow-cooker veal with balsamic sage sauce – perfect comfort food for the cooler winter nights.
08
Texas-style brisket with corn & slaw
Texas-style brisket with corn & slaw
This beef brisket is flavoured with a fragrant spice rub and cooks away in your slow cooker for a tender, fall apart meat served with corn and slaw
09
Let dinner cook itself tonight. Prep the ingredients and throw together in the slow cooker to make the easiest, rich and luscious bolognese sauce.
10
Slow-cooker cottage pie
We’ve made the classic comfort food in the slow cooker for ease. Seasoned beef topped with buttery mash and browned under the grill to finish.
11
Tex Mex beef stew
This slow-cooker stew with meltingly tender beef and sweet potatoes cooked with gentle Tex Mex spices is as easy to make as it is delicious.
12
Five ingredient beef tacos
With only five simple ingredients and the use of a slow cooker you can create these tasty tacos with little effort. Minimum effort for max reward.
14
Beef casserole with cheesy herb dumplings
This hearty beef casserole with cheesy herb dumplings is the ultimate in slow cooker comfort food!
15
Vietnamese beef brisket
This Vietnamese-inspired beef brisket is simply delicious perched on top of steamed rice and sprinkled with fresh coriander.
16
Slow cooker beef rendang
Rich beef curries like this delicious beef rendang are perfectly suited to slow cooking, which tenderises tough cuts of beef and intensifies the flavour of spices.
17
Beef and vegetable soup
The only thing missing from the serving suggestions for this beef and vegetable soup is a thick blanket, fluffy socks and roaring fireplace!
18
Beer and thyme beef cheeks
These slow-cooked beer and thyme beef cheeks come together over a leisurely 9 hours without you having to worry about a thing!
19
Coconut curried beef
This Thai-inspired curried coconut beef dish becomes intensely flavoured after stewing in your slow cooker. Perfect for scratching that take away itch without breaking the bank.
20
Slow-cooked Mexican beef chilli mole
This traditional Mexican beef chilli mole, where chocolate, chilli and beef are combined in a delicious, hearty casserole is an ideal slow-cooker recipe.
21
Slow cooker beef massaman curry
Your slow cooker is the perfect tool for creating the tender, flavoursome meat in this slow cooker beef massaman curry that will fill your house with a mouthwatering aroma.
22
Slow cooker shredded beef tacos
Just when you thought taco night couldn’t get any easier in comes the slow cooker! These slow cooker shredded beef tacos are an easy and tasty midweek dinner wonder!
23
slow cooker osso bucco
Technically a veal dish, this slow cooker osso bucco takes all the guess work out of making this classic Italian stew. Topped with a zesty gremolata, this dish is perfect served atop fluffy polenta.
24
mushroom and red wine stew
Warm, hearty and packed with mushrooms and bacon, this beef stew is slow-cooked in a fragrant red wine sauce to tender perfection.
25
paprdelle with beef ragu
Want to take your spaghetti bolognese to a whole other level? Try this pappardelle with slow-cooked beef ragu. Instead of mince, slow cooked beef shin is cooked in a rich sauce and shredded before being served atop thick, al dente pappardelle.
26
Beef rib bourguignon
This beef rib bourguignon is perfect for your slow cooker, which tenderises the beef short ribs and intensifies the rich sauce in this classic French casserole. Serve these succulent ribs with creamy mashed potatoes.
