Photography: James Moffatt. Styling: Kate Brown.
The versatile slow cooker really comes into its own in winter. After all, cold weather calls for hearty, warming and flavoursome meals—savoury or sweet! These super-easy, melt-in-the-mouth meals and delicious desserts are something that the whole family can look forward to after a long, chilly day. From soups and shanks to stews and steamed puddings, hit the supermarket, grab your ingredients and try one of the Test Kitchen’s best slow cooker recipes this winter.
Best cuts of meat for the slow cooker
Long, slow cooking will tenderise even the toughest cuts of meat. Stewing or braising cuts are the best choices. Tough cuts are usually inexpensive, but cutting the meat off the bone yourself can save you more money, as you’re not paying for the convenience of pre-cut meat. Cutting up the meat yourself also gives you the opportunity to trim off visible fat and make the pieces a more uniform size.
The best cuts of meat to use are:
- Beef: topside, oyster, blade, skirt, round, chuck, gravy beef
- Veal: osso buco, shanks, shoulder
- Lamb: neck chops, boneless shoulder, shanks, boneless forequarter
- Pork: forequarter chops, neck, belly shoulder
- Chicken: any pieces on the bone, such as drumsticks, thighs and marylands
- Seafood: is generally not suitable for slow cooking as it toughens quickly. However there are some recipe for sauces that can be cooked in the slow cooker, then add the seafood just before serving. The exception is large octopus, which will cook and become tender in a slow cooker.
Can you use dried beans in a slow cooker?
Some dried beans need to be cooked before adding to a slow cooker because of a certain chemical they contain. Kidney-shaped beans of all colours and sizes are related to each other and MUST be washed, drained and boiled in fresh water until tender. Add these cooked beans to the slow-cooked dish just like you would with canned beans.
Dried, unsoaked chickpeas and soy beans are fine to use in the slow cooker; just rinse them well first – there is no need for overnight soaking before cooking.
Tips for freezing
Many slow cooked meals can be frozen for up to three months. There is usually a large quantity of liquid so transfer the meat and vegetables to appropriate-sized freezer-friendly containers, then pour in enough of the liquid to cover the meat and/or vegetables. Leave a 2.5cm space between the food and the lid to allow for expansion, then seal the container. Label and date the container before placing in the freezer.
If the recipe has a large quantity of mushrooms or potato, or a large piece of meat as an ingredient, we usually advise against freezing. However, if you don’t mind the food looking a bit sad after it’s thawed, almost anything will tolerate being frozen.
Julie Goodwin’s slow cooker lamb chops
In a sweet and mild curry sauce.
Slow cooker beef casserole
The ultimate winter warmer.
Slow cooker chicken drumsticks
An easy and tasty family dinner.
Slow cooker lamb shoulder
Need to feed a crowd? This mango chutney lamb is great for casual entertaining.
Slow cooker massaman lamb shanks
Tender lamb shanks cooked low and slow until falling off the bone and served in a mild Massaman curry.
Slow cooker chicken curry
An aromatic curry rich with Malaysian-inspired flavours.
Slow cooker beef stew
Slow-cooked until tender and full of flavour.
Slow cooker pea and ham soup
Classic comfort food at its best.
Slow cooker corned beef
Create a delicious dinner with minimal fuss.
Slow cooker beef ragu
A hearty pasta dish that elevates an economical cut of meat like gravy beef (shin) through slow cooking. Best of all, this recipe includes instructions for the slow cooker AND the oven.
Slow cooker lamb ragu
Ragù to riches! This versatile dish is perfect for entertaining.
Slow cooker beef soup with chickpea & chorizo
A richly flavoured soup using osso bucco.
Slow cooker peppered pork curry
Spice up dinnertime.
Slow cooker spinach & ricotta lasagne
A vegie twist on the classic meal.
Slow cooker chicken noodle soup
With minimal prep, come back later to a hearty bowl – too easy!
Slow cooker satay pork stew
Comfort food made easy.
How to make passata in your slow cooker
The beautiful base to so many dishes.
Slow cooker pulled pork
Serve in tortillas topped with sour cream and coriander.
Slow cooker sweet and sour pork
A family favourite dinner idea.
Slow cooker chilli con carne
A family favourite.
Slow cooker chicken and vegetable soup
Comfort in a bowl.
Slow cooker caramel pork with crispy crackling
This Vietnamese-inspired pork dish pops with fresh flavours and the crunch of crisp crackling.
Brought to you by Australian Pork
Easy slow-cooker bolognese sauce
Let dinner take care of itself.
Slow cooker whole chicken with a peri peri marinade
A flavour-packed dinner idea. Dial up the heat if you like it spicy, or keep it mild for a family meal.
Slow cooker satay chicken
A flavour-packed dinner idea.
Slow-cooker massaman beef curry
This Thai massaman curry is slow-cooked, meltingly-tender, and perfectly rich, topped with crunchy peanuts.
Slow cooker chicken pot pie soup
When two favourites combine.
Slow-cooker chilli and fennel pork gyros
A delicious lunch idea.
Slow-cooker fish curry
A fragrant Caribbean-inspired curry.
Slow cooker meatballs
A set-and-forget recipe for busy days and lazy nights.
Slow-cooker beef stroganoff
Destined to be a family favourite on high rotation in the cooler months.
Slow cooker Greek lamb stifado
If you’re in the mood for comfort food, then try this hearty, Greek stew.
Slow cooker chickpea and sweet potato curry
This vegan curry recipe is perfect for chilly nights. It’s an easy chickpea curry made with sweet potato and a korma curry paste.
Slow cooker Hainanese-style chicken
The slow cooker is perfect for cooking Hainanese chicken rice.
Slow cooker biryani
This biryani recipes uses brown rice and beef, and is made in the slow cooker.
Slow cooker pork and fennel meatball pasta
The pork and fennel meatballs are served atop a blend of spaghetti and zoodles, making this a lower carb option.
Slow cooker lamb stew
A delicious slow cooker recipe.
Slow cooker curried lentil and tomato soup
A delicious soup made in the slow cooker.
Slow cooker beef ramen with shiitake mushrooms
A fabulous slow cooked version of a Japanese classic.
Slow cooker butter chicken
The cream is swapped for raw cashews in this twist on butter chicken.
Slow-cooker coconut pumpkin soup
Coconut milk, red chilli and coriander give this slow cooker pumpkin soup recipe a flavour boost.
Slow-cooker beer and thyme beef cheeks
A great dinner party main for the colder months.
Slow-cooker beef cheeks in pedro ximénez
A delicious dinner party main perfect for the cooler months.
Slow-cooker spicy upside down pineapple chicken
A delicious way to cook a whole chook in the slow-cooker.
Slow-cooker cashew and cauliflower curry
A fragrant vegan curry that’s packed with flavour.
Deep-pan pepperoni pizza
Who knew you could make pizza in the slow-cooker? We did! Here’s our easier-than-ever spin using store-bought pizza dough and sauce.
Slow-cooker lamb madras
Put your slow cooker to good use with this rich slow-cooked curry recipe.
Slow-cooker chicken tikka masala
This slow cooker chicken tikka masala recipe creates a richly flavoured curry with tender chicken. Best of all, you barely need to lift a finger!
Slow-cooker lamb shanks
A classic winter warmer.
Slow-cooker five-ingredient berry cobbler
Only five ingredients and staples needed to create this simple dessert in your slow cooker.
Slow cooker honey soy lamb chops
Set and forget to create these easy lamb chops in your slow cooker.
Slow cooker five ingredient pecan pie
The classic dessert made easier using your slow cooker and five simple ingredients.
Slow cooker five ingredient cottage pie
This potato topped classic pie is one of those all time favourite recipes that you turn to time and time again for the family. We’ve made it even easier with this five-ingredient slow cooker recipe. Transport yourself back to those family dinners with a hearty beef and veg filling and a cheesy mashed potato topping. […]
Slow cooker Greek ‘sausages’ with olives and risoni
A tasty slow-cooked homemade sausages cooked in a garlicky tomato sauce.
Slow-cooker pumpkin soup
Slow-cooked for ease and extra flavour.
Slow cooker lamb keema
This curry is not made in a hurry.
Slow cooker lamb shanks with tomato, chilli and fetta
Shank you very much!
Slow cooker veal rolls (involtini) with prosciutto and sage
Prep early then cook it low and slow.
Slow cooker bean bourgignon
Hearty vegetarian comfort food.
Slow cooker pineapple coconut cake
Your slow cooker is not just for stews and lamb shanks!
Slow-cooker silverbeet dhal
Set and forget.
How to make classic chocolate brownies in your slow cooker
Chocolate brownies just got easier!
Slow cooker potato bake
Your favourite side dish just got a whole lot easier.
Slow cooker vegetable minestrone
A simple soup made even easier.
Slow-cooker loaded veg ‘bolognese’ baked potatoes
Vegie-packed and delicious.
Slow cooker tomato soup with basil dumplings
Soak up this rich and delicious tomato soup with tender, herby dumplings.
Slow-cooker lamb chops
Cooked low and slow for plenty of flavour.
Shepherd’s pie in the slow cooker
Tender, delicate lamb with a buttery mash top.
Slow-cooker apricot chicken
Set and forget!
Slow-cooker lamb chops with ratatouille
Simply set and forget.
Slow-cooker pork and lemongrass curry
Hearty, warming and packed full of flavour, this delicious pork and lemongrass curry is the easiest way you’ll make an authentic Asian style curry at home. Simply pop all the ingredients in the slow-cooker, and let the magic happen.
Slow-cooker lamb cassoulet
This tender and moist slow-cooker lamb cassoulet is the perfect option for dinner tonight – warm, hearty and delicious.
Slow-cooker red pork curry
A fragrant red curry with slow-cooked pork that will melt in your mouth.
Slow-cooker lamb with kale and pomegranate
This sweet, meltingly-tender lamb recipe makes a show-stopping dinner-party dish.
Slow-cooker lamb kleftiko with potatoes
Let the slow cooker work its magic and come home to a meal that’s ready when you are.
Slow-cooker coq au vin
Breathe in and smell the aromas…
Creamy rice pudding with cinnamon sugar
The vanilla bean can be reused, wash and dry well, store in an airtight container or add to a container of sugar for vanilla-scented sugar. Note
Slow-cooker chicken hot and sour soup
We love slow cookers – simply pop all your ingredients into the cooker and come back to a warming, flavour-packed dish. This zesty hot and sour chicken soup tastes absolutely amazing after several hours of slow-cooking.
Slow-cooker lamb & eggplant curry
A rich, fragrant and warming slow-cooked lamb and eggplant curry that will melt in your mouth.
Sticky date and fig steamed pudding
This pudding recipe is suitable to freeze. Note
