Advertisement
Home Slow cooker recipes

70 of our Best Slow Cooker Recipes

Winter warmers to make in your slow cooker. Soups, casseroles, roasts, curries, and even some desserts!
Slow cooker satay pork stew served with steamed jasmine rice and sliced cucumberPhotography: 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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Slow cooker five ingredient cottage pie
Slow cooker recipes
August 24, 2022

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. […]
By Women's Weekly Food
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
creamy rice pudding with cinnamon sugar
Slow cooker recipes
April 30, 2011

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
By Women's Weekly Food
Advertisement

Related stories


Advertisement
Advertisement