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If you’re hunting for slow cooker recipes that actually deliver big flavour with minimal faff, you’re in the right place. These are the dinners I lean on when the school run collides with life — chuck it in, get on with your day, then come back to something rich, saucy and ready to spoon over mash, rice or pasta.

Collage of slow cooker dishes including smothered pork chops, butter chicken curry with naan, Chicken and vegetable soup and honey garlic chicken with rice; text reads Slow Cooker Favourites.

Nicky’s Notes

It’s starting to get cold in the UK, if you haven’t already been reaching for your slow cooker then these recipes will make you want to dust it of and get cooking. 

I’m a big believer that the slow cooker should do the heavy lifting — no limp flavours here. I love cuts that reward patience (think chuck, shin and short ribs), a good hit of aromatics, and a finish that brings everything together.

All of these recipe ideas are either designed to be cooked in the slow cooker or have the instructions of how to make them work perfectly in the slow cooker.

What Slow Cooker do I use?

I have had a few different slow cookers in the past but I am really loving my Crockpot (affiliate link).  I’d recommend getting a slow cooker with a searing function as it saves on washing up. Like this one:  crockpot (<– affiliate link)). If not, you can fry in a frying pan and transfer to the slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Recipes

Square image of a slow cooked lamb shank on a pile of mashed potato with green beans and asparagus on a white plate. There is gravy and sprigs of fresh thyme on the lamb shank. The plate is on a wooden table next to a gold fork.
5 from 16 votes

Slow Cooker Lamb Shank Recipe

Cooking lamb shanks for 7 or 8 hours in the slow cooker results in beautiful fall-apart meat. We’re cooking them with stock, red wine and redcurrant jelly for a fantastic rich sauce.
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5 from 3 votes

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

No pre-frying required, and so simple to prepare. Chop the chicken, mix the sauce ingredients, then cook together in the slow cooker. Easy!
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Overhead square image of slow cooked beef stroganoff, with parsley on top, in a slow cooker, on a wooden table.
5 from 5 votes

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Recipe

Use your slow cooker to make a decadent and delicious beef stroganoff. A great recipe if you're cooking for a crowd or to make ahead!
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Square close-up image of smothered pork chops with mushrooms and gravy in the pan of a slow cooker. There is chopped parsley sprinkled on top.
5 from 12 votes

Slow Cooker Smothered Pork Chop Recipe

This slow cooker smothered pork is a tasty dinner with lots of mushrooms and plenty of sauce. The pork steaks are melt-in-the-mouth!
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White oblong serving bowl filled with chicken casserole
4.85 from 78 votes

Chicken Casserole Recipe

A warming delicious slow-cooked chicken casserole with fall-apart meat, lovely veggies and a seasoned creamy sauce. The king of comfort food.
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plate of sliced beef, vegetables and gravy on a dark background
4.67 from 6 votes

Slow Cooker Roast Beef Recipe

Tender roast beef, mashed potato, vegetables and a rich meaty gravy – all made in your slow cooker. Warming comfort food.
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Overhead picture of a dark bowl full of boiled rice and crock pot butter chicken with some sliced red onion and charred naan bread in the corner of the bowl.
4.67 from 48 votes

Crock Pot Butter Chicken Recipe

This Crock Pot Butter Chicken is an easy meal, where the slow cooker does all of the hard work. It's a perfect dinner where you can adjust the heat level so that the adults and kids will love it!
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A shallow bowl filled with slow cooked steak diane with mushrooms and rich gravy, served with mashed potato and steamed broccoli, garnished with chopped parsley.
4.89 from 26 votes

Slow Cooked Steak Diane Casserole

Slow Cooked Steak Diane Casserole – a great make-ahead meal, perfect for feeding a crowd! Cook in the oven, slow cooker or on the hob.
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Square image of beef curry, topped with coriander, chillies and toasted coconut on a black bowl. The bowl is on a dark brown surface and there are some ingredients scattered around the bowl, just in shot.
4.95 from 20 votes

Slow Cooker Beef Coconut Curry

A luscious mild curry with fall-apart beef, bell peppers and coconut milk. A little up front prep, then it's cooked in the slow cooker.
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Slow cooker short ribs with gravy served on mashed potatoes with green veg
4.87 from 69 votes

Crockpot Beef Short Ribs with Rich Gravy

Crockpot Short Ribs. Fall-apart beef served with a rich and meaty red wine gravy. This is serious comfort food.
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A square, overhead shot of Slow Cooker Thai Red Beef Curry in a light blue bowl. There is a silver spoon sticking out of the dish. To the left of the bowl, you can slightly see a small white dish filled with sweet chilli sauce, above that you can see a stack of popadoms. Directly above the main bowl, you can see a small white dish filled with peanuts. In the top right corner of the image, there is a blue napkin tucked beside the bowl. All of this is on top of a black tray, which is on top of a wooden surface.
No ratings yet

Slow Cooker Thai Red Curry Recipe

Tender beef, slowly cooked in a rich, creamy Thai red curry sauce, with just the perfect amount of heat.
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Beef ragu with pappardelle in a green bowl
5 from 8 votes

Beef Ragu Recipe

This Big Batch Beef Ragu with Pasta easily feeds 8 people. You can make the ragu ahead of time and reheat just before serving!
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Square close-up overhead image of slow cooker pork and beef chilli in a slow cooker with a wooden spoon sticking out. There is a little sprinkle fresh coriander on top.
5 from 8 votes

Slow Cooker Pork and Beef Chilli

Fall-apart chunks of pork AND beef in a thick, rich sauce with tender beans and a little warming heat.
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Square image of chicken and vegetable soup in a light bowl. The bowl is sat on a plate. There is a chunk of bread and a spoon nestled between the bowl and plate.
5 from 2 votes

Slow Cooker Chicken & Vegetable Soup Recipe

This slow cooker chicken and vegetable soup is a great way to make a tasty, nutritious meal using inexpensive cuts of meat. Simple, hearty comfort food. I love to serve it with a big wedge of fresh bread
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A simple made-from-scratch curry, slow cooked to intensify the heat and flavour.
4.82 from 98 votes

Slow-Cooker Spicy Chicken Curry

A simple made-from-scratch curry, slow cooked to intensify the heat and flavour.
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If you’ve tried my slow cooker recipes then please rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing your thoughts and add-ons to my recipes!
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Welcome to Kitchen Sanctuary

Hi, I’m Nicky, bestselling author, award-winning recipe creator and food photographer. I love to cook comforting, delicious and easy recipes and share them with you.

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Comments

  1. Aileen Clare says:

    Enjoy cooking and looking at what new recipes you send. Pleased to see the slow cook recipes now sent, and will definetely be trying these out. Loved that you keep us inform for the seasonal recipes that will be perfect for each season. Thank you for being amazing in helping us with easy to do and enjoyable meals.

    Reply
  2. Lyndall Innes says:

    I would love to have these recipes. The couple I have tried have been delicious. thanks

    Reply
  3. Adrian says:

    Just love your recipes.. they’re really on my foody wavelength. I have saved and will look forward to cooking all of the slow cooks over winter here in Cyprus.. great stuff 👏

    Reply
  4. JEANIE BEATTY says:

    Tried your chicken curry last night it was delicious.

    Reply
  5. Frederick Kearsley says:

    Just a few months ago I discovered your website, thank goodness I did.
    Have made numerous dishes and enjoyed everyone, our friends did so as well. ( I made sure that I gave them the details of your website)

    Still many more to try many thanks and may I wish you a Merry Christmas

    Reply
  6. Tammy Burke says:

    Haven’t tried yet

    Reply
  7. Chris Fairchild says:

    Have to say we tried your sticky Chinese belly pork recipe last night and my god were they good, we shall be trying another one this week and will let you know our thoughts.

    Reply