Slow cooker recipes it's never too early for (2024)

This healthy chicken curry is as simple as 1, 2, 3 steps! Once you've browned the chicken, it's as easy as tossing everything in the slow cooker.

This veg-packed slow cooker chicken curry is low-cal, gluten-free and really good for you. All you have to do is fry the spices until aromatic then throw everything into the crockpot and let it cook low and slow.

Slow cooking meatballs prevents them from drying out, ensuring they're juicy and moist every time. There’s no need to pre-cook the rice in this easy dish, as it cooks whilst inside the meatballs. Serve with crusty bread to mop up all the sauce.

Succulent, spice-infused chicken thighs, a deliciously creamy and mildly spicy aromatic sauce, a soft tomato taste…my mouth is watering just thinking about this tasty slow cooker Malabar chicken curry. The scent of this fragrant sauce will float around your kitchen and will make you unbelievably excited to dig in. It’s important you wait the proper amount of time, though! I promise the tender, melt-in-your mouth chicken is worth the wait. What’s more, as with all curries, it tastes even better the next day after the spices and flavours have been given even more time to develop and infuse the meat. It’s also a perfect ‘save for another day’ meal as you can freeze it for up to 3 months.

This cosy pumpkin soup has a secret ingredient that makes it extra smooth and thick – cannellini beans! This also increases the vegetable count and keeps it low cal (without losing the creamy factor).

Let the crockpot do all the work with this slow-cooker Indian beef and pumpkin curry. Serve with rice for a super-easy dinner.

Just as day follows night, so too does the appearance of the slow cooker follow the first sign of Autumn. And every year I’m blown away. Not only because my 20 plus year-old slow cooker is in the same fine form it ever was, but how much I love a good old-fashioned beef stew. Yes, beef, you were great on the barbie over summer, but how I love you in this form. In this slow cooker French onion beef recipe, chuck steak is slowly cooked in red wine, with sweet carrots, fresh thyme and, of course, the flavour bomb that is French onion soup mix. I swear this tastes as though you’ve put so much more effort into it than you have. Make a double batch and store in the freezer. I have it on good authority that it makes a perfect pie filling!

Only 15 minutes' prep goes into these slow cooker chicken drumsticks. The classic Diane sauce pairs perfectly with chicken and potatoes.

You can now make this Chinese takeaway classic in your slow cooker! The ingredients are usually stir-fried but in our version you cook the chicken first and then at the end combine with vegies and noodles.

The ultimate winter warmer dinner, this vegetarian slow cooker curry is healthy and packed full of good-for-you ingredients. It's hearty and creamy, thanks to the lentils and coconut milk!

This is a simple stew that just happens to be a complete meal in one as it features beef, potatoes and vegetables. It makes a big batch so if you end up with leftovers, don't worry - it will keep beautifully in the fridge for a couple of days. You can also freeze it for up to three months – dinner done for another day!

Add this vegetarian slow-cooker curry recipe to your list of family favourites. It uses a whole cauliflower and is loaded with authentic Indian flavours!

This is great way to use up some leftover cooked chicken. Fry up the mushrooms and let your slow-cooker worry about the rice. Add everything together in the end. The risotto comes out perfectly cooked and no stirring is involved.

Nothing beats a good ol' beef stew. Except maybe a beef stew in a slow cooker - you barely have to lift a finger to bring this recipe together.

Pop this beef brisket in the slow cooker in the morning and come home to the delicious aroma of bourguignon filling the house. This is easy cooking at its best!

Slow cooker recipes it's never too early for (2024)

FAQs

What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
  1. Raw Meat.
  2. Seafood.
  3. Pasta.
  4. Rice.
  5. Delicate Vegetables.
  6. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
  7. Dairy.
  8. Wine and Other Liquor.
Jan 19, 2024

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

What is the best meat to cook in a slow cooker? ›

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

Do you have to brown stew meat before slow cooking? ›

1. Browning Is Better. Slow cooker recipes don't always instruct you to brown meat before adding it to the pot, but there are some advantages to doing so. If you sear meat to a crusty brown with a little oil in a hot skillet, the meat develops more complex flavors and improves the dish.

What's the difference between slow cooker and crockpot? ›

However, Crockpots generally have ceramic or porcelain pots, while most slow cookers have a metal pot. As with a lot of cooking appliances, the biggest difference comes from the distribution of heat.

Is it OK to put raw chicken in slow cooker? ›

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on overnight? ›

Yes, it's safe to leave a slow cooker on when you leave the house. The purpose of a slow cooker is to allow you to cook while you aren't home. Slow cookers simmer food slowly, killing bacteria and raising meat to the perfect internal temperature.

What happens if you slow cook on high instead of low? ›

Let's say you want to slow cook a pork roast recipe that calls for 8 hours on Low, but you need it done in much less than 8 hours. Switching to High for the sake of time savings can leave you with a roast that's dried out or even burned on the exterior, but undercooked and not at a food-safe temperature in the center.

Can I leave my slow cooker on high all day? ›

Yes, so long as the lid is on and the liquid is topped up. Crock pots are designed to run for long periods of time, that is kinda their thing.

Do potatoes go on top or bottom of meat in crockpot? ›

**Vegetables on the Bottom:** Placing vegetables on the bottom of the crock-pot allows them to cook directly in the flavorful juices released by the meat as it cooks. This can result in very tender and flavorful vegetables, but they may become quite soft or even mushy if cooked for a long time.

Can you put raw meat straight into a slow cooker? ›

Gravy beef and chuck steak are great slow cooker options, as they are tough and rich in tissues that make for deliciously tender meat. Can you put meat straight into a slow cooker? Meat can be added directly unseared and not browned.

What is the easiest meat to cook? ›

Tender cuts from the back (loin) region are quick-cooking cuts. These are cuts like ribeye, sirloin, strip steak, pork chops, and tenderloin. These cuts don't need much cooking to make them taste awesome.

Do I need to cook onions before putting in slow cooker? ›

It can be nice to cook the onions beforehand, as the flavour is different to when you put them in raw, but experiment both ways as you may find you prefer one. It can also be good to brown meat to give it some colour, but again, this is not essential.

What happens if you don't brown meat before slow cooker? ›

"Browning, or caramelizing, meat before putting it into a slow cooker isn't 100 percent necessary, but it is well worth the effort for the most flavorful and full-bodied end result," he says. "The caramelized surface of the meat will lend rich flavor and color to the finished dish."

Should you flour beef before browning for stew? ›

The key to a stew that is full of flavor as well as just the right consistency is, surprisingly, flour. The cubes of beef need to be dredged in flour before browning in the pan for the perfect result. As a bonus, this flour also helps thicken the whole thing as well.

Can you just throw everything into a slow cooker? ›

For many dishes, particularly soups and stews, you really can just throw all the ingredients in. It can be nice to cook the onions beforehand, as the flavour is different to when you put them in raw, but experiment both ways as you may find you prefer one.

Is it safe to put raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

Research conducted by USDA FSIS indicates it's safe to cook large cuts of meat and poultry in a slow cooker.

Can you put raw hamburger in a slow cooker? ›

You certainly can add raw ground beef to the crockpot. As a matter of fact, many (if not most) slow-cooker chili recipes ask for the meat to be added raw.

Can you throw raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

Can you put meat straight into a slow cooker? Meat can be added directly unseared and not browned. However, browning meat and caramelising the beef is a great way to add depth of flavour and improve the visual appearance of the final dish.

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