Food & Drinks

The top 10 slow cooker recipes that will have your mouth watering in moments

Trust us, you'll be converted.
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Praise be to whoever invented the slow cooker. Forget about all that time you spent staring into your freezer, searching for something to cook at 6pm, and that mad rush to get dinner on the table after finishing work late.

The ease of popping something on when you leave in the morning and coming home to it sizzling away is the new big thing – and we’re firmly on board.

So, dust off that slow cooker and put some of our favourite feasts to the test with these recipes from Women’s Weekly Food. We promise you won’t be disappointed!

How to use a slow cooker

Slow cookers may seem high-tech, but they’re actually incredible simple to use.

All you have to do is plug it in, add each of the ingredients your recipe requires, then set the cooker’s temperature and timer… and you’re done!

The idea is to leave the cooker alone to do its thing for several hours and you’ll come back to a tender, perfectly cooked meal.

Slow cooker vs pressure cooker

Though they look similar, there’s a big difference between a slow cooker and a pressure cooker.

Slow cookers are designed to cook food gently and for a long time, hence the “slow” in its name. The idea is that you put all the ingredients in the cooker then leave it for several hours to do its job.

Pressure cookers, on the other hand, cook your food at temperatures higher than the normal boiling point and, because of the pressure, are able to cook much quicker.

Slow cookers may seem high-tech, but they’re actually incredible simple to use.

(Image: Getty)

What can’t you cook in a slow cooker?

Though they’re super versatile, there are some things you should leave out of your slow cooker. Ingredients to avoid include:

  1. Lean, tender cuts of meat – they become dry and tough

  2. Meat with skin left on – they end up soggy

  3. Too much liquid – your dish may end up watery and bland

  4. Delicate vegetables – they can turn soft and gooey

  5. Fresh herbs and spices – add these at the end to preserve the full flavour, or use dried options

  6. Milk and cream – these can split or cudle in a slow cooker, add them at the end

  7. Alcohol – slow cookers don’t get hot enough to boil away the alcohol, so simmer them in a pan to reduce them first

  8. Seafood – most fish turn out grainy and dry

  9. Pasta – pasta is easy to overcook and end up gluggy, so cook it separately and add it at the end

  10. Rice – as above, it’s best to add at the end

  11. Frozen food – what’s the point? You also run the risk of food poisoning as the food won’t heat at a high, consistent temperature

Top 10 slow cooker recipes

(Image: The Australian Women’s Weekly)

Slow cooker 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.

Read the full recipe here

(Image: The Australian Women’s Weekly)

Shredded Mexican chicken and beans

Shredded Mexican chicken and beans

The delicious combination of tender shredded chicken and slow cooked beans makes this slow cooker Mexican dish absolutely delicious. Enjoy it warm for a family weeknight dinner.

Read the full recipe here

(Image: The Australian Women’s Weekly)

Slow-cooked beef rib bourguignon

Slow-cooked beef rib bourguignon

The addition of tender beef ribs in this traditional French dish brings a wonderful flavour and texture to the classic beef bourguignon. Serve it straight out of the slow cooker with a side of mashed potato or crusty bread.

Read the full recipe here

(Image: The Australian Women’s Weekly)

Red pork with lychee curry

Red pork with lychee curry

This hearty red pork and lychee curry is perfect for any night of the week- delicious and satisfying.

Read the full recipe here

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Spicy Eggplant And Tomato Stew

(Image: The Australian Women’s Weekly)

Sun-dried tomato and balsamic lamb stew

Sun-dried tomato and balsamic lamb stew

Chunky bits of lamb sit in a nourishing stew with hints of fresh thyme and basil to cut through the richness. This is winter comfort food at its hearty best.

Read the full recipe here

Slow cooker
(Image: The Australian Women’s Weekly)

Moroccan chickpea stew

Moroccan chickpea stew

Chock full of veggies and tender chickpeas, this rich Moroccan-inspired stew is packed with nutrients and the best cold-busting remedy for winter nights.

Read the full recipe here

(Image: The Australian Women’s Weekly)

Slow cooker coq au vin

Slow cooker coq au vin

This traditional French chicken, bacon and mushroom stew is made even more flavoursome when cooked overnight in a slow cooker. Just breathe in and smell the aromas.

Read the full recipe here

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Women’s Weekly Food: Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks

(Image: The Australian Women’s Weekly)

Beef and vegetable soup

Beef and vegetable soup

Warm up the family with this hearty beef and vegetable soup on a cold winter’s night.

Read the full recipe here

(Image: The Australian Women’s Weekly)

Lamb shanks and eggplant stew

Lamb shanks and eggplant stew

Nourish your family with this delicious lamb shank and eggplant stew.

Read the full recipe here

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