5 Slow Cooker Recipes
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5 Slow Cooker Family Dinners To Make Busy Weeks Easier
These are 5 of my go-to slow cooker family dinners for the weeks I want dinner sorted before the afternoon chaos hits.
Minimal prep, family-friendly, and the kind of dinners you can come home to feeling relieved instead of stressed.
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Serves 4–6
Ingredients
1kg chicken thighs
1 brown onion, finely diced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
2 tbsp garam masala
1 tbsp mild curry powder
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp turmeric (optional)
2 tbsp tomato paste
400g crushed tomatoes
250ml coconut cream
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
30g butter
To Serve
Jasmine rice
Your favourite vegetables (broccoli, green beans or steamed carrots work well)
Naan
Thickened cream (optional)
Fresh coriander (optional)
Method
Add the chicken, onion, garlic, ginger, garam masala, curry powder, cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, coconut cream, salt, pepper and brown sugar to the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine.
Dot the butter over the top, pop the lid on and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3.5–4 hours.
Once cooked, stir through until the sauce is rich and creamy. Serve with fluffy jasmine rice, vegetables, naan, and a drizzle of thickened cream if you like.
Sticky Honey Garlic Beef Noodles
Serves 4–6
Ingredients
1kg beef chuck steak
1 brown onion, sliced
5 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
½ cup soy sauce
⅓ cup honey
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 cup beef stock
3 tbsp cornflour
3 tbsp water
1 head broccoli, cut into florets
1 red capsicum, sliced
3 serves udon noodles, cooked as per packet instructions
To Serve
Sesame seeds (optional)
Spring onion (optional)
Method
Add the onion, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil and beef stock to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Place the beef chuck on top, pop the lid on and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours.
About 15 minutes before serving, use two forks to shred the beef. Mix the cornflour and water to make a slurry, then stir it through along with the broccoli and capsicum. Replace the lid and cook on HIGH until the sauce thickens and the vegetables are just tender.
Meanwhile, cook the udon noodles according to packet instructions. Add the noodles to the slow cooker and toss everything together until glossy and coated in the sauce. Finish with sesame seeds and spring onion.
Slow Cooker Whole Roast Chicken
Serves 4–6
Ingredients
1 brown onion, cut into wedges
3 carrots, peeled and cut into quarters
6 medium potatoes, cut into quarters
1 whole chicken
2 tbsp olive oil
1–2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
To Serve
Peas
Gravy
Method
Place the onion, carrots and potatoes into the base of your slow cooker.
Sit the whole chicken on top of the vegetables. Drizzle with olive oil, then season generously with sea salt, pepper, thyme, smoked paprika and garlic powder, rubbing it all over the chicken.
Pop the lid on and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, depending on the size of your chicken.
Carefully remove the chicken and place it under a hot grill for 10–15 minutes to crisp the skin.
While the chicken is crisping, cook your peas, prepare gravy, and serve.
Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Pork
Serves 4
Ingredients
600g pork scotch steaks, cut into large chunks
1 brown onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
½ cup chicken stock
¼ cup pineapple juice
¼ cup tomato sauce (ketchup)
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
1 red capsicum, sliced
225g pineapple pieces
1 tbsp cornflour
1 tbsp water
To Serve
Jasmine rice
Spring onion (optional)
Sesame seeds (optional)
Method
Add the pork, onion, garlic, ginger, chicken stock, pineapple juice, tomato sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce and sweet chilli sauce to the slow cooker. Pop the lid on and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.
About 20 minutes before serving, stir through the capsicum and pineapple.
Mix the cornflour and water to make a slurry, stir it through, then replace the lid and cook on HIGH until the sauce thickens and the capsicum is tender but still has a little bite.
Serve over jasmine rice and top with spring onion or sesame seeds.
Slow Cooker Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Serves 4–6
Ingredients
1kg chicken thighs
1 brown onion, finely diced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried Italian herbs
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
2 cups chicken stock
250ml thickened cream
250g cream cheese
¾ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
1 cup grated parmesan
2 cups baby spinach
300g pasta (penne, rigatoni or spirals)
Method
Add the chicken, onion, garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian herbs, salt, pepper, chicken stock, thickened cream, cream cheese and sun-dried tomatoes to the slow cooker. Pop the lid on and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3.5–4 hours.
Remove the chicken and shred it. Stir the sauce well, then add the parmesan and spinach.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to packet instructions.
Return the chicken to the slow cooker, add the cooked pasta and toss everything together until creamy, glossy and beautifully coated.
Serve with extra parmesan over the top.
Hope these recipes make your week feel a little easier 🤍
If you make one, I’d love to see it — tag me on Instagram @wholesomefoodiemel
There’s nothing better than seeing these recipes in your homes.
