Ranked: the most delicious slow-cooker recipes you need to try

Slowly does it

Who doesn’t like the idea of sitting down to a homemade meal that’s been cooking away while you work or play? Whether you're after an easy dish to make for a big household, something to batch cook or just a meal with minimal hands-on time, we've got a slow cooker recipe for you. From hearty stews and comforting soups to roasted meats, taco fillings and even tempting desserts, you'll find plenty of inspiration here.

Keen to make the most of your slow cooker? Read on for 39 slow-cooker recipes you need in your repertoire, counting down to our favourite.

39. Polenta with prawns, spring onions and bacon

Polenta is comforting, filling and delicious, especially when it’s flavoured with cheese. In this recipe, the polenta is made on the hob, but this can also be done in a slow cooker. Butter the pot generously first, then allow to cook for around five hours on low, stirring once or twice. When it’s ready, fry the prawns, spring onions and bacon and pile on top of the polenta to serve.

Get the recipe for polenta with prawns, spring onions and bacon here

38. Borlotti beans with onions and sausages

So long as you remember to soak them overnight, dried beans are more economical and have a better flavour than canned. In this recipe, the soaked beans are cooked in the slow cooker with herbs, garlic and sweet onions for four hours. They're then served with fat, juicy sausages and freshly steamed greens for a comforting midweek meal.

Get the recipe for borlotti beans with onions and sausages here

37. Pork lettuce cups

Chillies, garlic, ginger, soy sauce and fish sauce give this dish a real flavour kick. Let the slow cooker do the heavy lifting, then serve the pork mince in lettuce cups, topped with toasted peanuts, mint and shredded spring onion. This pork base can easily be doubled and frozen in handy portions.

Get the recipe for pork lettuce cups here

36. Sticky sausage and bean stew

Hearty and filling, this warming recipe feels like a hug in a bowl. Packed with butternut squash, fresh herbs, cannellini beans and sausages, it’s wonderfully simple to make. Lightly brown the sausages, then transfer them to the slow cooker along with the other ingredients (minus the beans). Cook on the highest setting for three hours, adding the beans for the final hour. You can also make this with plant-based sausages for a vegan recipe.

Get the recipe for sticky sausage and bean stew here

35. Peppers with chilli and beans

Complete with sweet red and yellow peppers, garlic, onions, chilli and beans, this simple take on traditional Italian stew peperonata is hard to beat. Swap the oven for the slow cooker and simmer on low for around three hours, until the veggies are tender and the dish becomes saucy. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan or crumbled feta, and serve piled on top of toasted bread.

Get the recipe for peppers with chilli and beans here

34. Burmese pork curry

This Burmese curry is sweet, mild and aromatic – and is made with mainly store cupboard ingredients. Cubes of pork shoulder need time to tenderise, so it's an ideal dish for the slow cooker. Simply set the slow cooker to high, then cook for three hours until the pork is meltingly soft and the sauce reduced and sticky. Serve with rice and stir-fried greens.

Get the recipe for Burmese pork curry here

33. Poached pears in mulled wine

Pears poached in spiced red wine with orange and lemon makes for such an elegant dessert. To adapt the recipe for a slow cooker, bring the poaching liquid to a simmer on the hob, then add to the slow cooker along with the pears. Cook on low for two to three hours, until tender (test with a fork). The pears should be quite firm before cooking, as overripe ones will fall apart.

Get the recipe for poached pears in mulled wine here

32. Lebanese lamb

This Middle Eastern–inspired lamb dish is ideal for a midweek supper. Leave it to cook while you’re out for the day, then come back to a kitchen filled with tempting aromas and the promise of a delicious meal. Roast the meat in a hot oven for the last 20 minutes to crisp up the skin, then serve with flatbreads, fresh pomegranate, coriander and plain yoghurt.

Get the recipe for Lebanese lamb here

31. Smoky black beans

These warming, slow-cooked black beans are perfect for stuffing into a burrito or piling onto a cheesy quesadilla. This simple recipe sees the smoky, earthy beans cooked on the hob, but you could easily throw the ingredients into the slow cooker for an even easier meal – just cover them with water and cook for three hours on high.

Get the recipe for smoky black beans here

30. Carne asada nachos

With its layers of tender beef, tortilla chips, melted cheese and guacamole, this is a perfect sharing dish. The beef (a joint of silverside) needs to be marinated with spices overnight, before being slow cooked in ale until soft and shreddable. You can cook the meat ahead of time, ready to assemble when your guests arrive.

Get the recipe for carne asada nachos here

29. Plum and apple crumble

A fruit crumble is the perfect comfort food and is easy to make in a slow cooker. Place kitchen paper over the assembled crumble to absorb any excess moisture and cook on a low heat for around three hours, removing the lid and paper for the last 15 minutes so the topping can crisp up. Serve with vanilla custard, cream or ice cream.

Get the recipe for plum and apple crumble here

28. Mushroom and brown lentil ragù

This earthy, flavourful vegetarian pasta sauce tastes even better the next day when the flavours have had a chance to develop, so be sure to whip up a large batch for future meals. Prep your ingredients in the morning, leave to bubble away in the slow cooker and when you get home all you'll need to do is cook some pasta. The ragù pairs well with tagliatelle or pappardelle – or even polenta.

Get the recipe for mushroom and brown lentil ragù here

27. Lamb shoulder with stout

Lamb shoulder takes a long time to tenderise, making it a good choice for the slow cooker. The lamb in this recipe takes on all the sweet, honeyed flavours of the stout. To make the dish in a slow cooker, brown the bone-out lamb joint first, then put it in the pot with the stock, stout and other ingredients. Cook on low for around eight hours, or until the meat falls away from the bone.

Get the recipe for lamb shoulder with stout here

26. Beef buns with smoked chilli sour cream

Slow-cooked shredded beef stuffed into a crisp bun with smoky, spicy chipotle cream, crunchy lettuce and fresh coriander is a winner of a meal for meat lovers. Simply adapt the stovetop recipe below by cooking the meat in the slow cooker on low for six hours. You can make this dish ahead of time, with the filled buns keeping well in the fridge for up to a day.

Get the recipe for beef buns with smoked chilli sour cream here

25. Beef short rib noodle soup

This Vietnamese noodle soup is fragrant, fresh and savoury, with a hint of chilli. It also only calls for 15 minutes of prep, with your slow cooker doing the rest of the work. Add the noodles and fresh herbs at the end of the cooking time, just before serving. Garnish with a wedge of lime, fresh coriander and mint leaves.

Get the recipe for beef short rib noodle soup here

24. Chocolate cookie

Made with everyday ingredients, this chocolate cookie recipe is the stuff that slow-cooker dreams are made of. A layer of raw cookie dough is placed in the slow cooker before being covered with a chocolate butterscotch mix and topped with another layer of cookie dough. Fast-forward a few hours and you’ll have yourself a seriously indulgent treat.

Get the recipe for chocolate cookie here

23. Barbacoa

Barbacoa is a Mexican dish of slow-cooked, spicy and smoky beef brisket, which is often served shredded in tacos. In this recipe, the meat is braised in the slow cooker until tender and falling apart. Once shredded, we recommend piling the beef onto a platter along with salsa, fresh coriander and sour cream and encouraging everyone to build their own tacos.

Get the recipe for barbacoa here

22. Smoky chicken and black bean stew

This comforting stew features tender chicken, black beans and chorizo in a spicy, smoky sauce. Begin the recipe as directed, browning the ingredients and reducing the wine on the hob, then transfer to a slow cooker and cook on low for six hours. Serve stuffed inside a roasted pumpkin or butternut squash – or simply spooned over rice.

Get the recipe for smoky chicken and black bean stew here

21. Cauliflower and spinach curry

With a coconutty red lentil sauce as its base, this aromatic vegan curry is warming, hearty and healthy. It's made using an Indian spice mix called panch phoran, which is typically used in Eastern and Northeastern Indian cooking and can easily be made at home by combining fenugreek, fennel seeds, nigella seeds, cumin and black mustard seeds.

Get the recipe for cauliflower and spinach curry here

20. Shredded chicken

Excellent in tacos, sandwiches, salads or even soups, shredded chicken is such a versatile ingredient. Adapt the recipe below for your slow cooker by placing the chicken and veg in the pot with water and seasoning. Cook on low for six hours or on high for around three hours, until the chicken is cooked through, tender and moist.

Get the recipe for shredded chicken here

19. Rum-spiced roast ham

A tender joint of ham with a treacle and spiced rum glaze is fabulous served hot on day one, but the leftovers might be even better. For a slow-cooker version of this recipe, set your slow cooker to medium and add all the ingredients including the liquid. Then reduce the heat to low and cook for up to seven hours, topping up the water to cover if needed.

Get the recipe for rum-spiced roast ham here

18. Chicken fajita pasta

To give the chicken in this family-friendly pasta dish greater depth of flavour, marinate the meat overnight in a fajita seasoning mix. Once the chicken has been browned and added to the slow cooker along with the peppers, onions, tomato and stock it will be ready in just 10 minutes. Serve with sour cream and grated cheese.

Get the recipe for chicken fajita pasta here

17. Chicken and chorizo paella

Inspired by the popular Spanish dish from the region of Valencia, this simple recipe requires minimal prep and little stirring. Swapping the oven for a slow cooker, add the ingredients (except the chicken thighs) and mix well, then layer over the chicken. Cook on a high heat for around four hours or on low for six to eight hours. The result is delicious, and tastes even better finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Get the recipe for chicken and chorizo paella here

16. Smokehouse ribs

Beef short ribs need cooking low and slow, until they're tender and falling off the bone, so why not allow your slow cooker to do the work for you? In this recipe, the ribs are first marinated overnight in an easy-store cupboard marinade. Once cooked, they're served with a crunchy slaw and fries for a feast of a meal.

Get the recipe for smokehouse ribs here

15. Espresso and cocoa nib banana cake

Baking this cake in a slow cooker gives it a pleasantly soft, squidgy crumb and allows the flavours of the strong coffee and cocoa nibs to really shine. Butter then flour the slow cooker pot, pour in the batter and cook on high for around two hours, checking with a skewer to see if it’s done (when the cake is ready, the skewer will come out clean).

Get the recipe for espresso and cocoa nib banana cake here

14. Aubergine masala

This fragrant vegetarian curry is spicy without being too hot and the rich, flavourful tomato sauce is fabulous when mopped up with flatbreads. The aubergine, meanwhile, adds an almost meaty texture to the dish. To make this tasty recipe, it's best cooked on high for up to three hours and served over basmati rice.

Get the recipe for aubergine masala here

13. Barbecue chicken sliders

In this slow-cooker recipe, chicken thighs are cooked in a simple sauce (the base is shop-bought barbecue sauce) until meltingly soft and tender. Served with slices of avocado and a smoky chipotle mayonnaise, the meat is delicious when stuffed into burger buns or flour tortillas.

Get the recipe for barbecue chicken sliders here

12. Prawn curry

This Goan-inspired coconut curry becomes infused with rich, spicy flavours when it's slow-cooked, either on high for three hours or low for around five hours. Add prawns, spinach, coriander and lime juice for the last 10 minutes of cooking time, increasing the heat when you do so.

Get the recipe for prawn curry here

11. Spiced lamb stew

This aromatic, sweet and spicy lamb stew needs slow cooking to tenderise the meat and bring out the mix of flavours. The lamb is simmered in ale, with dried fruits and spices creating a perfect balance. Cook it in a slow cooker for four hours on high, adding the fresh tomatoes and herbs for the final 30 minutes of cooking time.

Get the recipe for spiced lamb stew here

10. Beef shin ragù

Cook the shin of beef low and slow and something magical happens; the meat develops a tender, melt-in-the-mouth texture and a rich, savoury flavour. The beef shin ragù in the recipe below can easily be adapted for the slow cooker – just cook on low for up to seven hours. Serve with pappardelle or polenta and lots of Parmesan.

Get the recipe for beef shin ragù here

9. Beef stifado

This is a classic Greek dish, consisting of chunks of marinated beef simmered in red wine and warming spices with tomatoes and small pickling onions. For a slow cooker option, cook on low for six hours. To make peeling the onions easier, cover them in boiling water for a few minutes, then drain. This dish is delicious served with orzo pasta or rice.

Get the recipe for beef stifado here

8. Tarka dhal

Filling and nutritious, dhal is made with spiced split peas or lentils. It can be cooked in batches as it freezes well and keeps for around three days in the fridge. Sauté the dry spices first to release their aromas, then add them to the slow cooker with the other ingredients and water (no need to cook the pulses first). Cook on low for four hours, until the lentils are soft and mushy, checking occasionally to make sure the mix isn't drying out.

Get the recipe for tarka dhal here

7. Chicken pho

This nourishing Vietnamese chicken noodle soup is perfect if you're feeling unwell or just need a health boost. The poaching of the chicken in the spiced, aromatic broth can be done in a slow cooker; cook on high for four and a half hours, then remove the chicken and pick the meat off the bone. To serve, combine the shredded meat with the cooked noodles and broth, topping with spring onions, Thai basil, coriander and sliced chilli.

Get the recipe for chicken pho here

6. Beef bourguignon

A French classic, beef bourguignon – beef simmered in red wine with mushrooms, bacon and baby onions – takes a bit of time (the beef needs to be marinated the day before), but the hands-on element is minimal, and the result is well worth the effort. Once browned, transfer the beef to a slow cooker and cook on low for up to eight hours. Add the carrots and onions 90 minutes before the end of the cooking time and, for the last 30 minutes, turn the heat to high and add the mushrooms and bacon.

Get the recipe for beef bourguignon here

5. Lamb tagine

Warming spices, honey and dried apricots combine to give this rich North African lamb stew an irresistible flavour. It's made with mainly store cupboard ingredients and is best served with fluffy couscous, rice or flatbreads. Rather than braising it in the oven, cook on high in a slow cooker for four hours to allow the ingredients to combine beautifully.

Get the recipe for lamb tagine here

4. Spicy beef chilli

A great chilli needs long, slow cooking, so it's a perfect dish for a slow cooker. This recipe has a fantastic smokiness to it thanks to the chipotle paste. Serve with tortilla chips or rice, guacamole, sour cream and plenty of grated cheese for a warming meal guaranteed to please everyone at the table.

Get the recipe for spicy beef chilli here

3. Spaghetti Bolognese

This slow-cooker version of spaghetti Bolognese should be in everyone's repertoire. A family favourite, the dish requires minimal hands-on cooking time and can be left to bubble away until you're ready to eat. Serve the rich sauce spooned over freshly cooked pasta and topped with plenty of grated Parmesan.

Get the recipe for spaghetti Bolognese here

2. Pulled pork tacos

Follow this recipe for spicy, tender pulled pork but instead of cooking the meat in the oven, let your slow cooker work its magic. Place all the ingredients in the pot and cook on low for eight hours, until the pork can be shredded easily with a fork. Serve in soft flour tortillas with avocado, onions and fresh lime.

Get the recipe for pulled pork tacos here

1. Ancho pot roast chicken

This spicy, fruity Mexican recipe for pot roast chicken is easily adapted for a slow cooker. Marinate the chicken in the fiery spice rub overnight, then cook on high for up to three hours or for up to five hours on low. Serve with a vibrant orange coleslaw and crisps.

Get the recipe for ancho pot roast chicken here

Now discover 25 unexpected dishes that work brilliantly in a slow cooker

Last updated by Lottie Woodrow.