We know you probably rolled your eyes at this one as you remember the watery attempts your mum used to make when slow cookers were first invented. But slow cooker meals don’t have to be the ‘sloppy seconds’ that you remember, they can be rich, flavourful and absolutely delicious.
We’ve rounded up some top slow cooker recipes to help inspire you to make meals you won’t forget! Did we mention these are quick to make with little effort? Perfect for people on the go and busy parents with little to no time.
Are slow cookers more energy efficient?
Just in case you missed it slow cookers are back in style and this time it’s personal. Not only can you chuck all the ingredients in and forget about them for the next 8 hours, but they also use very little energy – typically between 50 and 300 watts, which is about as much as a standard lightbulb*, saving you time and money!
Slow cooker recipes
Chilli Con Carne – perfect for batch cooking
Whether you’re a health buff that’s into batch cooking or you’re a busy parent who wants the freezer stocked for those weeknights when you just can’t be bothered to cook, this chilli is one of those family meals that even the fussy ones will like.
Ingredients:
- Mince of your choice – Using a low fat (5%) option will help with the cooking process. If using a higher fat content, we recommend browning it off first in a pan before adding it into the slow cooker.
- Onion – Dice one fresh onion
- Chopped tomatoes
- Tomato puree
- Red kidney beans
- Beef stock cubes – No need to dilute, just put them straight in. You can also use stock pots which work just as well.
- Cumin
- Cayenne pepper
- Oregano
- Garlic powder – Make sure you use powder and not garlic salt, believe it or not, they are two different things!
- Dark Chocolate – The best kept secret ingredient to any successful chilli dish. Make sure it’s dark chocolate and not milk, that will make it far too sweet. This brings a lovely depth of flavour without adding sweetness.
- Salt and black pepper
- Peppers
Our method:
- Put the ingredients, leaving out the peppers, into the slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on HIGH or 8 hours on LOW.
- Add the peppers 30 minutes before the end of cooking – this will ensure they won’t go too soft and will still have that added bit of crunchy goodness! Serve with your chosen side dish.
Mac and Cheese – a family classic and all-round crowd pleaser
Stuck for ideas for the fussy family members? Who doesn’t love a mac and cheese? Whack in the ingredients and enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 350g macaroni pasta
- 600ml whole milk
- 50g butter cubed
- 50g soft cheese
- 100g mature cheddar, grated
- 20g parmesan
Our method:
- Pour boiling water over the pasta and drain, then put everything in your slow cooker and stir well. Season your pot and then cover and cook on low for 1 hr. Stir again, put the lid back on and cook for another 30 minutes until the pasta is cooked and the sauce has reduced enough to coat the macaroni.
- Leave the lid off and reduce heat for the last 10 mins. Add another splash of milk (not too much though). Serve with extra cheese.
Slow Cooker Pistachio Fudge – yes, it’s true, your slow cooker can even do puddings!
For an impressive pud to wheel out post dinner party have a go at this slow cooker fudge. It might even make a nice homemade Christmas present for someone special!
Ingredients:
- 397ml tin condensed milk
- 600g white chocolate – can be bars or sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp pistachio flavouring
- 100g pistachio nuts – shelled
Our method:
- Break the white chocolate up and add to the slow cooker bowl with the sweetened condensed milk and pistachio essence.
- Turn the slow cooker on to high and leave to cook for 40 minutes with the lid off, stirring every ten minutes.
- When melted, thick and well combined, quickly stir in the pistachios.
- Pour the mixture into a tin lined with parchment paper or silicone baking tray and put in the fridge to set – preferably overnight.
The possibilities with a slow cooker are truly endless! Get yourself one and let us know what you’re cooking up by tagging us in your socials.
Browse our full range of slow cookers here.
