10 Best Slow Cooker Meals To Save Time and Money

The winter months are approaching and there is already a chill in the air. The first thing we think of is comfort food. If you own a slow cooker, you know that switching it on in the morning and coming home to a delicious smelling house is one of the best things to warm you on a winters evening. And the best part is, slow cooker meals save you time and money! If you are stuck in a recipe rut, or just want to try something new, have a look at our 10 best slow cooker meals.

Summary

1. Pea and Ham Soup
2. Corned Beef
3. Easy Beef Roast
4. Indian Madras Curry
5. Pumpkin Soup
6. Beef and Wine Casserole
7. Chicken Laksa
8. Barbecue Chicken
9. Cheesy Potatoes
10. Pulled Pork

1. Pea and Ham Soup

This hearty and filling soup has been a winter favourite for generations. Our slow cooker version is quick and easy and oh so tasty. This recipe uses 800g of ham hock. If your hock is smaller, use less water. It also freezes well, so this winter favourite will keep you fed for more than one meal!

Ingredients:

• 800g Ham Hock
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 brown onion, chopped
• 2 celery sticks, chopped
• 2 cups yellow split peas
• 1 bay leaf
• 10 cups water

Method:

Place the split peas in an even layer on the bottom of the slow cooker. Please all other ingredients on top and cover with the water. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 4 to 6 hours. At this point the meat should fall off the bone easily. Remove the bone, chop the meat and return it to the soup. Your Pea and Ham soup is now ready to serve!

2. Corned Beef

Corned beef is an easy and versatile dinner, plus a great twist to the traditional Sunday roast. This one comes loaded with veggies for a whole meal. Try serving with traditional white sauce. For a twist, add a spoon of mustard in your white sauce.

Ingredients:

Side of corned beef

• 1 onion, peeled and halved
• 6 whole cloves
• 6 peppercorns
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 celery stick, chopped

Method

Rinse corned beef to remove excess salt. Place in slow cooker and cover with cold water. Add all other ingredients and cook on high for 4 hours. Turn meat and cook for another 4 hours. If you are putting this on before work, skip this step and instead cook on low for 8 hours. This can be served hot immediately with mashed potatoes and sauce, or cooled down and stored in the fridge for sandwiches. Or both!

3. Easy Beef Roast

The only thing better than a beef roast is an easy beef roast! Put this one on in the morning and come home to the wonderful smell just in time for dinner. This tender roast easily makes our list of best slow cooker meals.

Ingredients

• 1.8kg of beef roast
• 1 brown onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, diced (or 1 tsp minced garlic)
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• 3 tsp wholegrain mustard
• 1/2L beef stock
• 3 medium potatoes, cubed
• 3 carrots, chopped chunky
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme

Method

Heat some olive oil in a large frying pan. Cook beef roast for 6 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Place in the slow cooker. While the pan is still hot, add the garlic and onion and cook until softened. Add the wine and cook until the liquid is halved. stir in mustard and stock and heat until the liquid is warm. Carefully transfer to slow cooker. Add the potatoes, carrots and thyme. Season with pepper. Cook on low for 6 – 8 hours. Add the peas for 20 minutes before serving. When serving, the liquid can be used as a delicious gravy.

4. Indian Madras Curry

Slow cooker meals are not all roasts and casseroles. This recipe uses curry paste, and the slow cooking delivers a delicious rich flavour. Perfect served with naan bread and rice.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup plain flour
• 1kg beef, cubed
• 1 brown onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, diced (or 1 tsp minced garlic)
• 4 cm piece of ginger, peeled and grated (or 2 tsp ginger paste)
• 1 long red chilli, finely chopped
• 3/4 cup curry paste
• 400ml coconut milk
• 1 stock cube
• cinnamon stick
• 1 bay leaf

Method

Place the beef in a bowl and cover with the flour. Toss to coat. Heat some olive oil in a pan and cook the beef in small batches, adding to the slow cooker once you are done. Once all the beef is cooked, fry the onion, garlic and ginger in the same pan for a few minutes. Add the chilli and curry paste to the onion mix. Cook for 1 minutes until fragrant. Transfer to the slow cooker and add the coconut mil and stock. Use 3/4 cup of water to deglaze the pan and add that to the slow cooker too. Add the cinnamon stick and bay leaf and stir to combine. Cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours. Remove cinnamon stick and bay leaf before serving.

5. Slow Cooked Pumpkin Soup

This is one of the easiest slow cooker recipes. The slow cooking time makes the pumpkin beautifully soft and easy to blend. You can use a stick blender for a super smooth texture, or just mash it if you like it chunkier. If you are mashing, make sure you cut the onions very fine.

Ingredients

• 1/2 Kent pumpkin (about 1 – 1/2kgs)
• 2 medium potatoes
• 1 brown onion
• 1L vegetable stock
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• pepper, to taste
• 250ml cream, to serve

Method

Place all ingredients except the cream in the slow cooker. Cook on high for 6 to 8 hours. Once cooked blend until smooth, or mash if you prefer a chunky texture. Add the cream before serving. Serve with crusty bread or dinner rolls.

6. Beef and Red Wine Casserole

This delicious and easy casserole is just what you need to warm you on a longer winters evening. It has a nice hit of veggies too, making this hearty favourite one of the best slow cooker meals.

Ingredients

• 1kg beef, cubed
• 2 tablespoons plain flour
• 2 cloves of garlic, diced (or 1 tsp minced garlic)
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 400g tin diced tomatoes
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 capsicum, diced
• 500g green beans, cut in to pieces
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Method

Place the beef into a bowl and cover with flour. Toss to coat. Heat some olive oil in a frying pan and brown the beef in batches, adding to slow cooker as you go. Add the rest of the ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Serve with crusty bread, rice, or just on its own.

7. Chicken Laksa

This slow cooker recipe makes a creamy noodle soup rich with hearty flavours. An easy twist on a favourite Thai recipe and one of the best slow cooker meals that incorporates Asian flavours.

Ingredients

• 2 onions, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 3cm ginger root, chopped
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 750 skinless chicken thighs
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 400ml coconut cream
• 2L Chicken stock
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 1/2 red capsicum, sliced
• 2 lemongrass stalks
• 3 kaffir lime leaves
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 500g egg noodle
• 2 cups green beans

Method

Heat some olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion, garlic and ginger. Cook until the onion has softened, then stir in curry powder and cook until fragrant. Add the chicken and cook until it loses its pink colour. Transfer to slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients except the noodles. Cook for 6 to 8 hours on low, or 3 to 4 hours on high. At the end of cooking, turn to high and add noodles. Cook for another 30 minutes. Serve with some fresh chopped coriander.

8. Barbecue Chicken

The best slow cooker meals are quick and easy. This no fuss chicken recipe is perfect after a long day. See, not every slow cooker recipe is a casserole!

Ingredients

• 4 Chicken Maryland pieces
• 400g tin diced tomatoes
• 2 onions, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 50ml white wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup fresh basil

Method

Place chicken pieces in the slow cooker. Mix all the other ingredients and pour over the top. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Serve with mashed potatoes and veg. Easy!

9. Cheesy Potatoes

Have you ever tried to cook potatoes in the slow cooker? This set and forget recipe will allow you to get perfect potatoes without worrying about using the oven. This recipe is great as a side dish, or delicious just on its own.

Ingredients

• 4 rashers of bacon
• 1 onion, diced
• 8 baby potatoes, quartered
• 1/2 cup grated tasty cheese
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon dried herbs
• 50g butter
• 2 shallots, chopped

Method

Line slow cooker with foil, overlapping enough that you can cover the top when done. Place half of the bacon, potatoes and cheese in layers, then repeat. Season with salt and pepper and place the butter on top on dots. Cover with the foil. Cook on low for 10 hours or auto for 6 to 8 hours. Sprinkle with diced shallots before serving.

10. Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is a wonderfully versatile dish. It can be used on sandwiches and burgers, in tacos and wraps, or served with veggies for a delicious main meal. This recipe produces a beautifully tender pulled pork that you will enjoy eating for days!

Ingredients

• 2kg pork roast
• 1 onion, peeled and sliced
• 3 tablespoons paprika (try smoked paprika for that true barbecue flavour)
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons pepper
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp garlic powder (or minced garlic)
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar (don’t have any? try these substitutes)
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 tablespoons oil

Method

Place the onion in the bottom of the slow cooker, then lay the pork on top. Mix together all the other ingredients to form a thick marinade. Pour this over the pork to coat it. Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours. Once the pork is cooked, remove the skin and fat and shred with a fork. Meanwhile, drain the liquid into a pan to cool and skim off the excess fat as it surfaces. Once that process is complete, mix the sauce with the pulled pork. Yum!

We hope you find something to warm your tummy from our list of best slow cooker meals.

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