The slow cooker remains one of the most efficient tools for home cooks who want hearty, flavour-rich meals with minimal effort. With just a few minutes of prep, you can load the pot in the morning and return to a hot dinner that tastes like it simmered all day. The following nine recipes deliver crowd-pleasing staples ranging from classic comfort to global flavours, each written for practical weeknight cooking.
1. Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
A Tex-Mex classic with bold flavour and an effortless method.
Add to slow cooker: 500 g chicken breasts, 1 can (400 g) diced tomatoes, 1 can (400 g) black beans drained, 1 cup corn kernels, 1 litre chicken broth, 1 packet taco seasoning (around 2 tbsp).
Cook 6–7 hrs on LOW or 3–4 hrs on HIGH. Shred chicken, stir in the juice of 1 lime.
Serve with tortilla strips and grated cheese.
2. Honey Garlic Chicken & Veggies
A complete dinner with tender vegetables and a glossy sweet-savory glaze.
Add 1 kg chicken thighs, 500 g baby potatoes halved, 3 sliced carrots, 1 sliced onion. Whisk 3 tbsp honey, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 cup chicken broth and pour over.
Cook 7 hrs on LOW or 4 hrs on HIGH.
3. Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Creamy, rich, and restaurant-style—ideal over pasta or mashed potatoes.
Add 700 g chicken breasts, 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, 1 cup spinach, 200 g cream cheese cubed, 1 cup chicken broth, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 2 minced garlic cloves.
Cook 6 hrs on LOW or 3 hrs on HIGH. Stir in ½ cup grated parmesan before serving.
4. Beef & Barley Stew
A traditional slow simmered stew with barley adding texture and depth.
Add 800 g beef cubes, ¾ cup pearl barley, 3 carrots diced, 2 celery stalks diced, 1 chopped onion, 1.2 litres beef broth, 1 tsp thyme, 1 bay leaf.
Cook 8 hrs on LOW or 5 hrs on HIGH.
5. BBQ Pulled Pork
Fall-apart pork infused with smoky barbecue sauce—made for sandwiches or sliders.
Rub 1.5 kg pork shoulder with 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper. Add 1 sliced onion and 1 cup BBQ sauce.
Cook 8–9 hrs on LOW or 5–6 hrs on HIGH. Shred and mix with an additional ½ cup BBQ sauce.
6. Butter Chicken (Simplified)
Silky and aromatic with pantry ingredients, no stovetop work required.
Add 1 kg diced chicken thighs, 400 g tomato purée, 1 cup cream, 3 tbsp butter, 2 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp salt, 3 minced garlic cloves.
Cook 6 hrs on LOW or 3 hrs on HIGH. Stir before serving and garnish with coriander if desired.
7. Vegetable Lentil Curry (Vegan)
A plant-forward, high-protein curry that serves well with rice or naan.
Add 1.5 cups red lentils, 2 diced potatoes, 2 diced carrots, 1 chopped onion, 400 ml coconut milk, 800 ml vegetable broth, 2 tbsp curry paste, 1 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp salt.
Cook 6 hrs on LOW or 3 hrs on HIGH.
8. Slow Cooker Chili
Classic chili that improves as it cooks—great for meal prep or game day.
Brown 500 g ground beef, then transfer to slow cooker with 1 can (400 g) kidney beans, 1 can (400 g) black beans, 2 cans (800 g total) diced tomatoes, 1 chopped onion, 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp salt.
Cook 8 hrs on LOW or 4 hrs on HIGH.
9. Classic Pot Roast with Gravy
A Sunday-style roast that practically cooks itself, with a built-in gravy.
Add 1.5 kg beef chuck roast, 4 chopped carrots, 4 cubed potatoes, 1 halved onion, 2 cups beef broth, 1 tsp rosemary, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper.
Cook 9 hrs on LOW. For gravy, whisk together ½ cup cooking liquid with 1 tbsp cornflour and simmer until thickened.
Final Notes
These recipes are structured for flexibility: most can be doubled for batch cooking, served over rice or pasta to extend servings, or frozen for future meals. The slow cooker remains timeless for a reason—set-and-forget cooking is still the fastest path to wholesome homemade food.