One Step Slow Cooker Recipes

It's no secret that we love slow cookers here at Good Housekeeping. Slow cookers help us create amazingly delicious meals with zero fuss, minimal prep and no need to hang over the hob for hours. And there seems to be a misconception that all you can make are stews and casseroles, when in fact the humble slow cooker is a much more versatile piece of kitchen equipment.

Did you know, a slow cooker is the perfect gadget to cook a piece of meat in?

Take our slow cooker ham recipe, we use coca-cola to make this sweet and salty joint of meat, while our slow cooker beef joint recipe is an absolute winner, and saves space in the oven.

Midweek meals can also be a doddle, from our gorgeous slow cooker chicken breast piccata to our delightfully simple slow cooker chicken fajitas recipe. In fact, family classics can all be whipped up in your crock pot from spaghetti Bolognese, to macaroni cheese, and even slow cooker chicken curry recipe. This also means batch cooking is made much simpler, and you can have a steaming pot of food ready when you have finished work.

People seem most surprised when we tell them you can make desserts in the slow cooker. We love this rice pudding, which is a great get-ahead dessert that can be served hot or cold (we love ours with jam). We've tried tons of sweet stuff in the slow cooker from brownies, to cheesecakes and even a butterscotch pudding, which we promise is worth a try.

Don't let your slow cooker get dusty in the cupboard, use this versatile kitchen gadget to create delicious dishes, without slaving away in the kitchen. And if you don't have one, we've tested a bunch to find the best, and this digital Crock-Pot version (which is under £100) was a clear winner. Happy slow cooking!

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Slow Cooker Lasagne- Best slow cooker recipes 2021

Let the smells of this layered pasta fill the air as the slow cooker does its job.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Lasagne

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Slow Cooker Smokey Bonfire Chorizo Stew- Best slow cooker recipes 2021

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Slow Cooker Pumpkin Stew- Best slow cooker recipes 2021

This is the perfect recipe to use up the leftover flesh from your Halloween jack-o'-lantern. Or, if you can't find pumpkin then use butternut squash instead.

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Stew recipe

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Slow Cooker Apricot and Thyme Pork- Best slow cooker recipes 2021

This light and fragrant slow cooker pork dish with seasonal British fruit is the perfect way to celebrate the flavours of summer!

Recipe: Slow Cooker Apricot and Thyme Pork

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Slow Cooker Meatballs- Best slow cooker recipes 2021

If you want to add extra flavour, brown your meatballs in a hot pan before adding to the slow cooker at step 4.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Meatballs

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Slow Cooker Ramen - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

This ramen couldn't be easier to make and is full of flavour. The miso will cause the ramen to look a little split, but will come together once mixed at the table.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Ramen

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Slow Cooker Vegetable Tagine- Best slow cooker recipes 2021

If you're catering for vegans, then simply omit the honey (or replace with a sweetener of your choice) and check the stock you're using is vegan-friendly.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Vegetable Tagine

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Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

This spiced chicken is also great in wraps if you fancy. If you want it to be more stew-like, add an extra 150ml stock to the slow cooker at the beginning.

Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken

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Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

This Asian-inspired chicken dish is better than any takeaway you might be craving. If you prefer things a little spicier, add an extra spoonful of Sriracha.

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

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Slow Cooker Ham and Red Lentil Stew - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

This hearty and satisfying stew is deliciously easy – just let the slow cooker do the work! We used carrots, parsnips and potatoes, but you can use any leftover roast veg here.

Slow Cooker Ham and Red Lentil Stew

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Slow Cooker Aubergine Parmigiana - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

There is some prep to get this recipe into the slow cooker, but once it's on it all comes together in delicious melting cheesiness. If you'd like added protein, serve alongside a piece of grilled chicken or fried firm tofu.

Slow Cooker Aubergine Parmigiana

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Slow Cooker Rancheros Stew - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

Whilst this dish is normally enjoyed at breakfast time, we've turned it into a stew to be eaten as an evening meal. This Mexican inspired stew couldn't be easier to make and is packed full of nutritious ingredients and flavour.

Huevos Rancheros Slow Cooker Stew

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Slow cooker Mustard and peppered beef stroganoff - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

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Slow cooker vegan chilli - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

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Slow cooker vegan Spanish-style rice - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

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Slow cooker vegan dumpling stew - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

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Slow cooker Thai red curry - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

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Slow cooker beef bourguignon - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

This French classic is perfect to have gently cooking, ready for when you come in from the cold. If you can, buy beef that isn't already pre-cut, as the pieces are often too small or unevenly cut. You can substitute some of the wine for more beef stock if you want to have a subtler flavour.

Slow cooker beef bourguignon recipe

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Slow cooker butter chicken - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

The slow cooking of this chicken ensures that you are rewarded with a very tender curry. Chicken thighs are cooked in a creamy tomato base, that's heavily spiced, which guarantees you and your family are treated to a highly flavoursome curry that's melt in the mouth delicious! Frying your spice mix before adding it to the slow cooker pot, means that you get the most flavour out of your curry.

Slow cooker butter chicken recipe

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Slow cooker Thai green curry - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

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Slow cooker vegan aubergine and sweet potato Jalfrezi - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

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Slow cooker prawn and fennel risotto - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

Making a risotto has never been easier. No more continuously stirring over a hot stove! Just place the ingredients in the slow cooker, walk away and return to a delicious meal packed with flavour.

Prawn and fennel slow cooker risotto recipe

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Slow cooker lamb curry - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

This slow cooker lamb curry recipe is easy - but get ready in advance as the ingredients are best mixed together and left overnight for flavours to mingle.

You'll also need to brown the meat and soften the onion in the spice for 10 minutes before they go into the slow cooker. Serve with coriander sprinkled on top, rice and Indian bread of choice.

Slow cooker lamb curry recipe

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Slow cooker chicken piccata - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

We've transformed slow cooker chicken breasts into a gorgeous chicken piccata, an Italian dish using lemon, butter and capers. Brown the chicken first, before adding to the slow cooker and you'll have a deliciously tender meal packed with flavour.

Slow cooker chicken piccata recipe

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Slow cooker chicken cacciatore - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

Chicken cacciatore is a gorgeous Italian dish that uses a rustic tomato sauce to enhance the flavour. This chicken dish is put in the slow cooker for added ease.

This recipe is Cookery Editor Emma Franklin's favourite.

"I mostly use my slow cooker for big batches of meaty things like Bolognese or chilli, or – in the summer – these melt-in-the-mouth bbq ribs – but this recipe is a bit different. The tangy tomato sauce with a salty boost from anchovies and the tender chicken (cooked on the bone to keep it juicy) make a fabulous midweek meal, which I love to serve with lots of crusty bread for mopping up the sauce."

Slow cooker chicken cacciatore recipe

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Slow cooker Irish stew - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

This gorgeous slow cooker lamb Irish stew is packed full of bacon, pearl barley and veggies. Serve with greens, and a pint of Guinness of course.

Cook the bacon until its crispy and brown the diced lamb before adding to the slow cooker. You'll get more flavour from the final stew this way.

Slow cooker Irish stew recipe

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Slow cooker beef and ale casserole - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

Tender chunks of beef with cheesy dumplings...you can't go wrong with this hearty slow cooker beef casserole!

It's perfect for autumn and winter months, and can be ready on the table in six hours. Prep time for this dish is 30 minutes while cooking time in 5 hours 30 minutes.

The cheesy dumplings go into the slow cooker an hour before the casserole is ready.

Slow cooker beef and ale casserole recipe

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Slow cooker sausage casserole - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

This slow cooker sausage casserole recipe is so simple to make, and even tastier to eat. Serve with mash and some green veg if you like.

Before you tip everything into the slow cooker you'll need to set aside 10 mins to brown the sausages first and then spend three minutes cooking down the onions afterwards.

Slow cooker sausage casserole recipe

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Slow cooker chicken fajitas - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

Cooking chicken in the slow cooker results in lovely tender meat. Stuff this chicken fajita recipe into wraps and load up with your favourite toppings.

There's no need to fry anything in advance, just layer the ingredients as instructed in the slow cooker. If you want to thicken the cooking liquid, strain liquid into a pan, bring to the boil and reduce until thickened, but this is optional.

Slow cooker chicken fajitas recipe

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Slow cooker Coca-cola ham - Best slow cooker recipes 2021

This slow cooker ham recipe uses coca cola, star anise and black pepper as the secret ingredients that give extra flavour.

Ham in coke might not sound delicious, but trust us it is!

The addition of the sweet fizzy drink brings out the flavour of the ham joint. You'll need 2 litres of coca cola for a 1.5kg boneless gammon joint. Prep time for this dish is just five minutes and cooking time is around four hours 35 minutes.

Slow cooker coca-cola ham recipe