5 Easy Recipes to Make with Your Slow Cooker This Winter

There’s a lot to love about slow cooking. While it’s not quick (as you might’ve guessed by the name), it is easy – almost unbelievably so – making it a breeze to whip up hearty winter dishes with barely a thought. 

Thanks to all the delicious slow cooker recipes around, you can simply throw a few ingredients into a slow cooker in the morning, then set and forget until the tantalising smells of a delicious meal come wafting out of the kitchen at dinner time. 

Yep, it really is that simple, making slow cookers one of the niftiest little home appliances you can add to your kitchen. (There are also plenty of multi-cooker recipes you can whip up in your slow cooker – just be sure to choose the slow-cooking options.) Add these easy slow cooker recipes to your repertoire to keep the whole family happy this winter!

The ease factor is one very obvious benefit of slow cooking, but there are plenty more reasons to get stuck into more slow cooker winter recipes. 

1. Did you know how healthy slow cooker recipes can be? Cooking “slow and low” in a sealed chamber helps lock in food’s nutrients and prevents the creation of potentially harmful compounds that can come when we cook meat over high heat. Slow cooker recipes often also use loads of veggies – and let’s be honest, we could probably all use a few more of those in our diets!

2. Slow cooking can save you money! The long cooking time at a low temperature helps tenderise meat, meaning you can choose less expensive cuts, such as chuck steak, roasts and stewing beef.

3. Slow cookers use less energy than standard electric ovens.

4. Slow cooking is incredibly convenient, usually involving only one step and no additional cookware. We love a one-dish wonder! Not to mention how handy it is for busy people (and isn’t that all of us these days?). You can leave most slow cookers unattended while you’re at work during the day and come home to a hot meal.

Whipping up winter slow cooker recipes is simple. Just plug in your slow cooker and follow your recipe’s instructions on adding ingredients (usually, you can just put everything in, but some recipes may require you to brown the meat first). Switch the cooker on to low or high (depending on the recipe), pop on the lid and let it cook for the recommended time.

Okay, enough of the chit-chat. Let’s get to the cooking… so we can get to the eating! We searched high and low to bring you the best slow cooker recipes to make life that little bit simpler (and way more delicious) this winter.

1. Indian Beef Korma (Crockpot)

Slow cookers are also known as crockpots – and this is, hands down, one of the yummiest crockpot recipes we’ve ever tried. (No surprises there, given it comes directly from Crockpot themselves, who are masters of this little machine!) Bursting with aromatic spices such as turmeric, ginger and ground coriander, this flavoursome, warming curry is one of those slow cooker winter recipes you’ll use again and again. Tailor the spice levels to your liking, and you’ve got a great dish the whole family will love. 

2. Classic Beef Bourguignon (Crockpot)

For a tres chic evening bite, why not throw together this classic French dish? Another of the best slow cooker recipes we’ve found, this hearty traditional fare is easy to create at home thanks to the slow cooker. The rich, succulent meal fuses the soul-warming flavours of steak and bacon with mushrooms, carrots, shallots and a hefty splash of red wine. Serve with mashed potato for the ultimate winter warmer. 

3. Thai Peanut Chicken (Crockpot)

Another of our favourite easy slow cooker recipes, this one’s the perfect pick when you’re in the mood for an Asian-inspired dish. This twist on a traditional Thai dish is full of fragrant spices, pairing sweet honey with rich, creamy peanuts, a salty splash of soy, tangy fresh lime and aromatic ginger. Of course, you can add as much chilli as you like for those who prefer a bit of heat – but leave it out, and you’ll still have one seriously tasty winter meal. Serve with thick rice noodles or over a bed of steamed jasmine rice for an authentic vibe, or up the health factor by serving in lettuce leaf ‘wraps’.

4. Butternut squash and apple soup (Elux)

Looking for some vegetarian slow cooker recipes? Here’s one we can’t get enough of. Pumpkin soup is a winter staple, and the addition of apple, unsweetened coconut milk and chopped leek brings a richness and depth of flavour like no other. Of course, it goes without saying that this is a super-simple soup to throw together and is guaranteed to be one of those easy slow cooker recipes you regularly make for many winters to come.

5. Smokey Vegan Sweet Potato Stew (Elux)

It’s healthy, hearty, rich and delicious – and it’s totally plant-based, making this one of the best slow cooker recipes for anyone following a vegan diet (or simply having a meat-free day!). Ground cumin, garlic, jalapeno, fire-roasted tomatoes and liquid smoke come together to create an authentic Tex-Mex-inspired flavour – and with both chilli powder and fresh chilli, this is one bowl that packs a serious punch. Top it all off with chopped coriander and some grated plant-based cheese for extra oomph.