25 delicious slow cooker recipes that will surprise you

Thought your slow cooker was just for stews, soups and curries? Think again. These easy dinners are the perfect way to give your slow cooker a real workout this Autumn.

We’ve got everything from honey mustard chicken to Mongolian lamb – and even a new twist on Swedish meatballs. Who needs to turn the oven on when you can let your slow cooker do all the hard work?

Here are 25 fantastic recipes from taste.com.au that every owner of a slow cooker should know how to make.

Slow cooker kung pao chicken noodles

Made in a slow cooker, this noodle dinner is spicy, sweet, sour and best of all, super easy!

Slow cooker creamy chicken mac and cheese

Bursting with creamy flavour, this mac ‘n’ cheese is highly customisable – swap the smoked chicken breast for shredded leftover barbecued chicken, diced ham or whatever you like, really.

You simply must try this recipe.

Slow cooker chicken Provençal

We’ve given this classic French chicken dish the slow cooker treatment. Serve with mash potato or crusty bread for an easy, family-friendly dinner.

Slow cooker chicken wings

We’ve discovered the secret to deliciously sticky chicken wing nibbles. Smother them in maple syrup and cook them low and slow in your crockpot for tender meat, then finish them off under the grill to achieve that perfect chargrilled look and flavour.

Slow cooker French onion pork roast

With melt-in-your-mouth potatoes and a slight sweetness from the apples, this is the easiest roast you’ll ever make. And it’s gluten free!

Show off your slow cooking skills with this pork roast.

Slow cooker Greek beef risoni

Based on the traditional Greek dish, Giouvetsi, this cheat’s version is a dump dinner you can prep in just 10 minutes. Top with tangy feta for a creamy finish.

Slow cooker roast chicken with cheat’s crispy skin

Preparing a whole chicken in the slow cooker ensures it’s evenly cooked through and stays wonderfully moist. Finishing it off in the oven for 5 minutes ensures you get that crispy skin everyone will be fighting over.

Slow cooker cacoila

Think pulled pork with a Portuguese twist. Cacoila (pronounced “ka-soy-la”) is a Portuguese stew of pork or beef, traditionally cooked slowly in a clay dish (which is where the name cacoila comes from). We’ve done ours in the slow cooker for maximum tenderness – it literally falls apart and is then stirred into the cooking liquid which will have formed a tasty sauce. You can serve this on bread rolls or in wraps, piled onto jacket potatoes or with rice and steamed green veggies. If you’re new to slow cooking or looking for a new slow cooker but don’t know which one to buy, our experts have pulled together a guide to the best slow cookers to buy in Australia.

The longer this dish sits in the slow cooker the better!

Slow cooker chicken Diane drumsticks

Only 15 minutes’ prep goes into these slow cooker chicken drumsticks. The classic Diane sauce pairs perfectly with chicken and potatoes.

Slow cooker Korean beef

Who needs takeout when it takes just 10 minutes to prepare this slow cooker Korean beef? Simply get all your ingredients together and let the slow cooker work its magic. The beef melts in your mouth with every bite thanks to the sweet and savoury flavours of the bulgogi sauce (which can be found in the Asian section of the supermarket), onion, garlic and ginger. The smoky notes from the sauce also infuse into the meat, and the addition of toasted sesame seeds on top show how easy it is to create a rich and complex flavour profile with such simple ingredients. The beef mixture can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days, making it perfect to have for leftovers. If you ask me, this recipe has the same strengths as a curry – it tastes even better the next day!

Slow cooker pulled Mongolian lamb

Slow cooker meals are always a favourite in my house. With this pulled Mongolian lamb, if you haven’t understood the hype around them before, you absolutely will now. All those spices add together to create a deliciously complex flavour profile. The Asian inspiration is developed further with the addition of hoisin sauce, soy sauce and Shaoxing wine, which combine sweet and savoury flavours that infuse into the succulent lamb, as well as the broccolini and rice when serving. Plus, slow cooking a large piece of meat on the bone makes for the most tender, falling apart meat you will ever try.

One of my personal favourite recipes.

Slow cooker Malaysian chicken laksa

A creamy broth is deeply infused with spices, which also blend into succulent chicken drumsticks, noodles, and crispy tofu. The laksa paste develops the delicious flavours of spices and herbs even further, leaving you with a meal that creates bursts of warmth and happiness! During winter, everyone I know turns to the slow cooker and soups for some hearty meals. So, why not combine these two winter warmers with the gorgeous flavours of Malaysia. When you cook chicken (or any meat) on the bone in a slow cooker, as opposed to fillets, it really draws out maximum flavour and goodness. Use paper towel to grip the chicken if you find it slippery when removing it.

Slow cooker khao soi with crispy noodles

Slow-cooking this Northern Thai dish makes the chicken oh-so tender. Our version has a little kick and oodles of noodles – both crispy and silky smooth. The aromatics will waft through your house as the slow cooker works its magic to create unbelievably moist chicken that is infused with an incredibly deep flavour profile. The way that all the herbs and spices blend together in that soul-warming broth makes it impossible not to slurp up all the soup and noodles. If you’re worried about spice though, the addition of coconut milk really mellows it out so if you’d like it more or less spicy, just adjust how much coconut milk you add! My favourite thing about this recipe is that it takes just 20 minutes to prep, and then you can get on with your day (although it may be hard when that delectable scent will be making you think about the dish all day)!

Slow cooker Sicilian beef

This fragrant Sicilian-style stew reflects the influences of other cultures who over the centuries settled in (or invaded) Sicily and brought their own ingredients with them. In particular, the orange rind and cinnamon bring Spanish and Arab cuisine to mind. That said, it is simply a hearty and warming dish to have bubbling away all day in the slow cooker, filling the house with wonderful aromas. You can serve it with pasta or couscous as suggested, or even rice or mashed potato to soak up the sauce.

Bring the taste of Italy to your dinner table.

Slow cooker French onion chicken and cheese melt

How to feed a crowd… This slow cooker French onion chicken and cheese melt is the perfect comfort food for any day of the week! Tender and juicy chicken is infused with the rich and flavourful French onion flavours and it’s topped with gooey melted cheese for a delicious mouthful every time. What’s more, this tasty mixture is so versatile. It can be served on bread rolls with some coleslaw or shredded lettuce for freshness, or as a hearty dip on toasted baguette. Try it as a taco or enchilada filling, or even thin it down with some stock or cream and serve over pasta. It even makes a great pie filling, so bust out the pie maker in the unlikely event of leftovers! The best part of this recipe is that it requires minimal preparation and cooks itself while you go about your day!

Slow cooker Swedish meatballs

These tasty little meatballs are tender and delicious cooked in the slow cooker, and the sauce couldn’t be easier. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes for the full experience.

Cheat’s slow cooker chicken and leek pot pies

Take a few shortcuts with these hearty chicken and leek pot pies topped with golden, buttery puff pastry.

Perfect for cutting down time spent in the kitchen.

Slow cooker lemon chicken

For a hearty family meal, try this zesty lemon chicken. Made in the slow cooker, it is easy to prepare well in advance.

Slow cooker jacket potatoes

These slow cooker baked potatoes are fluffy and soft on the inside, ready to load up with butter or the filling of your choice. Cooking whole potatoes like this in your crockpot is super easy and well worth the wait.

Vegetarian slow cooker rice frittata

Put your slow cooker to work! This veggie-full frittata is cooked low and slow to cheesy, tender perfection.

Slow cookers are perfect for a tasty frittata.

Slow cooker eggplant parmigiana

The possibilities in the slow cooker are truly endless! Make this fall-apart tender eggplant parmigiana for dinner and everyone will think you slaved away for hours. Dinner winner!

Slow cooker honey mustard chicken

Make sure you have some crusty bread on hand to mop up the sauce on this easy peasy chicken dinner.

This dish is bound to become a staple in your kitchen.

Easy slow cooker chicken tacos

There’s only 10 minutes required to get this family dinner prepped, then you can put the slow cooker to work!

Slow cooker garlic butter pulled pork

This slow cooked pork shoulder is juicy and tender. After 7 hours of cooking it’s covered in garlic butter and served with creamy mash.

Melt in your mouth delicious.

Slow cooker sticky cashew nut chicken

Meal prep this kid-friendly chicken dinner on Sunday and get two dinners from one. Enjoy half the batch with rice and turn the leftovers into a noodle stir-fry, ready in just 20 minutes (see notes for recipe.)