32 recipes you never knew you could make in your slow cooker

From bread to a lemon cheesecake, there’s an amazing selection of recipes which go well in the slow cooker. Check out 32 options here.

If we had to pick an appliance to take with us to a desert island, it would hands down be the slow cooker.

Sure, air fryers are great, but slow cookers have the power to take almost any ingredient and make it meltingly delicious. In fact, you’d be surprised by just how many recipes can be transformed in your slow cooker, including our selection of unusual slow cooker winners below. Now, if we could just source a power socket on our desert island, we’d surely be in paradise.

Slow cooker pilau rice.

Slow cooker pilau rice

Pilau rice: aromatic, fluffy, infused with a deep spice taste…it’s both the perfect side dish or a simple main!

Matt Preston’s slow cooker beef a la mode

“This is a reworking of a classic beef stew that’s been in my family since 1765 and was originally cooked over a fire... my beef a la mode. This 18th century beef stew can be made equally deliciously, but at home in a slow cooker.” - Matt Preston.

Slow cooker egg custards.

Slow cooker egg custards

Creamy and wobbly, these custards make the best individual desserts that you can prepare ahead of time. Just whisk all the ingredients together and pop into a slow cooker.

Slow cooker porcupine meatballs

Slow cooking meatballs prevents them from drying out, ensuring they’re juicy and moist every time. There’s no need to pre-cook the rice in this easy dish, as it cooks whilst inside the meatballs. Serve with crusty bread to mop up all the sauce.

Slow cooker condensed milk and raspberry scrolls.

Slow cooker condensed milk and raspberry scrolls

With just 7 ingredients and cooked in the slow cooker, these easy scrolls are just as good as Nanna’s version. Made from condensed milk and jam, and served with custard, they’re doughy, fluffy and moist all at the same time.

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.

Slow cooker French onion chicken and cheese melt.

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.

Giant slow cooker golden syrup dumpling

Drenched in a sticky golden syrup sauce, this giant fluffy dumpling is cooked in the slow cooker, so it’s super easy and perfect for entertaining friends and family.

Slow cooker Swedish meatballs.

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.

Slow cooker Taiwanese beef curry

Prep this tender braised beef in just 20 minutes. The aromatic five spice, fragrant ginger and chilli oil create a rich sauce that is paired perfectly with thin rice noodles.

Slow cooker chocolate cake.

Best-ever slow cooker chocolate cake

Did you know you can ‘bake’ a cake in your crockpot? The secret is the tea towel under the lid, as it absorbs the condensation so the top of the cake doesn’t get soggy. It’s delicious served warm with ice-cream, or topped with your favourite chocolate icing.

Slow cooker chicken and mushroom risotto

This is great way to use up some leftover cooked chicken. Fry up the mushrooms and let your slow-cooker worry about the rice. Add everything together in the end. The risotto comes out perfectly cooked and no stirring is involved.

Slow cooker rice pudding.

Persian-style slow cooker rice pudding

Set and forget with this Persian-style rice pudding. It is subtly spiced with cinnamon and cardamom and topped with pistachios and rosewater.

Slow cooker chicken chow mein

You can now make this Chinese takeaway classic in your slow cooker! The ingredients are usually stir-fried but in our version you cook the chicken first and then at the end combine with vegies and noodles.

Slow cooker pulled lamb.

Slow cooker pulled lamb

If you want that tender, no knife required results, then you need to cook your lamb in a slow cooker. Serve in a pita bread (or any other kind of a flatbread) and you can toss leftovers in a salad the next day.

Slow cooker apple ‘quarantine cake’

Cake in the slow cooker? It can be done. This delightfully fruity apple version only takes 10 minutes to prep.

Slow cooker roast chicken.

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 Diane potatoes

Chicken Diane is an old-school favourite but we’ve created a new, meat-free version that is just the ticket on a cold, winter’s night. Loaded with potatoes and mushrooms, cooked in a creamy, buttery sauce it works great as main dish but can also be a filling side.

Slow cooker creamy chicken mac and cheese.

Slow cooker creamy chicken mac and cheese

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

Slow cooker lemon cheesecake

Impress everyone at the party and take your slow cooker to the next level with this show-stopping slow cooker lemon cheesecake that uses fresh lemons and smooth cream cheese.

Slow cooker rice frittata.

Vegetarian slow cooker rice frittata

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

Slow cooker peanut butter brownie

For an effortless dessert that’s guaranteed to please try these easy slow-cooker, dark chocolate and peanut butter brownies.

Slow cooker eggplant parmigiana.

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 caramel fudge

The reason for making fudge in the slow cooker instead of a saucepan is that you don’t have to worry about the mixture overheating, which can make the chocolate seize. This gentle heat allows the mixture to melt very slowly, so you can just give it a stir every now and then as you do other things in the kitchen.

Slow cooker garlic butter pulled pork.

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.

Cheat’s slow cooker focaccia

Not only does this rosemary focaccia recipe require no kneading, but it’s cooked in the slow cooker so it’s completely hands-off!

Slow cooker vegetarian bolognese.

All-in-one slow cooker vegetarian bolognese

A weeknight classic for meat-free Mondays, this vegetarian bolognese makes an easy weeknight dinner.

Slow cooker roast pork with crackling and gravy recipe

Make your next roast pork in the slow-cooker and still enjoy crackling!

Slow cooker chicken stroganoff.

Slow cooker chicken stroganoff

The mushrooms add such depth and richness to this slow cooker chicken stroganoff recipe.

Slow cooker pulled maple Christmas ham

For the ultimate cheat’s Christmas main, you can’t beat this sticky, tender ham cooked in the slow cooker.

Apple and cinnamon slow cooker oats.

Apple and cinnamon slow cooker oats

Start the day right with this nourishing and hearty apple and cinnamon slow cooker oats. Make it ahead so you have enough on hand for the whole week.

Slow cooker bread.

Slow cooker basic bread

Want to know how to make bread in the slow cooker? This super easy recipe only uses six pantry ingredients.

For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.

Originally published as 32 recipes you never knew you could make in your slow cooker