How does Rest Less make money
We make money through advertising and commission from affiliate links, which enable us to offer Rest Less as a free service to our users. The content on this page may use affiliate links, which track traffic from our website to a third party provider and enable us to receive a commission or payment from any traffic we refer.
* Affiliate links on this page have an * next to them. We place enormous importance on our editorial independence and the integrity of our content which means that we will never change how we write about something as a result of an affiliate link.
Slow cookers are wonderful inventions. They allow you to make rich, hearty, and comforting meals without sweating over a stove. Plus, because they use less energy than ovens, can make bigger portions, and work well with simple ingredients, slow cookers can save you money.
Slow cookers also retain the natural flavours and juices of ingredients, and prevent food from drying out – both of which can make life easier, whether you’re making a quick midweek dinner or entertaining guests.
So, to inspire you, here are 10 delicious slow cooker recipes to save time and money.
1. Chicken, kale, and sweet potato stew
If you’re looking to eat healthier meals, soups and stews can be a great place to start. Not only are they usually super quick and simple to prepare, but they’re often packed with protein, fibre, and immune-boosting nutrients, too.
This slow cooker chicken, kale, and sweet potato stew from Real Food Whole Life is hearty, filling, and seriously healthy. It’s also gluten and dairy-free.
The only prep involved is some washing and chopping – then you just add the ingredients to the slow cooker, cook until the sweet potato and chicken are tender, and shred the chicken.
Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and, if you like, a side of crusty bread to mop up the delicious broth. This recipe makes up to six servings, so you can freeze any leftovers or enjoy them the next day.
2. Coconut and quinoa curry
Whether you’re a veggie, vegan, pescatarian, or omnivore, incorporating more quinoa into your diet can bring impressive health benefits. It’s high in fibre, packed with vitamins and minerals, contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant compounds, and is a great source of plant protein.
This coconut and quinoa curry from Simply Quinoa makes the perfect quick and easy midweek dinner. The zingy flavours of ginger, turmeric, and garlic combine beautifully with umami miso and creamy coconut milk. And, with the additions of sweet potato, broccoli, chickpeas, onion, and quinoa, you’re guaranteed a delicious, healthy meal that’ll fill you up.
This fragrant curry can be stored in the fridge for up to five days, or you can freeze it to enjoy later.
3. Beef goulash
Goulash is cosy and comforting, warming you up from the inside out. And, because it’s essentially a soup-stew hybrid, it’s perfect for a slow cooker.
Goulash is a type of Hungarian stew that involves cooking stewing meat (usually beef) with vegetables and seasoning with sweet paprika.
This beef goulash recipe from The Batch Lady is incredibly easy to make. Just add diced braising beef, peppers, onions, garlic, chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, beef stock, paprika, and flour to your slow cooker, then cook on high for three hours. Alternatively, you can cook on low for five to six hours to make the meat more tender. Then, 15 minutes before it’s cooked, add a dollop of crème fraîche.
You can serve this with rice or quinoa, but goulash also goes well with pasta like tagliatelle or pappardelle. Top with a sprig of fresh dill for maximum authenticity!
4. Low-carb lasagne
Lasagne is the ultimate comfort food, and there’s nothing better than tucking into a delicious plate of it after a busy or stressful day.
The good news for anyone trying to cut down on carbs is that not only can you make lasagne in a slow cooker, but you can also make a low-carb, high-protein alternative.
Instead of using pasta, this low-carb lasagne recipe from Well Plated uses vegetables like courgettes and aubergines thinly sliced into sheets. This cuts down on calories and carbs while adding fibre and contributing to your five-a-day.
This is a healthy, gluten-free meal that feels really indulgent. And though it has deliciously tender vegetables and melt-in-your-mouth textures, your slow cooker does all the work.
5. Rice pudding
If you’re in the mood for something sweet, warming, and filling, rice pudding usually does the trick.
The idea of making rice pudding in a slow cooker might sound odd, as it doesn’t take long to cook on the hob. But it’s a great way to make sure the rice is deliciously plump and the sauce luxuriously creamy…without really having to lift a finger.
This rice pudding from Slow Cooker Club is incredibly tasty and will last in the fridge for up to three days.
Simply tip your rice into the slow cooker; add milk, double cream, butter, sugar, and vanilla essence; then cook for three hours on low heat. The result will be a rich and indulgent dessert that tastes far more expensive than it is.
6. Harissa chicken and chickpea stew
On a chilly evening, few things are as comforting and restorative as tucking into a bowl of warming, nourishing stew. Plus, when it’s prepared in a slow cooker, the flavours, herbs, and spices have hours to infuse, and it becomes even more of a treat.
This slow cooker harissa chicken and chickpea stew from The Batch Lady combines chickpeas and chicken for a high-protein, filling meal – and the addition of harissa makes everything even more flavoursome.
Harissa is a North African chilli paste made from roasted peppers, spices (such as garlic paste, caraway seeds, coriander seeds, and cumin), and olive oil, so it’s wonderfully tasty.
Simply put your ingredients into your slow cooker and cook for around five hours on low heat (or three hours on high heat). Serve over couscous, quinoa, or bulgur wheat, and add a dollop of yoghurt and some fresh chilli and coriander on top.
7. Lamb stew
If you eat meat, slow cookers can also save you money, as they better utilise cheaper cuts of meat. These need to be cooked on low for a good amount of time to reach maximum tenderness, so slow cooker owners are best placed to make the most of them.
This slow cooker lamb stew recipe from BBC Good Food suggests using cheap cuts of lamb, like middle neck or scrag (it’s best to ask your local butcher if you’re unsure which cut to buy). Then, you can use other affordable yet wholesome ingredients to fill out the dish, such as pearl barley, potatoes, carrots, leeks, and onions.
Slow cooking this dish creates a delicious natural cooking liquor, so serve it with some crusty bread to mop up every last drop.
8. Spicy spaghetti with garlic mushrooms
For many of us, spaghetti is a go-to dish when we’re hungry and looking for something quick and tasty.
While slow cookers might be best known for their ability to make delicious stews, casseroles, and curries, their magic can make the perfect pasta sauce, too.
This recipe for spicy spaghetti with garlic mushrooms from BBC Good Food may be simple, but its flavours are brilliantly complex. Just slice up some meaty chestnut mushrooms and put them in your slow cooker; add celery, onion, chopped tomatoes, garlic, and chilli; then cover and cook on low for six to seven hours.
Just before you’re ready to eat, cook your pasta, chop your parsley, and when the spaghetti is done, add it to the rich mushroom mix. This flavoursome and comforting dish is low-fat, vegetarian, and very easy to whip up.
9. Chicken casserole
Chicken casserole is an ideal dish for the slow cooker. When the ingredients are cooked slowly and gently, the meat starts to fall apart, and the vegetables become perfectly tender.
For a hearty midweek dinner, all you have to do is pop the ingredients into your slow cooker and look forward to the aromas that’ll greet you when you return home.
This chicken casserole recipe from Kitchen Sanctuary uses chicken thighs because they’re tender, work well when slow-cooked, and shred nicely. But the beauty of a slow cooker is that you can easily swap chicken thighs for breasts or bone-in pieces, and they’ll come out just as juicy.
The vegetables in this recipe also absorb plenty of the creamy yet refreshing sauce, which has a subtle lemon twist. If you like, you can add extra veggies – like potatoes, leeks, or squash – to boost your vitamin intake. Serve with a generous serving of mashed potatoes to soak up the rest of that moreish sauce.
10. Vegan chilli
Packed with fibre, protein, and plenty of vitamins, chilli is a nourishing and satisfying dish. The longer you cook it, the more the spices infuse and the taste deepens – so it’s a dish that benefits from slow-cooking.
This vegan chilli recipe from Good Housekeeping is rich, flavoursome, and velvety. Kidney beans, black beans, peppers, sweet potato, carrots, and tomatoes are cooked slowly with cumin, smoked paprika, and chilli – and some dark chocolate adds a delicious bittersweet twist (but you can leave it out if you prefer).
After cooking on high for four hours, the sweet potato will be lovely and soft, and the spices will have fully permeated. Serve with rice, guacamole, a scattering of fresh coriander, and a wedge of lime.
Final thoughts…
If you often feel too tired to cook from scratch in the evenings, slow cookers can be game-changing.
Meals that once seemed too laborious to cook can instantly become accessible, and you’ll save time and money while enjoying healthy, delicious dishes that retain all of their natural flavour.
Plus, whether you fancy cooking a hearty, meaty casserole or an aromatic veggie curry, coming home to the tantalising smell of home-cooked food is instantly comforting.
If you’re interested in trying some of these recipes but don’t own a slow cooker, you might find our article, 11 best slow cookers for low-cost meals, useful. And for more meal inspiration, check out our food and drink section. Here, you’ll find everything from further budget cooking inspiration to recipes from around the world.
Alternatively, why not join a cooking demonstration over on Rest Less Events? Use the button below to see what’s coming up.
Do you have a slow cooker? Or are you tempted to buy one and have a go at making some of these recipes? We’d love to hear about your culinary adventures in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Read our full commenting terms and guidelines