Family slow cooker ideas

Our slow cooker meatballs recipe is ideal for getting ahead, as you should have plenty of leftover portions for storing in the freezer. It can cook on low for five hours without any interference, so it's great if you're out and about for the day. The meatballs are made from turkey mince, which is a lighter, healthier option, plus, we've packed them with other flavours the kids will love.

If you're short on time before plating up, our slow cooker lasagne only requires three hours to cook. The result is a comforting family pasta dish with extra-tender beef mince that's low in fat and calories.

Ideal for families with young children, this slow cooker chilli is quick and hassle-free and can be batch-cooked, allowing leftovers to be frozen for when you’re short on time. Cook it on low for around six hours after doing the preparation in the morning, and return to glorious results come suppertime. The chilli con carne mixture also contains hidden veg that will help nourish any fussy eaters.

Another family-favourite has to be our slow cooker sausage casserole. This no-fuss recipe uses a pack of chipolatas and chunky veg, such as sweet potatoes and carrots. Serve with pasta, baked potatoes, rice or bread for the ultimate winter warmer.

More classic family slow cooker dinners:

Slow cooker beef stew
Slow cooker spaghetti bolognese
Slow cooker coconut chicken curry
Slow cooker Spanish chicken
Slow cooker shepherd's pie
Slow cooker pork fillet with apples
Slow cooked BBQ-spiced pulled pork

Friday night curries

Ditch the takeaway and let the slow cooker be your Friday night go-to instead. As well as being healthier, slow-cooked curries have plenty of time to allow flavours to meld. Our slow cooker chicken korma and slow cooker butter chicken are both comfortingly creamy and mild on spices, so perfect for kids. For a lighter option, make this nutritious slow cooker chicken curry using budget-friendly chicken legs, or turn up the heat with an injection of madras curry paste in our slow cooker lamb curry.

Want to try some different ingredients? Lemongrass, ginger and lime give this slow cooker Thai chicken curry a wonderfully fresh and zingy flavour. Leave them to infuse for several hours in a creamy coconut sauce and you'll be rewarded with an intensely aromatic family supper.

More slow cooker curries:

Slow cooker chicken tikka masala
Slow cooker turkey curry
Slow cooker beef curry
Easy slow cooker lamb curry
Thai beef curry

Also check out our collection of fragrant slow cooker curry recipes.

Veggie suppers

If you’re looking for a relaxed and easy veggie meal the whole family will love, our fragrant slow cooker vegetable curry should do the trick. This comforting dish delivers four of your five-a-day, and the leftovers can be frozen for later. The chunky butternut squash, peppers and aubergine will soak up the aromatic spices while cooking, resulting in a deliciously creamy and flavourful dish to serve with wholemeal flatbreads.

Make the most of seasonal ingredients in delicious slow-cooked meals all year round. Combine summer veg such as aubergines, courgettes and peppers in this vibrant slow-cooker ratatouille that's perfect for al fresco entertaining. If you're after a winter warmer, slow-cooked marrow with fennel & tomato is ideal for dunking a slice of crusty sourdough and also packs in four of your five-a-day. Or, celebrate the arrival of spring with a hearty slow cooker vegetable stew, featuring spring veg such as leeks and baby carrots, plus some generously sized cheesy dumplings.

For veggie pasta lovers, our slow cooker vegetable lasagne will go down a treat. Made from layers of wholemeal pasta, ratatouille and sliced aubergine, this light supper is not only scrumptious but also packs in all five of your five-a-day. Or, try this comforting slow cooker mac 'n' cheese with a silky cheddar sauce. Looking for a healthy vegan option? A flavourful medley of vegetables, herbs and spices take centre stage in this wholesome aubergine & chickpea stew. Give it a gourmet finish with a topping of toasted pine nuts, then serve with flatbreads and get dunking. If someone isn't the biggest fan of aubergine, you can also opt for this healthy, high-fibre chickpea stew.

More veggie slow-cooked meals:
Five-a-day tagine
Spiced carrot & lentil soup
Sweet potato & coconut curry
Slow cooker aubergines
Slow cooker spiced root & lentil casserole

Discover more vibrant vegetarian slow cooker recipes and vegan slow cooker recipes.

Sunday roast

Make busy family weekends an absolute breeze by giving your Sunday roast the special slow-cooked treatment. This method of cooking will make the meat succulent and full of flavour. Our roast chicken recipe only takes 15 minutes to prepare and the leftovers can be frozen or used in a soup. Simply place the whole chicken in a pot with onions, carrots and a bay leaf and leave your slow cooker to do the hard work.

Go one step further and use your slow-cooker to make your roast accompaniments: our braised slow-cooker red cabbage boasts a lovely, sticky texture. We also have our creamy potato gratin, made in the slow-cooker to offer a lovely depth of flavour.

If you prefer a roast beef dinner, look no further than our slow cooker pot roast. The rolled beef brisket will soak up all the gorgeous flavours in the red wine sauce, resulting in a mouth-wateringly tender roast dinner. Or try our slow cooker beef joint for beautifully tender meat that is full of flavour. Our slow-cooker lamb shoulder is the perfect match for crisp roasties and seasonal greens.

Roasts aren't just for chilly winter days – this summer slow-roast lamb is beautifully succulent, light and singing with gentle spices. The prunes in the marinade give a lovely rich sweetness that goes hand-in-hand with the roasted garlic and slight tang from the pomegranate molasses. Although it doesn't actually require a slow cooker, the same melt-in-the-mouth effect is achieved by roasting on low in the oven for several hours. Pair it with light sides of fennel & lemon boulangère potatoes plus fresh broccoli, charred red peppers & feta.

Looking for an alternative Sunday lunch idea? Take a trip to the continent for your roast inspiration with this easy one-pot Greek lamb. Infused with Mediterranean flavours, this slow-cooked centrepiece is great for entertaining and can be served with a range of Greek meze dishes. Or, try this beautifully smoky Spanish-style slow cooked lamb shoulder & beans, marinated in a fragrant spice mix of hot paprika, rosemary and garlic.

Cheaper cuts

If the little ones in your family aren’t too adventurous when it comes to trying different types of meat, the recipes below make a brilliant and gentle introduction. Chicken thighs, beef brisket, pork shoulder and lamb neck all pack great flavour and slow cooking really extracts the maximum amount of it. Of course, you can also use less meat and bulk out your meals with vegetables.

Cold winter nights will be so much more bearable with this warming and aromatic slow-cooked lamb tagine. Use a choice cut of meat such as shoulder, neck or leg, and mix with chunky veg and spices. Adding dried fruit such as cherries, apricots or prunes will also give the stew a hint of sweetness.

Braising or stewing steak are also ideal for cooking slowly over several hours, as this tenderises the meat. Use this cut to make a rich and creamy pot of slow cooker beef goulash, complete with fresh tomatoes, peppers and smoky paprika. Cooking for six to seven hours on low allows the meat to reach a point of being fall-apart, making for a satisfying family stew. Beef topside is another thrifty roasting joint that cuts beautifully after slow cooking. Try our slow cooker beef topside, doused in a rich red wine gravy and marinated in a porcini mushroom mix. You can leave out the wine if catering for kids and replace with 200ml beef stock instead.

Another budget-friendly, flavourful option is our slow cooker honey mustard chicken thighs. This no-fuss dinner uses just a handful of ingredients and kids will love the creamy honey and mustard sauce. For a low-fat yet satisfying family meal, try making our wholesome slow cooker chicken casserole. This simple, crowd-pleasing dish requires just 10 minutes of prep time, then you can leave the hard work to your slow cooker. It's not hard to see why it's one of our most popular slow cooker recipes!

More slow-cooker recipes using cheaper cuts:

Slow cooker beef stroganoff
Slow cooker coq au vin
Slow cooker pork shoulder
Slow cooker beef stew
Slow cooker bone broth
Braised pork with plums

Make the most of more cheaper cuts with our top 10 budget slow cooker recipes.

Slow cooker soups

Even a simple bowl of soup can be elevated by simmering for a few hours in the slow cooker. Classics like tomato soup can be enhanced by slow cooking, allowing the flavours to simmer.

Warm up with a nourishing bowl of slow cooker chicken soup for lunch or add noodles to make it more substantial. Use up Christmas or Sunday lunch leftovers to make the stock for a slow cooker turkey pho full of fresh and fragrant flavours. Or, keep it meat-free with this hearty veg-packed pasta e faglioli, velvety pumpkin soup or comforting Danish-style yellow split pea soup.

Browse more slow cooker soup recipes.

Slow cooker treats and desserts

It’s not just suppers that can be cooked to perfection in the slow cooker – these seriously comforting, homemade puds can all be made in the slow cooker too. Sink your spoon into a gorgeously gooey slow cooker sticky toffee pudding soaked in a rich butterscotch sauce and served with vanilla ice cream. Or, take a trip down memory lane with this seriously sticky retro schooldays treacle sponge. For something a bit lighter, our slow cooker spiced apples with barley is full of warming spices, yet low in calories and fat.

More slow-cooker desserts:
Slow cooker muscovado cheesecake with hazelnuts & blackberries
Apple flapjack crumble
Poached apricots with rosewater

Treat the family to more slow cooker pudding recipes.

Family breakfasts

Start the day with our slow cooker bio yogurt, enriched with gut-friendly probiotics. This luxuriously creamy recipe requires only two ingredients: whole milk and live yogurt. It requires 17 hours to cook, so it's more of a weekend project, but it's completely worth it and can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks to feed your family. Mix the bio yogurt with fresh fruit, cereal or porridge for a healthy and filling breakfast.

Prefer a slice of toast to kick off the day? Fear not, for the humble slow cooker can still be put to ingenious use – we've devised a recipe for slow cooker bread using a basic mix of flour, yeast, salt and water. Leaving the dough to cook and rise gradually will give it a soft and spongy texture before finally crisping up the outside in the oven on a higher temperature.

If your family are fans of a savoury breakfast, we've got the perfect slow-cooker recipes, including high-protein breakfast beans and healthy Turkish breakfast eggs to keep you going until lunch.

You may also enjoy:

Family summer slow cooker recipes
Cheap & healthy family meal plan
The best soup recipes for kids
Healthy slow cooker recipes
Slow cooker chicken recipes
Easy 7-day family meal plan

Do you have any slow cooker tips or favourite recipes? Leave a comment below.