Slow cooker recipes that don’t suck

[burntpinky]

Posting for traffic but pretty much every slow cooker recipe I make (bar the slow cooker lemon chicken with olives from bbc good food which is outstanding) suck. They have zero flavour.

As it’s coming into winter I’d like to make the most of the slow cooker and it also saves time in the evenings (vital with a child!) so does anyone have any recipe recommendations?!

I've done a few from an American website called the Family Freezer. South Western chicken chilli and the Italian Pork are huge favs in my house.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3719208-Your-favourite-tried-and-tested-slow-cooker-recipe

www.dinneratthezoo.com/slow-cooker-mongolian-beef/

I use 1/4 cup of brown sugar though instead of 1/3 otherwise I find it's too sweet. The bavette steaks from Morrisons work perfectly for this. Freeze them for an hour to make slicing easier and go against the grain. One of my favourite meals with rice or noodles and some green veg.

I make pasta bolognese in mine. Just chuck everything in and stir. Great for curries too.
I also make this in bulk for lunches, dinner in a pinch, or fajitas where I just whip out some tortillas and sour cream
www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/chilli-con-jamie/

There was a thread on this the other day, I think it's in chat but loads of recipes on it.

Essentially tiny amount of liquid and loads more seasoning.

Yes the lamb shanks from the Pinch of Nom cook book (not the website) is amazing, and I don’t even like lamb!

Sausage casserole and beef stew are easy enough too. Slimming world also do a nice chicken, lemon and garlic casserole which works in the slow cooker.

DH also did a lovely aubergine recipe from BBC good food.
www.bbcgoodfoodme.com/recipes/slow-cooker-aubergines/?GEO_REDIRECTED=true

www.rachaelrayshow.com/recipes/24156_slow_cooker_rosemary_christmas_beef_with_salsa_verde

Great alternative to oven roasted beef and leaves more room in the oven for potatoes and other veg.

Often find the same — tried lots and most of them turned out... lacking. We’ve recently perfected slow cooked meatballs. Typical tomato sauce recipe (tinned toms, tomato purée, oregano, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, sugar) and then pop the meatballs in, they turn out lovely and soft and the sauce soaks up lots of the flavour from the meatballs. Quickly boil pasta when it’s time to serve.

Chicken paprika with chorizo, tinned tomatoes, garlic, onions.
Chilli with added smoked paprika and worcestershire sauce.

Sticky chicken - soy sauce, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, tomato ketchup

Does anyone have a good vegi recipe for the slow cooker? I bought one but am vegetarian so am thinking I might have wasted my money as I can't find many recipies

We use a great recipe for a sausage and lentil stew. I substitute spicy sausage for chorizo sausage and bam! Bloody lush.

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/sausage_and_lentil_stew_90967/amp

This is a recipe from the Anthony Worrall Thomspson slow cooker book. Ive made it lots and so has my sister and we both love it.
Ingredients state rice vinegar - I usually substitute red or white wine vinegar and it works fine. I leave out the mirrin because I'm not it buying it just for this recipe.
I tend to make in large batches and freeze just before the point of adding the spinach. I then add spinach and feta after I heat it up again. Have also made it without the spinach for kids and without the feta for dairy free guests.
We eat it like a substantial dip with large Mediterranean style pitta breads.

Slimming world campfire stew but soak gammon overnight so it’s not to salty! Crusty bread and rice yum!

I like to make stroganoff in my slow cooker, two tins of chopped tomatoes, a tea spoon of garlic, two packs of aldi chopped beef and a teaspoon of wholegrain mustard, heaped tablespoon of paprika, some pepper to add a small amount of heat (about 3/4 of a teaspoon), some sugar (to taste). Leave on high for 6 hours until beef is tender then I stir in some double cream but you can use sour cream or anything which will make the sauce cream and it sounds nuts but I add ketchup instead of more sugar if its still a bit tangy from tomatoes, maybe a table spoon or so. At the very end I throw in chopped mushrooms and have it on rice. So warming and easy to make :) I am serving a family of 5 for 2 meals with my recipe so can easily halve.

I also make BBQ ribs in the slow cooker, a rack of ribs on high for 3-4 hours and all I add is literally bbq sauce to cover meat (about half a bottle, any brand works), bbq meat rubbing herbs, pepper and a tea spoon of garlic. Once the ribs are done I glaze in BBQ sauce then grill until sticky and viola!

Don't follow the recipe when it comes to liquid. Most of the time they say to put too much in so just put enough liquid in to cover the ingredients and check it once in a while. Veg cooks slower than meat so cut it up smaller thank your chunks of meat.

Roast chicken is nice, make a little trivet with cut up carrots and onions etc and a tiny bit of liquid in the bottom so it doesn't stick.

I've been using slow cookers for years and years.
Most recipes that I've tried are vastly improved if meat and veg, especially onions, are browned first.
The only exceptions to this are ham cooked in coke or cider and veggie Boston baked beans.

Agree with Damnit Charlie ,there is always so much liquid being advised in a recipe ,yet the whole point of cooking this way is for steam to be produced thereby more moisture !.I use mine a lot and will defo be trying the Strogonoff recipe !(thanks Vampyress).Also never actually tried this but apparently you can cook a whole piece of Beef just as it is ! Has anyone done this? Have cooked cheaper joint (Brisket ) with a little Red wine or Beef stock .onions/carrots on Low 6/8 hours V good !

Following. I've never made anything edible in my slow cooker!