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Family Slow Cooker Recipe Ideas

23 replies

Ichangedmynameonce · 04/11/2022 10:00

I'm not a good cook, have three children who of course all like different things. Youngest is 5 and doesnt like obvious veg- I can get away with hiding it usually in spag bol etc.

They have had enough of the family staples....spag bol, chilli, chicken curry and I'm out of ideas.

Would really appreciate some excellent slow cooker recipes. Please link if you can as I'm not a good enough cook to judge ingredient quantities and chuck it all in.

Thank you

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sashh · 04/11/2022 10:10

I currently have a cauliflower leaf soup in mine.

I have 2 slow cookers, 1.5 and 3.5 litres.

I'm using the small one for this.

Basically the leaves and stem of a cauliflower, a stock cube, salt and pepper and boiling water. You can also add spices, smoked paprika works well.

After 2-3 hours blitz with a stick blender / blender.

Pot roasts are easy.

Joint of meat, brisket works well, flour the meat, put it in the centre of the slow cooker then pack veg around it, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnips, onions then add a stock cube and boiling water, you need to cover the veg - leave for 6-8 hours.

You can also do a joint of meat, or a whole chicken. Just put the meat in, add the lid and turn on.

RewildingAmbridge · 04/11/2022 10:15

Honey soy chicken, whole boneless chicken thighs, honey, garlic, soy, five spice, spring onions. Towards the end you can shred it with forks we have it with veggie fried rice. You could also have it with pancakes and cucumber etc live crispy duck.
Alternatively you could chop the chicken and add baby corn, sugar snap peas etc half hour or so before the end and don't shred, serve with rice.

Today I'm going to make pinch of nom chicken curry and rice soup which we will have with naan bread. Not tried it yet but looks delicious.

RewildingAmbridge · 04/11/2022 10:17

www.tamingtwins.com/honey-garlic-chicken/
This read the recipe I first used , I've tweaked it a bit to my tastes but it's a good starting point

Razzle5 · 04/11/2022 10:18

They have had enough of the family staples....spag bol, chilli, chicken curry

what do you mean… your children have “had enough of the family staples”?

Razzle5 · 04/11/2022 10:22

RewildingAmbridge · 04/11/2022 10:17

www.tamingtwins.com/honey-garlic-chicken/
This read the recipe I first used , I've tweaked it a bit to my tastes but it's a good starting point

@RewildingAmbridge looks delicious. What tweaks did you make? As I’ll do this over the weekend!

Namechangeforthis88 · 04/11/2022 10:29

@RewildingAmbridge that's going on the family meal plan next week. Thanks,

wisbech · 04/11/2022 10:37

Any pork & beans recipe - or "cassoulet" if you want to be posh!

Ichangedmynameonce · 04/11/2022 12:09

Thanks all.

@Razzle5 I mean that they are fed up eating the same meals all the time which is why I'm looking for new ideas 🙂

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Ichangedmynameonce · 04/11/2022 23:42

Bumping for ideas and ideally links

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BillLius · 04/11/2022 23:48

Why would you make soup in a slow cooker when you can simmer it for 15 mins on the hob?

boardwatcher · 04/11/2022 23:49

vm.tiktok.com/ZMFAHsrXH/
I'm making this tomorrow

MarmiteCoriander · 04/11/2022 23:51

Pea and ham stew? Its much thicker and filling than a soup, hence I call it a stew.

I buy 2 packets of quick soak split peas from asda, but likely tesco or sainsburys do them too too. Soak for 1-2 hours (as per pack directions) and rinse thoroughly.

Smoked ham hock/joint. I can generally only get this from a butcher and remove the skin. Personal choice to reduce the fat, but would certainly add flavour if left in.

I throw the above into the slow cooker with 2 onions and whatever other veg I have. 2-3 carrots, some swede (optional), 2 potatoes, 3 stalks celery (optional).

I don't add any salt as the ham has enough already. I cook on low overnight and its perfect for the morning.

sashh · 05/11/2022 05:18

BillLius · 04/11/2022 23:48

Why would you make soup in a slow cooker when you can simmer it for 15 mins on the hob?

Because I might not know when I am going to eat it, or I might eat some for lunch and then some later.

If I wasn't single it is something that can be left keeping warm for when someone else got home.

I do pea and ham too.

Similar to @MarmiteCoriander 2 packs of peas and a ham shank or hock.

Soak and rince the peas (I usually soak over night) put in the slow cooker with the hock - leave that whole, top with boiling water and leave.

As it cooks the fat becomes soft so it is easy to take the ham out to remove it. The ham will naturally fall to pieces.

Another cheap one - for my small cooker

2 packs or pork ribs, Morrisons has them as actual ribs not cut into individual ribs.

Place the ribs around the edge of the SC, add beans, I usually used tinned butter beans but others work to.

Add a packet of passata.

Season and leave. You can use just salt and pepper but smoked paprika works well.

As the meat cooks the ribs become loose so you can remove them, I tend to do this with chopsticks.

I sometimes add red pepper slices and chunks of pepperoni.

Suet puddings work well in a SC, both sweet and savory.

Steak and mushroom pudding.

You need a pyrex or plastic bowl, I find pyrex is more stable and less likely to tip over. but plastic is easier to get the finished pudding out.

Ingredients

Pack of cubed steak, 4-5 mushrooms chopped
Suet and flour
salt and pepper
Stock cube

Boil the kettle
Grease the inside of the bowl.
Make the suet pastry using the instructions on the pack
Roll out into a circle about 1/2 inch thick
Cut a 1/4 out of the circle - this will be your lid.
Line the bowl with the rolled out circle, roll the 1/2 into a circle.
Dust the meat with flour and salt and pepper
Chop the mushrooms
Put the floured meat and mushrooms in to the owl that is now lined with pastry.
Crumble in the stock cube.
Put the pastry lid on and seal with water.

Put a folded tea towel in the sc and place the pudding in it. You do not want the pudding dish to touch the bottom of the SC or the pastry will go hard.
Make a hole in the centre with a knife or your finger.
Pour the boiling water into the hole until it is full and runs over
Pour the rest of the water into the slow cooker.
Put the lid on the SC and switch on.

Be careful taking the pudding out, put it upside down on a plate and rotate the bowl 3 times to loosen it.

Obviously you can use kidney instead of mushrooms, or change the meat completely eg chicken and veg.

Don't miss out the flouring the meat, this is what makes a thick gravy.

bedazzled82 · 05/11/2022 06:20

@RewildingAmbridge what tweaks? Thanks

ErinAndTonic · 05/11/2022 07:13

Following as I'm about to give up on my instant pot and get a slow cooker! Fed up of everything in the instant pot becoming a watery mess that I have to simmer for ages afterwards 🤦🏼‍♀️

Ichangedmynameonce · 05/11/2022 09:01

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the details of the recipes!
@ErinAndTonic I agree- I have an instant pot too and its excellent for risotto but everything else is a bit bleurgh

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kateandme · 05/11/2022 10:06

Butter chicken in the slow cooker is fab
so is sausage and onions because you get the major softening of those onions
chilli is good
www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/family-slow-cooker-recipes-0
Some of these look a bit different
www.delish.com/cooking/g3849/best-slow-cooker-recipes/

sashh · 07/11/2022 01:09

Just a warning for alcohol use, because the SC cooks on a low heat the alcohol does not evaporate the way it would in the oven.

Pork hock with cider, not a complete meal but really nice.

1 pork hock per person, season with salt and pepper and you might want a sprig of thyme.

Add a 50/50 mix of cider and boiling water and leave for 4+ hours.

When you are ready to eat make a roux and then add the cooking liquid to make a sauce.

Ichangedmynameonce · 11/11/2022 09:46

Thanks everyone.

I made beef brisket yesterday. Followed BBC good food recipe and it was a bit dry and tasteless 🤦🏻‍♀️

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balzamico · 11/11/2022 09:52

The Taming Twins website that the honey soy chicken recipe came from has some great slow cooker recipes - we've loved the sweet potato and peanut curry and have it every couple of weeks with naan bread.
Ive tried several of her recipes and they've all been delicious
www.tamingtwins.com

FatToFitPart3 · 11/11/2022 09:59

This is nice (definitely add chopped mint and some feta at the end to really make it great) www.nigella.com/recipes/slow-cooker-lamb-and-pasta

These are good and a “just bung it in” sort of recipe www.manilaspoon.com/2012/06/slow-cooker-asian-bar-b-q-ribs.html

This is lovely, the meat just melts (Morrisons usually have beef cheeks this time of year, or a butcher can get you some). I make a big load and then leftovers either add mushrooms for a pie, or shred it and add diced veg and peas for a cottage pie. www.recipetineats.com/slow-cooker-red-wine-beef-cheeks/

whispers…. If you go on a website who’s name is not dissimilar to this site😬 and look up sausage and onion casserole that’s a banging recipe. I think it’s the chutney that makes it really special.

dementedma · 11/11/2022 10:00

Sausage and bean casserole. You can fry off sausages first if you want them brown. Add onions garlic, chorizo if you want..pretty much anything. Add passata/ tin toms/ pasta sauce/ BBQ sauce or whatever you have to hand. Add dumplings for last hour.

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