A meal that quietly simmers while you do other things: that is exactly why the slow cooker is so useful. You put the ingredients in the pot, add herbs and spices and then let the slow cooker do most of the work. Ideal for busy weekdays, meal prep or days when you want a nice meal but don't feel like spending a long time in the kitchen.

From creamy curry and braised beef to pulled chicken, soup and vegetarian bean stew: you can make much more in a slow cooker than just classic stews. In addition, herbs have plenty of time to release their flavor during the slow cooking.

On this page we collect our favorite slow cooker recipes, practical tips and ideas for spice mixes that go well with slowly cooked dishes. We will continue to add new recipes to this page.

What is a slow cooker?

A slow cooker is an electric pot that allows dishes to cook for several hours at a relatively low temperature. Instead of constantly stirring and checking, you put the ingredients in the pot and let the dish cook slowly.

Most slow cookers have at least two settings: low and high. Which setting you choose and how long a dish needs depends on the recipe, the amount and the type of slow cooker.

Slow cooking is especially suitable for dishes that benefit from time: braised meat becomes tender, legumes and vegetables absorb a lot of flavor and sauces have a chance to develop slowly.

Why cook with a slow cooker?

The biggest advantage is of course convenience. You don't have to stand beside the stove for hours to make a dish that has had time to cook slowly.

Slow cooker recipes are also handy because you can:

• easily make multiple portions at once;
• cook ahead for meal prep;
• need little active preparation time;
• make flavorful meals with relatively simple ingredients;
• often store or freeze leftovers easily.

Especially in autumn and winter, the slow cooker is ideal for warm curries, meal soups, stews and hearty one-pot meals.

What dishes can you make in the slow cooker?

The possibilities are surprisingly broad. You don't have to use the slow cooker only for beef stew.

Chicken, for example, is very suitable for curries, pulled chicken and dishes with tomato, vegetables or mushrooms.

Beef can be cooked slowly in stews, chili or dishes with a smoky BBQ flavor.

Legumes such as beans, lentils and chickpeas work well in vegetarian slow cooker recipes.

Also soups, curries and sauces can do excellently in the slow cooker. Because relatively little moisture evaporates during cooking, you often get a full sauce without having to constantly add liquid.

We will expand our slow cooker recipes in the coming period with among other things:

• slow cooker chicken curry;
• slow cooker braised beef;
• vegetarian slow cooker bean stew;
• slow cooker pulled chicken;
• slow cooker potato and leek soup.

Slow cooker chicken curry

A creamy chicken curry is, in our opinion, a perfect candidate for the slow cooker. Chicken, vegetables and a spiced curry base can cook together slowly, allowing the flavors to meld nicely.

For this variant we use Hurry Curry as a flavoring. That way you don't have to measure out many individual spices yourself and still get a full curry flavor.

This recipe is also very suitable for meal prep: make a larger quantity at once and divide the curry into portions after cooking.

→ Slow cooker chicken curry recipe

Slow cooker braised beef

Braised beef and a slow cooker are a classic combination. By cooking the meat slowly, connective tissue has time to become tender and herbs can penetrate deeply into the sauce.

You can season a braised dish traditionally with, for example, bay leaf, thyme, pepper and cloves, but you can also make a smoky variant.

With Beef BBQ Chief, for example, the dish gets a more robust BBQ flavor, without having to add many different spices separately.

→ Slow cooker braised beef recipe

Vegetarian slow cooker recipes

Even without meat the slow cooker is particularly handy.

Beans, lentils and chickpeas absorb a lot of flavor during cooking and form a good base for a nutritious one-pot meal. Combine them, for example, with tomato, pepper, carrot, spinach or pumpkin.

One of the recipes we want to add to this page is a slow cooker bean stew: an easy meal you can prepare ahead and reheat the next day.

A curry with pumpkin and chickpeas also fits perfectly in this lineup.

Which herbs are good in the slow cooker?

Because slow cooker dishes cook for a long time, dried herbs and spices have a lot of time to release flavor.

Good choices include, for example:

• thyme;
• rosemary;
• bay leaf;
• cumin;
• coriander;
• paprika powder;
• smoked paprika;
• garlic;
• curry;
• turmeric;
• ras el hanout;
• black pepper.

Spice mixes are useful because different flavors are already balanced. Think of Hurry Curry for curry dishes, Rosemary's Chicken for chicken or Beef BBQ Chief for beef.

Fresh, delicate herbs like parsley and coriander leaf are often better added toward the end or just before serving. That way their fresh flavor is better preserved.

How much seasoning do you use in a slow cooker?

Start rather a bit more cautiously than adding a lot right away. Because flavors have hours to develop, some spices can become quite pronounced.

Taste the dish at the end and add extra seasoning if necessary.

Also be careful with salt. Broths, sauces and ready-made ingredients can already contain salt. By building flavors first with herbs and spices, you can always decide later if extra salt is needed.

Do you need to brown meat before using the slow cooker?

It is not always necessary, but it can make a difference.

By briefly browning meat first, extra flavor is created through Maillard reactions. The same applies to onion, garlic or some vegetables.

If you have little time, you can in many recipes put the ingredients directly into the slow cooker. The result will be slightly different, but convenience is one of the reasons to use a slow cooker.

So check per recipe what makes the most sense.

How much liquid should be in a slow cooker?

A common mistake is adding too much liquid.

Much less water evaporates in a slow cooker than in an open pan on the stove. Therefore you usually need less broth, water or sauce than you are used to with a traditional stew.

So don't automatically start with a large amount of liquid. Vegetables, meat and tomatoes also release moisture during cooking.

Is your sauce still too thin at the end? Then you can optionally thicken or bind it a bit.

When do you add dairy?

Ingredients such as cream, crème fraîche, yogurt and some cheeses can hold up less well during prolonged cooking.

Therefore, in many recipes it is better to add dairy toward the end.

For a creamy curry, for example, you can first cook the chicken, vegetables, herbs and sauce and add the creamy component later.

Slow cooker meal prep: cook once, multiple meals

The combination of slow cooker and meal prep is perhaps one of the biggest advantages of this way of cooking.

A large pot of curry, pulled chicken or bean stew yields multiple portions without much extra work. Divide the dish into storage containers after cooking and combine it over the coming days, for example, with rice, potatoes, wraps or vegetables.

That way you can make different meals from one base dish.

A few ideas:

• chicken curry with rice;
• pulled chicken in a wrap;
• bean stew with roasted potato;
• braised beef with mashed potatoes;
• slow cooker chicken with vegetables as a lunch bowl.

This makes meal prep less about eating the exact same dish for days and more about preparing a flavorful base you can vary.

Slow cooker recipes for autumn and winter

From the moment the days get shorter, slow cooker recipes naturally fit well into the weekly menu.

Think of pumpkin, mushrooms, potato, leek, beans, winter carrot and slowly cooked meat. Ingredients that not only fit the season but also pair excellently with warm spices like cinnamon, cumin, cloves, nutmeg, thyme and rosemary.

A slow cooker certainly does not have to mean every dish is heavy. A vegetable-rich curry, a bean stew or a vegetable soup also work well.

Tips for tasty slow cooker recipes

Cut ingredients to roughly the same size so they cook evenly.

Place sturdy vegetables like potato and carrot lower in the pot, where they will be in better contact with heat and moisture.

Open the lid as little as possible during cooking. Every time you open the slow cooker, heat is lost.

Add delicate ingredients later. Think of fresh herbs, some dairy products and ingredients that only need a short cooking time.

And perhaps the most important tip: taste before serving. Slow cooking brings flavors together, but a dish can sometimes still need a bit of pepper, seasoning, acidity or brightness at the end.

Discover our slow cooker recipes

Over the coming months we will continue to expand this page with easy slow cooker recipes for weekdays, meal prep and cold days.

Soon you will find among other things here:

Slow cooker chicken curry with Hurry Curry
Creamy chicken with vegetables and a full curry flavor.

Slow cooker braised beef with Beef BBQ Chief
Slow-cooked beef with a spiced, lightly smoky flavor.

Slow cooker bean stew
A vegetarian one-pot dish with beans and vegetables.

Slow cooker pulled chicken
Tender chicken you can use in wraps, bowls or on bread.

Slow cooker potato and leek soup
An easy meal soup for cold days.

Feel free to bookmark this page: as soon as new recipes go live, we will add them here.

Frequently asked questions about slow cooker recipes

1. What can you make in a slow cooker?
From braised beef and chicken to curry, chili, soup, bean stew and pulled chicken. Especially dishes that can cook slowly are suitable.

2. Can you put raw chicken directly in the slow cooker?
In many slow cooker recipes you can, as long as you follow a suitable recipe and the chicken is cooked through. Always follow the instructions of your slow cooker and the recipe.

3. Does everything need to be submerged in liquid in the slow cooker?
No. Little moisture evaporates from a slow cooker and ingredients also release moisture. Often you actually need less liquid than when cooking on the stove.

4. Is a slow cooker useful for meal prep?
Yes. You can easily prepare multiple portions at once and many dishes are suitable to reheat later or freeze.

5. When do you add herbs to a slow cooker?
Dried herbs and spices can usually be added from the start. Fresh delicate herbs are often better added just before serving.