Our 10 Best Simple & Easy Family Slow Cooker Recipes
Slow cookers are an excellent way to make delicious meals for all the family with minimal effort – making them perfect for shaking up your weekly meal plans!
From slow-cooked soups to stews and even chillies, Mexican-style dishes lend themselves well to this cooking method and the possibilities are endless. To help, we’ve put together ten of our best simple and easy slow cooker recipes for families that are sure to make your weeknight dinners a breeze, dive in to learn more.
What is a slow cooker?
A slow cooker is a handy countertop appliance with a removable, often ceramic, dish and lid. Once the cooker is switched on, it gently heats ingredients inside and can be left on for long periods of time, anywhere between two to 12 hours on average. They also use less electricity than a conventional oven.
How to use a slow cooker
One of the best things about a slow cooker is how easy it is to use. All you need to do is pop all of your ingredients in, put on the lid, set the temperature, and leave it to get to work. Most have only two heat settings – low or high – and some may have a ‘keep warm’ function to keep food warm until it’s ready to be eaten. This is part of what makes slow cookers a great solution for families, as these features make preparing large meals ahead of time a breeze.
Easy Slow Cooker Recipes For Families
With these easy slow cooker recipes for families, you’re sure to have plenty of options to serve up at the dinner table! Get ready to discover new favourites that are both full on flavour and simple to prepare.
1. Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
This hearty low-cost soup is full of warming Mexican flavour and makes a great filling lunch or dinner!
Recipe Name
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla SoupTotal Time
2 hours and 50 minutesSpice Level
MildServings
6Ingredients
- 600g chicken thigh fillets
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 red pepper, deseeded and diced
- 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 x 400g tin Old El Paso™ Black Beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tablespoon mild chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 750ml chicken stock (made with 1 stock cube)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 x 185g bag Old El Paso™ Original Tortilla Nachips™
- 1 tablespoon freshly chopped coriander, to garnish
Preparation
- Mix the chicken, onion, garlic, pepper, tomatoes, beans, spices and stock in the base of a slow cooker pot (see Tips).
- Cover and cook on High setting for 2 1/2 hours or until the chicken is very tender and will shred easily.
- Remove the chicken from the pot with a slotted spoon and place on a chopping board. Roughly shred using two forks. Return to the pot with the lime juice and stir well. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Roughly break up a few of the tortilla chips (about 40g). Ladle the soup into bowls, top with the broken tortilla chips and garnish with the coriander. Serve with the rest of the tortilla chips on the side.
Expert Tips
- You will need a large slow cooker with a 5 litre capacity for this recipe. Cooking times may vary so check the appliance manual for guidance.
- Use a sharp knife to trim off any excess fat from the chicken thigh fillets before adding to the slow cooker pot.
Made With...
2. Pork Burrito Bowl Recipe
3. Roasted Pork, Avocado and Salsa Verde Burritos
4. Slow Cooker Barbecued Pulled Pork Fajitas
5. Slow Cooker Beef and Bean Chilli
6. Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos
7. Simple Salsa Chilli & Chicken
8. Enchilada Soup
9. Slow Cooker Chilli Meatballs in Tortilla Boats
10. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Nachos
Top slow cooker tips
Adapt your favourite
recipes
If you’re using a favourite recipe and converting it for your slow cooker, cut the liquid content by a third. The tight lid of the cooker means all the moisture stays inside so less water is needed.
Know where to place
your ingredients
The bottom of your slow cooker is the hottest part, so that’s where to place tough cuts of meat or root vegetables. More delicate ingredients can be placed on top.
Browning is optional
If you’re cooking a cut of meat or vegetables that taste good with a sear, you can brown them beforehand in a frying pan or cast-iron pan. It does change the flavour, but it isn’t necessary.
Fill it just right
For your slow cooker to work at its best, be sure to aim for somewhere between a half and three quarters full. If it’s over or underfilled, your food may not cook as evenly as it could.
Speed up the cooking
process
When you need your slow cooker dish to be ready for the plate a little faster, you can generally halve the recipe time by turning the heat from low to high. It can impact the flavour a little but is very handy when you’re in a hurry.
Leave the lid
alone
It can be tempting to lift the lid and take a look at your dish but every time you do, you’ll let out the heat. It takes slow cookers a long time to get up to temperature, so leave the lid alone.
Food safety when slow cooking
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re using a slow cooker to ensure everything is cooked safely.
Don’t chill your dish
If you’re prepping ingredients ahead of time, don’t be tempted to refrigerate them in the slow cooker’s own dish. The dish will take too long to heat up in your cooker.
Thaw frozen meat before cooking
The low and slow style of cooking means it is better to wait until a meat has been thawed before popping it in your slow cooker.
Refrigerate or freeze within two hours
Once your food is cooked, it’s recommended to make sure it’s refrigerated or frozen within two hours.