Set it, forget it – and eat well. These slow-cooker recipes are proof that low-effort cooking doesn’t mean sacrificing flavour. Whether you're craving sticky pulled pork, warming vegetarian dahl or a fall-apart brisket with tangy tamarind, these dishes are built for busy days, lazy weekends, and everything in between. Minimal prep, maximum payoff.
When time’s on your side, this five-ingredient ragu delivers. A short prep and a long cook bring beef, tomatoes and garlic into deep, savoury harmony. Just set it and let the slow cooker work its magic – all that’s left is to roast a tray of veg and dig in.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
Cooking traditionally means earth, fire, smoke and patience. This slow-cooker version reimagines the underground oven with home tools – steam, foil and a smoky finish – for that same slow-built flavour.
Credit: Adam Liaw
Turn your next gathering into a flavour fiesta with these sliders: tender, lemongrass–garlic pork spooned onto soft buns, brightened with crisp cabbage slaw. The contrast of juicy meat and fresh crunch brings everyone back for more.
Vietnamese pulled pork sliders with Asian slaw Credit: Petrina Tinslay
Red lentils simmer with turmeric, garlic and chilli into a gently spiced, velvety dahl. Fresh parsley and scoop of yoghurt to serve brightens it – perfect with rice, naan or roasted veggies.
Basic dahl Credit: Tammi Kwok
Think of these shanks as your new Sunday ritual: aromatic Kashmiri spices and creamy tomato-yoghurt sauce coax lamb into fork-tender bliss. Let it simmer low, then serve with rice or naan and soak up all that fragrant gravy.
Think buffalo wings, deconstructed: tender chicken draped in spiced hot sauce, tucked into tortillas and capped with crunchy slaw. A crowd-pleaser for entertaining.
Pulled buffalo chicken tacos. Credit: Mary Makes It Easy / Geoff George
Braising beef cheeks in red wine and herbs melts them into decadent bites that beg for mash or polenta. Dinner prep is slow, but the payoff is soulful – rich sauce, tender meat, and leftovers that taste even bolder tomorrow.
Beef cheek in red wine sauce Credit: Kitti Gould
No smoker? No problem. This pulled pork simmers until it shreds, then shrouds itself in a tangy BBQ glaze and stacks onto buns topped with red onion slaw. It’s the kind of burger that earns backyard legend status.
BBQ pulled pork burger Credit: Kitti Gould
A smoky rub, a rich sauce, and a low-and-slow cook turn humble brisket into the star of this levelled-up toastie. One sandwich, many elements – crispy, creamy, cheesy, meaty.
Brisket and classic coleslaw toastie Credit: Adam Liaw
Swap mayo for cauliflower cream in this pulled pork recipe – a silky, veggie-based sauce that tames the sweet-savory BBQ pork. It’s rich enough to satisfy but fresh enough to balance heavy flavours.
Credit: Marija Ivkovic
Tamarind’s tang meets gentle chilli warmth in a braise that turns humble brisket into melt‑in‑your-mouth layers of flavour. Slow cooking gives the cut time to soak up all that sour‑sweet sauce.
Beef brisket braised with tamarind and chilli sauce Credit: Alan Benson
