31 slow-cooked recipes to set and forget

If there’s one upside to cold weekends inside, it’s the extra time you can commit to slow-cooker recipes. Braised chickpeas, simmering soups, eight-hour lamb: there’s never been a better time to cook things on the low and slow side.

From slow-cooker chicken thighs to pot roasts and pasta, a slow-cooked meal is the ultimate crowd-pleaser comfort food. Weeknight dinner has never been easier than with slow-cooker dishes. Set and forget your pot on a lazy weekend, and reap the rewards of hearty meals that the whole family will enjoy for the days to come.

Braised pumpkin and lamb neck

Braised pumpkin and lamb neck

Slow-cooked spiced lamb with prunes

Slow-cooked spiced lamb with prunes

Beef rendang

Beef rendang

Lamb ragù pappardelle with butternut pumpkin

Lamb ragù pappardelle with butternut pumpkin

Sunda’s masterstock-poached chicken with ginger and spring onion relish

Sunda’s masterstock-poached chicken with ginger and spring onion relish

Tony Tan’s braised pork belly with soy sauce

Tony Tan’s braised pork belly with soy sauce

Ham and cannellini bean soup

Ham and cannellini bean soup

French onion soup

French onion soup

Spice-roasted pork with coleslaw

Spice-roasted pork with coleslaw

Overhead shot of a last cast-iron pot of lamb and chickpea curry, studded with cinnamon quills and garnished with coriander. A bowl of yoghurt, and sliced lime cheeks, sit to the side. — Three-hour lamb and chickpea curry
(Credits: Chris Chen and Ben Dearnley)

Indian-spiced lamb and chickpea curry

Indian-spiced lamb and chickpea curry

Eight-hour lamb shoulder with pearl couscous and labne
(Credits: Ben Dearnley)

Eight-hour lamb shoulder with Israeli couscous and labne

Eight-hour lamb shoulder with Israeli couscous and labne

Tipo 00’s gnocchi with duck ragù and porcini mushrooms

Tipo 00’s gnocchi with duck ragù and porcini mushrooms

Egg and bacon congee

Egg and bacon congee

Rigatoni with ragù bianco by Don Peppino's — Rigatoni with ragù bianco by Don Peppino’s
(Credits: Alicia Taylor)

Rigatoni with rabbit ragù by Don Peppino’s

Rigatoni with rabbit ragù by Don Peppino’s

Four braised beef arancini. (Credits: Alicia Taylor)

Braised beef cheek arancini

Greek-style lamb shoulder and bean stew

Greek-style lamb shoulder and bean stew

Agostino’s braised beef shin with Barolo and bagna cauda (bresato al barolo, bagna cauda)

Agostino’s braised beef shin with Barolo and bagna cauda (bresato al barolo, bagna cauda)

Braised beef cheeks with creamed swede

Braised beef cheeks with creamed swede

Massi’s pappardelle with osso buco ragù

Massi’s pappardelle with osso buco ragù

Boeuf Bourguignon

Boeuf Bourguignon

Tony Tan’s braised beef brisket with chilli-oil sauce

Tony Tan’s braised beef brisket with chilli-oil sauce

Porchetta

Porchetta

Chilli con carne

Chilli con carne

Slow-roast duck with orange

Slow-roast duck with orange

Pappardelle with duck ragù

Pappardelle with duck ragù

Slow-cooked overnight pork shoulder (Credits: William Meppem)

Overnight pork shoulder with fennel

Overnight pork shoulder with fennel

Snapper, slow-braised beans, fennel and kataifi pies

Snapper, slow-braised beans, fennel and kataifi pies

Slow-braised chickpeas with cavolo nero

Slow-braised chickpeas with cavolo nero

Coq au vin

Coq au vin

Greg Malouf’s baharat lamb shoulder with onions and moghrabieh

Greg Malouf’s baharat lamb shoulder with onions and moghrabieh

Du Fermier’s daube of beef with root vegetables

Du Fermier’s daube of beef with root vegetables

The Gourmet Traveller Team

Gourmet Traveller is Australia’s trusted authority on food, travel and luxury lifestyle, bringing the latest news and trends to life through quality journalism, enticing recipes and evocative photography. For more than 55 years, it has been inspiring and informing Australians with the best in cooking, dining, travelling and shopping. Our critics bring the expertise of years of critical eating, drinking and writing to the table. Plus, as the country’s leading title in the luxury sector, Gourmet Traveller works closely with Australia’s leaders in the travel and hospitality industries to give our readers exclusive access. The Gourmet Traveller legacy is one of trust, prestige and relevance.