7-Day Slow Cooker Meal Plan for Batch Cooking

Sunday – Slow Cooker Roast & Meal Prep Day

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Recipe: Slow Cooker Roast Chicken (Perfect for multiple meals- Recipe below).

• Serve with roast potatoes and veg.

• Save leftovers for: sandwiches, wraps, or soups later in the week.

Monday – Family Favourite: Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

🍝 Recipes- Classic Ragu or Sausage Ragu

• Make a large batch and freeze portions.

• Leftovers idea: Turn into chilli con carne by adding beans and spices!

Tuesday – Easy Midweek Meal: Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

🍛 Recipe: Chip Shop Chicken Curry

• Serve with rice and naan.

• Leftovers idea: Use in wraps or add to jacket potatoes.

Wednesday – Midweek Comfort: Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole

🥘 Recipe: Hearty Sausage & Bean Casserole (Recipe below).

• Serve with mashed potatoes or crusty bread.

• Leftovers idea: Blend into a soup or serve over pasta.

Thursday – Versatile Base: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

🍖 Recipe: Pulled Pork

• Serve in buns with coleslaw.

• Leftovers idea: Make tacos or mix into pasta bakes.

Friday – Fakeaway Night: Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Pork

🍍 Recipe: Easy Sweet & Sour Pork

• Serve with rice or noodles.

• Leftovers idea: Stir into a stir-fry with extra veg.

Saturday – Budget-Friendly, Nutritious & Filling: Chicken & Sweet Potato Dahl

🥕 Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken & Sweet Potato Dahl

• Serve with bread or dumplings.

• Leftovers idea: Blend into soup or serve over jacket potatoes.

Master Slow Cooking: Easy Tips for Flavourful, Foolproof Meals

Slow cooking isn’t just about tossing ingredients in and waiting—it’s about unlocking deep flavours with minimal effort. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, these simple tips will take your slow cooker meals to the next level.

🔥 Layer Ingredients Correctly – Place dense veggies like carrots and potatoes at the bottom, as they take longer to cook than meats.

🍖 Sear Meat First – Browning meat before slow cooking locks in flavour and adds richness to your dish.

⏳ Don’t Overfill – For even cooking, fill your slow cooker no more than two-thirds full.

🚫 Keep the Lid Closed – Every time you lift the lid, heat escapes, adding extra cooking time.

🌿 Season Properly – Slow cooking can dull flavours, so season generously. Add delicate herbs and dairy at the end to keep them fresh.

💧 Avoid Watery Dishes – Slow cookers trap moisture, so use less liquid than you would for stovetop recipes. If your dish is too thin, remove the lid for the last 30 minutes to thicken.

🧽 Easy Clean-Up – Slow cooker liners make tidying up effortless—just toss them after cooking!

Slow cooking is about patience and balance. Follow these tips, and you’ll create tender, flavour-packed meals every time! 🍲

How to Bulk Cook Efficiently:

✅ Double up recipes – Cook larger portions and freeze extras for later.
✅ Use versatile bases – Make a big batch of shredded chicken, minced beef, or veggie stew to repurpose into multiple meals.
✅ Plan ‘cook once, eat twice’ meals – A slow-cooked roast can become wraps, stews, or pasta dishes throughout the week.
✅ Freeze in portions – Store meals in family-sized or single-serve portions for easy reheating.

Converting Oven Cooking Times to Slow Cooker Times

Slow cookers operate at much lower temperatures than conventional ovens, so meals take longer to cook. A good rule of thumb is:

• High setting (130°C-150°C) → Cooks twice as fast as the low setting

• Low setting (80°C-100°C) → Best for longer, slow-cooked dishes

Here’s a handy conversion guide:

Extra Tips for Converting Recipes:

✅ Reduce the liquid – Slow cookers retain moisture, so you often need about half the liquid compared to oven recipes.
✅ Browning adds flavour – If a recipe calls for browning meat or sautéing veg first, it’s worth doing for richer flavours.
✅ Use the right lid technique – If your dish is too watery, remove the lid for the last 30-60 minutes to thicken the sauce.

Slow Cooker Roast Chicken

📝 Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken (1.5–2kg)

• 1 onion, quartered

• 2 carrots, chopped

• 3 garlic cloves, crushed

• 1 tsp salt & pepper

• 1 tsp paprika (optional)

• 1 tsp dried thyme

• 150ml chicken stock

Method:

1. Place onions, carrots, and garlic in the slow cooker.

2. Pat the chicken dry, season with salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme.

3. Place chicken on top of the veg, breast-side up. Pour in the stock.

4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours, until tender.

5. For crispy skin, transfer to a hot oven (220°C) for 10-15 minutes.

6. Serve with roast potatoes and veg. Use leftovers for meals throughout the week!

Slow Cooker Sausage & Bean Casserole

📝 Ingredients:

• 8 sausages (pork or veggie)

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 carrots, sliced

• 1 red pepper, chopped

• 1 tin chopped tomatoes (400g)

• 1 tin mixed beans (400g), drained

• 300ml chicken or veg stock

• 1 tbsp tomato purée

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tsp dried thyme

• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• Salt & pepper to taste

Method:

1. Brown sausages in a pan for extra flavour (optional), then transfer to the slow cooker.

2. Add onions, garlic, carrots, and red pepper.

3. Stir in tomatoes, beans, stock, tomato purée, paprika, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, salt & pepper.

4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours until thick and rich.

5. Serve with mashed potatoes or crusty bread. Leftovers? Blend into a soup or spoon over pasta! 🍽️

Slow Cookers

With so many slow cookers on the market, finding the right one can be tricky. To make things easier, I’ve handpicked some top-rated options that are perfect for creating delicious, hassle-free meals! Click the price to be taken to the slow cooker.

• A good small slow cooker: Morphy Richards 3.5L Sear & Stew Slow Cooker, £29 (Was £44.99, currently on offer)

• A good budget slow cooker: Hamilton Beach 1.8L Slow Cooker, Removable Easy-Clean Ceramic Bowl, 3 Settings, Serves 1-2 People, Energy-Efficient £19.99

• A good slow cooker with timer: Crockpot TimeSelect Digital Slow Cooker | Programmable Digital Display | 5.6 L (7+ People) , £60.00 (Was £79.49, currently on offer)

• A good multi function slow cooker: Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Multi Cooker, 6L with 9 Cooking Functions, Pressure Cook, Air Fry, Slow Cook, Grill and more £138.00 (Was £229.99, currently on offer)

• A good slow cooker for batch cooking: Morphy Richards 461014 Sear & Stew 6.5 Litre Aluminium Slow Cooker £45.95 (Was £54.99, currently on offer)

• A good no-nonsense slow cooker: Russell Hobbs 3.5L Stainless Steel Electric Slow Cooker £25.95 (Was £37.99, currently on offer)

• A good slow cooker for gifting: Laura Ashley China Rose Slow Cookers 3.5 Litres. Large Capacity Slow Cooker for 4 to 5 People. £59.99

Click here to see the Slow Cooker Recipes section of the website

Our Affordable eBook £2.99

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Inside, you’ll find:
✔️ An introduction to slow cooking – how it works and why it’s a game-changer
✔️ Expert advice on choosing the right slow cooker, must-have tools, and essential tips for success
✔️ 14 delicious slow cooker recipes, including 3 brand-new breakfast & brunch ideas, 10 tried and tested hearty mains, and 4 brand new indulgent desserts

Whether you're new to slow cooking or looking to refine your skills, this eBook is packed with value. It also makes a thoughtful gift for any food lover!

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Front Cover