Yours has found the best slow cooker recipe books to help out your busy lifestyle. After all, some of us aren’t big fans of slaving over a hot stove, so having a slow cooker can completely revolutionise the way you cook and give you more time to do the things you want to be doing. Yes, we're talking about batch cooking. It's so useful.
Don't forget to put your new book on a recipe book holder so you can easily follow your recipe. Let's face it, when it's been a long, busy day, many of us don't always feel like cooking come dinner time. And, something complicated? No, thank you. So, slower cookers (and these recipe books) are made to help us out - and make our lives easier.
Best slow cooker recipe books at a glance
• Best overall: The Slow Cook Book: Over 200 Oven and Slow Cooker Recipes - View Offer on Amazon UK
• Best for budget: BBC Good Food: Ultimate Slow Cooker Recipes - View Offer on Amazon UK
• Best for veggies: Slow Cooker Vegetarian: Healthy and Wholesome - View Offer on Amazon UK
Imagine walking into the kitchen and being met with the comforting smell of a stew or even coming downstairs in the morning to an already-warm breakfast of porridge. A slow cooker won’t set you back a fortune – starting at around £20. That’s a small price to pay for your cook! But once you’ve got your slow cooker, what are you going to do with it? We’ve rounded up 10 of the best slow cooker recipe books… Now - onto the slow cooker recipes.
Best slow cooker recipe books
Best overall slow cooker recipe book
The Slow Cook Book: Over 200 Oven and Slow Cooker Recipes by Heather Whinney is the ideal companion for the thrifty cook including many recipes that transform cheap cuts of meat into delicious dinners. Set it and forget it.
Customer review: "What a lovely book. I bought as a gift for a friend for use with a slow cooker this however, had alternative methods of cooking so it’s an added bonus. I liked the book so much I didn’t want to give it away so will probably buy another for myself."
Pros
- Features new and traditional recipes
- Techniques for slow cooker and oven
Cons
- Some customers were expecting a little less prep from the recipes
Best slow cooker recipe book for thrifty recipes
Those who like to shake it up in the kitchen will love Slow Cooked: 200 exciting, new recipes for your slow cooker from Miss South with its curries and imaginative desserts including white bread with tangy lemon curd.
Customer review: "An extensive range of recipes, some with a few ingredients, some with many, but the essential message is that you can throw everything into a pot and leave it to transform into a meal. I've always loved my slow cooker and I've used a couple of dedicated books but this one does such basics as how much liquid (little or none can be best) and using herbs and spices (little or none is bad). It's also pretty intuitive, the recipes are capable of personal adaptations, but there are so many to try you may never feel inventive."
Pros
- Easier, cheaper, healthier and greener way to cook
- Delicious, inventive and budget-conscious recipes
Cons
- Lacks imagery and visual instructions
Best slow cooker recipe book for budget
Have BBC Good Food: Ultimate Slow Cooker Recipes in your collection and you'll never be turning your slow cooker off! The Good Food Kitchen has produced hundreds of brilliant recipes over the years, and this collection gathers 150 of the very best. We'll be the judge of that...
Customer review: "Never had a slow cooker, but purchased an Instant Pot so needed recipe books to show me the way, this one is brilliant! Once I got the hang of it the recipes I have used delivered delicious meals and have made a few batches for the freezer. Would definitely recommend this book for anyone with a slow cooker."
Pros
- Time-saving, low cost and reliably delicious recipes
- All recipes are short and simple with easy-to-follow steps
Cons
- Some have found page navigation to be a little tricky
Best slow cooker recipe book for gut health
Nurture your body and your soul with these slow cooker recipes from Jennifer Iserloah's Healing Slow Cooker: Lower Stress Improve Gut Health - that can help improve gut health and lower stress. If you're looking to add a little more wellness to your New Year's Resolutions, this could be a good start. Be kind to yourself and your gut.
Customer review: "If you have a slow cooker, and enjoy wonderful recipes that are as tasty as they are nourishing - this book is for you. This book is for the home chef who wants to eat foods that are beneficial to health and mood. I love that the book has suggestions for the impact of different ingredients. Mainly - the recipes are simple and delicious. It's a pleasure to cook Jennifer's recipes."
Pros
- Recipes with specific superfoods and adaptogenic ingredients
- Each of the 6 chapters is divided into a healing moment
Cons
- Most of the recipes do contain nuts and seeds
Best slow cooker recipe books for foodies
Slow Cook Modern: 200 Recipes for the Way We Eat Today from Liana Krissoff is the slow cooker book for foodies who love to tickle their taste buds with exciting new recipes. Sophisticated, full of spice and for all tastebuds.
Customer review: "This book is loaded with unusual and yummy original recipes that are far ahead of the standard soup, stew, pot roasts, etc. So glad I ordered it and got it for friends. Why stay in the Crockpot, slow cooker recipe rut when you can create gourmet dishes that will be sumptuous and unexpected?"
Pros
- Recipes that are sophisticated with fresh ingredients
- All the slow cooker recipes are true 8-hour dishes
Cons
- Some readers found it tricky to get hold of the ingredients
Best slow cooker recipe book for families
Easy-to-make meals that the whole family will love from the well-loved TV chef Dean Edwards, Cook Slow: 90 simple, chilled out, stress-free recipes will make you fall back in love with food again. All with conventional oven options, too.
Customer review: "Slow cookers are safe to use -you can be out or getting on with other things. Trouble has been, the recipes are rather limited to the traditional. This book not only offers a modern take on slow cooking but also gives the traditional option if you prefer."
Pros
- Each recipe comes with conventional oven options
- Enjoy family favourites with planned meals for busy lives
Cons
- May not suit veggies or those on a budget
Recommended for young families
Slow Cooker Family Classics: Quick and Easy Recipes the Whole Family Will Love has been written by a nutritionist you can be sure these dishes are both hearty and healthy. Even the fussiest members of your family will be happy with these meals. These recipes will fit around your busy lifestyle.
Customer review: "I’m really not one for recipe books, but being new to slow cooking, I felt I needed something to get started. This book really is fantastic. Some useful information at the beginning to get you started, then everyday recipes that really would suit a family - something for everyone. I have already tried several of the recipes and they are lovely and I particularly love that there is a small Christmas section in the book that I will definitely be trying out this year! I highly recommend this book, I’m so glad I went for this one after looking at the many books available."
Pros
- The illustrated book contains 100 delicious recipes
- Comes with a good selection of veggie and vegan ones
Cons
- None we can think of!
Best slow cooker recipe book for vegans
Slow cookers aren't just for meat-eaters, vegans will devour these plant-based meals in minutes. The Super Easy Vegan Slow Cooker Cookbook will help you make healthy, plant-based meals that are flavorful, inexpensive, and convenient. Fuss-free, nutritious and tasty. What's not love?
**Customer review "**Exactly what I wanted. Simple, delicious and easy-to-follow one-pot recipes. My only criticism is that it could do with a few more photos, but I would definitely recommend this book!"
Pros
- Features more than 100 simple, inexpensive slow cooker recipes
- Comes with nutrition info, cooking tips and leftover suggestions
Cons
- Could do with more photos
Best slow cooker recipe book for versatility
Ever wondered what to do with all those tins and packets of pulses and lentils? There's plenty of inspiration here in Slow Cooker Heaven: Over 100 of the Best-Ever Recipes. These simple recipes will help you cut down your shopping bill too. There aren't just stews, but you can tackle tempting treats, such as puddings and cakes.
Customer review: "Love this practical Slow Cooker Heaven cookbook and recently saw it at same price in the book shop at National Trust Knole House, Kent. I cooked the beef hotpot today and it was delicious and the tip of covering the sliced potatoes on top with baking paper (to push them down into and keep them immersed in the gravy) worked really well. Great recipes but also a good education into the works of slow cooking even though I have owned various slow cookers since 1982!"
Pros
- Recipes are ideal for people with all kinds of lifestyles
- Quick to prepare, easy steps and cheaper ingredients
Cons
- May not suit all
Best slow cooker recipe book for veggies
We love the sound of the Sri Lankan butternut pumpkin and cauliflower curry but there are even more delicious recipes inside Slow Cooker Vegetarian: Healthy and wholesome, comforting and convenient. Whether you're vegetarian or simply looking for ideas for a few meat-free Mondays, this book is a great pick.
Customer reviews: "A must for all vegetarians. Great picture and easy-to-follow recipes."
Pros
- Great pictures and easy-to-follow recipes
- Hearty recipes - not just for veggies
Cons
- One customer says it is not diabetic-friendly
FAQs
What do I need to consider?
When selecting a slow cooker recipe book, consider the following:
Recipe variation - should be at the top of your list, with options for veggies and vegans, as well as different cuisines and meal types.
Clear instructions - are the best for slow cooking, which needs to include prep time and cooking duration. Not forgetting the steps in between to get the flavours top-notch.
Ingredient availability - should be considered. After all, accessible ingredients ensure the meal can be made. You don't want to venture far out to get somehing obscure. Stick with stuff you can find locally or online.
Nutritional information - can be helpful for those tracking their dietary intake.
Tips and tricks - or suggestions for ingredient substitutions can enhance cooking techniques. Remember: you can adapt recipes to personal preferences. Don't feel obliged to follow anything to the letter.
Photos - can inspire and help visualise the final dish. So, make sure to look for recipe books with vibrant, appetising photos, such as these fabulous vegan recipe books.
What shouldn't I put in a slow cooker?
Surprisingly, certain items aren't suitable for your slow cooker. Avoid lean meats, raw meat without browning, excess liquid, delicate veggies, excessive spice, dairy, high alcohol content, meat with skin, fresh herbs, seafood, pasta, or rice for a satisfying meal. We're sure the recipe books will give you all the need-to-know information before you cook.
Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Yours, an all-rounder who will write on anything from décor to wellness. When not scouring the net for the best home bargains, Piper is listening to a musical soundtrack and tending to her houseplants.