These are easy slow cooker recipes
Slow cookers are great for making cheap and easy meals and require very little effort on the cooking front. The below slow cooker family meals are perfect if you need to keep your family food shop down.
Using a family slow cooker are perfect if you’re a busy family. You can make all the meals in the morning then come home to a gorgeous dinner already made.
When looking for recipe ideas for your slow cooker, try and avoid those that need loads of preparation or checking on, as the best part of owning a slow cooker is being able to chuck everything in and then leaving it.
If you’re worried about leftovers then why not try food pooling? It’s like a massive meal swap. You can team up with as many families as you like (we do it on and off with three other families) and only cook meals once, just in bulk!
Having a supper club set up means that you don’t have to worry about meal planning throughout the working week but your family still gets to eat a home-cooked meal. It’s great if you’re worried about how leftovers that you just aren’t going to use. Read more about food pooling here and about how it could save you money.
If you are looking for more slow cooker recipes then have a look at:
49 Aldi Slow Cooker Recipes For The Whole Family – Aldi are not only cheap but also offer a great range of fruit, vegetables and meats at a low price. Use our post here to make someone amazing for dinner tonight.
7 Gammon Slow Cooker Recipes That Are Budget Friendly – We love gammon and it tastes even better when its been cooked in the slow cooker.
Really Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry Recipes That Are Budget Friendly – These are the best chicken curry recipes that can be cooked in the slow cooker.
7 Slow Cooker Pork Recipes Under £1 a Head – Pork is such a great meat and even better in the slow cooker.
Money saving printables
If you are looking for more ways to save money then come join our free Resource Vault. It’s packed full of meal plans and shopping lists you can use over and over again!
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Slow cooker family meals
If you’re using a family-sized slow cooker then here are our 5 top tips to getting the most out of it. You can use your slow cooker to cook chicken, beef, gammon etc. You name it you can cook it in a slow cooker. We use a slow cooker like this but any with a temperature gauge is good.
1. Slow cooker chicken: Chicken thighs are the best for a slow cooker. Slow cookers tend to overcook meat but a thigh is a perfect cut with a small amount of liquid to keep it moist.
2. Voltage matters: If your food is sticking to the bottom of the pan even on low heat it could mean you’re getting a higher voltage through your slow cooker then you should.
3. You may want to pre-cook your meat or onion first, but there really is no need if you don’t have the time.
4. Dried spices work: Don’t worry about buying expensive fresh spice. The dried ones from your kitchen staples work perfectly.
5. The cheapest cuts of meats and frozen vegetables work!
If your family are vegan or vegetarian then there are still loads of ways that you can save.
It’s not easy to ensure your whole family are getting the right nutrients, especially if someone in your family has a dairy intolerance.
Doing a vegan or vegetarian grocery list on a budget is almost impossible, with many household food bills coming in at over £100 a week!
Read our easy vegan meal plan for beginners here or our vegetarian meal plan here. None of these are set in stone, and can be changed up depending on what your family like to eat.
71 Budget Vegan Slimming World Recipes for the Whole Family
75 Slimming World Vegetarian Recipes That The Whole Family Will Enjoy
Slow cooker family meals on a budget
There are loads of slow cooker recipes for kids out there, but the best ones are made from cheaper cuts of meats with vegetables to bulk them out. Trust me, no one will be any the wiser. If you do want quality meat that’s cheaper than try Muscle Foods, who deliver fresh meat direct to your door.
Cooking the dishes on low works well and really helps bring out the flavors.
Slow cookers are designed to be left alone. Every time you open that lid it releases heat and may mean you have to cook for longer.
Prices are average and are calculated using Asda as a guideline. I’m assuming that you have the basic kitchen staples. Our full list of kitchen staples can be found here. It’s always worth keeping them stocked up if you can. Alternative ingredients can be used without compromising recipe. Based on four people.
If you are looking for more £1 family meals on a budget then have a look at:
The Ultimate £1 Per Head Budget Meal Planning List – This has a huge list of £1 a head family meals that will help you bring the cost of your food shop down. All are easy to make and taste great as leftovers too.
Feeding a Family on a Budget: This Weekly Shop is Just £18 – This is a £18 a week shop when you really need to cut down on your spending. There’s no thrills here but good food that could help you save a few pounds when you really need it.
One Month of Family Meal Ideas on a Budget – This post gives you a month of budget meals that could save you money. This takes the thinking out of meal planning and means that you can shop for less.
Slow cooker recipes for families
These slow cooker family recipes are really easy to make and can even be made the night before by freezing all the ingredients in a freezer bag.
Having a bank of crock pot or slow cooking recipes to hand stops you from having to think about what you’re going to cook.
Take the guesswork away and cook your family a healthy delicious meal within a few hours using one of the below recipes that you can chuck in and leave.
These recipes are all mega easy and include meals like chicken curry and beef stew.
If you shop at Aldi or another budget supermarkets, then check out our One Month of Aldi Slow Cooker Recipes here.
Slow Cooker Soup recipes
Soups make a great lunch or dinner meal and is really easy to make for the whole family.
Sweet Potato & Carrot Soup
This sweet potato and carrot soup recipe can be made in a pan or in the slow cooker. We make this Sweet Potato and Carrot soup recipe here.
500g chopped and cubed sweet potatoes 57p
300g chopped and cubed carrots 20p
3 tbsp olive oil 2p
2 onions 20p
2 garlic cloves 5p
1L vegetable stock 5p
100ml crème fraiche 36p
1 pinch chilli flakes 2p
Total: £1.47 which is just 36p per head.
Slow Cooker Chicken Soup
This is a really easy soup recipe that you can throw into your slow cooker in the morning and have ready by the time you get home.
100g onion 25p,
2 celery sticks 10p
2 carrots 10p
2 leeks 15p
300g chicken breasts £1.25
2l chicken stock 8p
1 tbsp lemon 5p
Total: £1.93 that’s 48p per person.
Carrot & lentil soup
This is great slow cooker soup recipe that can be made in the morning and ready for when you get home. 2 tsp cumin seeds 5p
1 pinch chilli flakes 5p
2 tbsp olive oil 8p
600g carrots 55p
140g split red lentils 28p
1l hot vegetable stock 5p
125ml milk 85p
Total: £1.91 that’s 47p for four people.
Slow cooker beef recipes
Beef makes a great dinner choice when you need to bulk up a meal. Many of these can be made for leftovers as well.
Chilli Con Carne
This kid-friendly beef mince chili is an easy family meal. Just pop all the ingredients into the slow cooker together and your job is done. Leftovers taste even better the next day too.
Our Chilli Con Carne recipe comes in at under £1 a head.
1 tbsp. oil 5p,
onion 22p
2 garlic cloves 60p
450g mince £1.50
tsp cumin 9p
tsp paprika 9p
tsp oregano 9p
tsp chilli flakes 9p
stock 6p
tomato paste 17p
400g kidney beans 30p
400g tinned tomatoes 34p
Total: £3.60 that’s 90p a head.
Cottage Pie
This is a classic cottage pie recipe! Just chuck it all in and grill at the end.
Tin of New Potatoes (550g) 32p,
Beef mince (500g) £2,
Onion 22p,
carrots x2 9p,
Mushrooms 68p,
Everyday Value soft cheese (200g) 49p,
Total: £3.89 that’s 97p for four people.
Beef & vegetable casserole
This is a lovely winter recipe that can be cooked all at once in the slow cooker. We cook ours on low for 8 hours.
2 celery sticks 10p
100g frozen onion 25p
400g tin carrots 25p
5 bay leaves 5p
1 tbsp vegetable oil 5p
1 tbsp butter 8p
2 tbsp plain flour 5p
2 tbsp tomato purée 10p
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 10p
2 beef stock cubes 5p
200g beef steak £2
Total: £3.08 that’s 77p for four people
Pork Slow Cooker meals
Pork can be a cheap meat and works great in the slow cooker. You can even cook full joints of gammon in them.
Slow Cooked Ribs
Despite their restaurant prices, spare ribs are actually one of the cheapest meat you can buy. This uses barbecue sauce and cooks them slow for tenderness.
1kg Pork ribs £2
350g Barbecue Sauce £1
2 stock cubes 4p
2 bay leaves 2p
1 tsp coriander seeds 2p
1 tsp mustard seed 2p
1 tsp peppercorn 2p
Total: £3.12 that’s 78p a head.
Beans with Potato Wedges
You can make this budget-friendly bean with potato wedges recipe even cheaper by leaving the meat out. My kids love this for breakfast and I love the fact it can be frozen too.
3 tsp Oil 15p
100g frozen onion 22p
2 rashes of bacon 26p
1 tsp sugar 4p
400g chopped tomatoes 29p
200ml stock 4p
410g can of cannellini beans 60p
1 tbsp white flour 4p
1 tsp mild chilli powder 9p
1 tsp dried mixed herbs 9p
400g tin potatoes 42p
Total: £2.24 thats 56p a head.
Sausage Chilli
Using sausages instead of mince is a great way to have a great meal on a budget. you have this with potatoes or rice, and it makes a great mid-week quick meal for the whole family. It only takes about 5 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to cook.
8 JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Pork Sausages 96p,
200g frozen peppers 40p,
250g ASDA Scratch Cook Mediterranean Vegetables 62p,
1 garlic clove 5p,
1 tbsp dried coriander 5p,
1tsp chilli powder 2p,
1tsp ground cumin 2p,
400g tin tomatoes 32p,
2 tbsp sugar 10p,
5 tbsp plain yogurt 10p,
1tbsp dried chives 5p.
Total: £2.69 that’s 67p for four people.
Easy Sausage and Potato Casserole
This Sausage and potato casserole is so easy to make and really cheap to buy. A lot of these ingredients, including the sausages and puree, can go toward other meals too.
Onion 22p,
Tin of New Potatoes 32p,
Frozen Sliced Peppers (600g) £1,
Frozen Value pork sausages (20 pack) 99p,
Chopped Tomatoes 29p,
Puree (80g) 75p,
Total: £3.57 that’s 89p for four people.
Slow cooker sausage casserole
This sausage casserole recipe is great if you are looking for a filling meal for the whole family. We have it with pasta but you could easily have it with potatoes. We add everything in together and cook slowly for 6-8 hours. You may need to take the lid off if you find the sauce is a bit loose.
100g frozen onions 22p,
1 celery stick, 10p,
400g tin carrots 35p,
12 chipolatas £2.90
1 sweet potato 22p
400g tin tomatoes 28p
1 tbsp tomato purée 18p
1 beef stock cube 5p
Total: £3.98 that’s 99p for four people.
Irish Stew
We don’t eat a lot of meat due to its cost, but when we do, we look for the middle neck of the lamb. This budget stew does need to be cooked on low to make sure its soft to eat but is tender after a day of cooking. This dish can be bulked out with potatoes, and the cooking liquor is optional.
1 tbsp oil 5p,
100g bacon 56p,
400g lamb £1.50,
Frozen onion 22p,
400g tin carrots 18p,
400g tin potatoes 46p,
2 stock cubes 12p,
Leek 52p,
Total: £3.61 that’s 90p a head.
Slow Cooker Pasta
Pasta dishes are great filling meals for the whole family. Most of this can be cooked in the slow cooker but you may need to cook the pasta separately depending on the recipe below. They all come in at under £1 a head for four people.
Spaghetti Meatball Recipe
This Spaghetti Meatball recipe comes in at under £1 a head. It’s easy to cook and you can make it the night before if you don’t have time that day. Read how we make our Spaghetti Meatball recipe here.
500g minced meat £1.99
2 onion 16p
3 glove garlic 7p
1 egg 10p
1 tsp salt 2p
2 tsp low cal spray 10p
1 tin passata 32p
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 3p
Half tablespoon sugar 5p
Half tablespoon salt 3p
210g Spaghetti 8p
Total: £2.95 = 73p a head
Spaghetti Bolognese
This spaghetti bolognese recipe is so simple and the longer you leave it in the more intense the flavour.
The sauce can be left to cook all day, ready to be mixed with freshly-cooked pasta when you get home. Here’s how we cook our amazingly tasty Spaghetti Bolognese that comes in at under £1 a head.
1 onion chopped 22p
1 tbsp tomato puree 10p
2 tins chopped tomato 58p
1 tbsp caster sugar or to taste 4p
1 celery stick chopped 10p
250g minced beef 83p
1 carrot chopped 7p
2 cloves garlic chopped 4p
1 tsp oregano 2p
2 large mushrooms chopped 75p
1 beef stock cubes 6p
1 hand full Parmesan for sprinkling 20p.
Total: £3.01, that’s 75p a head.
Chipotle Pasta
This is a great vegan pasta recipe for the whole family. It makes a creamy vegan pasta sauce that has zero lumps as you blend it all together then heat it in the pan.
100g Almonds £1.40
50g Almond milk 10p
50g Chipotle pepper 30p
10g Garlic 5p
75g Water 5p
55g Tomato 25p
5g Lemon juice 2p
210g spaghetti 25p
Total: £2.42 that’s 60p for 4 people.
Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Cheesy pasta is a family favourite in my house. Try it in the slow cooker for an extra easy weeknight dinner.
200g macaroni pasta 13p
200g cheese £1
100g plain flour 10p
1 stock cube 6p
25g butter 3p
Total: £1.32 that’s 33p a head.
Bacon and Cheese Pasta
This bacon and cheese pasta is my little one’s favourite dinner. She’d eat this every night if we let her, and I have to say, at just £3.41 for the four of us, this is a bargain!
Mushrooms 22p
English medium Cheddar cheese £1.74
Smartprice unsmoked middle bacon £1.04
Smartprice Pasta 31p,
Onion 8p,
Garlic 24p,
Total: £3.41 that’s 85p for four people.
Vegan Mushroom Bolognese
Just like a meaty bolognese, this vegan one makes the best comfort food dish for a weekend. We use mushrooms to get that amazing flavour.
1 onion chopped 22p
1 tbsp tomato puree 9p
2 tins chopped tomato 58p
1 tbsp caster sugar or to taste 4p
1 celery stick chopped 10p
1 carrot chopped 7p
2 cloves garlic chopped 4p
1 tsp oregano 2p
2 large mushrooms chopped 75p
1 vegetable stock cubes 6p
210g spaghetti 25p
Total: £1.94 that’s 48p per person.
Roasted cauliflower with tomato & cashew sauce
This is an easy vegetarian dinner that is great for the whole family. It’s really quick to make and budget-friendly.
1 cauliflower £1.75
2 tsp nigella seeds 5p
2 tbsp vegetable oil 5p
3 tsp garam masala 5p
2 garlic cloves 4p
2cm piece ginger 5p
500g passata 32p
2 tbsp cashew nut butter 10p
50ml double cream 25p
Total: £2.66 that’s 66p
Vegetarian Chilli
4 of your 5 a day, this Vegetarian Chilli only takes about 30 minutes and can be bunged into a pan and left to its own devices. Itself of buying a bag of vegetables, I cut up my own and roast, and mix and match every time, depending on what we have left over in the fridge. I’ve thrown in ham, pineapple, frozen vegetables and even sweet potato. Anything goes!
Courgette, 30p,
Onion, 7p,
400g of Frozen Peppers, 60p,
3x Tomatoes, 34p,
Tin of Kidney Beans, 30p.
Total: £1.61 that’s 40p for four people.
Slow Cooker Chicken
Chicken is a great meat to cook in the slow cooker. it doesn’t need to be pre-cooked or fried before hand. Chuck it in with the vegetables and leave it on low for 8 – 9 hours. The chicken should be moist and ready to eat.
Slow Cooker Peach Chicken
This slow cooker recipe is great for those rush evenings. All of this can be prepped in the morning or the night before. Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker pot (apart from the rice) and cook on low for 8 – 10 hours. When you are ready to serve, cook the rice as per the packet instructions.
2 chicken breasts £1.20,
400g tin peaches 34p,
200g frozen peppers 40p,
1 red onion 28p,
2 tbsp brown sugar 5p,
4 tbsp soy sauce 7p,
1 tbsp ground ginger 5p,
250g rice 30p.
Total: £2.69 that’s 67p per person.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Casserole
This is a really easy slow cooker casserole that you can put all in together. It takes about 6 – 9 hours to cook on a low heat.
1 tbsp butter 28p
½ tbsp olive oil 5p
100g frozen onion 25p
1 ½ tbsp flour 5p
250g chicken breasts £1.20
3 garlic cloves 10p
400g tin baby new potatoes 28p
2 sticks celery 50p
400g tin carrots 28p
250g tin mushrooms 15p
500ml chicken stock cubes 5p
Total: £3.19 that’s 79p for four people.
Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur
This French chicken recipe is a great fakeaway meal for the whole family. It does need to cook for 8 hours in low so the chicken is tender. You can serve it with jacket potatoes or rice.
2 tbsp olive oil 5p
3 chicken breasts £1.20
100g frozen onion 28p
2 garlic cloves 5p
200g tin mushrooms 25p
200ml white wine £1.50
1 tbsp tomato purée 5p
200g chopped tomatoes 25p
400ml hot chicken stock 5p
Total: £3.63 that’s 90p for four people.
Peanut Chicken
This Peanut Chicken is really easy to make. It takes 10 minutes to make and can be put into the slow cooker and takes about 4 hours. Start by cutting the chicken into chucks and add it to the slow cooker. Then add the rest of the ingredients and set our slow cooker to medium. When you are ready to serve, cook the rice in a pan for about 20 minutes or until the rice is soft.
3 JUST ESSENTIALS by Asda chicken breasts £1.90,
100g frozen onions 19p,
2 garlic cloves 5p,
200g frozen mixed peppers 40p,
200g frozen carrots 10p,
120g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Crunchy Peanut Butter 31p,
1 tbsp cornflour 5p,
2 tbsp lemon juice 2p,
2 tbsp soy sauce 5p,
1 tbsp curry powder 2p ,
1 tbsp chilli flakes 2p ,
400ml tin tomatoes 28p,
300g wholemeal rice 48p,
Total: £3.87 that’s 96p per person.
Sweet and Sour Chicken
This easy to make sweet and sour chicken recipe is perfect if you have friends coming over. Make a huge batch with brown rice and add as many vegetables as you like!
Here’s how we make our sweet and sour chicken recipe here.
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts £1.16,
1 x 425g can pineapple chunks in natural juice 50p,
2 tbsp cornflour 2p,
½ tsp dried chilli flakes 2p,
2 tbsp dark soy sauce 5p,
2 tbsp tomato puree 2p,
1 medium onion 8p,
300g frozen peppers 43p,
2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 5p,
Total: £2.33 that’s 58p for four people.
Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken
Pulled chicken is a great dinner for the whole family. It’s really simple to cook in the slow cooker and is really tender. You can have it with rice or in a bread bun. It all needs to cook for 6-8 hours to make the chicken really tender.
2 tbsp vegetable oil 5p
3 chicken breasts £1.20
2 red onions 50p
2 garlic cloves, 5p
2 tsp paprika 2p
2 tbsp chipotle paste 10p
250ml passata 25p
100g barbecue sauce 30p
1 tbsp light brown soft sugar 8p
Total: £2.55 that’s 63p for four people.
One-pot Chicken Pepper Bake
With little washing up involved, this one-pot chicken pepper bake is one of my personal favourites. It’s great for Sunday lunch or if the extended family comes round.
Chicken Thighs (1kg) £2.75,
Green Pepper 50p,
Tin of Baby potatoes (550g) 32p,
Total: £3.99 that’s 99p for four people.
Firecracker Chicken
This firecracker recipe is based on four people. It takes only takes about 10 minutes to actually cook the sauce but the rice could take up to 20 minutes.
Read how to make our amazing Firecracker Chicken recipe here.
3 frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts (defrosted) £2.10
2 onions 20p
3 garlic cloves 15p
5g ground ginger 5p
1 red pepper 45p
1tbsp lemon juice 10p
1 bunch of spring onions 37p
2 tbsp tomato puree 5p
4 tbsp soy sauce 6p
2 tbsp hoisin sauce 6p
1 tbsp plain flour 10p
1 tbsp low cal cooking spray 5p
150g wholemeal rice 25p
Total: £3.99 (prices correct at time of publishing)
Tomato-Baked Chicken
This is great if you have toddlers in the house too. It’s healthy and will keep you all full up.
Smartprice Chicken wings (1kg) £1.65,
Tomato & garlic pasta sauce (560g) 92p,
Smartprice British small potatoes (1kg) 50p,
Baby button mushrooms (150g) 86p,
Total: £3.95 that’s 98p for four people.
Slow Cooker Curry
We love curry and it is perfect in the slow cooker! Make it in the morning and enjoy a nice hot meal when you get home. These all come in at under £1 a head for four people.
Chickpea Curry
This is a simple vegan curry that can be made in a wok or in a slow cooker. All these ingredients are cupboard staples. This also makes a great leftover lunch for the next day. This Chickpea curry comes in at under £1 a head.
1 tin chickpeas 33p
2 onions 20p
2 garlic cloves 5p
Tsp dried ginger 2p
1 tin tomatoes 28p
half tsp sugar 2p
Total: 90p thats 22p for head.
Slow Cooker Mango and Tomato Curry
Who needs a takeaway when you can cook this mango and tomato curry for less at home. This is so simple and is a hit with the whole family.
Red onion 17p,
50g Green chillies 65p,
Loose tomatoes 60p,
Small mango £1.15,
150g Organic 2% Fat natural yogurt 49p,
350g Basics long-grain rice 40p,
Total: £3.46 that’s 86p for four people.
Chinese Chicken Curry
This Chinese Chicken Curry makes a great fakeaway recipe for the whole family. This comes in at under £1 a head for a family four and is so easy to make in a slow cooker or in a wok. Read how we make our Chinese Chicken Curry For Just £1.54 For 4.
2 chicken breasts 65p
2 onions 16p
Small piece of ginger 15p
2 garlic cloves 6p
400ml chicken stock 3p
2 tbsp low cal spray 10p
3 tbsp plain flour 10p
1 tsp sugar 5p
180g Rice 24p
Total: £1.54 (All prices from Aldi and correct at time of publishing)
Chicken Tikka Masala
This serves four and is a medium heat. This really does just take 10 minutes to make but does take up to 40 minutes to cook so make sure you have some time as it’s worth it. We make our homemade naan bread with this too.
Read how to make our Chicken Tikka Masala here.
4 frozen chicken breasts £1.40,
150g frozen onion 16p,
2 garlic cloves 6p,
1 small piece of ginger 15p,
200ml tinned tomatoes 28p,
100ml single cream 60p,
1 tsp lemon juice 5p,
4 tbsp low cal spray 20p,
1 tsp salt 3p,
180g Rice 24p,
Total: £3.17 that’s 79p for 4 people.
Chicken Korma
This is a mild and creamy korma curry that is perfect for kids who hate spice. Read how to make our Chicken Korma recipe here.
Put the slow cooker on and sear the chicken. Stir in the spices and cook for a few minutes. Then add the chicken stock. Leave to cook for 6 hours. Add the cream then serve.
2 garlic cloves 5p,
Ground ginger 2p,
100g onions 25p,
3 chicken breasts £1.20,
2 tbsp tomato purée 5p,
1 tsp ground cumin 2p,
1 tsp paprika 2p,
1 tsp turmeric 2p,
1 tsp ground coriander 2p,
½ tsp chilli powder 2p,
2 tsp sugar 5p,
300ml chicken stock 35p,
150ml double cream 62p,
Total: £2.69 that’s 67p a person.
Slow cooker no-spice chicken curry
This is a great slow-cooking curry recipe that is great for leftovers too. Cut the chicken breasts into cubes. Sear then in the slow cooker. Once cooked, add the spices and cook for a few minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes to the slow cooker and cook on slow for 6 hours then serve.
100g frozen onion 25p
3 tbsp mild curry paste 5p
400g can chopped tomatoes 28p
2 tsp vegetable bouillon powder 5p
1 dried ginger 3p
100g frozen pepper 28p
2 chicken breasts £1.20
Total: £2.14 that’s 53p for four people.
Sweet Potato Curry
This easy non-spicy slow cooked curry recipe that can handle any meat. It looks like a long ingredient list but most of these are kitchen staples. You can add any vegetable too and just mash it all at the end.
1 large onion 19p
2 tsp curry power 5p
1 green pepper 30p
2 garlic clove 4p
1 tbsp sunflower oil 1p
400g can chopped tomato 25p
300g of boiled sweet potato 25p
2 tbsp mango chutney 4p
rice 20p,
naan bread 45p
Total: £1.78 that’s 45p a head.
Roasted aubergine & tomato curry
This vegetarian curry is really easy to make. You can grill or roast the aubergines which help make them sweet.
600g aubergines 70p
3 tbsp olive oil 5p
100g frozen onions 22p
2 garlic cloves 4p
1 tsp garam masala 5p
1 tsp turmeric 2p
1 tsp ground coriander 2p
400ml can chopped tomatoes 42p
400ml can coconut milk 75p
Total: £2.27 that’s 56p a person.
Chicken vindaloo
This is quite a spicy chicken curry recipe and does need a bit of prep work. Cut the chicken into cubes. Use the ingredients above and add the chicken to a bowl. Let it marinate overnight. In the morning, fry off the chicken cubes. Then add the rest of the ingredients with a can of water. Put on a slow heat for 6 hours and come home to a hearty meal.
1 tbsp lemon juice 5p,
3 chicken breasts £1.20,
2 tbsp white wine vinegar 6p,
2-3 garlic cloves 5p,
2 tsp finely grated ginger 5p,
1 tsp garam masala 5p,
1 tsp ground cumin 2p,
1 tsp ground coriander 2p,
½ tsp cayenne pepper 2p,
½ tsp black mustard seeds 2p,
For the sauce:
Add all the ingredients into a blender and blend until it becomes a smooth paste.
½ tsp flaked cinnamon stick 2p,
½ tsp chili flakes 2p,
½ tsp cayenne pepper 5p,
50g onion 25p,
½ tsp salt 2p.
Total: £1.90 that’s 47p for 4 people.
Katsu Curry
If you are looking for a fakeaway recipe that is also Slimming World friendly and easy to cook then this Katsu chicken curry is for you.
This chicken Katsu curry comes in at under £1 a head for four people.
Read how to make our Katsu curry here.
It can seem a little spicy so if your family needs it toned down then add a little Greek yogurt to the side of the dish.
3 frozen chicken breasts £1.20
1 onion 28p
2 carrots 10p
3 garlic cloves 5p
1 egg 10p
900ml chicken stock 5p
2tbsp soy sauce 5p
1tsp honey 7p
3tbsp plain flour 5p
100g breadcrumbs 15p
200g wholemeal rice 37p
Total: £2.19 that’s 54p for four people.
Slow Cooker Desserts
Yes, you really can make desserts in your slow cooker. They are really easy and make treats for the whole family.
Bread Pudding
Using leftover bread (I use any), and coated in a rich, cinnamon and nutmeg-scented custard helps this to become an easy dessert that will satisfy your kid’s sugar cravings.
8 cups of old bread 44p
100g raisins 31p
2 cups of milk 48p
4 eggs 52p
100g sugar 30p
100g butter 10p
1 tbsp ground cinnamon 9p
1 tbsp vanilla extract 5p
1 tbsp ground nutmeg 9p.
Total: £2.38 that’s 60p a head.
Slow Cooked Crumble
Stew the apples with jam and orange juice, then top it off with an oaty, spicy ‘flapjack’ crumble mix. Yum!
1kg apples £1.35
3 tbsp apricot jam 9p
1 orange 30p
140g porridge oats 19p
100g plain flour 10p
1 tbsp ground cinnamon 9p
100g butter 10p
100g sugar 30p
1 tbsp syrup 10p
Total: £2.62 that’s 65p a head.
Meal Planning and Budget Planning
Being prepared is the key here. Meal planning and knowing what staples you have in the kitchen can really save you money.
Owning a slow cooker makes preparing food so much easier. You can even make them ahead of time to be ready when you get in and use them as leftovers if you too much.
Before you do anything though make sure you have a great slow cooker. We use a slow cooker that has different heat settings.
Then the week before you plan to use your slow cooker or even shop, start by using these 4 tips to really get your food shopping bill down.
1. Meal Plan Sheets – Depending on how comfortable you are, either find a spare pad or print out 8-10 copies of a weekly meal plan sheet.
You’ll need enough space to write down a simple menu for each day and a shopping list as you go.
You can make your own weekly meal plan or download my meal plans and shopping lists for free from the Resource Vault. Having several copies on hand will help inspire you to get started and keep up the meal plans for several weeks.
If you’ve never meal planned before then start here by reading how it can save you hundreds of pounds!
2. Look at the below stores to see if you can save some money:
Get FREE FOOD with this app: checkoutsmart*
Muscle Food lean meat hamper – muscle food*
Get your groceries up to 70% off RRP – approved food*
Remember to come join our FREE Facebook Group for all the latest deals, freebies and quick family money saving tips!
Of course there are plenty of other ways to save money, and once you start seeking them out then you will be amazed at what you find.
Every time you buy online you could be getting cashback. Have a look at:
OhMyDosh – You can make money by buying your normal open shop through OhMyDosh. They are easy to use and payout once you’ve reached £10.
Sign up to OhMyDosh* here for free and get £1 added to your account for free.
Read what we think about OhMyDosh here.
Quidco – Quidco is a great and easy site to use. They offer great extra bonuses too.
Sign up for Quidco here for free.*
Swagbucks – Swagbucks is well know and an easy site to use if you’ve never used a cashback site before.
Sign up for Swagbucks here for free.
Go to these sites first before you buy anything online and see if you can get money back. Anything goes from hotel stays to toys and train tickets.
3. Use an app like Snoop to keep track of your spending and to help you save. Using Snoop* can help you build up your savings, pay off dent quicker and invest to make your money work harder. It’s free to join!
4. Join our 6-week FREE money-saving course that walks you through how you can save your family money. No filler. Just real tips and advice from us on how we save money daily.
Related Posts:
- 101 Aldi Recipes That Will Give You Dinner Ideas For Tonight
- 27 Leftover Lamb Recipes That Are Family Friendly
- 29 Easy and Kid Friendly Budget Recipes for Fussy Eaters That the Whole Family Will Enjoy
The good thing about a slow cooker is that you can chuck almost anything in. Food waste can be a huge issue if you forget to meal plan or the kids have suddenly gone off a few meals so use what you have.
Buy wonky vegetables, make sure all your fridge items are stored correctly and shop weekly. It’s been shown that if your fridge is empty the food in it stays cooler for longer. Read more about how you can reduce your family food waste here.
I hope these have helped you come up with some ideas this week on what you can cook in your slow cooker.
Laura x
If you enjoyed this post and would like some more family friendly budget recipes or meal plan ideas, then head over to the budget food section here on Savings 4 Savvy Mums where you’ll find over 30 cheap posts dedicated to helping you cook and shop wiser for less. There’s enough tips to help you save over £300 a month! You could also pop over and follow my family food Pinterest boards for lots more ideas on how to eat well and spend less; Family Meal Plans on a Budget, Budget Family Meals & Budget Slimming World Recipes for Families.
Love this post? Then why not save it to Pinterest so you can easily find it later.
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