From curries and casseroles to ribs and stews, these slow cooker beef recipes will inspire you for a big batch cook or just for dinner tonight.
If you can’t get enough of slow cooking then you can also try our slow cooker chicken recipes.
How to adapt your favourite recipes for a slow cooker
When it comes to winter comfort food, you can’t go past a heart slow cooker recipe. These one-pot wonders, perfect with almost any cuts of meat, are guaranteed to turn out fragrant, tender meals every time. Best of all, you can just pop your ingredients in and return in a few hours with all the work done for you.
However, not all of our favourite recipes were designed with the slow cooker in mind. Luckily, most of your favourite casserole, curry and soups can easily be converted for a slow cooker.
Here, we’ll take you through what you need to know for adapting your favourite recipes.
Keep in mind that a recipe that takes 2 hours to simmer or slow-roast will take about 6-8 hours on Low or 3-4 hours on High in the slow cooker.
And, as a general rule, a slow cooker should be at least half-full when cooking casseroles, curries and soups. Place vegetables into the cooker, put meat on top, then add the liquid.
How to brown meat
You can just throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker, but browning the meat first gives far better colour and flavour.
Do this in a frying pan with a little oil over a high heat, as shown in the video below.
For more tips on adapting recipes to suit your slow cooker.
You’ll need these …
![Julie Goodwin's 6-hour bolognese](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/05/21/16730/C14784E2-D-Slowcooker-01-1.jpg)
Julie Goodwin’s 6-hour bolognese sauce
![Slow-cooker massaman beef curry](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/05/19/13870/HL1150C17-2-scaled.jpg)
Slow-cooker massaman beef curry
![two bowls filled with beef cheeks, beans and mash on a set table](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/07/33532/hero-beef-cheek-pedro-ximenez-scaled.jpg)
Slow-cooker beef cheeks in pedro ximénez
![slow cooker beef stroganoff](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/07/19/33656/hero-beef-stroganoff-scaled.jpg)
Slow-cooker beef stroganoff
![Slow-cooker cottage pie](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/05/27/32467/HL1150C04-scaled.jpg)
Slow-cooker cottage pie
![Slow-cooked beef rib bourguignon](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/25/28673/beefbourguignon-scaled.jpg)
Slow-cooked beef rib bourguignon
![Slow-cooked beef ragu with pappardelle](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/21/1650/hero-ragu-scaled.jpg)
Slow-cooked beef ragu with pappardelle
![easy beef curry recipes](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/06/03/16815/HL0950B02.jpg)
Coconut curried beef
![beef casserole with cheesy herb dumplings](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/03/19/cecd2b9b99434a569f34e852f05c59c1/beef-casserole-with-cheesy-herb-dumplings.jpg)
Beef casserole with cheesy herb dumplings
![Beer and thyme beef cheeks](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/06/03/16812/HL0950B01.jpg)
Beer and thyme beef cheeks
![beef stew and casserole recipes](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/08/04/18708/casserole.jpg)
Slow-cooker beef, mushroom and red wine stew
![Beef and vegetable soup](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/06/03/16797/HL0950A01.jpg)
Beef and vegetable soup
![Five ingredient beef tacos](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/11/25/32813/beef-tacos-scaled.jpg)
Five ingredient beef tacos
![Tex-Mex beef and sweet potato stew](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/05/27/32468/HL1150C16-3-scaled.jpg)
Tex-Mex beef and sweet potato stew
![Women's Weekly slow cooker recipes](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/05/27/32466/HL1150C15-1-scaled.jpg)
Slow-cooker beef korma
![Slow cooker five ingredient cottage pie](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/08/18/33141/HL1346C07-scaled.jpg)
Slow cooker five ingredient cottage pie
![Spaghetti bolognese](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/06/10/32517/HL0970D09-scaled.jpg)
Easy slow-cooker bolognese sauce
![Texas-style brisket with corn & slaw](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/05/17/33025/HL0970F07B-scaled.jpg)
Texas-style brisket with corn & slaw
![Slow-cooked Mexican beef chilli mole](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/06/03/16823/HL0950C01.jpg)
Slow-cooked Mexican beef chilli mole
![Lasagne-style crock-pot](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/03/06/a96fed47-d3b8-4309-8478-bdc0f102d4aa/lasagne-style-crock-pot.jpg)
Lasagne-style crock-pot
![coriander beef curry](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/03/19/200d71a8d9ea40bf8fb13a6d5b8adfaf/coriander-beef-curry.jpg)
Coriander beef curry
![tuscan beef stew](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/03/18/48ddfcc6045d439c82ca418fbc6a8ff3/tuscan-beef-stew.jpg)
Tuscan beef stew
![Vietnamese beef brisket](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/06/03/16827/HL0950C02.jpg)
Vietnamese beef brisket
![slow-cooker corned beef with horseradish sauce](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/03/18/24f579665014427c9d4753f264b83c3d/slow-cooker-corned-beef-with-horseradish-sauce.jpg)
Slow cooker corned beef with horseradish sauce
![SHREDDED BEEF TACOS](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/03/18/dfe4cc658816435db288d301d0561b53/shredded-beef-tacos.jpg)
Slow cooker shredded beef tacos
![slow cooker beef rendang](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/05/07/7062/beef-rendang-scaled.jpg)
Slow-cooker beef rendang
![tray of cooked beef cheeks](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/07/33534/hero-beefcheeks2-scaled.jpg)
Slow-cooker beer and thyme beef cheeks
![Bowl of beef ramen with shiitake mushrooms](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/14/33567/AAWF-Hero-Site-80.png)