If there’s one upside to cold weekends inside, it’s the extra time you can commit to slow-cook 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-pleasing comfort food. Weeknight dinner has never been easier than throwing something in a slow-cooker or Dutch oven, letting it slowly cook and tenderise and then serving a hearty, flavour-packed meal that is likely to result in leftovers for lunch the next day.
Work your way through our top slow-cooked recipe ideas and reap the rewards of hearty meals that the whole family will enjoy for the days to come.
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Best slow-cooking recipes for winter 2026
How to make beef rendang
When it comes to making the ever-popular rendang, patience is indeed a virtue. Persevere and you’ll be richly rewarded with a dish of delicious complexity.
Sunda’s masterstock-poached chicken with ginger and spring onion relish
A beloved staff meal at Melbourne restaurant Sunda.
Du Fermier’s daube of beef with root vegetables
The Provençal stew to cuddle up to.
Ham and cannellini bean soup
Slow and patient simmering reaps flavoursome rewards.
Tony Tan’s braised pork belly with soy sauce
A cinch to prepare, and it tastes even better the day after it’s cooked.
Braised beef cheeks with creamed swede
Cook them low and slow, and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful fall-apart meat.
Three-hour lamb and chickpea curry
Yoghurt and buttermilk provide a creamy finish and welcome tang to this hearty curry.
Boeuf Bourguignon
The recipe for the traditional braise of Burgundy may have changed slightly, but one ingredient remains non-negotiable: a bottle of the region’s red wine.
Twelve-hour spiced lamb shoulder with saffron pilaf
This dish goes to show that slow-cooked and steady wins the race.
Slow-cooked lamb shoulder with black garlic and mint persillade
A timeless slow-cooked lamb recipe that hits all the right high notes.
Chilli con carne
The big bowl o’ red may have hotly contested origins, but chilli con carne’s smoky, spicy appeal is indisputable.
Lamb ragù pappardelle with pumpkin
Pumpkin and slow-cooked lamb with pasta? That’s cold weather comfort in a bowl.
Braised pumpkin and lamb neck
This Moroccan-inspired dish is simple to throw together – all it needs is a little couscous on the side.
Pappardelle with duck ragù
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for pappardelle with duck ragù.
Spice-roasted pork with coleslaw
Cooking this pork slowly makes for a wonderfully tender roast that’s heavily scented with the flavours of cinnamon and star anise.
Rigatoni with rabbit ragù by Don Peppino’s
Make this ragù bianco the day before you plan to eat it – it becomes softer and more delicious.
Chicken, quince, lemon and almond tagine
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for chicken, quince, lemon and almond tagine.
Greek-style lamb shoulder and bean stew
Hearty chunks of lamb and gorgeous green beans – a match made in culinary heaven.
Agostino’s braised beef shin with Barolo and bagna cauda (bresato al barolo, bagna cauda)
Don’t rush this braise. Patience, and a generous amount of Barolo, gives you fall-apart meat and a rich, flavoursome sauce.
Tony Tan’s braised beef brisket with chilli-oil sauce
A magical version of the Cantonese classic, with a robust chilli oil to boot.
How to make porchetta
Your step-by-step guide to making porchetta, including how to score for the perfect crackling.
Tipo 00’s gnocchi with duck ragù and porcini mushrooms
Tipo 00 chef Andreas Papadakis’ recipe makes light and fluffy gnocchi to balance out the rich and seasoned duck ragù.
Overnight pork shoulder with fennel
Overnight dishes are an entertainer’s best friend. And this one is a real crowd-pleaser.
Sean Moran’s slow-roasted pork shoulder with fennel
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for slow-roasted pork shoulder with fennel by Sean Moran.
Slow-roast duck with quinoa, saffron and olives
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for slow-roast duck with quinoa, saffron and olives by Mike McEnearney.
Danielle Alvarez’s slow-cooked ocean trout with peas, and Meyer lemon and fennel salsa
This recipe for slow-cooked ocean trout comes courtesy of chef Danielle Alvarez.
Rick Shores’ slow roasted lamb shoulder with yellow bean, cumin and chilli
Ben Berei’s slow-roasted lamb’s shoulder at Rick Shores is packed with spice.
Slow-braised chickpeas with cavolo nero
Because slow cooking can soothe the soul.
Coq au vin
The timeless French recipe that delivers comfort with every bite.
Greg Malouf’s baharat lamb shoulder with onions and moghrabieh
“Lamb rubbed with spices and cooked slowly is quite a traditional preparation in the Middle East,” says Greg Malouf. “Served with moghrabieh, giant couscous, this is a great dish to put in the middle of the table with some yoghurt and away you go.”
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