成人快手

Family 拢1 slow cooker meal plan

This budget-friendly slow cooker meal plan covers a week's worth of dinners for four adults, with all the ingredients coming in at under 拢28. It鈥檚 designed to be economical on energy use and help reduce waste.

All the recipes have been developed specifically to be made in a slow cooker, although there's the occasional (and often optional) use of a microwave and hob, too.

More budget meal inspiration

How we costed our recipes

We have stuck to a strict ingredient budget of 拢7 per person for the week, which averages out at just under 拢1 per portion.

We鈥檝e based most of our costs on the smallest available pack size, meaning even if you don鈥檛 use a whole jar or packet, the entire cost is still included in the budget.

Meanwhile, store cupboard items like oil, salt, pasta and rice are costed according to the quantity you use, as they tend to have long shelf lives or be purchased regularly as part of a standard family shop.

The recipes

Day 1: Mulligatawny soup

This hearty Indian-spiced soup makes for an easy dinner, needing just 10 minutes of hands-on time. Frozen veg mixes are perfect for using in slow cookers as there鈥檚 no need to defrost first and no early morning chopping as it鈥檚 already been done for you. Leftovers would be great for lunch the next day.

Two bowls of slow cooker mulligatawny soup

Day 2: Smoky Spanish beans

A smoky chorizo, bean and tomato stew that鈥檚 generously portioned and packed with summer holiday flavours. Finishing the dish with kale adds colour, texture and an iron boost.

You can soak and boil your entire 500g bag of cannellini beans today, and refrigerate the leftovers for tomorrow's sticky sausage recipe. You'll end up with roughly double the weight after soaking and boiling: use 600g for this recipe and 400g tomorrow.

Slow cooker smoky Spanish-style beans

Day 3: Sticky sausages with marmalade

If you like a honey-mustard flavour combo, you鈥檒l love this fruity marmalade-laced twist on the classic. And with just six ingredients, it鈥檚 sure to become a regular in your house. Browning the sausages first is more about appearance than flavour, so feel free to skip this step if you don鈥檛 mind what the finished bangers look like.

Day 4: All-in-one spaghetti Genovese

Pasta in a slow cooker? Yes! Thin shapes like spaghetti and linguine, cooked on the highest setting, work nicely. This classic Italian dish is usually made with green beans, but frozen peas sub in for a spring-like twist and it's kept fresh with the addition of lemon zest and juice.

Day 5: Black bean beef and rice

This moreish beef dish uses a ready-made sauce and takes it up a notch with extra garlic and soy sauce. There鈥檚 no time-consuming browning of the beef either 鈥 just throw it all in the pot in the morning and let it cook to a smooth, ragu-like sauce.

Day 6: Satay chicken wraps with pickled onions

If you like fajitas, you鈥檒l love this satay-style chicken version with crunchy salads and pickles. And if you鈥檝e only ever used your slow cooker for saucy stews, you鈥檒l be impressed by how easy it is to cook something like pulled chicken. If you have any, then extra lime wedges and sweet chilli sauce make great additions.

Day 7: Roast beef stew

This simple crowd-pleasing stew has a gravy-like sauce that benefits from browning the beef first, but if you鈥檇 prefer to just throw everything in the slow cooker without any prep, it will still taste great. Plate up with peas and wait for everyone to ask if you can make it again next week.

Shopping list

Fruit and vegetables
鈻 2鈥3 medium onions
鈻 3 medium red onions
鈻 4 garlic cloves
鈻 30g/1oz coriander
鈻 1 bag sliced kale (minimum weight 150g)
鈻 220g/8oz green beans
鈻 1 cucumber
鈻 1kg/2lb 4oz carrots
鈻 775g large floury potatoes (or similar)
鈻 1 lemon
鈻 1 lime

Meat and fish
鈻 70g/2陆oz chorizo slices (or diced chorizo)
鈻 8 pork sausages
鈻 250g beef mince
鈻 4 chicken legs (about 1kg/2lb 4oz), or use thighs
鈻 400鈥500g/14oz鈥1lb 2oz beef skirt, braising steaks or brisket

Tins, packets and jars
鈻 250g sachet microwave pilau rice
鈻 400g tin plum tomatoes
鈻 500g/1lb 2oz dried cannellini beans (alternatively, if your budget allows, you can swap for 4 x 400g tins cannellini beans)
鈻 150g/5陆oz marmalade
鈻 225g/8oz wholegrain mustard
鈻 190g jar basil pesto
鈻 300g/10陆oz spaghetti
鈻 170g sachet black bean cooking sauce
鈻 400g tin black beans
鈻 350g/12oz long grain rice
鈻 4 tbsp gravy granules

Cooking ingredients
鈻 3陆 tbsp mild curry powder
鈻 2 chicken stock cubes
鈻 1 beef stock cube
鈻 2 tsp paprika (preferably smoked)
鈻 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
鈻 4 tsp soy sauce

Frozen
鈻 1kg pack casserole or stewing vegetable mix
鈻 525g/1lb 3oz frozen peas
鈻 12 Yorkshire puddings (optional)

Other
鈻 6 slices wholemeal bread
鈻 8 soft white or wholemeal wraps
鈻 200g/7oz salted, roasted peanuts

Originally published April 2023