There’s no question that a slow cooker is one of the most useful kitchen gadgets out there, able to deliver rich and tender goodness in as few or as many hours as you want. From stew and soup to curry and congee, the options for vegetarians are endless. Here are our top ten favourite slow cooker recipes for vegetarians.
Slow cooker vegetarian recipes
1. Slow cooker lentil and veggie stew
Full of colour, flavour, and texture, this lentil and veggie slow cooked stew is the ultimate guilt-free comfort food. Packed with protein, fibre, iron and vitamins, this stew ticks a lot of dietary boxes and is the perfect way to warm up a cold evening.
2. Pumpkin and spinach risotto
The sweetness of pumpkin and the earthiness of spinach is one of the best combinations out there. This risotto is incredibly creamy, slow cooked to perfection in less than three hours. Topped with parmesan and flavoured with garlic, onion, and fresh thyme, this recipe makes risotto easy.
3. Slow cooker dahl with beetroot hommus
Bursting with as much colour as flavour, this lightly spiced and super creamy dhal is the one you’ll make to impress your friends—vegetarian or not. This nutrition-rich dish requires minimal prep and is ready to devour in just two-and-a-half hours.
4. Hearty veggie and pasta soup
Ward off the chill and boost your immunity with this veggie-dense pasta soup. Full of flavourful favourites like onion, celery, fennel, garlic, pumpkin, kale and more, this easy winter warmer is topped with a fresh and zesty dressing for a surprising tang.
5. Slow cooker turmeric and coconut dhal
Add some spice to your soul food with this slow cooked dhal recipe. Featuring curry leaves, ginger, garam masala, cloves, cinnamon, and turmeric, this mouth-watering meal is a cosy classic that always satisfies. Serve with poppadoms for a crunchy kick.
6. Pumpkin and brown rice congee
Traditionally served as a breakfast dish in countries like China, Indonesia, and Japan, this slow cooked congee recipe can also be enjoyed as lunch or dinner. The creamy consistency of the porridged brown rice makes a lovely base for the toppings—crunchy seeds, hard-boiled egg, soft pumpkin and crispy nori.
7. Slow cooker 3-cheese pasta bake
Cheese-lovers will adore this slow cooked pasta bake, which layers havarti, cheddar, and ricotta with cauliflower and leek. Infused with sage and topped with grated nutmeg, this indulgent yet homey pasta bake is the perfect combination of sweet and savoury.
8. Chickpea, carrot and lemon curry
A feast for the eyes and the stomach, this slow cooker curry is full of veggies, spices, and legumes. Cooked over a languorous eight hours, the end result is richly flavoured with turmeric and garam marsala, with soft chickpeas and delicate carrot and kale rounding it out.
9. Slow cooker cauliflower with lentil and chilli dhal
We can’t get enough of dhals, and this is one that you’ll need to add to your slow cooking repertoire. Deliciously spiced with ginger, turmeric, cumin, garam marsala, cinnamon, and fresh red chilli, this dhal is thick and hearty, and crowned with cauliflower.
10. Ratatouille soup with cheese tortellini
Inspired by France and adapted for the modern slow cooker, this ratatouille soup calls for the classic ingredients like onion, zucchini, eggplant, and garlic with the innovative addition of cheese tortellini. With prep done in just ten minutes, this effortless soup tastes anything but.
