Let’s Get Cooking: 10 Slow Cooker Curry Recipes for Students

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When first moving into your new luxury student accommodation you’ll see the brilliant layout, the comfortable environment and a kitchen and storage space that will be perfect for you to sharpen your culinary skills. 

There are many ways in which you can improve your cooking when living as a student, but some days you’ll just want to come home from a long, hard day of study and have something almost ready for you to eat. 

Something with minimal fuss in terms of preparation and using up those staple ingredients that can be found sitting in the back of your cupboards. 

Here, we take a look at some simple slow cooker curry recipes to add to your skills.

1. Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

chicken curry recipes

This one-pot, easy-to-make chicken curry recipe is low in fat, low in calories and packed full of your much-needed five-a-day.

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken legs, fat and skin removed
  • 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and chopped
  • 1 chopped onion
  • 400g chopped tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons of mild curry paste
  • 2 teaspoons of vegetable bouillon powder
  • 1 tablespoon of finely chopped ginger
  • 30g fresh coriander, chopped

Recipe

  • Put the onion, curry paste, chopped tomatoes, vegetable bouillon powder, ginger, and pepper into the slow cooker. Stir in a third of a can of water.
  • Add the chicken legs and push them underneath the other ingredients until they are completely covered and then place them in the fridge overnight.
  • Cook on low heat for 6 hours until the vegetable and the chicken are tender.
  • Serve with brown rice and stir in the chopped coriander leaves.

2. Slow Cooker Lamb Curry

lamb curry

An easy curry to make and one where the lamb will just melt in your mouth. This is also a great slow cooker curry recipe to portion out and freeze for later joy.

Ingredients

  • 2 lean lamb steaks (240g), diced after the fat has been removed
  • 3 tablespoons of Madras curry paste
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 400g chopped tomatoes
  • 25g red lentils
  • 210g undrained can of chickpeas
  • 2 teaspoons of vegetable bouillon powder
  • 75 g curly kale
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon of grated ginger

Recipe

  • Place all the ingredients into the slow cooker. Fill a third of the empty can of chopped tomatoes with water and add this to the pot. Stir well and cover, and place in the fridge overnight if possible.
  • Stir again and cook on low heat for 6 hours until the lamb and vegetables are tender.
  • Serve with brown rice.

3. Vegetable Curry

vegetable slow cooker recipes

This is one of the easiest slow cooker curry recipes on the list and it is always handy to have a veggie slow cooker recipe up your sleeve. 

It doesn’t cost as much as making a meat dish and you are bound to make vegetarian friends that you can ‘wow’ with this dish.

Ingredients

  • 1 small aubergine (250g) thickly sliced
  • Butternut squash (200g) cut into chunks
  • 1 red pepper, deseeded and sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 400ml coconut milk
  • 3 tablespoons of mild curry paste
  • 2 teaspoons of vegetable bouillon powder
  • 1 tablespoon of chopped ginger
  • 1 red chilli, deseeded and sliced
  • 15g chopped coriander
  • 160g of frozen peas
  • 1 lime, juiced

Recipe

  • Place the curry paste, coconut milk, bouillon powder, chilli, garlic, ginger, pepper, butternut squash and aubergine into the slow cooker and stir well. Cover and chill overnight.
  • Cook on low heat the next day for 6 hours until the vegetables are tender, then stir in the coriander and peas, the heat of the curry should warm these through. For an added extra, squeeze in some of the lime juice.
  • Serve with a wholemeal flatbread.

4. Slow Cooker Beef Curry

beef slow cooker curry recipes

An easy to make slow cooker curry recipe that provides a hearty feed for a group of friends or visiting family members. 

Served with rice and naan bread, you can also add potato chunks for extra warmth if desired.

Ingredients

  • 750g braising beef, cut into chunks
  • 4 crushed garlic cloves
  • 1 chopped onion
  • 3 tablespoons of oil
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 5cm piece of ginger, grated
  • 4 cardamom pods
  • 2 teaspoons of ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon of ground coriander
  • 400ml coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon of chilli powder
  • ½ teaspoon of ground turmeric
  • Chopped coriander

Recipe

  • Fry the beef in small batches in 2 tablespoons of olive oil until it is browned and then place all of it into the slow cooker. Fry the onion in the remaining oil over low heat until it has softened and then add the ginger and garlic to fry for a further minute.
  • Add all the spices to the mixture and fry until they begin to smell fragrant (around 1 minute usually). Add the coconut milk and bring it to a simmer before placing everything into the slow cooker.
  • Cook on high heat for 4 hours or low for 8 hours (depending on how long you have until mealtime!). Stir in the coriander to serve.

5. Slow Cooker Lentil Curry

lentils in bags

An easy vegan dish that utilises some simple ingredients and always goes down well with guests.

Ingredients

  • 1 diced red onion
  • 3 minced garlic cloves
  • 1 diced yellow pepper
  • 200g green lentils
  • 1 can of coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 3 teaspoons of curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin
  • 1 ½ teaspoon of salt
  • ½ teaspoon of ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon of pepper
  • ½ teaspoon of ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons of sugar
  • 2 teaspoons of garam masala
  • 600ml of water

Recipe

  • Put the olive oil, diced pepper, minced garlic, and red onion into the slow cooker.
  • Rinse the lentils before adding them to the slow cooker.
  • Cook on low for 5 hours, checking if more liquid is required now and then.
  • Serve with jasmine or brown Basmati rice

6. Sweet Potato and Coconut Curry

potato curry in white bowl

All you have to do with this recipe is a simple prep of your vegetables and the slow cooker will create the magical and delicious sweet potato curry!

Ingredients

  • 1kg sweet potatoes (peeled and cut into chunks)
  • 400ml coconut milk
  • 300g passata
  • 2 red peppers, deseeded and sliced
  • 2 red chillies, deseeded and sliced
  • 250g shredded red cabbage
  • Peeled small piece of root ginger
  • 3 crushed garlic cloves
  • 2 sliced onions
  • 2 tablespoons of peanut butter
  • 4 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon of paprika
  • ½ teaspoon of cayenne

Recipe

  • Take a large non-stick frying pan and fry the onion in olive oil for 10 minutes before adding the grated ginger and garlic. Stir in the cayenne and paprika to cook for another minute and then add everything into the slow cooker.
  • Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and throw in the chilli, red pepper and shredded cabbage, cooking for 4-5 minutes before adding it all to the slow cooker.
  • Fry the sweet potatoes in batches, cooking for around 5 minutes until the edges start to colour and then place in the slow cooker.
  • Pour in the coconut milk and passata over the top, stir everything together and cook in the slow cooker for 6-8 hours until the potatoes are tender.
  • Stir in the peanut butter, and season well with salt and pepper.
  • Serve with chopped fresh coriander and cooked couscous.

7. Slow Cooker Dal

dal curry

For slow cooker curry recipes that are healthy, cheap, and incredibly satisfying look no further than this simple dal.

Ingredients

  • 300g yellow split peas
  • 1 chopped onion
  • 200g chopped tomatoes
  • 2 teaspoons of crushed cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoons of ground turmeric
  • 10 freeze-dried curry leaves
  • 700ml hot vegetable stock
  • 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil or vegetable oil
  • 1 hot green chilli, sliced
  • 2 crushed garlic cloves
  • Finely grated fresh root ginger (about a thumb)

Recipe

  • Put the split peas, tomatoes, ginger, turmeric, ground cumin, onion, crushed garlic, stock, and curry leaves into the slow cooker. Stir in most of the chilli and cook on high heat for four hours until the split peas are tender.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Heat the oil in a saucepan just before serving, and fry the garlic and cumin seeds until the garlic is golden brown and the cumin is toasty. Spoon this hot spiced oil over the dal and scatter the leftover chilli.
  • Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice.

8. Chicken Korma

chicken korma made within a slow cooker

This mild and creamy korma is a simple dish for your collection of slow cooker curry recipes. 

It is so delicious that it will quickly become one of your go-to dishes, with a fragrant curry sauce covering tender, sumptuous chicken.

Ingredients

  • 6 skinless chicken breasts (cut into large chunks)
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Small piece of peeled ginger
  • 2 large, finely chopped, onions
  • 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons of tomato puree
  • 1 teaspoon of paprika
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon of turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons of sugar
  • ½ teaspoon of chilli powder
  • 150ml of double cream
  • 300ml of chicken stock

Recipe

  • Blend the garlic, ginger, and onions with a splash of water until it turns into a paste. Sear the chicken with oil in a medium-high heat frying pan, before removing it from the pan and putting in the onion paste. Fry this for 10 minutes or until it has turned a nice light, gold colour.
  • Stir in the tomato puree, spices, salt and sugar, and fry for one minute, place the chicken back in the pan and add the stock. Once brought to a simmer, put everything into the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 5-6 hours.
  • You have some options of what to serve with this creamy chicken korma, including toasted flaked almonds, ground almonds, coriander, naan bread and basmati rice.
  • Stir in the cream and ground almonds, reduce the mixture if required and then scatter the flaked almonds and coriander if you choose to use them. Serve with rice, naan, or whatever sides you wish.

9. Thai Chicken Curry

thai food

This slow cooker curry recipe is incredibly easy to prepare and is a simple dish served with rice and guaranteed to be a showstopper for guests.

It uses up some staple ingredients you’ll have in your cupboard alongside some ingredients that are easy to find in your local supermarket or food stores.

Ingredients

  • 800g chicken thighs (skinless, boneless, and halved)
  • 3 tablespoons of Thai green curry paste
  • 400ml coconut milk
  • 1 chopped aubergine
  • 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon of fish sauce
  • 2 fresh lemongrass stalks (sliced)
  • Sliced piece of root ginger
  • 6 lime leaves

Recipe

  • Fry the Thai green curry paste in a non-stick frying pan, and dry, until it becomes fragrant. At this point, pour in the coconut milk and mix until smooth.
  • Put the chicken thighs, lemongrass stalks, sliced ginger, lime leaves, aubergine, brown sugar, and fish sauce into the slow cooker. Pour the curried coconut milk over the top, stir it all together well and then cook on a low heat setting for between 6 and 8 hours.
  • Serve with cooked rice (and fresh Thai basil leaves if you have them).

10. Slow Cooker Sausage, Halloumi and Spinach Curry

slow cooker curry recipes for students

For a slightly fancier slow cooker curry recipe that is not that difficult to make at all, this delicious curry dish is low in carbs and provides that tasty hit you need after a long day of study.

Ingredients

  • 10 chicken or turkey sausages
  • 200g diced halloumi
  • 125g spinach leaves
  • 400g coconut milk
  • 400g tinned tomatoes
  • 1 sliced red onion
  • 3 aubergines
  • 2 tablespoons of tikka paste
  • 2 tablespoons of curry powder
  • 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon of ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon of chilli flakes
  • 75g tomato puree
  • Juice of one lemon

Recipe

  • Sear the sausages in coconut oil until brown and then transfer to the slow cooker. Add in the rest of the ingredients apart from coconut milk, halloumi, spinach, and lemon.
  • Stir and cover, cooking on a low heat for 6-7 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.
  • Stir in the remaining ingredients for the final 30 minutes of the cooking time.
  • Serve with cauliflower rice or a green salad.

One of the best purchases you can make to ensure life is so much easier in the kitchen of your luxury student accommodation is a slow cooker. It allows for easy-peasy meals that cook throughout the day without much effort on your part. We’ve put together some of the best slow cooker curry recipes to help start you off with some ideas.

Slow cooker recipes can encompass many different cuisines, but a slow cooker curry is a great way to expand your horizons, fantastic to make for new friends, nourishing and warming when you need it most.