I got this book a while ago and it’s bloody brilliant, have got lots of recipes bookmarked. I bought a second-hand copy which was in good condition.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Furries) Our verdict

It’s a brilliant story, Nathan who comes from Portadown, started his blog in 2020 during the pandemic. He wanted to share the meals he was cooking in his own kitchen ‘to help people to cook healthier, more interesting meals at home’.

Retailers:

With this number one bestselling book, Nathan Anthony has proven that you can eat healthily and still enjoy gorgeous home cooked meals at the end of a busy day. The book came from Nathan’s popular blog, Bored of Lunch and he now has over 1.2m followers, plus a companion book focusing on air fryers. I feel like I’m living someone else’s life! I knew early on the Bored of Lunch audience was a special and supportive community but I could never have predicted the amazing response to my first two books. I cannot wait to share the evolution of the next Bored of Lunch cookbooks with my followers.”

He makes brilliant use of his slow cooker. Most of the recipes are cost-effective and perfect for those who want to prepare meals for themselves and for the family for the week ahead. Most recipes are made with ingredients that you are likely to have in your pantry or are easy to source so you won’t have to go hunting in a deli or specialist shop. I have the BBC [Good] Food Slow Cooker Recipe Book, which has some nice and simple recipes in it.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Pilot12) Our verdictNathan Anthony, the home cook with over 3 million followers, shares delicious and easy home-style recipes that can all be made in your slow cooker while you get on with your day. Perfect for busy families, the best slow cooker can provide a tasty home cooked meal with minimal mess and fuss. What’s not to love? While stews and soups are the most common recipes for slow cookers, there’s loads you can do with them – from slow cooked meat and tasty sauces to desserts and even bread. As a slow cooker fan herself, our writer Gemma is always on the lookout for family friendly meals so spent time hunting down the best slow cooker recipe books currently available, making sure to cater for all tastes, needs and budgets. Since the launch of Bored of Lunch in March 2020, Anthony has amassed over three million followers across his platforms. His goal is to inspire people to create healthy and delicious food using his favourite time-saving gadgets: the slow cooker and the air fryer. This is a must-have for any home cook,” the publisher says, “and with every recipe under 500 calories, this is food that can fit into any lifestyle, whether you’re following a healthy eating programme or not". The second book, Bored of Lunch: Healthy Air Fryer Super Speedy, will be published on the 11th April 2024.

Here are recipes with hardly any prep, fewer ingredients and clever time-saving tips, making it a must-have for any busy home-cook. Every recipe is 500 calories or under, providing a hassle-free way to enjoy lighter versions of your family favourites. His first book, Bored of Lunch: The Healthy Slow Cooker Book, published last week by Ebury, topped the UK and Ireland sales charts in its first week of publication. A second title, a collection of air fryer recipes, will be published in March. The Bored of Lunch cookbook is really good. Only bought it last month and it’s already one of my favourites (and I’m a cookbook addict and have way too many!!).” (Vetted by Mumsnet user Sammysquiz ) Calorie-counted and perfect for anyone enjoying a slimming lifestyle or following a diet programme, satisfying, flavourful food has never been so easy and affordable.

About the author

Don’t miss Head Pastry Chef at Ballymaloe House, JR’s Ryall’s ‘Classic Ballymaloe Desserts’ cookery demonstration at Waterman House in Belfast on Saturday, 25th March 2023. If you don’t know where to start, there are loads of great slow cooker recipe books around to inspire you in the kitchen. From vegetarian-friendly dishes to tasty curries, there’s a cookbook to cater for every kind of taste. More and more of us are looking for ways to cook delicious, healthy, hassle-free versions of our favourite meals – while still keeping an eye on our household budgets. Slow cookers are a cost-effective way to cook, using a fraction of the energy of a conventional oven, but Nathan takes this budget-friendly approach further by focusing on everyday, easy-to-source ingredients that won’t break the bank. Slow Cooked, by Miss South. Based on an excellent blog, that's sadly now unavailable.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user DogInATent) Our verdict

As a lower-energy alternative to a conventional oven, slow cookers are a cost-efficient way to save on your household bill. And with a focus on everyday, easy-to-find ingredients, this is food you can cook without breaking the bank. They are a dream come true for those who are trying to keep all the balls in the air, feed their family, healthy, nourishing food and are fed up of eating the same meals. Slow cookers are designed to cook for a long time so you can keep it on low overnight or all day while you’re out as long as you follow the directions and the manufacturer's instructions. However, consider what it is you’re cooking. Most recipes suggest six to eight hours on low, so if you want it on for longer, it is best to keep an eye on it to ensure you get the best out of your recipe. Do you need to brown meat before slow cooking?

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Whilst this book isn’t specifically a slow cooker recipe book, it comes recommended on our Mumsnet forums due to the variety of ways the meals can be cooked. Written by Kate Allinson and Kay Featherstone, Pinch of Nom Comfort Food is part of their bestselling series of books. The book is flying off the shelves and bringing joy and fun to the many who feel they are just too busy to cook. Bravo, Nathan! A date for your diaries… Me Auld Flower, a new Irish food and drinks festival runs from the 16th – 19th March 2023 in the historic Dublin City Fruit, Veg and Flower Market, St. Michan’s Street, Dublin 7.