# Slow cooker cooking times

Slow cooker times on low and high for meat, stews and vegetables. As a rule, an hour on high is about two hours on low.

Source: https://feastflow.co.uk/slow-cooker-cooking-times (FeastFlow free cooking-time guides). Last checked 11 November 2026.

## Vegetables

Vegetables: slow cooker cooking times:

| Food | Time | Temperature | How |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Butternut squash](https://feastflow.co.uk/butternut-squash-cooking-times) (Cubes) | 4–6 hours | on low | In a stew or curry with stock; 2–3 hours on high. |
| [Red cabbage](https://feastflow.co.uk/red-cabbage-cooking-times) | 6–8 hours | on low | Or 3–4 hours on high. |
| [Sweet potatoes](https://feastflow.co.uk/sweet-potatoes-cooking-times) (Whole) | 5–7 hours | on low | Whole, wrapped in foil, with no water. |

## Potatoes

Potatoes: slow cooker cooking times:

| Food | Time | Temperature | How |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Jacket potatoes (baked potatoes)](https://feastflow.co.uk/jacket-potatoes-cooking-times) | 6–8 hours | on low | Wrapped in foil, with no water. 3–4 hours on high. |

## Chicken, turkey and duck

Chicken, turkey and duck: slow cooker cooking times:

| Food | Time | Temperature | How |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Chicken breast](https://feastflow.co.uk/chicken-breast-cooking-times) | 3–4 hours | on low | In a sauce or stock. 2–3 hours on high. Longer makes them dry. |
| [Chicken thighs](https://feastflow.co.uk/chicken-thighs-cooking-times) | 4–6 hours | on low | Bone-in or boneless, in a sauce. 3–4 hours on high. |
| [Chicken drumsticks and legs](https://feastflow.co.uk/chicken-drumsticks-cooking-times) | 4–6 hours | on low | In a sauce. 3–4 hours on high. |
| [Whole chicken](https://feastflow.co.uk/roast-chicken-cooking-time) | 6–7 hours | on low | On a bed of sliced onion, with no liquid. 4 hours on high. Crisp the skin under the grill after. |
| [Whole roast duck](https://feastflow.co.uk/whole-duck-cooking-times) | 5–6 hours | on low | On a bed of onion; crisp the skin in a hot oven after. |

## Beef

Beef: slow cooker cooking times:

| Food | Time | Temperature | How |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Beef mince (ground beef)](https://feastflow.co.uk/beef-mince-cooking-times) (In a sauce) | 6–8 hours | on low | Brown first, then add the sauce ingredients. 4 hours on high. |
| [Meatballs](https://feastflow.co.uk/meatballs-cooking-times) | 4–6 hours | on low | In sauce. 2–3 hours on high. |
| [Stewing beef and beef stew](https://feastflow.co.uk/beef-stew-cooking-times) | 7–8 hours | on low | Brown the meat first for flavour. 4–5 hours on high. |
| [Beef brisket](https://feastflow.co.uk/beef-brisket-cooking-times) | 8–10 hours | on low | With 250 ml liquid. 5–6 hours on high. |
| [Roast beef joint](https://feastflow.co.uk/roast-beef-cooking-time) | 6–8 hours | on low | Pot-roasted with vegetables and stock, until tender rather than pink. |

## Pork, bacon and sausages

Pork, bacon and sausages: slow cooker cooking times:

| Food | Time | Temperature | How |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Pulled pork (pork shoulder)](https://feastflow.co.uk/pulled-pork-cooking-times) | 8–10 hours | on low | With 250 ml stock, cider or cola. 5–6 hours on high. |
| [Pork ribs](https://feastflow.co.uk/pork-ribs-cooking-times) | 6–8 hours | on low | Cut to fit; finish under the grill with sauce. |
| [Gammon joint](https://feastflow.co.uk/gammon-cooking-time) | 5–7 hours | on low | Covered with cola, cider or stock. |

## Lamb and game

Lamb and game: slow cooker cooking times:

| Food | Time | Temperature | How |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Lamb shanks](https://feastflow.co.uk/lamb-shanks-cooking-times) | 7–8 hours | on low | 4–5 hours on high. |
| [Leg and shoulder of lamb](https://feastflow.co.uk/lamb-cooking-time) | 7–8 hours | on low | Shoulder of lamb, until it falls apart. |

## Rice, pasta and grains

Rice, pasta and grains: slow cooker cooking times:

| Food | Time | Temperature | How |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Lentils, chickpeas and dried beans](https://feastflow.co.uk/lentils-and-beans-cooking-times) (Soaked beans) | 8–10 hours | on low | Soaked beans, after boiling hard for 10 minutes. |

## Tips

- Fill the slow cooker between half and two-thirds full.
- Browning meat first isn’t needed for safety, but it gives much more flavour.
- Root vegetables cook more slowly than meat: cut them small and put them at the bottom.
- Don’t lift the lid more than you need to: each time adds about 20 minutes.
- Thaw frozen meat before it goes in, so it doesn’t sit too long at an unsafe temperature.

## Questions

### How long to cook chicken breasts in a slow cooker?

3–4 hours on low. In a sauce or stock. 2–3 hours on high. Longer makes them dry.

### How long to cook jacket potatoes in a slow cooker?

6–8 hours on low. Wrapped in foil, with no water. 3–4 hours on high.

### How long to cook chicken thighs in a slow cooker?

4–6 hours on low. Bone-in or boneless, in a sauce. 3–4 hours on high.

### How long to cook pulled pork in a slow cooker?

8–10 hours on low. With 250 ml stock, cider or cola. 5–6 hours on high.

### How long to cook beef stew in a slow cooker?

7–8 hours on low. Brown the meat first for flavour. 4–5 hours on high.

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Times are a guide for typical home portions: ovens, air fryers, microwaves and sizes vary. Check meat, poultry and fish with a thermometer. Safe temperatures follow USDA and UK Food Standards Agency guidance.

FeastFlow also plans a whole meal backwards from serving time, with every dish timed and oven temperatures that don’t clash: https://feastflow.co.uk/