Cook, Slim & Save with Slimming World

Batch cooking is just one of the genius costcutting ideas in our new cookbook which is now on general sale in a Slimming World Group. With more than 60 thrifty dishes, Cook, Slim, Save includes budget breakfasts, low-cost lunches, store-cupboard superheroes and fantastic fast feasts, to help you trim your food bill and lose weight – the tasty way!

This comforting chicken casserole is perfect served with mash and veg and what makes this dish even better is the fact that you simply throw everything in the slow cooker and leave it to work its magic. Brilliant for those hectic days when you don’t fancy cooking – and you’ve got the basis of an easy pasta dish for the following day, too.

Slow-cooker chicken casserole

serves 8 ready in 3 hours 30 mins

Free

What you need:

low-calorie cooking spray

1kg skinless and boneless chicken thighs, visible fat removed, cut into chunks 3 large onions, chopped

2 chicken stock pots

500g carrots, sliced

2 medium leeks, sliced

4 celery sticks, sliced

2 tsp dried thyme

2 tsp yellow mustard seeds

1kg floury potatoes, such as King Edward or Maris Piper, mashed, to serve

What you do:

1. Spray a large non-stick frying pan with lowcalorie cooking spray and put it over a high heat. Brown the chicken in batches, then tip it into a 3-litre (or larger) slow cooker. Repeat with the onions (browning the chicken and onions first really boosts the flavour, but if you’re short of time you can skip this step). 2. Stir the stock pots into 300ml boiling water and add to your slow cooker with all the other ingredients and a little salt and pepper. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or until the chicken is cooked and the vegetables are tender. Serve hot with the mash and your favourite Speed veggies.