Slow Cooker Lancashire Hotpot. Delicious braised lamb, carrots and a creamy sauce, together with a sliced potato topping come together perfectly in the slow cooker. It is gluten free and ideal for healthy weeknight dinners.
Our slow cooker Lancashire hotpot was originally shared on Recipe This in 2016. This is the updated version reflects converting the Lancashire Hotpot to the slow cooker and air fryer.
Table of Contents
Slow Cooker Lancashire Hotpot
In early 2005 we swapped Manchester for Lancashire and called Lancashire in Northern England our home for the next 3 and half years before relocating to sunny Portugal.
One food that was on the menu wherever you went was the famous Lancashire hotpot.
It became a family favourite and when we ate out, a Lancashire hotpot would always get ordered.
We make it regularly in the Milner house whenever we have some spare lamb. We will bulk buy lamb from the butchers and then load our freezer with it.
Defrost a pack of lamb and load it into the slow cooker for a Lancashire hotpot.
I love how tender the lamb is and how amazing the lamb gravy is that we have tweaked over the years.
It is also easy to make and you can use your air fryer for that perfect sliced potatoes topping.
Also, if you are a fan of Coronation Street and remember Betty’s Hotpot, then note, a Lancashire hotpot is similar to that.
What Is Lancashire Hotpot?
The easiest way to describe a Lancashire hotpot is a type of British lamb casserole. It is a hearty casserole that starts with a braised lamb and vegetable base. Then it is topped with lots of sliced potatoes and cooked in the oven until the potatoes are wonderfully crispy.
Lancashire hotpot history goes way back. As far back as the cotton industry of the 19th century. The idea being, that it was something that could cook slow and then be served when the tired cotton workers finished work.
Lancashire hotpot traditional recipe would include onions, lamb, sliced potatoes, and whatever vegetables you had to bulk up the meal. Back then it would nearly always include the lamb bone for extra flavour.
Lancashire Hotpot Recipe For Slow Cooker
When someone tells me that I can’t make something in my kitchen gadgets, then I become more obsessed to do it and see if it can be done.
That is what happened with the Lancashire Hotpot, I was told that it was not suitable for the slow cooker.
Well can I tell you, that I have been making slow cooker Lancashire hotpot for a long time and you can!
The slow cooker is ideal because you can slow cook your lamb and make it incredibly tender. You can also use the slow cooker to keep your Lancashire hotpot warm.
The only thing to note, is that I air fried the potato slices for the crispy coating as the slow cooker can’t do that.
Lancashire Hotpot Main Ingredients
The Lancashire hotpot main ingredients include:
- Butter
- Sliced Potatoes
- Onions
- Diced Lamb
- Lamb Stock
These are what you will find in every Lancashire hotpot and of course the rest is about personal preference. For example vegetables can be any root vegetable and go with what vegetables you have in.
We are also including in our Lancashire hotpot:
- Carrots
- Worcester Sauce
- Mixed Herbs
Which Potatoes For Lancashire Hotpot?
Good quality potatoes work best. Avoid potatoes that have a bad skin or are in a bad condition. This is because you will be eating the skin of the potato.
Also avoid potatoes that are small or large, you need medium. That is because your potato slices will end up too big or too small.
How To Cook Lancashire Hotpot In Slow Cooker?
The quick version of Lancashire hotpot in the slow cooker goes as follows:
- Sauté your onion in butter.
- Brown the lamb and load in vegetables and stock.
- Slow cook.
- Add in sliced potatoes and cook a little longer then eat.
There is a little more to it than that, but those are the simple basics!
Can You Freeze Lancashire Hotpot?
Yes you can. Choose your favourite freezer containers and load into freezer containers when your Lancashire hotpot is cooked.
Though, don’t seal your freezer containers until your hotpot is cold otherwise you will get condensation.
Once it is cold, place lids on the freezer containers, label it up and load into the freezer.
Can You Reheat Lancashire Hotpot?
Yes you can. But you can only reheat it once. Therefore, if you cooked your Lancashire hotpot, then reheated it, it can’t be reheated another time.
I recommend if you think you are not going to eat it all when you reheat, that you only reheat the portion that you need.
Listen To Slow Cooker Lancashire Hotpot
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What Do You Serve Lancashire Hotpot With?
I feel like this Lancashire hotpot is enough to eat on its own. After all, it’s a meat, potatoes and veggies carb heavy meal.
But ask the hubby and he will tell you that it must have bread maker bread or some air fryer garlic bread. Then you can dip the bread into the wonderful sauce that is created when you make your lamb.
Slow Cooker Lancashire Hotpot
Ingredients
Kitchen Gadgets:
Slow Cooker Lancashire Hotpot Ingredients:
- 400 g Diced Lamb
- 300 g Medium Potatoes
- 200 ml Lamb Stock
- 1 Can Tinned Tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Large Onion
- 1 Tbsp Butter
- 4 Large Carrots
- 1 Tbsp Worcester Sauce
- 1 Tsp Mixed Herbs
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
- Dice and peel an onion. Load into the slow cooker with your butter and sauté on a medium heat.
- Add in diced lamb and brown the lamb on all sides. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add carrots, seasoning and lamb stock and mix well. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours.
- When the slow cooker has about 30 minutes left, medium slice your potatoes and toss them in extra virgin olive and seasoning. Air fry for 15 minutes on 160c/320f, followed by 5 minutes at 200c/400f.
- When the slow cooker beeps, drain the liquid and put to one side. Load into a blender a can of tinned tomatoes, 5 chunks of lamb, Worcester sauce, a tablespoon of carrots, 5 slices of potatoes and ½ the juices from the lamb. Then blend until you have a creamy lamb gravy.
- Load back into the slow cooker with the lamb and remaining carrots and onions and stir.
- Add slices of potatoes over the lamb and cook for another hour before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Wonderful one pot dinner. Thanks Samantha i love your slow cooker dinners.
Just yummy ????
Hi sam & dom, just devoured that delicious recipe, simply the best thank you. Going to cook your shepherds pie tomorrow, what could we do without your fantastic web site, thank you.
Scrumptious! I don’t have an air fryer so used the blow torch. The best ever! Thank you!!.
I haven’t got an air fryer, how should I cook the potatoes?
Hi Cathy
If you have a deep fat fryer or a chip pan, they can can be half cooked in those appliances 🙂