By: Denise Bustard5 Comments
Posted: 11/20/20Updated: 11/25/20
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Make cooking your holiday meals hands off with these 19 holiday slow cooker recipes. From breakfasts to side dishes, appetizers to entrées, letting the slow cooker do some of the hard work frees up your oven and stove top!
When it comes to cooking holiday recipes, I turn to my Instant Pot and slow cooker time and time again. Not only do they free up oven space, but often they require less 'babysitting' or stirring, making it more hands off as well.
It's actually amazing what you can make in your slow cooker- some of these recipes are really creative and think outside of the box.
Here are some reasons to use your slow cooker this holiday season:
- you don’t have to worry about anything boiling over
- the keep warm setting means you can prep some meals ahead of time
- it saves room in your oven and on your stove top
- you can leave it on all day, and let it work it's magic
Which slow cooker do I recommend?
- I love this 6 quart slow cooker full batches
- this 2.5 quart slow cooker is great for cooking smaller or half batches
Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!
1. Breakfast Recipes
While breakfast might not be the first thing you think of when you look at your slow cooker, it's a really convenient and hands off way to cook it.
Crockpot French Toast Casserole
This crockpot french toast casserole is the perfect brunch recipe for Easter, Mother's Day, or just a regular Sunday! Assemble it the night before, and cook the next day, for a super hands-off brunch recipe.
Check out this recipe
Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
Set your slow cooker the night before and wake up in the morning to a delicious crockpot breakfast casserole. With eggs, sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers and cheese!
Check out this recipe
Sow Cooker Steel Cut Oats With Apple and Cranberries
Creamy slow cooker steel cut oats with a fall twist. This delicious breakfast can be prepared the night before and be ready for you when you wake up in the morning!
2. Appetizers & Drinks
The slow cooker is perfect for cooking and keeping appetizers or drinks warm while you entertain!
5 Ingredient Cranberry Glazed Crockpot Turkey Meatballs
With just 5 ingredients and only 5 minutes prep time, this easy Cranberry Glazed Turkey Slow Cooker Meatballs recipe is a real crowd pleaser at holiday parties and for football game day snacking. It uses 100% juice and honey for a healthier glaze.
The Best Slow Cooker Spiced Cashews
The Best Slow Cooker Spiced Cashews are delicious and easy. People will think you paid a lot of money for them and they must have come in a beautiful tin.
Crockpot Apple Butter
Step by step directions for making easy crockpot apple butter! This tasty fall treat has no sugar added, and is made with apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. It's gluten-free, vegan, and freezer-friendly.
Check out this recipe
SLOW COOKER CHEX MIX
Learn how to make awesome Chex Mix in the slow cooker with this easy recipe! It’s super easy, and always a crowd fave.
Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider
The perfect holiday drink, this Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider is made with apple, cranberry and orange juices! Perfect for your Thanksgiving or Christmas party.
Slow Cooker Chai Tea Latte
This slow cooker chai tea latte is a cozy after dinner drink for the holidays that is caffeine-free, vegan, keto-friendly, and alcohol-free. Full of warming spices, it is so easy to make!
Check out this recipe
3. Side Dishes
The slow cooker is the perfect appliance to cook your side dishes, as this frees up valuable space in your oven and on your stove.
Slow Cooker Brown Butter Glazed Carrots
This sweet tender glazed carrots recipe gets a boost from my favorite ingredient of all time: brown butter. An additional secret ingredient that you might not guess puts the flavor of these slow cooker carrots over the top! A perfect (and EASY) side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas!
Slow Cooker Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries, Pecans and Butternut
Make the holidays easier with these slow cookerBrussels sprouts with butternut, pecans and cranberries. Instructions to prepare them in a slow cooker or on a sheet pan, so you can maximize your oven space!
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Cinnamon Sugar Butternut Squash
Slow cooker butternut squash in a buttery brown sugar and cinnamon sauce.
Ultra Creamy Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes
How to make ultra creamy crock pot sweet potatoes that are perfect for meal prep. 5 minutes prep, one ingredient, plus 10+ delicious ways to use them up!
Check out this recipe
How to Cook Acorn Squash in the Slow Cooker
How to make acorn squash in the slow cooker. This sweet and buttery recipe is sure to please!
Crock Pot Potatoes
These easy crock pot potatoes cook up with olive oil and herbs and save room in your oven or on the stove. The easiest side dish that takes minutes to toss into the slow cooker.
Check out this recipe
Healthy Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
This Healthy Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole is made in the crock pot, saving you valuable oven space. A secret ingredient and a little honey sweeten this side dish, making it much healthier than the traditional version!
Homemade Cranberry Sauce (Slow Cooker)
A simple 5-ingredient homemade cranberry sauce recipe that’s made in the slow cooker! You can even make it ahead and just reheat the day of. It doesn’t get easier than this!
Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Stuffing
Looking for ways to lighten the oven load this Thanksgiving? Try our rich herby Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Stuffing made right on the countertop in a crock pot!
Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole, a classic Thanksgiving side dish, goes from default to downright delicious in this updated recipe. It’s made from scratch, can be made ahead, and takes up zero real estate in the oven.
Slow Cooker Quinoa Pilaf with Wild Rice
Quinoa pilaf with wild rice is a nourishing gluten free, vegetarian side dish. Make this slow cooker recipe with delicious, antioxidant-rich autumn vegetables like golden beets, cranberries, and more!
4. Main Courses
The slow cooker is also great for cooking main course options. Here are some great ideas!
Crock Pot Ham
Crock pot ham with spiced honey is an easy hands-off recipe to prepare for your holiday table! Made with spiral cut ham, honey, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg - this recipe only requires ten minutes of prep work!
Check out this recipe
Crockpot Whole Chicken & Veggies
Crockpot whole chicken with a rotisserie-style rub, potatoes, vegetables, and a delicious gravy to drizzle over everything. Perfect for meal prep or for Sunday dinner!Crockpot whole chicken with a rotisserie-style rub, potatoes, vegetables, and a delicious gravy to drizzle over everything. Perfect for meal prep or for Sunday dinner!
Check out this recipe
Crockpot Turkey with Garlic Butter
This easy Crockpot Turkey recipe is for those who don’t want to be bothered with roasting! It’s slathered in garlic butter and cooks all day (or night!) in the slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork Loin
Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork loin is slow-cooked tender pork loin with onion soup mix and whole cranberry sauce.
Meet Denise Bustard
Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.
Read more...
You May Also Like...
18 Slow Cooker Meal Prep Recipes
29 Summer Slow Cooker Recipes
29 Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
18 Healthy Crockpot Soup Recipes
Reader Interactions
Leave a Comment
Ginny McMeans says
Love this and thanks so much for the great line-up!
Reply
lindsay Cotter says
thank you lovely! All look great
Reply
Denise says
You are very welcome Lindsay, love the looks of your lighter side dish!
Reply
Annie says
Slow Cookers make the holidays so much easier!
Reply
Denise says
I am only just realizing it this year...duh! I always run out of oven space!
Reply
