30 Ways To Make Thanksgiving Dinner In Your Slow Cooker
Give your oven a much-needed break.
If there's one kitchen appliance you'll want to keep plugged in this holiday season, it's absolutely going to be your humble slow cooker. We know you won't believe it, but we firmly think that cooking up a Thanksgiving dinner can be... incredibly easy and not a headache at all, and that's absolutely thanks to our trusty Crockpots. They're one of our favorite kitchen tools for a reason. They're absolute gems when it comes to achieving that slow-simmered flavor (with no effort) for all our favorite holiday recipes, like Crockpot butternut squash soup and Crockpot garlicky mashed potatoes. Most importantly, they save you all that delicious oven space for roasted turkey and pumpkin pie. đ So go ahead and give your stove a break and try all of these amazing slow-cooker Thanksgiving recipes!
Slow cookers are our go-to for maximizing our cooking space while also minimizing time spent babysitting all those Thanksgiving side dishes. We went ahead and tested all the best slow cookers, so you can find the perfect one to do all that holiday cooking for you while you take that all-important post-turkey nap.
Did you know you can even make tender turkey breast in your Crockpot? It's basically a foolproof way to make sure you don't have a dry bird, as well as a perfect option for a Thanksgiving for two, a smaller Friendsgiving get-together, or when you're serving a potluck of turkey alternatives (like slow-cooker pot roast). Slow cookers are also our key way to make sure your green bean casseroles, stuffing, and
sweet potato casseroles are piping hot come serving time.
Slow-Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Rich, buttery mashed potatoes are definitely in the comfort food hall of fame, making a weeknight dinner or a Thanksgiving celebration feel even more cozy and indulgent. Great mashed potatoes need more than a generous amount of butter though to make them as good as can be. Best of all, we make our best-ever version in the slow-cooker.
Get the Slow-Cooker Mashed Potatoes recipe.
Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
Is it even Thanksgiving without this cozy side? This recipe makes green bean casserole even simpler; instead of using an oven, it can be mixed and cooked in your slow cooker. Save all that oven space for the turkey!
Get the Crockpot Green Bean Casserole recipe.
Crockpot Turkey Breast
Who says you have to turn on your oven to make delicious turkey? After trying this easy recipe, not us. All you need to do is mix up a simple brown sugar rub, coat the meat, and let your slow cooker do the rest! That way, your oven can take on more important tasks like pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole. đ
Get the Crockpot Turkey Breast recipe.
Crockpot Stuffing
Plenty of slow cooker recipes are just dump and go. This one requires a little extra effort, but it makes a huge difference in the final product. Sautéing the herbs and vegetables in a separate pan allows the flavors to open up and will help them infuse the stuffing.
Get the Crockpot Stuffing recipe.
Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole
We take any chance we can get to free up oven space on Thanksgiving. Like Crockpot stuffing and Crockpot mashed potatoes, this sweet potato casserole is every bit as delicious as the one you make in the oven.
Slow Cooker Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
This vegan butternut squash soup is made in a slow cooker, so after you chop up all your vegetables, itâs essentially hands-off. A quick blitz with an immersion blender at the end, and youâve got a silky, drinkable butternut squash soup.
Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip
If spinach-artichoke dip is one of those things you get really excited about at a party but you feel like it takes too much effort, this slow-cooker version is for you. Donât bother turning on the oven (especially when you have other appetizers to bakeâcranberry brie bites, perhaps?).
Slow-Cooker Pot Roast
Looking for an alternative main in lieu of turkey? Look no further than this low-fuss pot roast. When it comes to comfort food, thereâs nothing better than a pot of warm, fragrant pot roast and potatoes. Some people might be intimidated at the thought of cooking such a large piece of meat, but in reality, pot roast is one of the easiest things you can makeâand this recipe takes that simplicity to the next level by bringing in the slow cooker.
Get the Slow Cooker Pot Roast recipe.
Crockpot Garlicky Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are an important part of Thanksgiving, but they sure do require a lot of babysitting. Youâve got to bring water to a boil, then make sure the potatoes donât overcook in the water, drain them, then go back to the pot to put it all together. With these mashed potatoes, everything happens right in the slow cooker.
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Fact: A holiday get-together is only as good as the Buffalo dip you serve. The best part? Your slow cooker will keep it warm and ready for dipping! Go all out and make a batch of homemade soft pretzels to serve with it.
Get the Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.
Crockpot Mac & Cheese
Homemade macaroni and cheese is a process. But this slow-cooker mac & cheese makes cooking up the staple a breeze. Everythingâincluding the pasta!âcooks in a slow cooker. And in the end you have just ONE DISH to clean.
Get the Crockpot Mac & Cheese recipe.
Crockpot Spaghetti Squash
News flash! You don't have to turn on your oven to make perfectly cooked spaghetti squash. Once you've cooked up your squash, why not put it to good use? Our four-cheese spaghetti squash is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. đ
Get the Crockpot Spaghetti Squash recipe.
Slow Cooker Short Ribs
Few things feel as specialâand as satisfyingâas a well cooked beef short rib. This version is fall-off-the-bone tender and insanely flavorful, thanks to a quick sear before slow cooking and a Korean-inspired sauce that would make anything taste good, and we're always glad to see it on our holiday table when we're not feeling turkey.
Get the Slow-Cooker Short Ribs recipe.
Slow-Cooker Mulled Wine
Wine is the ultimate way to warm up in the fall, and mulled wine is hard to beat. Sweet, spicy, and super-comforting, this recipe takes a regular ol' bottle of red and makes it an amazing after-dinner drink.
Get the Slow-Cooker Mulled Wine recipe.
Brown Butter Carrots
These sweet glazed slow-cooker carrots are seriously perfect for any occasion. Trust us, you'll be happy to have this light and fresh side on hand.
Get the Brown Butter Carrots recipe.
Crockpot Whole Chicken
Want to skip sweating over a whole turkey this week? Look no further! We know it sounds crazy, but you can replicate the deliciousness of a rotisserie chicken at home... in your slow cooker.
Get the Crockpot Whole Chicken recipe.
Crockpot Baked Apples
We love these apples for many reasons: They save you oven space, you can set it and forget it, and cooking them in your Crockpot keeps your kitchen much cooler. But wait up. Is your house freezing and you actually want to turn on the oven? We've been there too. đ Make our classic baked apples instead.
Get the Crockpot Baked Apples recipe.
Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs
Grape jelly meatballs might not sound like an ideal combo, but trust us, it is! The sweet jelly mixed with smoky BBQ sauce is a match made in heaven. We added some sriracha to give it a bit of a kick.
Slow-Cooker Cheesecake
We'll take any shortcut to achieving a perfectly creamy, fluffy cheesecake. Turns out, slow cookers were the real secret weapon all along!
Get the Slow-Cooker Cheesecake recipe.
Loaded Slow-Cooker Potatoes
The only thing that can improve comfort food is not having to cook it. This is the perfect n0-fuss meal. We top it with bacon, cheese, and green onions but you could add whatever you want! Make it spicy with some pickled jalapeños or make a little funky with some blue cheese crumbles folded in before serving.
Get the Loaded Slow-Cooker Potatoes recipe.
Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken
Slow-Cooker Tuscan Chicken Meatballs With Gnocchi
Slow-Cooker Corned Beef
Slow-Cooker Chicken Thighs
