Cooking for a crowd on Thanksgiving can leave you playing oven Tetris all day long, and honestly, who needs that stress? I am a huge believer in letting my Crockpot do the heavy lifting while I focus on the bird and my sanity. So let me introduce you to 24 ridiculously easy and mouthwatering slow cooker recipes that will totally save your holiday.
1. Crockpot Poached Pears
Poached pears look incredibly fancy, but they're actually so easy to make. You can keep them whole and serve them on a plate with a little sauce and some ice cream, and trust me, you'll get so many compliments. Just don't tell anyone that the secret is simply tossing them in the Crockpot with some sugar and spice!
2. The Best Crockpot Cranberry Sauce Recipe
If you've ever babysat a pot of cranberry sauce on the stove, you know it needs a stir here and there to keep it from scorching. It's not hard, but it's one more thing to remember when your kitchen is already buzzing. With this slow cooker version, you can basically set it and forget it. Just be sure to give those berries a good mash before you serve it up.
3. Slow Cooker Crustless Brown Sugar Pumpkin Pie
For anyone who wants to enjoy their pumpkin pie while keeping things a little lower in carbs, this one is calling your name. Since it's crustless, you get all that amazing filling flavor without the extra calories. You can use your favorite pumpkin pie filling recipe and simply pour it into a lined Crockpot. Serve it up with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of cinnamon-spiced caramel.
4. Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes
Full disclosure: I try not to make these too often because I have absolutely zero self-control around them. They're insanely good, ridiculously creamy, rich, and super decadent. I would happily eat the whole pot by myself if left alone with it! This version uses both regular and sweet potatoes swimming in a cheesy sauce flavored with thyme and parmesan.
5. Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pecan Pudding Cake
If you love your chocolate fudge cake served warm and slightly dense, you're going to fall head over heels for this fudgy pumpkin pudding cake. You simply make the batter, add it to the Crockpot, and gently pour a brown sugar simple syrup over the top. It bakes up like a self-saucing dessert, letting the brown sugar infuse into the cake and create a sweet sauce right at the bottom of the pot.
6. Slow Cooker Green Beans Recipe
I've collected a few slow cookers of all different sizes, and the little mini ones are my absolute favorites. They let me whip up multiple sides all at once without stealing precious oven space! This green bean dish is perfect for a smaller pot, giving you a delicious side without going overboard. The onion, garlic, and stock bring plenty of flavor, but I love adding a little pat of butter at the end for extra richness.
7. Crockpot Pumpkin Soup (5 Ingredients!)
Soup is such a lovely way to start a holiday meal because it's light, loaded with veggies, and warms you right up on a chilly day. You only need five simple ingredients to pull this off: pumpkin, russet potatoes, onion, vegetable broth, and cream. Once everything is tender, just use an immersion blender to puree it and then whisk in the cream for a velvety smooth finish.
8. Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Most ovens cannot handle the juggling act of roasting veggies at high heat while other dishes need a lower temperature. Those poor sweet potatoes would probably scorch if you tried to make them share space with everything else. Instead, just toss everything into your slow cooker and let it do its thing for a few hours. You'll end up with sweet, tender bites that are completely irresistible.
9. Slow Cooker Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
I make Brussels sprouts practically every week, usually roasting them with garlic and bacon. But when I'm hosting a big group, this is the recipe I reach for every time. Besides making a quick reduction, all you really have to do is toss the sprouts in and walk away. They come out sweet and tangy with the most fantastic crunch from the pine nuts.
10. Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Butter
I don't know about you, but I love sending my guests home with a little treat over the holidays. This apple butter is the perfect homemade gift. It's a beautiful jar full of slow-cooked apples and cranberries. Just let your fruit simmer in the Crockpot with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and vanilla. Once it's tender, puree it with an immersion blender until smooth.
11. Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
If you have vegetarians joining you for dinner, it's always a sweet idea to make some special side dishes that will help fill their plates. This casserole is a sure-fire way to satisfy any non-meat eaters at your table. You only need six ingredients and about ten minutes of prep time to get this going.
12. Slow Cooker Dinner Rolls
Using your Crockpot for dinner rolls is honestly a little bit genius when you stop and think about it. You can use the warm setting to speed up the proofing time, then simply switch it to high to bake them without ever moving a thing. Just remember to line the pot and give the paper a quick spray so the rolls don't stick.
13. Slow Cooker Beef Gravy
If you're making roast beef, I really hope you're using those pan drippings for the gravy. It's the absolute best way to capture all that flavor and make sure every bite is sensational. The best part? This gravy cooks up in about 30 minutes, which gives your meat plenty of time to rest before everything hits the table.
14. Slow Cooker Glazed Carrots
Brown sugar glazed carrots are so yummy that your guests will literally be fighting over the last spoonful. The caramel notes from the brown sugar combined with the silky richness of butter make them pretty close to perfect. A cozy little warmth from a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg pushes them right over the edge.
15. Slow Cooker Apple Cider
This recipe is truly a win-win. You get a batch of warm, spicy, cozy apple cider, and your whole house will smell absolutely unbelievable while it cooks. Store-bought cider can often be a little too sweet for my liking, so making it at home lets you control the sugar and spice. Plus, you can easily turn it into a grown-up treat by adding a splash of whiskey.
16. Red Cabbage and Apples
Red cabbage and apples are the perfect little sidekick for a pork roast. Not everyone is a fan of turkey, so I often like to have a smaller roast on the table too. These fresh, tangy flavors help the meaty pork pop, and that gorgeous red color will brighten up your whole spread. Feel free to tweak the sweet and sour balance here; my family loves it tangy, but you can easily add a bit more sugar if your crew prefers.
17. Crockpot Stuffing
There is nothing worse than spending all that time on a beautiful stuffing only to have it come out of the oven dry and tough. This recipe saves the day with a result that's moist and absolutely flavorful every single time. You'll want to soak your mixture just like you would for a bread pudding, leaving it overnight if you have the time. The gentle heat of the Crockpot keeps everything perfectly tender.
18. Crockpot Pecan Pie
I honestly didn't think this was going to work, so I even made a backup pie fully expecting a delicious mess in my slow cooker. Boy, was I wrong! It might not be the prettiest pie, since you can't really crimp those edges, but the crust comes out tender and perfectly cooked.
19. Slow Cooker Cinnamon Sugar Butternut Squash
I reach for butternut squash in my cooking all the time. It has that lovely color and flavor similar to pumpkin or sweet potatoes, but I find it holds its shape a little bit better. In this recipe, you cook the squash with a mix of brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Oh, and a very generous amount of butter.
20. Easy Slow Cooker Apple Crisp with Oatmeal
A fall favorite like apple crisp is always a safe bet for Thanksgiving. It's warm, filling, and has a great texture that I sometimes find apple pie is missing. To keep the topping from turning to mush, line the lid with paper towels to catch any condensation. If you want that extra-crisp topping, just pop it under the broiler for a few minutes once it's done baking.
21. Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
I love corn in every single form, but there's no side dish I crave more during the indulgent holidays than decadent creamed corn. Loaded with cream cheese, milk, butter, and sugar, this is definitely not a recipe for those watching their waistline. It's pure, creamy comfort food.
22. Mom’s Crockpot Broccoli Casserole
This clever casserole combines a few of my favorite things: broccoli, buttery crackers, and a super easy cleanup. You'll mix the veggies with a creamy soup and a generous helping of cheese. Then it gets topped with crushed crackers that soften as everything cooks, giving it that beautiful buttery flair.
23. No Boil Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Is it really a turkey dinner if there are no mashed potatoes on the table? I didn't think so. Whether you love them rustic and chunky or silky and smooth, the Crockpot has your back. This method uses broth instead of plain water to pack in a ton of savory flavor, and if you want them ultra-creamy, you can whip them with an immersion blender right in the pot with a splash of milk or cream.
24. Slow Cooker Apple Cake
Yes, I love pie, and yes, I'll be making more than one. But I also need variety on the dessert table! My Thanksgiving plate often looks like a little tasting menu from a fancy event. This cake is dense, moist, and absolutely bursting with apples. When you make the batter, you might panic thinking there isn't enough, but trust the process!