19 Holiday Slow Cooker Recipes

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

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! Check out this recipe

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. Check out this recipe 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. Check out this recipe Crockpot Apple Butter Crockpot apple butter is the tastiest fall treat! No sugar added, thick and buttery, with pure, concentrated apple flavor.  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. Check out this recipe 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. Check out this recipe Slow Cooker Chai Tea Latte This slow cooker chai tea latte is the perfect after dinner drink for the holidays. Keto-friendly and alcohol-free, but full of delicious soul-warming flavor! 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! Check out this recipe Slow Cooker Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries, Pecans and Butternut Make the holidays easier with these slow cooker Brussels 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. Check out this recipe Ultra Creamy Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes Ultra creamy crock pot sweet potatoes are the most effortless recipe you'll ever make! 5 minutes prep, and works great for meal prep! Plus 3 delicious ways to stuff them. 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! Check out this recipe 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! Check out this recipe 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! Check out this recipe 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! Check out this recipe 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. Check out this recipe 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! Check out this recipe

 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 the perfect hands off dinner for your holiday table! Only a handful of ingredients and only ten minutes prep work required. 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. Check out this recipe Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork Loin Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork loin is slow-cooked tender pork loin with onion soup mix and whole cranberry sauce. Check out this recipe