When the holidays roll around, the kitchen can quickly turn into a juggling act of main dishes, sides, and desserts all competing for oven space. That's where your crockpot steps in as the ultimate holiday helper. With its set-it-and-forget-it simplicity, you can prepare comforting, flavorful side dishes while freeing up valuable space and time for everything else on your menu.
From creamy mashed potatoes and savory stuffing to sweet-tart cranberry sauce and cheesy casseroles, these crockpot side dishes take the stress out of cooking for a crowd. Whether you're hosting the family feast or contributing a dish to a potluck, these recipes make it easy to serve up holiday comfort without spending all day in the kitchen.
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1. Perfect Garlic Herb Slow Cooker Roast Potatoes
These slow cooker roast potatoes are the perfect low-effort side dish - simple to make yet full of hearty, savory flavor. Just toss them in the slow cooker and let it do all the work!
2. Slow Cooker Butternut Squash and Apples
No space left in your oven? No worries! This simple yet delicious side dish comes to the rescue! Perfect for when you need something quick, easy, and full of flavor.
3. Slow Cooker Olive Bread Recipe
No kneading needed! This recipe is a simple and delicious way to enjoy fresh, homemade bread. You'll love how easy it is to make from start to finish!
Many of these recipes can be made a day ahead and warmed in the slow cooker right before serving. It's a great way to reduce last-minute prep stress and keep dishes perfectly warm throughout the meal!
4. Slow Cooker Quinoa
This easy slow cooker quinoa recipe guarantees perfectly fluffy quinoa every time. It's a simple, foolproof way to prepare a healthy base for any meal!
5. Crock Pot Bread with Garlic and Parmesan
Crusty, flavorful, and wonderfully fresh, this bread is as easy as it gets! With just a few simple ingredients and no kneading required, you can enjoy bakery-quality bread straight from your own kitchen.
6. Slow Cooker Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
This Slow Cooker Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole is easy to put together and loaded with delicious flavor. It's a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish that's perfect for any occasion!
7. Meatless Southern Green Beans In Slow Cooker
Meatless Southern Green Beans make a delicious and comforting side dish. They're perfectly tender just the way Southern green beans should be. No crunch here, just rich flavor and soft, melt in your mouth goodness.
8. Easy 3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs
These Easy 3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs are slow cooked to perfection in a sweet and tangy cranberry barbecue sauce. Simply toss everything into your crockpot and let it do the work - perfect for effortless holiday entertaining!
These cranberry meatballs can also be used as an appetizer. Find even more crowd-pleasing appetizer ideas in my 50 Super Easy Appetizer Recipes - perfect for parties, holidays, or last-minute get-togethers!
9. Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
The easiest Slow Cooker Creamed Corn recipe! This dump-and-go CrockPot side is a comforting Southern classic everyone will love.
10. Slow Cooker Green Beans, Potatoes, and Sausage Recipe
If you're a fan of easy slow cooker meals, you'll love this Green Beans, Potatoes, and Sausage recipe. Simple, hearty, and full of flavor.
11. Slow Cooker Sausage Stuffing
Whip up an easy Slow Cooker Sausage Stuffing right in your crockpot! Perfect for a hands-off, flavorful side dish everyone will love.
12. Macro Friendly White Chicken Chili
This creamy, protein-packed white chicken chili combines chicken, white beans, and cottage cheese for a macro-friendly meal. Made with simple ingredients, it's ready in under 30 minutes on the stove or in a slow cooker.
Kristin's Kitchen Tip
Line your slow cooker with a disposable liner or lightly spray it with cooking spray before adding ingredients. Cleanup will be a breeze, and you'll have one less dish to wash after your holiday feast.
13. Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes
Make Thanksgiving easier with these Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes! After just 4 hours in the crockpot, they're ready to be mashed and tossed in a rich brown sugar butter sauce that everyone will love. This simple, delicious recipe might just become your new favorite side dish!
14. Easy Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Soup
This Easy Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Soup is a semi-homemade, cozy meal made with simple ingredients. Hearty and delicious, it's perfect for chilly fall days or winter nights. No wonder it's trending on TikTok!
15. Mississippi Pot Roast
You won't find a more delicious pot roast than Mississippi Pot Roast! With just five ingredients and minimal prep, this tender, juicy roast is bursting with savory, tangy gravy. Whether made in the oven, Instant Pot, or slow cooker, it's comfort food at its finest.
16. One-Pot, 30-Minute, Rich and Creamy Crab Soup
This One-Pot Crab Soup brings together sweet crab meat, savory broth, and warming spices into a comforting meal. Perfect for blustery nights or a quick weeknight seafood fix, it delivers rich coastal flavors with minimal effort.
If you would like some side dish ideas you can make in your oven, you should also check out these Holiday Casseroles Everyone Will Love for delicious dishes that will please all your guests!
17. Sweet and Tangy Crock Pot Meatballs
These crock pot meatballs are a game-day favorite, perfectly balancing sweet and tangy flavors. With just 3 ingredients and your slow cooker, they're the easiest appetizer to serve!
18. Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes are a rich, creamy, and effortless side dish perfect for busy weeknights or holiday dinners. Made with just russet potatoes, butter, heavy cream, sour cream, and a pinch of salt, they're comfort food made easy!
19. Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce
This Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce is an easy, flavorful side that adds a sweet-tart punch to any meal. Made with frozen cranberries, orange zest, and a touch of cinnamon, it cooks effortlessly in your slow cooker. Perfect for the holidays, it frees up your stovetop while still delivering big flavor.
Getting ready for Thanksgiving? Don't forget the star of the show! Find out how to thaw a turkey safely and easily so it's ready to cook when you need it.
20. Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Velveeta
This Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Velvet is creamy, cheesy, and irresistibly comforting. Made with Velveeta, sharp cheddar, and whole milk, it's the ultimate hands-off comfort food.
21. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
This Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is tender, juicy, and bursting with sweet and tangy BBQ flavors. It's an effortless comfort food that's perfect for any meal or get-together!
22. Slow Cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes
This Slow Cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe is creamy, flavorful, and perfect for making ahead. It stays warm in the slow cooker, saving oven space and letting you focus on the rest of your meal.
23. Slow Cooker Red Cabbage
Slow Cooker Red Cabbage is a slightly sweet and tangy German-style dish made effortlessly in just a few hours. It's simple, healthy, and packed with flavor that the whole family will enjoy!
24. Vegan Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup
This smoky, hearty vegan black bean soup is full of bold flavors and comes together effortlessly in a slow cooker. Using canned beans, it's a perfect nourishing meal for busy days - no soaking or long cooking required.
25. Easy Slow Cooker Chicken With Greek Yogurt Marinade
Picture tender chicken marinating in Greek yogurt, cooking slowly while you tackle your day. Easy, delicious, and perfect for busy families!
Need a dessert?
Festive breads, muffins, and loaves can be used to craft beautiful and tasty dessert trays, or wrap them in pretty cellophane and use them as hostess gifts when attending holiday parties!
In the whirlwind of celebrating the holidays, the slow cooker can be a lifesaver. With these crockpot side dishes on your holiday menu, you can enjoy more of what matters most - good food and time with loved ones. Each recipe offers warm, comforting flavor with almost no hands-on work required. So plug in that slow cooker, take a deep breath, and let it handle the heavy lifting this holiday season.
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Happy cooking!
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