33 Thanksgiving Slow-Cooker Recipes (2024)

This year, don’t show up at the party empty handed. Whether it’s a family gathering, or a potluck at work, preparing the perfect Thanksgiving take-along doesn’t have to take a lot of time. In fact, here are 33 Thanksgiving Slow-Cooker Recipesthat will save you time and that taste amazing! Your friends and family will ‘gobble’ these up! Enjoy!

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1. There’s always room for more turkey, so bring this turkey breast of wonderand you’ll be a hero when it comes time to break out the after dinner sandwiches.

2. Love getting together but not the biggest fan of turkey? Check out this easy glazed ham. Delicious and a great alternative for the non-pultury-loving folk.

3. Candied pecan sweet potato casserole is a MUST HAVE at the Thanksgiving table. There’s never enough of this stuff for everyone.

4. When it comes to traditional sides, it’s hard to beat creamed corn. It’s like corn, but amplified with delicious sweet creaminess.

5. Before the feast everyone is going to look for something to munch on. To keep them away from the dinner goodies, you should make this spinach and artichoke dip.

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6. Everyone thinks they can make the perfect mashed potatoes, but the secret to yours is that you aren’t going to be spending an hour over a hot stove coaxing them to life.

7. Keep the kids happy this year with this slow-cooker mac and cheese. Want to make it even more fun? Crumble corn flakes on top before serving for a nice, crispy topping.

8. When it comes to Thanksgiving favorites, you can’t get much more Thanksgiving-y than green bean casserole.

9. Bring a dessert that’ll leave the custard fans in your life begging for more with this crustless pumpkin pie.

10. Do you love your stuffing sweet? Check out this awesome slow-cooker pear and sausage stuffing. It’s savory, sweet, complex, simple, basically it’s just about everything you want in a stuffing.

11. Make these candied pecans and they can be served as a side to garnish salads, soups, desserts and more.

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12. Anyone who is a fan of fall soups is going to love you to pieces when you bring in this homemade butternut squash soup, but only you’ll know how much effort it really took.

13. Speaking of soups, after the big day you should make this turkey and mashed potato chowder with the leftovers. It’s a great way to have dinner ready after you’ve hit up all the stores for Black Friday.

14. Thanksgiving morning, don’t leave your friends and family starving. Make this pumpkin bread. By using the slow-cooker, your stove is still free and they’ll still have something warm in their tummies until time for dinner.

15. Are you the designated drink-bringer of the office? Surprise everyone with this crock pot apple cider.

16. Glazed carrots are a delicious veggie choice for Thanksgiving meals because not only are they simple to make, they’re hard not to love.

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17. Do you prefer squash not in soup form? Check out this slow-cooker rosemary acorn squash. All the deliciousness of squash; none of the puree.

18. It’s super easy to get cranberry sauce out of the can. Know what else is super easy? This recipe for slow-cooker cranberry sauce.

19. Want another delicious after-Thanksgiving soup option? Check out this turkey barley soup. Hearty and tasty. What’s not to love?

20. Maybe you need pumpkin for pies, or soup, or who-knows-what-else, but did you know the easiest way to cook it is right in your slow cooker?

21. Not a fan of mashed? Bring these scalloped potatoes and the other guests will appreciate having more than one potato option!

22. Any daughter of the south knows that greens go great with any meal…especially big family meals. These collard greens and ham will Definitely hit the spot.

23.Have some picky eaters who have very set ideas of what foods should be served for Thanksgiving? Make this traditional stuffing recipe and you’ll send them home happy.

24. Corn casserole is something your friends and family will crave after you present them with this version on Thanksgiving day!

25. After the big meal, when everyone is sitting around full and happy, perk them up with this pumpkin spice latte.

26. Be the dessert hero everyone knows you to be with this pumpkin cobbler. It’s like pie, but without the crust.

27. Give your veggie-loving friends something to talk about with these slow-cooker balsamic brussels sprouts.

28. Bring something totally unexpected (and delicious) with these garlic herb mushrooms. They’re a perfect side because they won’t overpower the meal and just a few will wow anyone who tries them.

29. If you’ve been relocated to bread duty because your peeps don’t think you’ll come through with anything better, surprise them all with these fresh-made apple butter yeast rolls.

30. Another fan favorite is sausage and apple stuffing. Not too sweet, not too savory, just right for those who want to be daring…but not too much.

31. Check out this turkey leg with honey garlic glaze recipe if you’re looking for a way to wow those non-traditionalists this year.

32.If you aren’t a fan of candied sweet potatoes, theseslow-cooker sweet potatoesmight be your better option.

33. If you and your family plan to play games Thanksgiving evening instead of rushing out to the stores, you should bring along this maple pumpkin spice Chex mix. It’s a great munch for those who just can’t eat another slice of pie.

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33 Thanksgiving Slow-Cooker Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you make slow cooker meals taste better? ›

If you take an extra 10 minutes to sauté the aromatics before scraping them into the slow-cooker, the finished dish will have deeper flavor and better texture. (And some new slow-cookers allow you to sauté right in the insert, so you don't have to wash a separate skillet.)

Why do my slow cooker meals go watery? ›

But because there is no evaporation, the liquid isn't able to reduce and thicken naturally in a slow cooker, often resulting in watery sauces and loose gravies. The common solution? Using a thickener. But not just any old thickener will do.

Does the size of the slow cooker affect the cooking time? ›

Size of your Slow Cooker

When troubleshooting a meal-gone-wrong, often our first question is “How big is your slow cooker?” The size of your crockpot can affect the outcome of your meal. If your crockpot is smaller than what we recommend, you may need to cook your meal a little longer.

What goes in slow cooker first? ›

Place firm, slow-cooking root vegetables like potatoes and carrots at the bottom of the crock and pile the meat on top. Set the heat level: A general rule of thumb is that cooking on the low setting (170 degrees F for most models) takes about twice as long as cooking on high (280 degrees F on most models).

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
  1. Raw Meat.
  2. Seafood.
  3. Pasta.
  4. Rice.
  5. Delicate Vegetables.
  6. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
  7. Dairy.
  8. Wine and Other Liquor.
Jan 19, 2024

Can I overcook food in a slow cooker? ›

Keeping the slow-cooker on the high setting for that long may result in overcooked, dried-out food.” Now that you've gotten the basics of how to use your slow cooker, you'll want to level up your chef skills and maximize your flavor from each dish.

What thickens slow cooker? ›

Cornstarch, potato starch, and chickpea flour are a couple of pantry-friendly ways to thicken soups, stews, and sauces in the slow cooker. Just a tablespoon or two of any — added towards the end of cooking — will thicken sauces especially well.

Does taking the lid off a slow cooker thicken the sauce? ›

Take the lid off

Place the cooker on a high setting, and open the lid for 30-45 minutes to let excess moisture cook off. The liquid will reduce, leaving you with a thick and delicious gravy or sauce. (Tip: This trick can also be applied for thickening stews, or when you've accidentally added too much liquid.)

What is too full for a slow cooker? ›

To ensure proper cooking, it is important to fill your slow cooker with the appropriate amount of food. Aim for between half and two-thirds full. If the cooker is too full, the food may not cook evenly and could end up being undercooked. On the other hand, if the cooker is not full enough, the food may overcook.

Is 4 hours high slow cooker enough? ›

If a dish usually takes: 15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low. 1-2 hours, cook it for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low.

What are the 3 settings on a slow cooker? ›

On all CrockPot units you have usually three temperature settings. I for Low, II for High and the last symbol (it may be in the form of "squiggly lines" that look like elongated SS) is the Warm setting. On the Warm setting, your slow cooker will achieve 165-175°F.

Do potatoes go on top or bottom of meat in crockpot? ›

Slow cooker recipes have (obviously) long cook times, and it's the meat—not the carrots—that benefit from it. By placing the protein at the bottom (closest to the heating element), and vegetables at the top, you can keep your plant parts a little more toothsome, while ensuring your meat is fall-apart tender.

When should I add potatoes to slow cooker? ›

Tender vegetables such as zucchini and beans can be added to your dish in last ¾ - 1 hour of cooking when cooking on High, or 2 hours if cooking on Low. Hard, starchy vegetables like potato and carrots are best added around 3 hours before the meal is done if cooking on High, and 4 hours on Low.

Why do vegetables not cook in slow cooker? ›

Not enough liquid: Slow cookers rely on moist heat to soften food. If you don't have enough liquid in the pot, the carrots won't cook evenly and may stay tough. Aim for at least a cup or two of liquid, enough to reach about a third of the way up on the ingredients.

Why do my slow cooker meals taste bland? ›

Under seasoning your food

If you don't add enough salt, you risk having your food taste bland — but over-salting can make things taste, well, way too salty. When you're cooking on the stovetop, you are usually seasoning your ingredients as you sauté or fry.

Why is my slow cooker food tasteless? ›

One thing I've found really helpful is to add the onions, garlic, and herbs near the end of the cooking time. That way they're not flavorless mush. For example, with beans, I add them in the last half hour on high.

How do you add flavor to bland stew in a slow cooker? ›

Cooking the onions, garlic and other aromatics in the fond ensures that flavour makes it to the slow cooker. If you're adding wine, it won't get hot enough in the slow cooker to cook off the alcohol. This can leave your stew with an unpleasant taste.

How can I make my cooking more flavorful? ›

Seasoning Tips for Improving Flavor
  1. Drop (salt for) acid. ...
  2. Use coarse salt when seasoning meat. ...
  3. Pep up—or tone down—your pepper. ...
  4. Season cold foods aggressively. ...
  5. Incorporate fresh herbs at the right time. ...
  6. Add a little umami. ...
  7. Make adjustments when seasonings go awry. ...
  8. Add a finishing touch.

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