Work smarter, not harder, this Thanksgiving by relying on one of our favorite kitchen gadgets: the slow cooker. Your corn pudding or mashed potatoes cook away inside, freeing up the stovetop and oven. Plus, your food stays warm and moist inside until it’s time to serve. Find a few of our top picks for slow-cooker recipes below.
Green Bean Casserole
Few Thanksgiving tables are complete without America’s favorite veggie casserole! The Magical Slow Cooker shows you how to move this classic from the oven to the slow cooker, using only green beans (canned works great), cream of mushroom soup, milk, onion powder, pepper, and those crunchy, irresistible fried onions. This is the ultimate in low effort for big payoff!
Sweet Potato Casserole
This indulgent sweet potato casserole from Show Me the Yummy is dangerously delicious. It’s the perfect dish to keep warm in the slow cooker throughout the entire evening. The pecan topping adds some nice sweetness and crunch.
Corn Bread
This corn bread from Fuss Free Flavours is a unique alternative to rolls on your Thanksgiving table. It’s easy to make ahead of time, so you can free up your slow cooker for the next side dish!
Collard Greens with Ham Hocks
Properly cooked collard greens can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. But this side from Southern Living cooks with ham hocks in your slow cooker so you focus on other things. Still, perfection takes time, so be sure to start the collard greens in the morning or—better yet—the day before!
Cranberry Sauce with Port and Orange
It’s easy to grab a couple cans of cranberry sauce at the grocery store and call it a day. However, this slow-cooker method from New York Times Cooking is much more deserving of a spot on your Thanksgiving table. With just five ingredients, this cranberry sauce bursts with the flavors of fresh orange zest and a splash of good Port. It also makes for great leftovers you can enjoy the entire week.
Creamed Corn
You’ll definitely want to try this incredibly easy corn dish from Damn Delicious! Toss everything in the slow cooker, then don’t even think about it again until it’s time to eat. This is the epitome of comfort food without any of the mess.
Rich and Creamy Mashed Potatoes
In this Goodtaste original recipe, the potatoes cook low and slow in the milk, cream, and aromatics until the potatoes are super tender and have absorbed the flavor of the cooking liquid. Mash them right in the slow cooker or use a potato ricer for a smoother texture.
Cranberry Pecan Stuffing
Change up your Thanksgiving dressing this year with this sweet and savory stuffing from The Creative Bite that will add a little something extra to your table but not extra pots on your stove. We usually only have stuffing once a year, so why not make it special with leeks, cranberries, and pecans.
Pecan Pie
Last but certainly not least, this low-maintenance approach to pecan pie is a new holiday must! This recipe from Spicy Southern Kitchen has the complex sweetness and nutty bite that we love about pecan pie, but it ditches the mess. Before serving, allow the pie to cool completely for an easier cut. Top with vanilla ice cream, pair it with a hot cup of coffee … then sneak another slice for breakfast the next morning!
Leave a Reply