Thanksgiving in a Slow Cooker: 13 Crock Pot Recipes for a Stress-Free Holiday (2024)

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Save yourself from the chaos that is all too common in Thanksgiving cooking! Toss the traditional kitchen frenzy out the window and let your trusty slow cooker do the heavy lifting. Picture this: a Thanksgiving where you’re not darting around the kitchen like a contestant on a cooking show, but actually kicking back and enjoying the holiday.

Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole

Make your green bean casserole in the crock pot to save precious oven space this Thanksgiving. This method makes the classic dish nearly effortless, allowing you more time to enjoy the holiday. Just mix, set, and let the slow cooker do its magic.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole

Crockpot Cornbread Dressing with Bacon

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Transform your dressing into a must-have side with this Crockpot cornbread dressing with bacon. It’s an easy way to get that moist, flavorful stuffing everyone craves, with the bonus of crispy bacon bits. A perfect blend of convenience and taste for your Thanksgiving table.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Cornbread Dressing with Bacon

Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

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Who needs an oven when you have a Crock Pot for your sweet potato casserole? It’s a classic Thanksgiving dish made easy, with sweet potatoes melding with brown sugar, topped with gooey marshmallows and crunchy pecans. A hassle-free side that tastes like holiday tradition.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

Slow Cooker Boneless Turkey Breast

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For a smaller Thanksgiving gathering, a slow cooker boneless turkey breast is a game-changer. It’s juicy, tender, and even comes with its own gravy. This method frees up your oven and your time, making your holiday dinner prep a breeze.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Boneless Turkey Breast

5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce

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Ditch the canned stuff and easily whip up your own cranberry sauce in the slow cooker. With just five simple ingredients, it’s a fuss-free way to add a homemade touch to your Thanksgiving table. Let the slow cooker work its magic while you focus on other preparations.
Get the Recipe: 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce

Crock Pot Creamed Corn

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Let your Crock Pot take the lead with this creamy, dreamy creamed corn. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it kind of dish that brings a sweet, velvety side to your Thanksgiving spread. Effortless and delicious, it’s a side dish that practically makes itself.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Creamed Corn

Crock Pot Chicken and Stuffing

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Simplify your Thanksgiving with this all-in-one Crock Pot chicken and stuffing. Juicy chicken paired with flavorful stuffing, it’s a hearty meal that combines ease with tradition. Ideal for a low-key, delicious holiday without the usual kitchen chaos.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken and Stuffing

Slow Cooker Roasted Potatoes

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Achieve the perfect roasted potatoes with minimal effort using your slow cooker. They come out tender and flavorful, making for an excellent side dish that complements any Thanksgiving meal. Just set them in the slow cooker and let them roast to perfection.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Roasted Potatoes

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

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This Crock Pot Mac and Cheese recipe turns a favorite comfort food into a no-fuss Thanksgiving side. Just set it and forget it, and you’re rewarded with creamy, cheesy perfection. It’s a kid favorite that allows you to focus on other dishes while it cooks itself to perfection.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

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Bring the comfort of a warm broccoli cheddar soup to your Thanksgiving table with your Crock Pot. Rich, cheesy, and effortless, it’s a warm, welcoming start to your feast. A beloved favorite that’s easy to make and even easier to love.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Southern Green Beans

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Turn green beans into a Southern delicacy with this slow cooker recipe. Smoked pork hock and bacon add depth and richness, transforming a simple side into a standout dish. It’s a hearty, flavorful addition to any Thanksgiving spread, and it’s all done in the Crock Pot.
Get the Recipe: Southern Green Beans

Slow Cooker Butternut Soup

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Embrace the flavors of fall with a comforting bowl of slow cooker butternut soup. Creamy, warming, and full of seasonal goodness, it’s a stress-free starter for your Thanksgiving feast. Let your Crock Pot do the work and serve up some autumn delight.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Butternut Soup

Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork

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Make something different this Thanksgiving with this slow cooker cranberry pork. It’s a unique, flavorful main dish that marries the tanginess of cranberry with succulent pork, all with minimal effort. A delightful twist on traditional holiday flavors that’s sure to impress.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork

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Thanksgiving in a Slow Cooker: 13 Crock Pot Recipes for a Stress-Free Holiday (2024)

FAQs

How safe is it to leave a slow cooker on all day? ›

Are slow cookers safe to leave on? Yes, it's safe to leave a slow cooker on when you leave the house. The purpose of a slow cooker is to allow you to cook while you aren't home. Slow cookers simmer food slowly, killing bacteria and raising meat to the perfect internal temperature.

Is it safe to cook a turkey in a slow cooker on low? ›

Then turn the cooker to "Low," if desired (or continue cooking on High). Do not remove the cover during cooking. It can take 20 to 25 minutes to regain the lost steam and temperature if the cover is removed. Make sure the turkey reaches 165 °F as measured with a food thermometer.

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Can crock pot cook on low all day? ›

However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting. It's safe to cook foods on low the entire time -- if you're leaving for work, for example, and preparation time is limited. While food is cooking and once it's done, food will stay safe as long as the cooker is operating.

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What makes a slow cooker special? ›

Slow cookers are less energy intensive than conventional electric ovens, and therefore more economical. They also offer a healthier, low-fat way of cooking and often preserve more nutrients than other methods like baking, boiling and frying. For inspiration, check out our collection of healthy slow cooker recipes.

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Can you leave something in the CrockPot for 12 hours? ›

Most slow cooker meals take 8-12 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high, but there are also recipes for slow-cooked meat that take up to 24 hours. If you want to avoid overcooking your dish, follow the given guidelines as closely as possible.

Is there a difference between a slow cooker and a crock pot? ›

A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker. Crockpot popularized slow cookers when they launched their version in the 1970s.

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 is the best meat to cook in a slow cooker? ›

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

What size slow cooker for 2 adults? ›

If you're cooking for yourself or for only two people, a 2 1/2 to 3 1/2-quart slow cooker might be large enough.

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Do you have to brown stew meat before slow cooking? ›

"Browning, or caramelizing, meat before putting it into a slow cooker isn't 100 percent necessary, but it is well worth the effort for the most flavorful and full-bodied end result," he says. "The caramelized surface of the meat will lend rich flavor and color to the finished dish."

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How long is too long to leave a slow cooker on? ›

It's generally safe to leave a slow cooker on for 12 hours—that's what they're made for. That said, follow all safety rules. I had old cookers I'd keep an eye on more.

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What happens if I leave my slow cooker on too long? ›

“Keeping the slow-cooker on the high setting for that long may result in overcooked, dried-out food.”

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Is it safe to leave slow cooker on for 10 hours? ›

Yes, if you use them correctly. The slow cooker cooks foods slowly at a low temperature, generally between 170 and 280 degrees F, over several hours. The combination of direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking and steam, destroys bacteria making the slow cooker a safe process for cooking foods.

Thanksgiving in a Slow Cooker: 13 Crock Pot Recipes for a Stress-Free Holiday (2024)

Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole

Crockpot Cornbread Dressing with Bacon

Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

Slow Cooker Boneless Turkey Breast

5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce

Crock Pot Creamed Corn

Crock Pot Chicken and Stuffing

Slow Cooker Roasted Potatoes

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Southern Green Beans

Slow Cooker Butternut Soup

Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork

Pin for Later

FAQs

How safe is it to leave a slow cooker on all day? ›

Is there a difference between a slow cooker and a crock pot? ›

References