With all the holiday cooking do you think you could handle more holiday traffic when you have guests over? Well then I have the answer for you! It’s the crockpot! These 23 recipes will help you get the cooking done right while you wrap presents, referee your kids, and with any luck have a bit of holiday fun yourself! These are the kind of holiday cooking we all need!
Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus a little encouragement and inspiration from me, straight to your inbox.
1) Creamy Garlic Chicken
Go ahead and pat yourself on the back for preparing the chicken dinner. In reality, you put little effort into it because it only required you to walk away for four hours.
Five simple dinners. One grocery list.
No recipe hunting, no messy shopping notes, no complicated chef projects. Just family dinners that fit real weeks.
Ingredients
Method
- Place chicken breasts in the crockpot and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Scatter the minced garlic over the chicken and pour in the chicken broth.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Stir in the heavy cream, butter, and Parmesan, then cover and cook 20 more minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Spoon the creamy garlic sauce over the chicken and serve hot.
Notes
2) Spiced Apple Cider
No need to get on a plane, because the second you add this to the slow cooker, your entire home will smell like a Christmas market!
Ingredients
Method
- Pour the apple cider into the crockpot.
- Add the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and brown sugar.
- Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.
- Stir, then strain out the whole spices and orange slices before serving.
- Ladle into mugs and serve warm, garnishing with a fresh cinnamon stick if you like.
Notes
3) Savory Beef Brisket
I only use the slow and low method for making brisket and with a crockpot, it's pretty much idiot proof.
Ingredients
Method
- Rub the brisket all over with smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Layer the sliced onions across the bottom of the crockpot and set the brisket on top.
- Whisk together the beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire, and garlic, then pour it over the brisket.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, until the meat is fork-tender.
- Transfer the brisket to a cutting board, slice against the grain, and spoon the onion gravy over the top to serve.
Notes
4) Honey-Glazed Ham
Yes! Christmas ham can be done without the hassle of an oven! The crockpot keeps it juicy and the glaze does the showing off!
Ingredients
Method
- Place the spiral ham cut-side down in the crockpot.
- Whisk together the honey, brown sugar, pineapple juice, Dijon, and cloves.
- Pour the glaze evenly over the ham, working some between the slices.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, basting with the glaze once or twice if you can.
- Transfer to a platter and spoon the thickened glaze over the slices before serving.
Notes
5) Butternut Squash Soup
This one is super easy to make and is going to feel like a hug in a bowl. It's silky and gold!
Ingredients
Method
- Add the squash, apple, onion, broth, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt to the crockpot.
- Cover and cook on low for 5 hours, until the squash is completely soft.
- Stir in the coconut milk.
- Puree directly in the crockpot with an immersion blender until smooth and creamy.
- Ladle into bowls and serve warm with a swirl of extra coconut milk.
Notes
6) Maple Bourbon Sweet Potatoes
These are the sweet potatoes that everyone fights over at the table, and they are so easy to make.
Ingredients
Method
- Add the cubed sweet potatoes to the crockpot.
- Whisk together the maple syrup, bourbon, melted butter, cinnamon, and salt, then pour over the potatoes and toss to coat.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the top and gently stir.
- Serve warm, spooning the glaze from the bottom over each portion.
Notes
7) White Chocolate Bread Pudding
A dessert that cooks itself while you have dinner upstairs? The slow cooker has definitely earned its keep again.
Ingredients
Method
- Grease the crockpot and add the cubed brioche and white chocolate chips.
- Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, and salt.
- Pour the custard evenly over the bread and press down so it soaks in.
- Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, until the center is set and no longer jiggly.
- Let it cool for 15 minutes, then scoop warm and drizzle with extra cream sauce.
Notes
8) Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake
A cheesecake made in a crockpot is like magic! You get creamy slices without any cracks, every single time!
Ingredients
Method
- Stir the graham crumbs and melted butter together, then press into the bottom of a greased springform pan that fits your crockpot.
- Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth, then mix in the pumpkin, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla.
- Pour the batter over the crust and cover the pan loosely with foil.
- Set the pan on a foil ring inside the crockpot, add an inch of water around it, cover, and cook on high for 2.5 hours.
- Turn off the heat, let the cheesecake cool, then chill in the fridge at least 4 hours before slicing.
Notes
9) Chestnut Stuffing
Save your oven space for the turkey and let the slow cooker do the work for the stuffing.
Ingredients
Method
- Saute the onion and celery in the butter until soft, about 5 minutes.
- In the greased crockpot, combine the bread cubes, chestnuts, and the sauteed vegetables.
- Pour in the broth and sprinkle with sage, salt, and pepper, then toss until evenly moistened.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, stirring once halfway through.
- Fluff with a fork and serve warm.
Notes
10) Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
Even people who usually do not like Brussels sprouts love them when they are glazed with sweet-and-sour balsamic sauce.
Ingredients
Method
- Add the halved Brussels sprouts to the crockpot.
- Whisk together the balsamic, maple syrup, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the glaze over the sprouts and toss until well coated.
- Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, stirring once, until the sprouts are tender.
- Toss again to coat in the reduced glaze and serve warm.
Notes
11) Orange-Cranberry Sauce
I promise that once you make cranberry sauce in the crockpot, you will never go back to the canned stuff.
Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus a little encouragement and inspiration from me, straight to your inbox.
Ingredients
Method
- Add the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, orange zest, water, and cinnamon stick to the crockpot.
- Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, until the cranberries burst and soften.
- Remove the cinnamon stick and mash to your preferred consistency.
- Let it cool, then chill before serving — it thickens as it sits.
Notes
12) Cinnamon Roll French Toast
Set up your Christmas breakfast the night before so it’s ready when the kids stampede downstairs!
Ingredients
Method
- Grease the slow cooker and add the quartered cinnamon-roll pieces, reserving the icing tubs.
- Whisk together the eggs, cream, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla.
- Pour the mixture over the cinnamon-roll pieces and toss gently to coat.
- Cover and cook on LOW for about 3 hours, until the center is set and reaches 160°F.
- Warm the reserved icing and drizzle it over the top before serving.
Notes
13) Eggnog Bread Pudding
Eggnog desserts are the reason you have that leftover eggnog.
Ingredients
Method
- Grease the crockpot and add the cubed challah and raisins.
- Whisk together the eggnog, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and nutmeg.
- Pour the custard over the bread and press down to soak it through.
- Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, until the center is set.
- Cool slightly, then scoop warm and dust with extra nutmeg.
Notes
14) Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Having a crockpot full of peppermint hot cocoa is like having a hug station at the party.
Ingredients
Method
- Add the milk, cream, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, and sugar to the crockpot.
- Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, whisking occasionally, until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth.
- Stir in the peppermint extract.
- Whisk well to combine and keep on the warm setting for serving.
- Ladle into mugs and top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes.
Notes
15) Gingerbread Pudding Cake
Magic of the slow cooker! It creates an entire bottom layer of warm sauce while cooking.
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk together the flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and baking powder in the greased crockpot.
- Stir in the molasses, milk, and melted butter to form a thick batter and spread it evenly.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar over the batter, then gently pour the hot water over everything without stirring.
- Cover and cook on high for 2.5 hours, until the top is set and a sauce forms below.
- Scoop warm, making sure to spoon up the caramel sauce from the bottom.
Notes
16) Roasted Red Pepper Dip
Get this dip ready before guests show up and it'll be the first thing to disappear from the snack table.
Ingredients
Method
- Add the roasted red peppers, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic, sour cream, and paprika to the crockpot.
- Stir to combine as much as you can.
- Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring once halfway through.
- Stir well until the dip is smooth and bubbly.
- Keep on warm and serve with crackers, bread, or veggies.
Notes
17) Rosemary Pork Tenderloin
An elegant main may appear like it takes a lot of effort, but it really just needs a decent rub and a few hours of your time.
Ingredients
Method
- Rub the pork tenderloin all over with olive oil, rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Place the tenderloin in the crockpot and whisk the broth with the Dijon, then pour it around the meat.
- Cover and cook on low for 5 hours, until the pork is tender and reaches at least 145F.
- Transfer the pork to a board and let it rest 10 minutes before slicing.
- Slice and serve with rosemary pan juices.
Notes
18) Holiday Mulled Wine
A slow cooker keeps mulled wine nice & cozy for an entire party!
Ingredients
Method
- Pour the red wine into the crockpot.
- Add the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and honey.
- Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, keeping it below a simmer so it doesn't boil off.
- Stir in the brandy just before serving.
- Strain out the spices and ladle the warm mulled wine into mugs.
Notes
19) Mint Chocolate Lava Cake
Your slow cooker creates the dramatic effect of a gooey center, and combined with a cool minty edge, you have a delicious molten chocolate cake.
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the flour, 1 cup sugar, half the cocoa powder, and baking powder in the greased crockpot.
- Stir in the milk, melted butter, and peppermint extract until smooth, then fold in the mint chocolate chips.
- Sprinkle the remaining cocoa powder and 1/2 cup sugar over the top, then gently pour the hot water over everything without stirring.
- Cover and cook on high for 2.5 hours, until the top is set and a molten layer forms below.
- Scoop warm with the gooey center and serve immediately.
Notes
20) Herbed Butter Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are an incredible holiday hosting miracle because they are quick and easy to make and can be kept warm for hours!
Ingredients
Method
- Add the cubed potatoes and chicken broth to the crockpot.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, until the potatoes are completely fork-tender.
- Add the butter and warm cream, then mash directly in the crockpot until smooth.
- Fold in the chives, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Keep on the warm setting until ready to serve, stirring in a splash more cream if needed.
Notes
21) Cherry Chocolate Cobbler
Fudgy chocolate, warm cherries, and a soft top cobbler all without turning the oven on.
Ingredients
Method
- Spread the cherry pie filling across the bottom of the greased crockpot and sprinkle the chocolate chips over it.
- Whisk together the flour, sugar, milk, melted butter, baking powder, and vanilla into a batter.
- Spoon the batter evenly over the cherries.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours, until the topping is set and cooked through.
- Scoop warm with plenty of cherry-chocolate layer from underneath.
Notes
22) Sausage and Spinach Tortellini
When you need a meal that doesn't take a ton of prep and clean up work, this cheesy tortellini meal is perfect and requires a ton of minimal effort.
Ingredients
Method
- Brown the Italian sausage in a skillet, then add it to the crockpot with the marinara, broth, and garlic.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
- Stir in the tortellini, cover, and cook 30 more minutes until tender.
- Add the spinach, cream, and Parmesan, stirring until the spinach wilts.
- Serve hot with extra Parmesan on top.
Notes
23) Pomegranate-Glazed Chicken
Fancy yet effortless to make, this chicken will give your holiday table some serious sparkle!
Ingredients
Method
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and arrange them in the crockpot.
- Whisk together the pomegranate juice, honey, balsamic, garlic, and thyme, then pour over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 5 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Transfer the chicken to a platter and pour the cooking liquid into a pan to simmer into a glossy glaze.
- Brush the glaze over the chicken and scatter with fresh pomegranate arils to serve.
