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Oven space management might be the greatest challenge of the holiday season, but your crock pot can be the solution. From dinner rolls to the main dish, these flavorful slow-cooker recipes free up the oven for the dishes that need it most. Make cozy sides like our Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole with Bourbon Pecans or flavorful main courses like our Slow-Cooker Balsamic Short Ribs, for a delicious Christmas dinner spread of your dreams.
01of 21Spinach Artichoke DipThis creamy, crowd-pleasing dip comes together with ease in your crock pot. Leave it in the slow cooker all party long to keep it warm for serving, with perfect, melty cheese in every bite.View Recipe
01of 21
Spinach Artichoke Dip
This creamy, crowd-pleasing dip comes together with ease in your crock pot. Leave it in the slow cooker all party long to keep it warm for serving, with perfect, melty cheese in every bite.
View Recipe
02of 21Balsamic Short RibsHere, we use the slow cooker and a flavorful balsamic sauce to make a subtly sweet and savory dish that elevates tender short ribs to a holiday-worthy dinner.View Recipe
02of 21
Balsamic Short Ribs
Here, we use the slow cooker and a flavorful balsamic sauce to make a subtly sweet and savory dish that elevates tender short ribs to a holiday-worthy dinner.
03of 21Apple CrispLet your Crock-Pot do the work for this easy slow-cooker apple crisp. It tastes just like a classic apple crisp, with the apple combination adding a sweet and tart balance in each bite. It’s sure to become a new fall favorite.View Recipe
03of 21
Apple Crisp
Let your Crock-Pot do the work for this easy slow-cooker apple crisp. It tastes just like a classic apple crisp, with the apple combination adding a sweet and tart balance in each bite. It’s sure to become a new fall favorite.
04of 21Sweet Potato Casserole with Bourbon PecansJohnny AutryCooking the sweet potatoes in a slow cooker frees up space on the stove if you’re cooking a big holiday dinner—plus you can serve it straight from the crock if you’d like.View Recipe
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Sweet Potato Casserole with Bourbon Pecans
Johnny Autry
Cooking the sweet potatoes in a slow cooker frees up space on the stove if you’re cooking a big holiday dinner—plus you can serve it straight from the crock if you’d like.
05of 21Crock Pot Chicken & DumplingsPhotographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell RoysterThis crock pot chicken and dumplings recipe uses store-bought biscuits for dumplings that are moist and tender once stirred into the savory mixture of creamy mushrooms, chicken and veggies. To give the chicken stew body, we use a flour-and-butter paste known as a beurre manié—a classic thickening agent for soups, stews and sauces.View Recipe
05of 21
Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
This crock pot chicken and dumplings recipe uses store-bought biscuits for dumplings that are moist and tender once stirred into the savory mixture of creamy mushrooms, chicken and veggies. To give the chicken stew body, we use a flour-and-butter paste known as a beurre manié—a classic thickening agent for soups, stews and sauces.
06of 21Honey Whole-Wheat RollsVictor ProtasioThe slow cooker yields super-tender, pillowy whole-wheat rolls. If you prefer them crustier, arrange the finished rolls on a baking sheet, brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if desired. Broil, watching carefully, until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes.View Recipe
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Honey Whole-Wheat Rolls
Victor Protasio
The slow cooker yields super-tender, pillowy whole-wheat rolls. If you prefer them crustier, arrange the finished rolls on a baking sheet, brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if desired. Broil, watching carefully, until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
07of 21Green Bean Casserole with Crispy OnionsThanks to fresh green beans, an easy homemade cream sauce and crispy onion topping, this green bean casserole is healthier and more delicious than traditional recipes that use canned soup, beans and onions.View Recipe
07of 21
Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions
Thanks to fresh green beans, an easy homemade cream sauce and crispy onion topping, this green bean casserole is healthier and more delicious than traditional recipes that use canned soup, beans and onions.
08of 21Spicy Tomato-Braised Pot RoastJacob FoxThis tomato sauce gets its heat from Calabrian chiles. Find them whole or chopped packed in jars near the pickles in well-stocked grocery stores. If you don’t have any, just a bit of crushed red pepper will do the trick. Serve over polenta, mashed potatoes or pasta.View Recipe
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Spicy Tomato-Braised Pot Roast
Jacob Fox
This tomato sauce gets its heat from Calabrian chiles. Find them whole or chopped packed in jars near the pickles in well-stocked grocery stores. If you don’t have any, just a bit of crushed red pepper will do the trick. Serve over polenta, mashed potatoes or pasta.
09of 21Sweet Potato Casserole with MarshmallowsThe genius hack in this recipe: topping sweet potatoes with marshmallows while they’re still piping hot from the slow cooker yields a baked marshmallow topping that’s typical with baked sweet potato casseroles.View Recipe
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Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
The genius hack in this recipe: topping sweet potatoes with marshmallows while they’re still piping hot from the slow cooker yields a baked marshmallow topping that’s typical with baked sweet potato casseroles.
10of 21Carrot-Leek BisqueCreamy and delicate slow-cooker carrot soup is a welcome appetizer. The addition of millet—a whole grain similar to quinoa—adds body to the soup, as well as protein and fiber. Garnish with additional black pepper, if desired.View Recipe
10of 21
Carrot-Leek Bisque
Creamy and delicate slow-cooker carrot soup is a welcome appetizer. The addition of millet—a whole grain similar to quinoa—adds body to the soup, as well as protein and fiber. Garnish with additional black pepper, if desired.
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Garlic Mashed Potatoes
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Lemon, Garlic & Sage Chicken
13of 21Barbecue Grape-Jelly MeatballsGreg DupreeThese barbecue grape-jelly meatballs are meatballs smothered in a sauce of sweet grape jelly, barbecue sauce, hot sauce and ketchup. They’re sweet, salty and incredibly tender after their long cook time in the slow cooker. You can serve them right from the slow cooker or stack them on toothpicks for easy finger food.View Recipe
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Barbecue Grape-Jelly Meatballs
Greg Dupree
These barbecue grape-jelly meatballs are meatballs smothered in a sauce of sweet grape jelly, barbecue sauce, hot sauce and ketchup. They’re sweet, salty and incredibly tender after their long cook time in the slow cooker. You can serve them right from the slow cooker or stack them on toothpicks for easy finger food.
14of 21Classic Slow-Cooker StuffingSave space in your oven and use your slow cooker to whip up this easy, classic stuffing. Hearty whole-grain bread gets toasted in the oven for only 10 minutes (and you can toast the cubes ahead of time!) while your slow cooker does the rest.View Recipe
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Classic Slow-Cooker Stuffing
Save space in your oven and use your slow cooker to whip up this easy, classic stuffing. Hearty whole-grain bread gets toasted in the oven for only 10 minutes (and you can toast the cubes ahead of time!) while your slow cooker does the rest.
15of 21Citrus Salmon with Melted LeeksSlow-Cooker Citrus Salmon with Melted LeeksWe’ve discovered the perfect pairing for this moist, lemony, slow-cooker salmon—slightly chewy leeks, which become sweet and rich when roasted slowly for a long time. Garnish with fresh sage leaves and thyme sprigs, if desired.View Recipe
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Citrus Salmon with Melted Leeks
Slow-Cooker Citrus Salmon with Melted Leeks
We’ve discovered the perfect pairing for this moist, lemony, slow-cooker salmon—slightly chewy leeks, which become sweet and rich when roasted slowly for a long time. Garnish with fresh sage leaves and thyme sprigs, if desired.
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Chuck Roast with Potatoes & Carrots
17of 21Corn CasseroleWith just five ingredients, you can make this healthy corn casserole with ease. The tang of the cream cheese and sour cream balances the sweetness of the corn, making it the perfect veggie side for any meal.View Recipe
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Corn Casserole
With just five ingredients, you can make this healthy corn casserole with ease. The tang of the cream cheese and sour cream balances the sweetness of the corn, making it the perfect veggie side for any meal.
18of 21Quinoa Salad with Arugula & FetaChock-full of quinoa, chickpeas and vegetables, this salad is a meal in itself. The roasted red peppers, lemon, olives and feta add texture and flavor.View Recipe
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Quinoa Salad with Arugula & Feta
Chock-full of quinoa, chickpeas and vegetables, this salad is a meal in itself. The roasted red peppers, lemon, olives and feta add texture and flavor.
19of 21Chicken with Potatoes, Carrots & Herb SauceImpress the in-laws, neighbors or any other dinner guests with this pretty dish. It’s a slow-cooker chicken recipe that actually looks and tastes like it was oven-roasted. To save time, prep the vegetables a day ahead or in the morning, and then refrigerate until ready to brown the meat and start the slow cooker.View Recipe
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Chicken with Potatoes, Carrots & Herb Sauce
Impress the in-laws, neighbors or any other dinner guests with this pretty dish. It’s a slow-cooker chicken recipe that actually looks and tastes like it was oven-roasted. To save time, prep the vegetables a day ahead or in the morning, and then refrigerate until ready to brown the meat and start the slow cooker.
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Herb & Mushroom Braised Beef
21of 21Turkey Thighs with Herb GravyThose who love tender, moist, dark meat will love these slow-cooker turkey thighs. If turkey thighs aren’t available, ask your butcher to cut up a whole turkey and give you the bone-in thighs. Feel free to substitute an equal weight of chicken thighs for the turkey thighs, if desired.View Recipe
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Turkey Thighs with Herb Gravy
Those who love tender, moist, dark meat will love these slow-cooker turkey thighs. If turkey thighs aren’t available, ask your butcher to cut up a whole turkey and give you the bone-in thighs. Feel free to substitute an equal weight of chicken thighs for the turkey thighs, if desired.
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