25 Easy Christmas Crock-Pot Recipes That Save Time and Oven Space
Make mac and cheese, holiday ham, and even candy.
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Between all the holiday appetizers, sides, and desserts, planning a Christmas menu for a crowd can overwhelm both you and your oven. That's where a slow cooker comes in! This kitchen appliance is perfect for preparing hearty comfort foods throughout the week, so it's a natural choice for holiday cooking as well. Ahead, you'll discover easy Christmas Crock-Pot recipes that will let you kick back and relax while your appliance takes over.
The slow cooker is great for cooking up some seriously tasty holiday dishes like easy appetizers, scalloped potatoes, and creamy mac and cheese. But that's not all a Crock-Pot can do: Pull it out to make your main dish, too! Whether your family is a stickler for fall-apart-tender pot roast or Christmas ham, you'll find plenty of inspiration here.
If you want to get a head start on the day, put together the breakfast casserole for an easy Christmas morning, or whip up a batch of hot chocolate to keep everyone happy until it's time for the big meal. Of course, it'll also come in handy for sides like green beans and mashed potatoes! And don't forget about the Christmas desserts either—there's even a loaded chocolate candy for a sweet ending to your holiday.
Slow Cooker Ham
Once you cook ham in a Crock-Pot, you'll never look back! All the juices stay in one place, so your ham turns out extra moist.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Ham recipe.
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Save some of that Christmas ham and make this cozy soup. Unlike other dried beans, peas don't have to be soaked before cooking. That means an easy ten-minute prep!
Get the Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup recipe.
Slow Cooker Bolognese
If you've got a lot of mouths to feed, make a giant batch of bolognese in the slow cooker. Then all you have to do is boil some pasta and you'll leave everyone satisfied.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Bolognese recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
You'd be hard-pressed to find something as comforting as classic chicken and dumplings. And making it in a slow cooker is "a lot more fun than standing over a simmering pot" according to Ree, especially on a busy holiday.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings recipe.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
A hearty beef stew is a wonderful way to kick off your holiday feast! Just throw in a couple of simple ingredients, like beef, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and wine, and you'll have this classic soup made in a cinch.
Get the Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipe.
Crock-Pot Hot Chocolate
If hot cocoa is a hot commodity in your household, you'll want to add this big-batch, slow-cooker hot cocoa recipe to your repertoire! You can even spike it with Irish cream for a comforting, grown-up treat.
Get the Crock-Pot Hot Chocolate recipe.
Crock-Pot Scalloped Potatoes
Thinly sliced potatoes covered in rich, velvety cheese sauce are made right in the Crock-Pot for the ultimate Christmas side! The recipe calls for two types of cheese—sharp white cheddar and gruyère—which thicken to the perfect consistency as the dish cools after cooking.
Get the Crock-Pot Scalloped Potatoes recipe.
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
A warm bowl of chili is the ultimate respite on a chilly day—even on Christmas! This recipe is simpler than ever but still delivers that classic flavor you adore, featuring a hearty blend of beans and ground turkey seasoned with chili powder, cumin, oregano, and other spices.
Get the Slow Cooker Turkey Chili recipe.
Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup
Creamy broccoli cheese soup will warm everyone right up. The Crock-Pot not only cooks the savory soup, but it also keeps it warm until guests arrive.
Crock-Pot Breakfast Casserole
Let this loaded breakfast casserole cook in the Crock-Pot while you indulge in the magic of Christmas morning with the kiddos! It's chock full of eggs, shredded hash brown potatoes, cheese, and veggies.
Get the Crock-Pot Breakfast Casserole recipe.
Cocktail Meatballs
These tiny meatballs are such a nostalgic appetizer to serve on Christmas. They cook entirely in a slow cooker and are so zesty, sweet, and delicious!
Get the Cocktail Meatballs recipe.
Slow Cooker Green Beans
Save oven space for the other Christmas classics—all these zesty green beans need is a slow cooker! The bacon makes them so delicious.
Get the Slow Cooker Green Beans recipe.
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Do yourself a big favor and make this super easy pot roast for Christmas. It comes out fall-apart tender, and makes your house smell heavenly too!
Get the Slow Cooker Pot Roast recipe.
Crock-Pot Candy
Homemade candy in a slow cooker? Oh yes you can! The chocolaty bites are fully loaded with salty, crunchy bits like peanuts, potato chips, pretzels, and M&Ms.
Get the Crock-Pot Candy recipe.
Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
If you need a snack to keep everyone happy until Christmas lunch is ready, make this satisfying dip. All you have to do is stir the ingredients together in your Crock-Pot and let it heat up for several hours.
Get the Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.
Slow Cooker Brisket
This set-it-and-forget-it brisket will be the centerpiece of your holiday dinner table. Luckily, no one will know how easy it is to cook.
Get the Slow Cooker Brisket recipe.
Crock-Pot Stuffing
This holiday classic starts on the stovetop, then finishes cooking in the slow cooker where it gets creamy and flavorful (never dry!).
Get the Crock-Pot Stuffing recipe.
Crock-Pot Mac and Cheese
Loaded with three types of cheese, this dish is pure comfort food. You'll want to put it on repeat all winter long.
Get the Crock-Pot Mac and Cheese recipe.
Slow Cooker Pork Chops
These pork chops are smothered with a rich onion gravy that's so irresistible. In fact, you'll want to scoop the gravy up with your mashed potatoes, too.
Get the Slow Cooker Pork Chops recipe.
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Using your slow cooker for mashed potatoes means you can cut out the step of having to boil the potatoes first. That's one less thing to do on your holiday checklist.
Get the Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes recipe.
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