The holidays are busy enough without adding complicated meals to the mix. That’s where slow cooker recipes step in—they handle the heavy lifting while you focus on everything else, like wrangling decorations or dodging awkward family questions. These dishes are practical, easy, and perfect for letting you relax while still delivering great holiday vibes.
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce
This cranberry sauce is the easiest way to add a festive touch to your holiday spread. With just five ingredients and no stovetop required, it’s a great way to save time for other dishes.
Get the Recipe: 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce
Slow Cooker Balsamic Pulled Pork
This balsamic pulled pork is perfect for serving over polenta or piling onto holiday sliders. The slow cooker does the work, giving you a tender, flavorful dish with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Balsamic Pulled Pork
Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu
This rich and hearty ragu pairs perfectly with pasta or mashed sweet potatoes. It’s the kind of slow cooker comfort food that feels right at home during the holiday season.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu
Crockpot Green Beans
These buttery green beans are the perfect no-hassle side dish for your holiday table. Throw everything in the slow cooker, and let it handle the hard work while you kick back with some eggnog.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Green Beans
Chicken Pot Pie
Classic comfort food, made holiday-easy. This slow cooker chicken pot pie is great for those nights when you want to serve something hearty but keep the prep to a minimum.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie
Cranberry Pork Tenderloin
This cranberry pork tenderloin screams holiday vibes. With its tangy citrus sauce, it’s a standout main dish that lets you prep it, set it, and focus on decorating the tree.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Pork Tenderloin
Balsamic Herb Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
This dish is all about big flavors with zero stress. Perfect for holiday dinners or gatherings, it’s impressive enough for guests but easy enough to keep you out of the kitchen all day.
Get the Recipe: Balsamic Herb Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
Christmas Drop Candy
Slow cooker candy that practically makes itself? Yes, please. Dump, stir, and drop your way to the easiest holiday treats ever. Great for gifts or a sweet snack during a wrapping marathon.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Drop Candy
Cranberry BBQ Meatballs
These sweet and tangy meatballs are a holiday party MVP. Toss everything in the slow cooker, and let it do its thing while you enjoy mingling—or just staying out of the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry BBQ Meatballs
Kleftiko
This Greek-style lamb dish gets a holiday-friendly makeover thanks to the slow cooker. The result is tender, flavorful meat that’s great for special occasions and practically cooks itself.
Get the Recipe: Kleftiko
Cranberry Cobbler
This sweet and tangy cranberry cobbler is a dessert you can serve straight from the slow cooker. It’s festive, simple, and leaves you free to spend more time with family—not the oven.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Cobbler
Cranberry Chicken
Slow cooker cranberry chicken brings together bold flavors in a dish that’s as effortless as it is festive. Great for a weeknight dinner or a relaxed holiday gathering.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Chicken
Ham with Pineapple
This holiday ham with pineapple glaze is the definition of easy. Let the slow cooker work its magic while you free up the oven for all those holiday sides.
Get the Recipe: Ham with Pineapple
Chicken and Potatoes with Gravy
Tender chicken, golden potatoes, and rich gravy—all made in the slow cooker. It’s a low-effort, high-reward dinner perfect for the busy holiday season.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Potatoes with Gravy
Beef Short Ribs
Slow-cooked beef short ribs that are fall-off-the-bone tender. Perfect for holiday dinners when you want something hearty and impressive without babysitting the oven.
Get the Recipe: Beef Short Ribs
Green Bean Casserole
Classic green bean casserole gets the slow cooker treatment, freeing up oven space for your holiday feast. Same creamy, crunchy goodness—zero kitchen chaos.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole
Pork Roast with Lemon and Rosemary
This pork roast is packed with fresh, herby flavors that scream holiday cheer. Let the slow cooker do its thing while you focus on your holiday to-do list.
Get the Recipe: Pork Roast with Lemon and Rosemary
Bison Roast
A holiday centerpiece that’s a little unexpected. This bison roast is juicy, flavorful, and made easy with the slow cooker. Perfect for something different this Christmas.
Get the Recipe: Bison Roast
Red Wine & Cheese Dip
This creamy dip is a holiday party dream. Toss it in your slow cooker, and let the melted cheese and red wine combination do the heavy lifting while you enjoy the festivities.
Get the Recipe: Red Wine & Cheese Dip
Cranberry Meatballs
Frozen meatballs, cranberry sauce, and chili sauce make this the easiest holiday appetizer you’ll ever make. Let the slow cooker handle it while you catch up with your guests.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Meatballs
Baby Back Ribs
These slow cooker ribs are fall-off-the-bone perfection. Let them cook low and slow while you handle everything else on your holiday menu.
Get the Recipe: Baby Back Ribs
Brisket
Slow cooker brisket is a holiday game-changer. Juicy, tender, and full of flavor, it’s perfect for feeding a crowd without tying you to the kitchen all day.
Get the Recipe: Brisket
Rump Roast
A classic rump roast made holiday-simple. Toss in some potatoes, carrots, and savory broth, and let the slow cooker deliver a complete meal while you handle holiday fun.
Get the Recipe: Rump Roast
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
