Finding the space to cook an entire Thanksgiving meal can prove more challenging than finding the time. You can prep a handful of holiday favorites in advance and heat them up on Turkey Day. But before you cram your oven with casseroles, here’s the real secret to saving valuable cooking space: the slow cooker. From sweet potatoes to stuffing, these slow-cooked Thanksgiving side dishes will leave you feeling extra grateful.
Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
We’re all ears for this top-rated creamed corn that you can prep and cook the morning of Thanksgiving. Plus, it calls for nothing more than cream cheese, butter, milk, sugar, salt, and pepper.
Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes (Yams) and Marshmallows
Crikkitt
“I came up with this one Thanksgiving because I was short on oven space. Everyone loved it and I have made it for every Thanksgiving and holiday meal ever since. Be careful not to overcook marshmallows. They can become liquified,” says Renee Coley.
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
“This method of preparation really eased the busy-ness and hustle-bustle in the kitchen on Thanksgiving day. I’m hooked. I will always make the mashed potatoes this way on Thanksgiving from now on!” says reviewer naples34102.
Slow Cooker Collard Greens
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Kimmy added Old Bay and Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning at the same time as the greens to amp up the jalapeño heat: “I cooked for five hours the night before and then three hours the day of Thanksgiving. By doing that, the seasonings had absorbed really well, and the greens were tender and flavorful!”
Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
Natalie T.
“This is a great version of a classic recipe! It’s one of my favorite dishes for the holidays, and I love that this makes so much. Parmesan cheese is a nice touch. And doing this in the slow cooker frees up space in the oven for other yummy dishes!” says KevinBerry7406.
Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce
Christine Mistretta-Birchfield
One major perk of making cranberry sauce in the slow cooker? The sweet, spiced, citrusy smell that will fill your kitchen. “This recipe was so good we made it twice before Thanksgiving. In addition to the ingredients, we included the zest of one orange to the mix. Delicious!” says reviewer Victoria.
Slow Cooker Cauliflower Casserole
What’s Thanksgiving without cheesy casseroles? With bacon, mozzarella, Cheddar, and cream of chicken soup, this cauliflower side will win over both kids and adults alike.
Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
You don’t have to be Southern to deem creamy, carby mac and cheese a Thanksgiving staple. And thanks to the slow cooker, introducing this side to your holiday menu couldn’t be easier.
Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes with Ham
Cut the potatoes to between 1/8- and 1/4-inch thick. In addition to layering the ingredients in the slow cooker, reviewers recommend doubling the ham and cheese and using milk in place of water to take these scalloped potatoes to the next level of decadence.
Slow Cooker Green Beans
These buttery, bacony green beans take much less effort to prep than they let on. You just need five minutes to measure your ingredients and throw them in the slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes
lutzflcat
If you need a break from syrupy-sweet sweet potatoes, look no further. This recipe achieves savory perfection with dried sage—though the salt, butter, and milk don’t hurt.
Slow Cooker Stuffing
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Thousands of Allrecipes users have served our Slow Cooker Stuffing. And with more than 1,300 five-star ratings, it’s a tried-and-true choice for Thanksgiving. Reviewers recommend using the entire amount of broth for store-bought, packaged bread and less broth for a freshly baked loaf. Just be sure to stir the stuffing till it absorbs the liquid, reviewer ChefNan says.