18 Holiday Slow Cooker Recipes That Make Parties Easy

The holidays can be a great opportunity to debut a new recipe to friends and family. If you would rather spend time enjoying your party than prepping for it, rely on your trusty slow cooker to craft some delicious food without spending too much time over the stove. This trusty appliance pulls double-duty acting as the cooking and serving vessel. Whip up appetizers, braised meats and even big-batch hot cocoa with the flick of a switch.

A warm mug of hot chocolate should never be far during a holiday party and a slow cooker offers an easy way to prepare it and keep it warm. Set it up with a ladle and mugs so guests can serve themselves. An arrangement of toppings allows for fun personal customization, like bowls of marshmallows and crushed candy canes or peppermints. Don’t forget the bottle of peppermint schnapps for the adults!

Tiny smoked cocktail sausages are irresistible when slow cooked in a sweet-spicy glaze. Put out some toothpicks and watch as these quickly disappear. The glaze is made from apple jelly, bourbon and maple syrup to create a cozy flavor profile, plus a hit of cider vinegar for added tang.

Sweet potatoes make for a seasonal side dish that can pair with so many things. These sweet potatoes cook until soft and tender in the slow cooker with butter, brown sugar, and warm baking spices. Crunchy toasted walnuts give the dish a flavor and texture contrast.

The holidays are the time to pull out all the culinary stops. Finding lamb shanks may take a bit of effort depending on your area, but this tender, fall-off-the-bone recipe is worth going out of the way. Top each shank with flavorful citrus gremolata.

A big bowl of warm spiced nuts makes an ideal pairing for a boozy cocktail party. Free up the oven by making this recipe in the slow cooker. Throw the nuts in the pot and add flavorings, like maple syrup, orange zest and a touch of cayenne pepper.

One of the best parts about cooking in the slow cooker is being able cook and serve in one dish. These Swedish meatballs cook in a creamy sauce with a tangy twist from sour cream. A simple sprinkle of chopped parsley is all you need to garnish this easy dish.

Sticky toffee pudding is a the perfect holiday dessert. The cake is soft and gooey thanks to a paste made from pitted dates, which also happen to boost the dessert’s rich caramel flavor. Top it with a melty brown sugar toffee sauce infused with a touch of nutmeg to finish.

This slow-cooker recipe transforms your favorite classic appetizer into a warm, communal dip that’s perfect for any gathering. Simply combine the ingredients and let the slow cooker do the rest. The rich, irresistible dip is great for scooping with crispy wonton chips, crackers or your favorite veggies.

This homemade cider couldn't be easier: Cut a dozen of your favorite apples into wedges — skins, seeds, stems and all — and add to a slow cooker with some spices and water. A bonus: your house will smell delicious too!

If you need a filling main to feed a crowd, a rustic pot roast could be the right option. After browning on the stovetop, a chuck roast cooks low and slow in the slow cooker with red wine, tomato paste and a touch of ground allspice. Slice and return to the pot to keep it warm for serving.

Peak-season late fall apples don’t need much to taste like dessert, but a bit of brown sugar and cinnamon doesn’t hurt. Use a melon baller to scoop out the insides of the apples and stuff them with a crunchy cranberry-walnut-oat mixture. Place them in the slow cooker and cook until softened and ready to be gobbled up with vanilla ice cream.

The slow cooker is just as good at making sides as it is with mains. Scalloped potatoes are a sure-fire crowd pleaser, especially when topped with plenty of grated Gruyere cheese. As the potatoes cook, they absorb the thyme-scented cream mixture until wonderfully soft and creamy.

A mug of warm mulled cider never fails to make a holiday party extra festive. This hard cider simmers gently in the slow cooker until you’re ready to serve your guests. Plenty of spices, like cinnamon, clove and allspice, give this cider its delightful spiced flavor.

Got some extra gingerbread cookies laying around? This braised beef brisket recipe uses crumbled gingerbread cookies to add a spiced holiday twist to this traditional German dish. A combination of red wine and red wine vinegar contribute to the tender texture of the beef brisket.

A cozy, warm dessert makes for a delicious treat on a cold, wintery night. This wintery bread pudding is gooey and soft with plenty of punchy fruit flavor. A quick topping of cinnamon sugar-tossed walnuts or pecans adds a tasty crunch to each bite.

Whip up a big batch of perfect hot chocolate for your favorite friends with this effortless slow-cooker recipe. We used semisweet chocolate for its richness and balanced sweetness. Keep the setting on warm while serving and set up the various toppings for the most festive make-your-own hot chocolate bar!

A touch of cranberry introduces a tart and tangy flavor to slow cooked turkey thighs. Combined with a homemade barbecue, the tender thighs easily shred into the perfect filling for soft potato buns. Instructions involve simply putting everything in the pot and setting it to cook, making it the perfect choice if you’re short on time.