29 Slow-Cooker Sides for an Easier Thanksgiving

Updated September 02, 2020

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To make your holiday cooking a little easier, try our crock pot Thanksgiving sides. From Brussels Sprouts with Lemon to Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Sausage Apple Stuffing, you'll be amazed at the versatility of your slow cooker. These are the best Thanksgiving side dishes you can set and forget.

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Classic Slow-Cooker Stuffing

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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.

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Slow-Cooker Cheesy Potatoes

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What's not to love about this easy dump-and-go slow cooker recipe? It has potatoes and ooey-gooey cheese, all combined with a can of condensed cream of chicken soup! Whip up this kid-friendly side dish anytime you have a crowd to feed.

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Slow-Cooker Braised Collard Greens with Pepperoncini

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Collard greens have large, dark green leaves that are dense with vitamins, calcium and fiber. The briny pepperoncini and salty pancetta add enough brightness to this dish to balance the collards' vegetal flavor. These slow-cooker collard greens pair perfectly with braised meat or barbecue.

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Slow-Cooker Spice-Drizzled Acorn Squash

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With the honey, butter and cinnamon sauce drizzled on top and the sprinkling of pomegranate arils, this slow-cooker acorn squash is almost like a dessert. You can also drizzle the sauce over oatmeal and baked apples for breakfast.

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Slow-Cooker Maple-Walnut Carrots

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The hint of maple syrup and brandy elevates these slow-cooker carrots, transforming them into a holiday-worthy side dish. You can easily double this to feed a crowd. We use stem-on rainbow carrots for their beauty, but regular carrots work just as well.

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Slow-Cooker Curried Cauliflower and Potatoes

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The curry mixture coats the potatoes and cauliflower, imparting a bold, hot flavor while the dollop of sour cream on top acts as a cooling agent. Double the serving size, and this dish becomes a hearty meatless main. To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free curry powder. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves, if desired.

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Slow-Cooker Braised Potatoes and Green Cabbage

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Everyone will love this new spin on the classic cabbage-and-potatoes combo. The addition of fennel adds earthy and slightly sweet flavor to the dish.

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Slow-Cooker Brussels Sprouts with Lemon

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Brussels sprouts are a versatile accompaniment for so many entrées. Here, the burst of lemon juice and the addition of pine nuts and pecorino Romano keep the flavor profile interesting. Furthermore, broiling the sprouts after slow-cooking caramelizes them and gives them crispness.

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Slow-Cooker Apple-Rum Sweet Potatoes

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Dark rum and tart Granny Smith apples bring slow-cooker sweet potatoes to life. This dish makes an exciting side for roasted turkey or pork. Piercing the potatoes with a fork is essential to keeping them from bursting in the slow cooker.

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Slow-Cooker Umami Mushrooms

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In addition to being a great stand-alone side, these slow-cooker mushrooms are also excellent tossed in a salad or stir-fry. Be sure to buy whole cremini mushrooms so they will retain their texture and not turn mushy during the long cook time. If you don't want to wait for the mushroom mixture to concentrate during the 1 hour and 30 minutes of cooking it uncovered, then cook it, uncovered, just long enough for the mushrooms to brown. Then drain the liquid and bring it to a boil in a saucepan. Once the liquid has thickened, stir in the mushrooms and vinegar and sprinkle with the scallions.

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Slow-Cooker Parmesan & Pea Farro with Fennel Salad

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This is reminiscent of a farroto, where risotto-like textures and Parmesan-rich flavor reign supreme. The yogurt adds lusciousness and tang that balances the overall savoriness of the dish. The fennel salad is bright and crisp.

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Slow-Cooker Brown Rice Pilaf with Cherries & Hazelnuts

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Get creative and try many variations of this slow-cooker pilaf recipe. Sub dried cranberries, blueberries or apricots for the cherries--or use them all. Just be sure to use a dried fruit. You can also swap the hazelnuts for pecans, if desired.

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Slow-Cooker Potato Soup

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Be sure to use waxy potatoes, such as red or Yukon Gold, in this crockpot potato soup recipe. The result will be creamier than if you use starchy varieties like russets. Load your bowl up like a classic baked potato or see Tip (below) for more ways to mix it up.

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Slow-Cooker Carrot-Leek Bisque

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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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Slow-Cooker Herb-Infused Wheat Berry Pilaf

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Olive oil infused with parsley, thyme and rosemary coats the wheat berries, keeping them moist and chewy and imparting an aromatic flavor. You can make the oil and keep it tightly sealed in the pantry as you would regular olive oil. Drizzle the oil over salads or other grains to amp up their flavor.

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Slow-Cooker Brussels Sprouts with Lemon

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Brussels sprouts are a versatile accompaniment for so many entrées. Here, the burst of lemon juice and the addition of pine nuts and pecorino Romano keep the flavor profile interesting. Furthermore, broiling the sprouts after slow-cooking caramelizes them and gives them crispness.

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Slow-Cooker Bacon, Leek & Thyme Farro

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Al dente farro with earthy leeks, thyme, savory mushrooms and bacon is a match made in culinary heaven. The result is a hearty and toothsome dish that you'll crave time and again. Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs, if desired.

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Slow-Cooker Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions

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Thanks to fresh green beans, an easy homemade cream sauce and crispy onion topping, this green bean casserole recipe is healthier and more delicious than traditional recipes that use canned soup, beans and onions. Plus, the slow cooker saves you time cooking at the stove. Make sure to use fresh green beans, as frozen green beans will become mushy.

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Slow-Cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes

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This simple slow-cooker mashed potatoes recipe skips tedious peeling and boiling and helps save precious stovetop space by letting the slow cooker do the work. It's a great timesaving set-it-and-forget-it side dish recipe to round out any hearty meal. Buttermilk makes the mashed potatoes creamy while garlic and shallots add flavor.

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Slow-Cooker Sausage & Apple Stuffing

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This sausage and apple stuffing is extra-moist and full of classic fall flavors. Using a slow cooker makes this side dish even easier and saves on oven space.

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Slow-Cooker Maple-Walnut Carrots

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The hint of maple syrup and brandy elevates these slow-cooker carrots, transforming them into a holiday-worthy side dish. You can easily double this to feed a crowd. We use stem-on rainbow carrots for their beauty, but regular carrots work just as well.

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22 of 29

Slow-Cooker Spice-Drizzled Acorn Squash

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With the honey, butter and cinnamon sauce drizzled on top and the sprinkling of pomegranate arils, this slow-cooker acorn squash is almost like a dessert. You can also drizzle the sauce over oatmeal and baked apples for breakfast.

23 of 29

Slow-Cooker Umami Mushrooms

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In addition to being a great stand-alone side, these slow-cooker mushrooms are also excellent tossed in a salad or stir-fry. Be sure to buy whole cremini mushrooms so they will retain their texture and not turn mushy during the long cook time. If you don't want to wait for the mushroom mixture to concentrate during the 1 hour and 30 minutes of cooking it uncovered, then cook it, uncovered, just long enough for the mushrooms to brown. Then drain the liquid and bring it to a boil in a saucepan. Once the liquid has thickened, stir in the mushrooms and vinegar and sprinkle with the scallions.

24 of 29

Slow-Cooker Braised Potatoes and Green Cabbage

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Everyone will love this new spin on the classic cabbage-and-potatoes combo. The addition of fennel adds earthy and slightly sweet flavor to the dish.

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25 of 29

Slow-Cooker Apple-Rum Sweet Potatoes

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Dark rum and tart Granny Smith apples bring slow-cooker sweet potatoes to life. This dish makes an exciting side for roasted turkey or pork. Piercing the potatoes with a fork is essential to keeping them from bursting in the slow cooker.

26 of 29

Slow-Cooker Braised Collard Greens with Pepperoncini

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Collard greens have large, dark green leaves that are dense with vitamins, calcium and fiber. The briny pepperoncini and salty pancetta add enough brightness to this dish to balance the collards' vegetal flavor. These slow-cooker collard greens pair perfectly with braised meat or barbecue.

27 of 29

Easy Stuffed Mushrooms

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This healthy stuffed mushroom appetizer is a nice balance of soft mushrooms, creamy filling and crunchy topping. This combination tastes downright decadent, but it's actually good for you. Be sure to get all of the moisture out of the chopped mushrooms before moving on to the next step; if not, the filling will be soggy and make the mushroom caps watery.

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Barley-Squash Gratin

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Barley is an excellent source of fiber, and in this slow-cooker recipe it's paired with nutrient-dense spinach and butternut squash. Topped with shredded Parmesan cheese, this side dish will be happy sharing a plate with whatever else you're serving.

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Caramelized Onions and Potatoes

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Sweetened with brown sugar and slow cooked, these Caramelized Onions and Potatoes make a perfect flavorful side dish.

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