25 Slow-Cooker Thanksgiving Recipes to Keep the Oven Open

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie

We're grateful for any homemade Thanksgiving desserts that don't take space in the oven—like this slow cooker pumpkin pie. The traditional pastry combines pumpkin, cinnamon, and ginger for a beloved family dessert.

Slow Cooker Pickled Beets

Pickled beets aren't just for summer salads—and if you want a perfect Thanksgiving salad, rely on the slow cooker. These slow-cooked pickled beets are a flavorful side dish when served with fresh vegetables and homemade croutons.

Three-Cheese Scalloped Potatoes

Count on slow cooker scalloped potatoes to please your holiday crowd and free up the oven for other Thanksgiving goodies. Cooked with cream of potato soup and three kinds of cheese, these potatoes skip the bread crumbs and go straight for gooey goodness. This may just be our favorite slow cooker vegetable ever.

Andouille Corn Bread Stuffing

Invite a pleasant amount of heat to the holiday table by adding this Cajun Thanksgiving recipe to your menu. A one-to-one mix of corn bread cubes and Texas toast soaks up all the spicy, savory elements from andouille or chorizo sausage, red pepper, and more. Everyone will go back for seconds, once they discover the salty, crunchy punch of pumpkin seeds hiding inside.

Corn Chowder

Warm up with a thick and creamy corn chowder straight from your slow cooker ($29, Walmart). This hands-off stew incorporates reduced-sodium chicken broth, milk, and white wine—rather than heavy cream—so you don't have to feel guilty indulging in the rest of Thanksgiving's offerings.

Rustic Garlic Mashed Potatoes

You can't beat the Thanksgiving classics. Cook potatoes in your slow cooker with chicken broth, garlic, and a bay leaf, then blend with whole milk for the quintessential Thanksgiving comfort food. Hint: The slow cooker side dish is best enjoyed with a big pat of butter melting on top.

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Latte

This slow cooker drink recipe delivers a pumpkin spice latte without the hefty price tag—and fills in on days when your corner coffee shop is closed. The blend features real canned pumpkin, pure maple syrup, and java, for a much more natural and healthy (-ish) beverage. Opt for almond milk and it's completely dairy-free.

Orange-Glazed Carrots and Parsnips

Serve Thanksgiving guests a double dose of delicious root vegetables with this slow-cooked parsnips and carrots recipe. Quick-cooking tapioca thickens the orange-infused sauce coating the holiday side dish.

Aztec Hot Chocolate

Depart from the usual after-dinner drink with a rich, creamy hot chocolate that's sweet enough to double as a Thanksgiving dessert. The strong flavors of espresso powder, cinnamon, and chipotle chile make this a memorable beverage—and one of our top slow cooker drinks with a bit of a kick.

Test Kitchen Tip: While we love the addition of java, you can omit it if you're headed to bed soon after dinner and prefer to steer clear of the caffeine.

Sourdough Peasant Bread

Just place this simple dough in your slow cooker, then await the perfect accompaniment to Thanksgiving soup or salad—no maintenance required. Add dill, fennel, or dried onion to the sourdough for an easy flavor twist.

Test Kitchen Tip: No peeking—lifting the lid off the slow cooker while the bread cooks can release heat, increase condensation, and cause uneven baking.

Slow Cooker Chestnut-Bacon Stuffing

Put away that old stuffing recipe—here's the slow cooker stuffing you'll want to make this Thanksgiving. (And in the decades to come.) Mushrooms, leeks, bacon, chestnuts—and did we mention bacon?—combine for a Thanksgiving stuffing recipe that will become your new go-to.

Acorn Squash with Bacon-Chive Crumbs

Think beyond pumpkin when you ponder squash for your holiday menu. Nutty acorn squash gets the sweet-and-savory treatment in this flavorful slow cooker side dish. After simmering in brown sugar and an apple cider broth, the squash is topped with crumbled bacon and crisp bread crumbs.

Test Kitchen Tip: Prepare the squash slices ahead of time to save precious minutes on your busy holiday.

Cider-Maple Brussels Sprouts

Score a big dose of fall flavors—sprouts, fresh thyme, apple cider, maple syrup—in one slow cooker side. The buttery sweet maple reduction beautifully counteracts the bitterness of Brussels sprouts. Red onion and a bit of butter give the winter vegetables extra oomph.

Wild Rice with Pecans and Cherries

Bring something new to the table this Thanksgiving with our healthy take on slow cooker stuffing. The wild rice incorporates tart dried cherries and toasted nuts for a simple Thanksgiving side that pairs well with any main-dish meat.

Walnut-Apple Crisp

We're crazy about this hands-off twist on all-American apple pie. Take advantage of in-season apples by pairing the fruit with the convenience of your slow cooker. The bubbly autumn crisp gets its crunch from walnuts and finishes cooking itself while you enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.

Mashed Potatoes Four Ways

This recipe has all of the silky, savory goodness you remember from grandma's holiday mashed potatoes, but without the fuss. Beyond the cream cheese, butter, and broth, we suggest adding oodles of fresh herbs, or bacon and cheddar cheese. After just 15 minutes of prep time, the appliance does almost all of the work to complete the potato side dish. Once the spuds are done slow cooking, just mash, add your mix-ins, and grab a spoon.

Orange-Sage Sweet Potatoes with Bacon

Orange juice concentrate infuses tender sweet potatoes with a sticky-sweet sauce. Brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness, while crunchy bacon adds a salty touch to this Thanksgiving side.

Slow Cooker Pecan Pie

Come hectic Turkey Day, we're grateful for homemade Thanksgiving desserts that don't take space in the oven. Enter this slow cooker pecan pie. The beloved traditional pastry combines salty nuts and a sweet vanilla-scented filling.

Pumpkin-Cranberry Bread

Canned pumpkin isn't just for pie, and cranberries shouldn't be just for sauce. Combine the two holiday favorites in this sweet slow cooker pumpkin bread recipe that's studded with tart berries and toasted pecans.

Fruited Multigrain Pilaf

The combined benefits of wheat berries, barley, and wild rice—three nutritious whole grains—result in a healthy slow cooker pilaf that pairs well with traditional Thanksgiving turkey. The recipe's red apples, dried cranberries, and sweet potatoes showcase some of the season's most delicious produce.

Cider-Poached Pears

It can be tricky to find gluten-free and dairy-free Thanksgiving desserts. Since holiday pies, crumbles, cupcakes, and ice cream are all no-gos, what's left? This fantastic fall fruit dessert is warm, nicely-spiced by cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon, and completely GF and DF if you omit the Greek yogurt (or serve it on the side). Sprinkle with pistachios for a satisfying, crunchy finish.

Mulled Cranberry Punch

With kids in the mix and more people exploring the sober curious route, a mocktail recipe is a thoughtful addition to the Thanksgiving menu. For this seasonal slow cooker drink, steep a spice bag filled with cinnamon, cloves, and allspice in simple cocktail juices.

Test Kitchen Tip: Use a vegetable peeler to easily create orange peel for the drink.

Slow Cooker Pumpkin-Blueberry Bread

We look forward to making pumpkin bread every year, but instead of baking the bread in the oven, mix up the batter and toss it into your slow cooker. A sprinkle of pecans on top adds nutty crunch.

Smoky Green Bean Casserole

Your menu doesn't have to go up in smoke if the turkey, rolls, and pie are baking and you're out of room in the oven for side dishes. Try this slow cooker green bean casserole that features the classic components—green beans, cream of mushroom soup, garlic, mushrooms—with smoked Gouda, for a modern twist. For a double-dose of crunch to balance out the rich casserole sauce, toss in water chestnuts and add a topping of french-fried onions.

Whole Grain Slow Cooker Stuffing

This easy Thanksgiving recipe is filled with a few surprise ingredients. Toasted macadamia nuts add crunch, while a drizzle of white grape juice gives the stuffing a subtle sweetness. Add a sprinkle of fresh parsley just before serving.