We all know that there’s never enough stove space or oven room to go around when you’re cooking for the holidays. So why not make your life a little easier and swap out one of your favorite recipes for a version that’ll save you some space? (And angst.) The slow cooker is a useful tool any time of year, but it especially comes in handy around the holidays when kitchen space is at a premium. Here are four of our favorite holiday sides… in slow cooker fashion! They’re all just as delicious as the original, they’re just a little bit easier on a busy cook. (And making mashed potatoes like this is a lifesaver!
Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese
If you can cook your pasta so it’s al dente and pour ingredients into a slow cooker, you can make this amazing macaroni and cheese. This mac and cheese is the ultimate in creaminess, and it sure makes it easy to feed a crowd. Get the recipe here!
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup
This is our creamy slow cooker pumpkin soup and let us tell you, it really is all it’s cracked up to be. Using a serious amount of pumpkin in this – 58 ounces; we’re really not messing around here – makes for a very thick soup that tastes velvety and delicious. Along with the pumpkin, there are tons of fall-centric spices to pump things up! Click here for the recipe!
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
It’s amazing to be able to throw all our ingredients in and then let them do all the work for us; 5 minutes of prep, later followed by a few minutes of whipping, and you’re done! What you’ve got at the end of the process are the smoothest, creamiest mashed potatoes you could imagine. Top those bad boys with sour cream and cheese and chives (and of course, more buttah) and you’re good to go! Get the recipe here!
Slow Cooker Spinach Dip
When it comes to dips, isn’t doesn’t get much more classic than a good, ol’ fashioned spinach dip. Some people like to add artichoke to theirs, but this time we knew we wanted to keep it simple and traditional, focusing on the flavor from the fresh spinach and the creamy, cheesy sauce we threw together in our slow cooker. This is another trusty slow cooker recipe that gives you delicious, eat easy greatness – and it frees up your time so you can relax and spend time with your family while this cooks. Win-win! Click here for the recipe!