Set It & Forget It: Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Thanksgiving

LongIsland.com

Skip the extra stress and hassle this year by opting to use a slow cooker for some of your side dishes!

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This Thanksgiving don’t waste time trying to figure out how you’re going to squeeze that casserole into the small space between the big turkey and the baked potatoes, step away from the oven and use a slow cooker instead! Slow cookers are a great life line to resort to when you don’t have much space left in the oven or on the stove. They’re simple; all you need to do it set it and forget! Then, once the timer goes off, you have delicious, tender food ready and waiting to be served to your guests.

Here are some delicious slow cooker recipes you can incorporate into your Thanksgiving Day feast!

Balsamic Glazed Vegetables
Ingredients:

  • 1 pound carrots
  • 1 pound parsnips
  • 1 ½ pounds sweet potato
  • 2 red onions (chopped)
  • 1 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • ½ cup parsley (chopped)

Directions: Begin by peeling the first 3 ingredients and chopping them into 1 ½ inch pieces. Lightly grease your slow cooker (6-qt) and add these vegetables, minus the potatoes, to the slow cooker. Next add the sweet potato on top of the other vegetables as another layer. In a small bowl whisk together the brown sugar, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and ground black pepper. Pour this mixture over the vegetables, but do not mix together. Cover your crock pot and let the vegetables cook until tender, about 4-5 hours on high. Add parsley right before serving your guests.

Slow Cooker Stuffing
Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup butter
  • 1 cup celery (chopped)
  • 1 cup onion (chopped)
  • 6 cups white bread (bread should be day old, cubed)
  • 6 cups wheat bread (bread should be day old, cubed)
  • 1 tsp poultry seasoning
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp rubbed sage
  • 2 eggs (beaten)
  • 1 can of chicken broth (14 ½ oz)

Directions: Take out a skillet and cook the celery and onion in butter over medium temperature until tender. Next use a large bowl to toss bread cubes, poultry seasoning, salt, black pepper and sage. Then add in the celery and the onion. In another smaller bowl combine the broth and the eggs, then add that to mixture in the large bowl and mix together. Coat your slow cooker with cooking spray, cover the concoction and cook for 3-4 hours on low – or until the mixture has reached 160 degrees.

Cheesy Broccoli Bites
Ingredients:

  • 16 oz frozen broccoli florets (thaw first)
  • ½ cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
  • 4 oz reduced fat cheese (cubed)
  • ¼ cup fat-free milk
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup (10 ¼ oz)

Directions: Combine your cheeses with the broccoli in a 4 qt. slow cooker. Then in a small bowl mix together the milk and soup. Pour the milk/soup mixture over the broccoli and cheese in the slow cooker. Let cook for 3-4 hours on low heat and stir before serving.

Do you know of any slow cooker recipes that would be great for Thanksgiving? Let us know what they are in the comments section below!

Photo by Rob Owen-Wahl via Free Images