When the oven is full and the to-do list is long, these slow cooker side dishes are what I reach for every holiday season. After years of testing hands-off recipes that actually deliver on flavor, I’ve pulled together my favorites here, from creamy mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes to cranberry sauce and veggie-forward sides that round out any holiday table without tying up the oven. And, for a full holiday meal plan, my slow cooker Thanksgiving recipes collection has everything you need from mains to sides.

Big scoop of sweet potato casserole topped with pecans in a slow cooker.
5 stars (8 ratings)

Easy Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole (w/ Pecan Topping!)

Cozy and so easy to prepare, this simple crockpot sweet potato casserole is a hands-off, dump-and-go slow cooker recipe. And with an easy (and addictive) pecan topping, it will have everyone going back for seconds!
Key ingredients: sweet potatoes, orange juice, butter, pecans, brown sugar.
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Creamy smashed potatoes in a large slow cooker with a large metal spoon.
5 stars (3 ratings)

Slow Cooker Mashed Red Potatoes (No Boil)

Creamy, rustic slow cooker mashed red potatoes with no boiling and no peeling. Just set it, forget it, and mash!
Ingredients: red potatoes, olive oil, salt, milk, sour cream, garlic powder, black pepper, chives
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Uncooked cranberries in a crockpot with granulated sugar and brown sugar sprinkled on top.
5 stars (3 ratings)

Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce (Easy & Make-Ahead!)

Easy slow cooker cranberry sauce with fresh or frozen berries, orange juice, and brown sugar is bright, tart-sweet, and perfect to make ahead for the holidays!
Ingredients: cranberries, orange juice, brown sugar, pure cane sugar, pure vanilla extract
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top down view of slow cooker potatoes in a black crockpot topped with fresh parsley
4.93 stars (42 ratings)

Slow Cooker Potatoes

These slow cooker potatoes are the definition of simple and delicious. All you need are a handful of pantry ingredients and a crockpot. Easy prep for weeknight dinners, but this classic, cozy recipe makes a great addition to the holiday table too!
Ingredients: small potatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and salt.
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A spoonful of apple slices in a sauce over a slow cooker with apple slices in a sauce.
5 stars (8 ratings)

Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apples (Easy & Cozy!)

Slow cooker cinnamon apples with brown sugar, warm spices, and vanilla. They're tender, sweet, and perfect for a cozy, easy fall dessert or breakfast topping.
Ingredients: apples, brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, salt, vanilla bean paste, cornstarch, butter, lemon juice.
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Overhead shot of cooked green beans in a slow cooker.
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Slow Cooker Green Beans (w/ Bacon!)

Packed with flavor, these super easy slow cooker green beans are a simple side dish slow cooked to tender perfection. Using fresh green beans and smokey bacon it's a mostly hands-off recipe fit for the holiday table or as a delectable vegetable side!
Key ingredients: Green beans, bacon, chicken stock, garlic, smoked paprika, butter.
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A black slow cooker filled with cooked butternut squash halves.
5 stars (1 rating)

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash (Tender, Easy, Hands-Off!)

Slow cooker butternut squash made easy. Simply cook whole halves for stuffing or blend into a buttery, creamy purée. Hands-off, tender, and perfect for make-ahead sides.
Ingredients: butternut squash, olive oil, salt, pepper, butter, heavy cream, brown sugar.
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close up of slow cooker baked potatoes in a black crockpot with chives and sour cream on top
5 stars (2 ratings)

Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes (No Foil, Fluffy & Hands-Off!)

Yes, you can make the perfect baked Russet potatoes in the slow cooker! With just 3-ingredients, this is the easiest, hands-off method to make fluffy, steamy slow cooker jacket potatoes with almost no effort, and no foil required.
Ingredients: Russet potatoes, olive oil and salt.
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top down view of sliced carrots in a black crockpot on white background
5 stars (17 ratings)

Slow Cooker Honey Glazed Carrots

Elevate everyday carrots with this incredibly easy and elegantly simple side. Perfect for every day dinners, brunch, and special holiday spreads; these slow cooker carrots make an impressive vegetable side dish and are easy to make with carrots, honey (or maple syrup) and just a touch of butter.
Ingredients: carrots, butter, lemon zest, maple syrup and salt.
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Close up of sliced baked sweet potatoes topped with butter in a black slow cooker.
5 stars (3 ratings)

Easiest Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes

Nearly effortless to prepare, slow cooker sweet potatoes are an easy side dish for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or for the holidays. This is my absolute favorite way to cook whole sweet potatoes, with just one ingredient and three hours!
Ingredients: sweet potatoes.
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close up view of red cabbage on a white plate with fresh green herbs on top
5 stars (7 ratings)

Slow Cooker Red Cabbage

This easy sweet and sour slow cooker red cabbage combines red cabbage, onion, apple, and balsamic vinegar for a simple, flavorful vegetable side dish that goes with everything.
Ingredients: red cabbage, onions, apples, water, vinegar, brown or coconut sugar, butter.
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white bowl filled with slow cooker cabbage with a striped napkin on a blue background
5 stars (5 ratings)

Slow Cooker Green Cabbage (w/ Bacon)

Yes, you can cook a whole head of cabbage in the slow cooker and it comes out silky, tender, and full of flavor! With just 5-ingredients including green cabbage and bacon, this easy slow cooker cabbage recipe is mostly hands-off, yet still full of flavor.
Ingredients: cabbage, apple cider vinegar, water, salt, bacon (optional), traditional or vegan butter (optional).
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