Thanksgiving Crockpot Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can I just throw a bunch of ingredients in the crockpot? ›

For many dishes, particularly soups and stews, you really can just throw all the ingredients in.

The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie.

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

You certainly can add raw ground beef to the crockpot. As a matter of fact, many (if not most) slow-cooker chili recipes ask for the meat to be added raw.

Classic Stuffing

When it comes to the big Thanksgiving feast, we consider the roast turkey and the sweet potato casserole as sides to the STUFFING. A good stuffing makes or breaks Thanksgiving dinner, and this one will absolutely make your holiday meal all the better.

How many dishes should I serve with the turkey? For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides. For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

Many Americans would regard Thanksgiving dinner as "incomplete" without stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, and cranberry sauce. A recipe for cranberry sauce to be served with turkey appeared in the first American cookbook, American Cookery (1796) by Amelia Simmons.

Traditional side dishes for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners in America often include roasted turkey stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, sweet potato casserole, and gravy. Additionally, dishes like cornbread, Brussels sprouts, and pumpkin pie are commonly enjoyed during these festive meals.

Can you cook everything in a crockpot? ›

Most people use a slow cooker for meat, poultry and vegetables, although fruits, desserts, stuffing and oatmeal can also be prepared. All ingredients placed in a slow cooker should be thawed. Choose to make foods with high moisture content such as chili, soup, stew or spaghetti sauce.

Overfilling the slow cooker can lead to uneven cooking.

On the other hand, not adding enough ingredients can also be a problem. "The crock should be at least 2/3 full to avoid dry or burnt food," Audet-White told BI.

The exact impact on cooking times varies from dish to dish, but generally cooking multiple dishes at once can lead to longer cooking times. No matter how many dishes you plan to cook, be sure to leave at least 3 inches of space between each dish and the walls of the oven, or other dishes, to allow for proper airflow.