Make Christmas dinner in a crockpot — what would grandma say? Well, it might not be the traditional way to cook Christmas dinner, but it does have its perks. Spending the bulk of Christmas Day in the kitchen preparing dinner for family and guests is never appealing and you miss all the good stuff. Hosting for the holidays is a lot. So, if you can cut down the hours spent in the kitchen preparing and cooking, that’s a big win. So, if you haven’t discovered the wonders of crockpot cooking, the upcoming holiday season is the ideal time to start. When grandma sees how much time you actually save with Christmas crockpot meals, she’ll feel differently.
Crockpots have been around for decades with the slow cooker being introduced to American kitchens in the 40s. It wasn’t until the 70s though that crockpot cooking really started to heat up. The simple truth about crockpots is that it allows you to do other things without being tied to the stove. Now, don’t think crockpot meals have to be stews. Sure, you can do those, but you can also do a protein like chicken or salmon as well as one of those delicious sides the family looks forward to.
Christmas crockpot meals
Crockpot cooking is a huge timesaver during those crazy weeknights when you’re running from school to sports and more. During the holidays, the crockpot really comes in handy. Using a crockpot also frees up valuable oven and stove space, which is often in short supply when you’re hosting Christmas dinner. Not sure what to make in the crockpot for the holiday dinner this December? Well, we have plenty of delicious inspiration.
Ham
If ham is on your family’s table every December 25, the Frugal Girls have a tasty holiday ham recipe that uses only five ingredients and takes around five minutes to prep.
Garlic herb chicken
Four ingredients and 10 minutes of preparation will get this Frugal Girls’ yummy garlic herb whole chicken recipe on the table for a holiday dinner after four hours of simmering in the crockpot.
Cinnamon rolls
Imagine waking up to the smell of homemade cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. With Sally’s Baking Addition’s simple recipe for cinnamon rolls in the crockpot, you can have a sweet breakfast treat without the work. The dough can be made the night before. Set up the crockpot before waking up the kids and enjoy opening gifts while the cinnamon rolls slow cook for two hours.
Pumpkin red lentil vegetarian chili
This dish from the Kitchen Treaty is not a traditional Christmas meal, but it’s a terrific and tasty option if you have vegetarians or vegans stopping by for a holiday dinner. The pumpkin red lentil chili is easy to make and will be slow cooking in the crockpot while you’re dealing with the turkey. It’s also amazing as a leftover.
Quinoa pilaf with wild rice
For a lighter side, gluten-free, and vegetarian dish, try this winter-inspired quinoa pilaf with wild rice, beets, and cranberries from Cotter Crunch. It’s a holiday crockpot recipe that’s gluten-free and vegetarian. You’ll love it so much you might just find yourself making it all year long.
Mashed potatoes
What is Christmas dinner without mashed potatoes? Probably less messy, but mashed potatoes are a holiday staple. Mashed potatoes take a lot of effort to end up lump-free. That’s what makes this Jo Cook’s crockpot recipe for mashed potatoes such a must-do. The end result is creamy, cheesy, and just plain delicious.
Brussels sprouts
This vegetable has gotten a lot of hate over the years. It’s been making a comeback and changing people’s minds about the often-misunderstood Brussels sprout. Brussels sprouts make for a delightful holiday side dish. The maple syrup is a sweet way to bring out the best side of Brussels sprouts and the cranberries just give the dish from Well Plated by Erin that holiday feel.
Crockpot turkey with garlic butter
If it’s just not Christmas without turkey, never fear. The Recipe Rebel serves up this crockpot turkey recipe. It only requires 10 minutes of prep time. The turkey slow cooks for seven hours and 40 minutes while the kids are opening gifts and playing with their presents. If you’re taking the turkey on the road, it can cook in the crockpot overnight, too.
Crockpot lasagna
Another holiday staple for some families at Christmas dinner is lasagna. Now, don’t think you can’t cook lasagna in the crockpot? You can! The Country Cook has a lasagna recipe that simmers to perfection in the slow cooker and the flavorful taste won’t disappoint the family on Christmas.
Creamy crockpot hot chocolate
Leaving hot chocolate for Santa or just want some to drink around the tree on Christmas night while watching a holiday movie? This yummy creamy crockpot hot chocolate recipe from Wishes and Dishes is sure to become a winter favorite.
More Christmas crockpot meals
If we haven’t inspired you yet to embrace crockpot cooking for the holidays, then here are some more recipes you can whip up in the slow cooker that will wow the family and the relatives around at Christmas table this December.
Green beans
For a tasty veggie side this holiday season, try this crockpot recipe for green beans by Taste of Home. With only 10 minutes of prep time, you will have 12 servings of yummy green beans the whole family will love.
Turkey breast
If you are not in the mood to roast a whole turkey for Christmas this year, do turkey breast instead. It is surprisingly easy in this crockpot turkey breast recipe from Quiche my Grits.
Beef short ribs
Do something completely different as a main course this holiday season by making these crockpot beef short ribs from the Roasted Root. It only takes 15 minutes of prep and six hours in the crockpot for this delish dish.
Poached salmon
Many people prefer seafood as the center of Christmas dinner. So, if you’re looking for a fish dish, try this poached salmon recipe from Thinlicious.
Buffalo chicken dip
For an appetizer while the family is opening the gifts, dish out this crockpot buffalo chicken dip from Two Healthy Kitchens.
Christmas crockpot desserts
Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without an assortment of decadent desserts. If you want to make something special for dessert for the holidays or need to bring one somewhere but don’t have the time, think crockpot. Yes, you can make desserts in the crockpot too. Here are easy Christmas crockpot recipes to try this holiday season for mouthwatering desserts.
Bread pudding
Bread pudding makes for a delish holiday dessert that’s super easy to make. Allrecipes has a crockpot bread pudding recipe that only takes 10 minutes of prep time. It’s ready to eat or transport in three hours.
Pumpkin pie pudding
Pumpkin isn’t just for Thanksgiving. It can be a yummy holiday dessert too. If you don’t have time to bake a pumpkin pie, try this crockpot recipe for pumpkin pie pudding from Life in the Lofthouse.
Crockpot s’mores cake
Everyone loves s’mores and they aren’t just for backyard cookouts. Give guests a holiday surprise with this s’mores cake from Delish that you can whip up in the crockpot.
Food is an essential part of the holidays from the scrumptious Christmas dinner to those irresistible desserts. There are recipes passed down from generation to generation and new ones that can quickly become a new tradition. Cooking a Christmas dinner is super time-consuming and that is certainly something busy families don’t have extra of during the holiday season. That’s when you need to discover the joys of crockpot cooking. Christmas crockpot meals can be an easy way to cook the main entree, sides, and even desserts without the added time and effort.
Whether your family enjoys chicken, turkey, ham, or lasagna for Christmas dinner, there is a delectable crockpot recipe to keep the tradition alive and cut down on the hours in the kitchen. You can also make yummy sides in the crockpot, a warm batch of hot chocolate. cinnamon rolls for breakfast, or an amazing dessert. Give one or more of these yummy Christmas crockpot recipes a try this holiday season. Grandma won’t even be able to tell the turkey wasn’t roasted in the oven.
