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The holidays bring a lot of joy, but they can also bring a lot of anxiety, especially if you’re the person who ends up hosting every year. There are cooks out there dealing with Thanskgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s back-to-back…it’s a lot of cooking, and a lot of planning. But there is something that can help take away some of the frantic energy that comes with preparing a celebratory feast. Enter: Holiday main courses you can make in the slow cooker.
Instead of stressing out over stove top braised beef or oven-roasted turkey, let your slow cooker do all the heavy lifting. The slow cook feature works by applying moderate heat over a long period of time, which helps meat get tender without drying out. Plus, you can set it and forget it. Win-win, right?
If you’re not sure what kind of slow cooker holiday main course to serve this year, the list below is here to guide you. We’ve got everything from stews to scrumptious slow-cooked brisket.
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Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Tortellini
Image Credit: Cinnamon & Sage Co. If your family loves a hearty pasta meal, this cozy slow-cooked Tuscan chicken tortellini is bound to be a new favorite. Serve it with a crisp chilled salad and lots of garlic bread.
Get the recipe from Cinnamon & Sage Co.
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Slow Cooker Corned Beef
Image Credit: Foodie Explorers. Corned beef isn’t just for St. Patrick’s Day! If you’re bored of the same old pot roast and turkey, try making slow cooker corned beef this year. It comes out meltingly tender, and the leftovers are great for breakfast.
Get the recipe from Foodie Explorers.
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Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
Image Credit: Family Food on the Table. If we knew we could make chicken and dumplings in the slow cooker, we would have been enjoying it a lot more often! This hearty, cozy, family-friendly recipe is perfect for those chilly winter nights.
Get the recipe from Family Food on the Table.
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Slow Cooker Pot Smothered Pork Chops
Image Credit: Slow Cooker Meals. Pork chops are an affordable holiday meal option, and in this slow cooker recipe, they come with a rich, creamy mushroom gravy so tasty, you’ll want to lick you plate.
Get the recipe from Slow Cooker Meals.
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Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Roast
Image Credit: Framed Cooks. Trying to cut back on red meat? You can still enjoy the pot roast flavors you love, only this time, try using turkey instead of beef or pork.
Get the recipe from Framed Cooks.
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Slow Cooker Hoppin’ John
Image Credit: The Cagle Diaries. This traditional New Year’s dish is easily made in the slow cooker. Black eyed peas, smoked sausage, and a ton of aromatics make for a super-flavorful dish that will usher you into the new year in the most delicious way possible.
Get the recipe from The Cagle Diaries.
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Slow Cooker Greek Lamb Shank Pasta
Image Credit: Mrs. Jones Kitchen. Lamb shanks get meltingly tender in the slow cooker, and make a perfectly savory base for a hearty pasta sauce. Pair the cooked lamb with orzo or tagliatelle for a complete meal.
Get the recipe from Mrs. Jones Kitchen.
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Slow Cooker London Broil
Image Credit: Went Here 8 This. If you love the sweet and tangy flavor of a traditional brisket, but don’t love the price of brisket at the store these days, try making a slow cooker London broil instead. The sauce, flavored with coffee, brown sugar, brandy, red wine, and more, is so good you’ll want to drink it with a straw.
Get the recipe from Went Here 8 This.
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Brown Sugar-Maple Ham
Image Credit: Dinner at the Zoo. This sweet ham is totally foolproof, and the perfect mix of sweet and salty.
Get the recipe from Dinner at the Zoo.
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Slow Cooker Turkey Legs With Gravy
Image Credit: Where is My Spoon. If your family prefers dark meat, then these slow cooker turkey legs with gravy are bound to be a hit. It’s also a nice alternative to a whole roast turkey if your celebration is on the smaller side.
Get the recipe from Where is My Spoon.
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Slow Roasted Lamb
Image Credit: Leite's Culinaria. This recipe instructs you to cook the lamb in the oven but you could easily use your slow cooker instead. Cook it on low until the internal temperature reaches 160°F or 175°F medium doneness.
Get the recipe from Leite’s Culinaria.
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Slow Cooker Pork Ragu
Image Credit: Whitney Bond. Here’s an easy holiday meal idea. Get some fresh tagliatelle from the refrigerated section of the grocery store, then pair it with a rich slow cooker pork ragu. As it cooks, it will fill your home with an irressitible smell.
Get the recipe from Whitney Bond.
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Tri Tip Roast Slow Cooker Recipe
Image Credit: The Cagle Diaries. You don’t have to spend a fortune on a standing rib roast to give your family a hearty holiday meal. A relatively affordable tri-trip roast is packed with flavor, and it gets tender and juicy after a long slow cook.
Get the recipe from The Cagle Diaries.
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Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken
Image Credit: Recipe Tin Eats. Did you know you could roast a chicken in the slow-cooker? Give your oven a break, and give it a try!
Get the recipe from Recipe Tin Eats.
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Turkey Breast
Image Credit: Small Town Woman. Don’t need to feed a huge crowd? Skip the whole turkey, and instead opt just for the breast.
Get the recipe from Small Town Woman.
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Honey-Glazed Ham
Image Credit: Together as a Family. You really can’t go wrong with a honey-glazed ham. The guaranteed leftovers are just a bonus.
Get the recipe from Together as a Family.
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Kalua Pig
Image Credit: Nom Nom Paleo. What’s Kalua pig, you ask? Essentially it’s a Hawaiian-inspired pulled pork flavored with nothing but bacon fat.
Get the recipe from Nom Nom Paleo.
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Short Ribs
Image Credit: The Stay at Home Chef. Succulent slow-cooked short ribs are a surefire win at your holiday table, no matter what you serve them with.
Get the recipe from The Stay at Home Chef.
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Pot Roast
Image Credit: Cooking Classy. Want to do something special for a small group? This pot roast is a whole meal in one slow cooker.
Get the recipe from Cooking Classy.
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Vegan Maafe-Inspired West African Peanut Stew
Image Credit: Sweet Peas and Saffron. Whether you have a table full of vegetarians or just one, this hearty maafe-inspired West African peanut stew will make them feel special.
Get the recipe from Sweet Peas and Saffron.
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Beef Bourguignon
Image Credit: The Recipe Critic. If it’s good enough for Julia Child, it’s good enough for your holiday table.
Get the recipe from The Recipe Critic.
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Bacon Garlic Pork Loin
Image Credit: Dinner then Dessert. Pork loin can get dry in the oven. Wrap it with bacon and throw it in the slow cooker, and it’ll stay moist as can be.
Get the recipe from Dinner then Dessert.
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Whole Turkey
Image Credit: The Cookie Writer. If you didn’t get enough turkey in November, you can whip up another in December without even turning on your oven.
Get the recipe from The Cookie Writer.
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Lamb Shanks in Red Wine Sauce
Image Credit: Recipe Tin Eats. Lamb shanks can be pricey, but they’re worth the splurge this time of year.
Get the recipe from Recipe Tin Eats.
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Barbecue Beef Brisket
Image Credit: Simply Scratch. This tender, not-too-saucy barbecue beef brisked is great alongside all of your favorite holiday sides.
Get the recipe from Simply Scratch.
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Pin it!
Image Credit: Dinner at the Zoo. Design: Ashley Britton/SheKnows. Pin it now, and prep for your holiday meal later!
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