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When it’s time to celebrate with friends and family, we gather with food. So, pull your slow cooker from the dark recesses of your bottom corner cupboard next to the sink, choose a soon-to-be-favorite recipe from our list, and prepare to return from the potluck without a leftover in sight.
Whether you’re looking for a traditional or unique meal, these slow cooker recipes reward the potluck crowds by coaxing out layer upon layer of flavor. So, celebrate the convenience of the slow cooker, celebrate the food, and celebrate the people (those same people who will wish they had a bigger bowl when they eat your food).
The combination of Creole seasoning, shrimp, and smoked sausage are among the high points of this dish. And although you needn’t be in Louisiana proper to pull it off, do yourself a favor and turn up the volume on The Neville Brothers, and you won’t be too far off. While it’s recommended to cook the rice separately, it can be added when the jambalaya has finished filling your kitchen with all of its smoky and spicy aromas. And don’t forget to get out your cast-iron pan so there’s a slice of cornbread at the ready.
Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
Senior Editor Laural Randolph says, “I call for mayonnaise instead of butter for an extra dose of savory creaminess. I used a stock base rather than chicken gravy mix because you’ll never find me without a jar of stock base in the fridge; it amps up the chicken flavor.”
Contributor Marta Rivera says, “Add the vegetables in the last 2 hours of cooking the slow cooker corned beef. Adding them towards the end of the cooking time preserves their texture and some of their color.”
Having a solid go-to pulled pork recipe on-hand will save the day. The rub uses typical baking spices for depth of flavor and the pork is then combined with cider, mustard, tomatoes, garlic, and vinegar for standout flavor. And if you need another old acquaintance of pulled pork, give these pickled onions a try. If you’re really feeling ambitious make your own buns.
Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Just look at this beauty! This slow cooker version of the holiday must-have frees up oven space. From-scratch fried onions are its crowning glory, but here’s a hot tip: get the surprisingly good premade fried onions next time you’re at an IKEA marketplace to save yourself a step.
If you’re after a classic dip with a twist, this is the one. The ribbons of spinach and the saltiness of feta cheese give this dish the body and flavors we look for in a dip. If you’re in need of even more flavor, go ahead and add a bit of smokey bacon. Just don’t plan on leftovers.
Simply Recipes / Nick Evans
Contributor Nick Evans says, “There isn’t a hard and fast rule when it comes to bread for stuffing. If you have some leftover bread, I would use that. I’ve used hamburger and hot dog buns before and it works well.”
The versatility of a chili allows you to be creative in having a dish that pleases the pickiest of eaters. Whether you swap out for your favorite beans, chili peppers, or toppings, it can be adapted with ease, and enjoyed by everyone afterward. And if you’re feeling more creative still, a dollop of salsa verde lends a tart brightness to a can’t-miss dish.
As the weather cools down, this becomes my go to potluck dish. The richness of a cut like short ribs is only enhanced by the cheesiness of the grits. While the bourbon and the brown sugar bring a depth of flavor to the sauce, the orange zest brightens it. And to carry on those specific flavors, finish the get-together with a classic cocktail like an Old-Fashioned.
This dish is not your grandmother’s standard meat and two veggies. Adaptable to the slow cooker, the allspice base notes, the method of browning the sugar, and the warmth from the peppers distinguish this stew from many others. The layers of flavor can be enjoyed on their own, or you can serve it over a bowl of long-grain rice.
Chicken thighs are a wonderful vessel for the deep flavors of cumin and cinnamon, which the rice assumes as well. It’s a simple and flavorful dish. Do you want to know the secret to the success of this recipe? In cooking the rice, hold back 1/2 cup of chicken stock, then after 60 minutes of cooking, see if the rice needs the additional liquid.
Lamb’s unique flavor and texture are combined with the sweetness of pomegranate molasses to pull the dish together. And it’s the less expensive cuts like the shoulder or shanks which are best suited for this stew, a Middle Eastern meat and potatoes staple, for sure. And when the dishes are all put away, you’ll be pleased you had thought ahead and baked this Apricot Tart to take with you to your potluck dinner.
In a restaurant I worked in, we cooked our meatballs, right in the sauce, not in a slow cooker though. Tomato sauce and meatballs are an ideal pairing—I dare say they are even better than Scorsese and DiNiro. If you’re looking to go full-on, old-school Italian-American, make your own homemade pasta to go along with it. I’m sure everyone at the potluck would rave about this dish. You could also keep it simple and serve these up by themselves with some toothpicks.
Whether you like your curry with coconut milk creaminess or a thicker tomato base, there is flexibility to this dish to serve either of your preferences. And if you soak the chickpeas overnight, you can reduce the cooking time, too. It all goes into the slow cooker at once, giving you a moment to make a Cilantro Lime Rice to serve it with.
Pot roast hits all the traditional touchpoints with beef, carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms. Oh, the gravy—absolutely, do not forget the gravy. There is loads of flavor in using a chuck roast, and if you sear the meat beforehand, you’ll be filling your slow cooker with even more beefy flavors. Prepare parts of the dish the night before, and in the morning, it all goes into the slow cooker and you’re off to start your day. Since you’ve already opened a bottle of red wine for the pot roast, why not tie a bow on the evening with some honey mulled wine.
The make-ahead aspect of a slow cooker dessert removes many of my baking stressors. The simplicity of a bread pudding—with its flavors of nutmeg, cinnamon, banana, and caramel—ranks it among the desserts I just can’t turn down. The bread is best if soaked for the full 24 hours, the caramel sauce can be made up to a week beforehand, and it gives you time to make your own vanilla ice cream to scoop on top—or you could leave the ice cream at home, and stash it away just for yourself. I won’t tell a soul, I promise.
Served over rice, in a bowl on its own, or ladled over a hot dog, a good chili like this one will be part of your cool-weather months. You could even grab a few potatoes, make potato skins, and fill them with the rich flavors of chili. What is especially convenient about this dish is that chili is even better after it sits for a day, and how pleased you’ll be when you have your potluck dish ready a day in advance.
Founder Elise Bauer says, “Besides tacos, you can use this pulled pork to make tamales, enchiladas, burritos, or even a quick weeknight quesadillas.”
Make this with coconut milk and you’ll have both vegans and non-vegans, alike, asking for your recipe. It’s the ginger, coconut milk, and even a topping of cilantro or roasted pumpkin seeds, which help celebrate the flavor of pumpkin and pull this away from everything that’s pumpkin-spiced.
Founder Elise Bauer says, “Why pre-soak the beans? You don’t have to (see this great Russ Parsons article in the LA Times about why you don’t need to soak beans), but not doing so in this recipe will increase the cooking time. With the beans pre-soaked, they’ll still take 8 hours to cook and soften in a slow-cooker.”
Tacos are always fun for a crowd of people to build themselves. Everyone will appreciate the variety of garnishes you’ve laid out, but they will lose themselves in the layers of tastes—earthy cumin, shades of heat from chili powder, and the sweet acidity of pineapple—the slow cooker infuses into the chicken. And no one will mind if you continue your run of impressive simplicity with a stellar dish of Spanish rice.
Made with steel-cut oats that add body and a nutty flavor to this slow cooker spiced oatmeal, this is a great dish to take to a potluck brunch. Dump all the ingredients in the slow cooker before bed, and it will be ready in the morning. Keep on warm until you’re ready to take it to the potluck.
This is a crowd pleaser. Pork shoulder, onions, Dr Pepper soda, bbq sauce, and some spices slow cook together for 8 to 10 hours. When it’s done, the pork shreds easily with two forks. Serve on buns with pickled onions or slaw.
For a holiday or winter potluck, spiced mulled wine is something simple to contribute that everyone will appreciate. Simmer inexpensive red wine with brandy, ginger, sugar, an orange, cloves, and cinnamon. Once heated through, turn the slow cooker to warm and serve hot in mugs.
Here’s your game day potluck dish. Ground beef, beans, corn, and chilis cook with spices to make a spicy soup. Serve with toppings like shredded cheese, corn chips, sour cream, or cilantro and a side of green chile cornbread.
Who doesn’t love creamy mashed potatoes? Make a crowd-sized amount in your slow cooker that will stay warm throughout the potluck. Great for holiday potlucks, make them ahead of time, store in the fridge, and reheat before serving.
