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Writer's pictureJulie Marie

My Top 10 Slow Cooker Side Dishes

Updated: Oct 25, 2021


Here I go with my 10 Slow Cookers on the Counter for a Large Family Dinner on Limited Time! Below are some of my favorite go to side dishes in the slow cooker.


Super Simple. Short Prep Time. Delicious Meals.



  • Macaroni & Cheese

  • Collard Greens

  • Slow Cooker Velveeta Broccoli Rice Casserole

  • Creamed Corn

  • Glazed Carrots

  • Scalloped Potatoes

  • Baked Potatoes

  • Chicken and Dumplings

  • Mashed Potatoes

  • Vegetable Beef Soup



1. Macaroni & Cheese



Mac & Cheese is my favorite food This is by far my favorite Macaroni & Cheese recipe in or out of the crockpot! Hope you Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 12 oz Elbow Macaroni- Barely Cooked

  • 12 oz Evaporated Milk

  • 1 1/2 Cups Regular Milk

  • 1/4 Cup Melted Butter

  • 2 Eggs- Beaten

  • 5 Cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar

  • Salt & Pepper to Taste

  • Dash of Paprika


Spray or Grease the Slow Cooker! (Very important because this WILL stick)


Boil Elbow Macaroni until slightly soft (I never cook them all the way since they will be in the crockpot for 3 hours also)


In Large Bowl combine the Macaroni, Evaporated Milk, Regular Milk, Melted Butter, Beaten Eggs, Salt, Pepper, and 4 1/2 Cups of the Shredded Cheddar Cheese.


Pour in Slow Cooker & Top with Remaining 1/2 Cup of Cheese and Sprinkle with Paprika

Cover and Cook on Low for 3 Hours


2. Collard Greens





  • 3 1/2 lbs Collard Greens

  • 2lb Ham Hock

  • 1 Onion- Quartered

  • 1 T Brown Sugar

  • 2 T Salt

  • 1/2t Pepper

  • 3 T Apple Cider Vinegar

  • 32 Oz Chicken Broth


Wash Greens, Remove Stems, and Chop Roughly.


Add Greens to Slow Cooker and top with Brown Sugar, Salt, Pepper, Apple Cider Vinegar, Quartered Onion, Ham Hocks, and Chicken Broth.


Cover and Cook on Low for 8 Hours (or High for 4-5 Hours)

Remove Onions and Ham Hocks from Slow Cooker and Serve! You can also chop up the Ham Hocks and add back to Slow Cooker, Stir, and Serve!


3. Slow Cooker Velveeta Broccoli Rice Casserole




  • 1 1/2 Cups Minute Rice

  • 3/4lb Velveeta Cheese- Cut into 1/2" Cubes

  • 14.4 Oz Chopped Frozen Broccoli

  • 1t Dried Minced Onions

  • 10.5 Oz Cream of Mushroom Soup

  • 10.5 Oz Chicken Broth

  • 1 Cup Milk

  • 1/4 Cup White Wine

  • 1/2t Black Pepper

Topping (Optional):

  • 1 Cup Crushed Ritz Crackers

  • 1/4 Cup Melted Butter

Spray or Grease the Slow Cooker! (Very important because this WILL stick)


In large bowl mix together Rice, Velveeta Cheese Cubes, Frozen Broccoli, Dried Onions, Mushroom Soup, Chicken Broth, Milk, White Wine, and Black Pepper.


Pour in Slow Cooker. Cover and Cook on Low 4 Hours.


Done! I always add one extra step by combining melted butter & crushed ritz crackers- sprinkle on top of casserole and brown under the broiler in the oven.


4. Creamed Corn




  • 16 Oz Frozen Corn Kernels

  • 8 Oz Cream Cheese

  • 1/2 Cup Milk

  • 1T Sugar

  • Salt & Pepper


In Slow Cooker combine the Corn, Cream Cheese, Milk, and Sugar. Season with Salt & Pepper. Cover and Cook on Low 4-6 Hours. (Taste and season accordingly while cooking)


5. Glazed Carrots


  • 2 lb Baby Carrots

  • 4T Butter- Cut into Chunks

  • 1/2 C Brown Sugar

Spray or Grease the Slow Cooker! (Very important because this WILL stick)


Add Carrots to Slow Cooker. Top with Butter and Sprinkle with Brown Sugar.


Cook on High for 4-5 Hours. (Stir after the first two hours, and about once an hour every hour after- just to make sure they don't stick)



6. Scalloped Potatoes





  • 3lb Potatoes- Sliced Thin (You can peel also.. I prefer peeled but usually skip due to time and turns out fine)

  • 1/2 Onion- Sliced into Rings

  • 1 1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

  • 10.5 Oz Cream of Chicken Soup

  • 1 1/2 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream

  • 1/2t Garlic Powder

  • Pepper to Taste


Spray or Grease the Slow Cooker! (Very important because this WILL stick)


Cheese Mixture- In Large Bowl Combine 1 Cup of the Shredded Cheese, the Cream of Chicken Soup, 1 Cup of the Heavy Cream, Garlic Powder and Pepper.


Put 1/2 of the Sliced Potatoes in Slow Cooker, Top with Onions. Spread 1/2 of the Cheese Mixture on Top.


Add Remaining Potatoes and top with remaining cheese mixture. Pour 1/2 Cup of Heavy Whipping Cream over top.


Cover and Cook on Low for 7-8 Hours. Add 1/2 Cup of Cheese the last 5 minutes of Cooking!




7. Baked Potatoes


  • 4- Baking Potatoes

  • 1 T Olive Oil

  • Salt to Taste

  • 4 Sheets of Aluminum Foil

Prick Potatoes all over with a fork. Rub with Olive Oil and Salt. Wrap in Aluminum Foil.


Place Potatoes in Slow Cooker, Cover and Cook on Low for 8 Hours.



8. Chicken and Dumplings


We probably eat this once a week at my house- sometimes as a Main Course and sometimes as a Side Dish. Definitely a crowd pleaser! This recipe probably has the shortest prep time. I actually made the easiest recipe even easier by using frozen dumplins but you will not be disappointed, they are amazing!


Ingredients

  • 3-4 lbs Boneless Chicken Breasts

  • 4- 10.5 oz Cream of Chicken Soup

  • Chicken Broth

  • Frozen Dumplings


Nothing is measured too well, BUT there is NO WAY of messing this one up! Put Boneless Chicken Breasts in Crock Pot and Cover with 4 Cans of Cream of Chicken Soup- Then I usually fill crockpot 3/4 way full with Chicken Broth on top. (This will determine how thick or liquid-y it is so personal taste is key- may be good to fill 1/2 way and all more at the end) Cook on High for 5-6 Hours.


After 5-6 Hours, Shred Chicken and Add Back. Add Salt and Pepper to your liking and any additional chicken broth, if it is too thick. (Consistency now will be finished product) Add broken up frozen dumplings equally in one layer on top, then tap with spoon under soup mixture and add one more layer equally, then tap those with a spoon right under the soup mixture. Continue Cooking 30 min on High. All Done :)


My favorite dumplings to use are Annes or Mary Hill, found in Frozen Section at Grocery Store, Seen Below:





9. Mashed Potatoes


  • 5lb Potatoes- Peeled and Cubed

  • 3/4 C Chicken Broth

  • 1/2t Garlic Powder

  • 1/4 C Butter

  • 1/4 C Sour Cream

  • Milk to Taste

  • Salt and Pepper to Taste


Place Potatoes, Chicken Broth, and Garlic Powder in the Slow Cooker.


Cover and Cook on Low for 6-7 Hours. (Stir Every Hour or So)


Mash the Potatoes with hand masher until smooth. Add in Butter and Sour Cream. Salt and Pepper to Taste! (To thin out consistency,

use milk to taste.)


10. Vegetable Beef Soup



  • 2lb Ground Beef

  • 1/2 Onion- Diced

  • 3 Potatoes- Diced (1" or smaller cubes)

  • 16 Oz Frozen Vegetable Mix

  • 3-14.5 Oz Cans of Diced Tomatoes

  • 4 Cups Beef Broth

  • 2t Italian Seasoning

  • 1t Salt

  • 1/2t Pepper


Brown Ground Beef, and Drain.


Put Ground Beef, Onion, Potatoes, Vegetable Mix, Diced Tomatoes, Beef Broth, Italian Seasoning, Salt and Pepper in Slow Cooker.


Cover and Cook on Low for 4-6 Hours.



I hope you find this helpful to your family and make your life a bit easier! Fell free to send me your comments on these meals and how they turned out! Thanks for reading!




















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