25 Showstopper Slow Cooker Recipes to Bring to Your Next Potluck (2024)

Updated November 15, 2022

• Slow Cooker Jambalaya

  

  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.
  

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• Slow Cooker Brats and Beer Cheese Dip

  

  Here’s one of those dishes that can sit on the counter all game long. While most of the cooking is done outside of the slow cooker, the convenience of this dip is it's kept warm and melty all on its own. Point your guests to a bowlful of tortilla chips, and let them have at it. Now, go take a load off, you’ve done your good deed for the day.
  

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• Slow Cooker Cider Pulled Pork

  

  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.
  

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  100+ Fall Dinner Recipes which are Hearty & Super Healthy - Hike n DipThe 30 BEST Cuban RecipesBaked Ham Recipe with ApplesCouvillion Recipe (Creole Courtbouillon)

• Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

  

  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.

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  Continue to 5 of 26 below.

• Slow Cooker Spinach Feta Dip

  

  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.
  

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• Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

  

  Traditional dishes are an absolute hit at potlucks. We all want something we recognize and can count on. The dependability of pasta and creamy, melty cheese will transport your oldest of eaters back to their childhood, and the youngest back too, well, to last week. Also, it’s good to keep in mind the keys to cooking pasta in a slow cooker: Initially using the minimum amount of liquid, and stirring it through completely at the 90 minute mark.
  

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• Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

  

  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.

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• Slow Cooker Bourbon Short Ribs with Cheesy Grits

  

  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 co*cktail like an Old Fashioned.
  

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  Continue to 9 of 26 below.

• Jamaican Beef Stew with Scotch Bonnets, Ginger, and Allspice

  

  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.
  

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• Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Casserole

  

  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.
  

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• Slow Cooker Lamb Stew with Pomegranate Molasses

  

  Lamb’s unique flavor and texture are combined with the sweetness ofpomegranate 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.
  

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• Slow Cooker Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

  

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  250+ Budget Friendly Meal Prep Recipes and Ideas

  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.
  

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• Slow Cooker Chickpea Curry with Sweet Potatoes and Red Peppers

  

  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.
  

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• Slow Cooker Pot Roast

  

  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.
  

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• Slow Cooker Banana Bread Pudding

  

  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.
  

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• Slow Cooker Beef and Bean Chili

  

  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.
  

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  Continue to 17 of 26 below.

• Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Wings

  

  Whether it’s football or fútbol, a platter full of wings within arm’s reach couldn’t make for better watching of your favorite team or club. The brown sugar and bitterness of the molasses even out the heat from the hot sauce and cayenne. Listen, take 10 minutes to mix up the marinade—then go mow the lawn, build a treehouse, or whatever you like for the next 3 1/2 hours while the wings cook. On the other hand, you could also put together a quick blue cheese sauce that you won’t be mad about, either.
  

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• Slow Cooker Almond Orange Rice Pudding

  

  This rice pudding is bright and smooth, and it is a variation of the Indian dessert, kheer. The pudding's consistency contrasts well with the textured toppings of candied almonds and orange and the warming spices of a just brewed chai tea should link these two at the hip.
  

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• Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup

  

  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.

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• Cheesy Slow Cooker Sausage Balls

  

  It’s all about the cheese with these sausage balls. The cheese—both cream cheese and cheddar—replace breadcrumbs and eggs, and acts as a binder to maintain their shape. Add fresh herbs, if you’d like, but these sausage balls are already chock full of flavor. Cooking in as little as two hours, this is a quicker slow-cooker recipe, which comes in handy when there’s lots to do and company is on the way.
  

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  Continue to 21 of 26 below.

• Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

  

  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.
  

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• Slow Cooker Spiced Oatmeal

  

  Made with steel-cut oats that add body and a nutty flavorto 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.

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• Slow Cooker Dr Pepper Pulled Pork

  

  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.

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• Spiced Mulled Wine

  

  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.

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  Continue to 25 of 26 below.

• Slow Cooker Taco Soup

  

  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.

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• Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

  

  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.

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