Who says Thanksgiving dinner has to be a big production? Sure, the logistics of feeding a lot of people might require a large quantity of food, but it’s possible to fix it and forget it for your holiday meal. If you’re looking to change things up and reduce your Thanksgiving stress, consider using your crockpot and let dinner take care of itself.

Crockpot cooking is an excellent way to get your meal prep done and dinner cooking while you enjoy the holiday doing activities outside of the kitchen. Crockpots have long since been a staple for busy families who want delicious food, but don’t have spare time to spend cooking. Why not use this method for Thanksgiving too? Here are some fun ways to use your crockpot for the holidays.

Multiple crockpots = multiple options. There’s no rule that says you can’t have more than one crockpot. Try using crockpots for more than one of your staple dishes for Thanksgiving. Crockpots work well for items like stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, and green bean casserole. If you want to get out of the box, try using multiple crock pots for a non-traditional meal like beans and ham and a scrumptious dessert. Fix it, forget it, and enjoy your day doing things you love with family and friends.

Crockpots with friends- If you’re hosting friends and family, ask them to bring along a crockpot dish. Dividing up the meal and letting the crockpots do the work means the kitchen stays cleaner and everyone has more time to spend together. Create a buffet-style meal by lining up the crock pots filled with yummy Thanksgiving foods.

Plan ahead without any fuss- Prepping foods ahead of time can help reduce stress on the big day. Using your crockpot in the weeks before the holiday will allow you to prep foods and cook them with minimal effort. This can streamline your planning and allow you to freeze some foods ahead of time with very little inconvenience to your already busy schedule. Many foods can be reheated in the crockpot too, making it easy on you before, during, and after the holiday. 

Cooking and cleaning can take up a lot of the day on Thanksgiving. If you’re looking for a break this year, consider using your crockpot so dinner can take care of itself. Imagine a day of rest and relaxation while your meal prepares itself? If that sounds like heaven, it might be a perfect time to switch things up and let the crockpot do the work.