Christmas Crockpot Recipes (60+ Options)

Christmas crockpot recipes make an overwhelming holiday dinner a bit easier to make, especially for a large family.

There is a lot of food to make and usually you are cooking for a larger crowd in December. It can bring stress to the holiday season.

Thankfully, crockpots were invented. Whenever I need an easy recipe for the holidays, I lean toward crockpot recipes because they are so simple.

You can throw the recipe in the crockpot and let it cook all day while you are busy cooking other things, wrapping presents, watching Christmas movies, spend time with family, or even take a nap.

There are many traditions that come with the holiday season. I particularly love the decorations and music. Another favorite tradition in our home is Christmas movies.

But a large part of the holiday season is the Christmas feast. You’ve got everything from pot roast, green beans, tasty side dishes, and most importantly, the Christmas ham. Plus, you can’t forget the Christmas desserts.

The Christmas season is a time when we love to try new recipes. A great way to do that is to try a new way of cooking too. So if you do not regularly use a crockpot, try a great recipe from down below and enjoy.

And don't forget the Christmas reindeer chex mix recipe for an easy dessert. Plus, our favorite Christmas side dishes with prime rib and Christmas dinner sides with beef tenderloin. And if you need festive sips, these green Christmas drinks are fun!

These dishes go great with our white chocolate Christmas crack or this Christmas charcuterie board which is great for the festive season of giving.

Why should I use a crockpot?

These Christmas crockpot meals will make putting together the holiday meal a lot easier. You don’t want to spend all of Christmas day cooking, so use slow cooker recipes for great recipes that don’t take a lot of time to put together.

One great thing about using a crockpot is that it saves stovetop space. It can be stressful trying to cook everything in the kitchen when there is not enough space. These’s crock-pot Christmas recipes will help keep your kitchen nice and clean.

Crockpots are also great for Christmas potlucks. Using a crockpot is one of my favorite ways to carry dishes on the go because it keeps in the moist heat, which keeps the dish warm.

They are also great when you are trying to make a big batch of something. For example, crockpot stuffing. It is usually a family favorite, so make a bunch in the crockpot and you are good to go.

What’s the difference between a crockpot and a slow cooker?

Overall, they have a similar job of cooking something slowly while you are away. But, there are some differences between the two.

A crockpot has a ceramic or porcelain bowl that holds the food and is placed inside the heating unit. The pot is usually an oval shape, but you will also find round bowls, depending on the size of your crockpot.

The heating unit of a slow cooker is at the bottom, unlike a crockpot that surrounds the bowl. You place the pot on top of the heating unit and allow it to cook that way. Slow cookers can cook slower than crockpots.

There are also Instant Pots to cook with that are like a pressure cooker. They are great to use if you are in a rush. We have plenty gluten-free Instant Pot recipes that you should check out.

Mixing up cooking with crockpots and Instant Pots will help create the best meal and the least stressful way of creating a wonderful holiday meal. Cooking this way allows for space in the oven and stovetop, which is always helpful.

Why you should plan ahead when cooking with a crockpot

You do need to plan ahead though if you are wanting to make crockpot recipes. They will take at least a couple of hours because crockpots are slow cookers. If you are planning to cook some of these recipes, you will want to think ahead.

I go into detail about thinking ahead when cooking a large meal in our how early can you make Thanksgiving sides post. The same idea applies to Christmas dinner. Both are large meals that are cooked for many friends and family.

When it comes to big meals, I always like to plan ahead regardless, but it is especially a good idea when it comes to cooking with a crockpot. These recipes definitely take time to sit and cook, so it is good to plan ahead.

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Here’s a tip: Make some regular hot chocolate (or white hot chocolate if you prefer) Christmas morning in the crockpot so you can sip on it during Christmas breakfast and throughout the rest of the day. It will be a huge hit!

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup (Instant Pot Option)

Crockpot Apple Cider

Cranberry Meatballs

Slow Cooker Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Crockpot Christmas Crack

Lazy gingerbread cookie overnight oatmeal in a bowl next to gingerbread men

Lazy Gingerbread Cookie Overnight Oatmeal Recipe

Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti

Slow Cooker Butterscotch Hot Chocolate

We hope that you have a wonderful holiday season and that you enjoy these yummy recipes as much as we do. Cooking with a crockpot seriously will make cooking your holiday meal much easier.

So turn on some holiday tunes or a holiday movie and start cooking! Who knows…you may find your new favorite recipe.