Make sure you’ve got the best kitchen kit for the job with our review of the best slow cookers.
Christmas recipes you can make in a slow cooker
If you’re catering for a smaller crowd this Christmas, you can actually cook your bird in a slow cooker, freeing up crucial oven space. Our recipe uses turkey breasts bound into a parcel with string. The meaty bundle is then poached in a wine, bay and porcini liquor, which is used to make a turkey gravy to serve. You need to brown the meat first, so a slow cooker with a pot you can use on the hob would be handy here, but not essential.
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See our slow cooker dinner party recipes for more inspiration.
Take the stress out of steaming with a slow-cooked Christmas pudding that’s laden with fruits, nuts and spices. It can be made up to six months ahead of the big day and kept in a cool, dark place.
Try our pressure-cooked Christmas pudding or check out more Christmas puddings recipes.
Pre-boiling a gammon uses up hob space and energy, so buying a joint that nestles neatly into your slow cooker means you can bypass the hassle. Once the ham is cooked through, finish it off in the oven with a glaze – our recipe uses ginger preserve, but marmalade, treacle or membrillo would all work instead.
Read Tom Kerridge’s 10 ideas for glazes here and for another inventive flavour twist, try our sticky slow cooker gammon in cola.
For melt-in-the-mouth tender beef, try this slow cooker beef brisket with star anise, cinnamon and rosemary for subtle festive flavours. Once cooled, the cooked brisket will keep frozen for up to three months, so why not get ahead and take the stress out of Christmas Day.
Discover more slow cooker beef recipes.
Using up leftover turkey need not be a challenge. You can throw any leftover veg from the big day into this slow cooker turkey recipe, too.
Find out more leftover turkey recipe ideas here.
Seasonal winter produce cavolo nero and leeks are elevated to creamy, cosy levels with double cream, Dijon mustard, grated nutmeg and salty parmesan.
For more cheesy goodness, try our irresistible green veg gratin.
Let red cabbage shine this Christmas with ginger beer, festive spices and juicy apples. Taking only 15 minutes to prep, let your slow cooker do all the hard work as it simmers away for six hours. Alternatively try this simple sweet & sour slow cooker red cabbage.
Try our top red cabbage recipes for more inspiration.
A batch of pulled pork is a good thing to have on standby when people are dropping in for a festive toast, not to mention when you have a hungry family to feed. This recipe allows the pork to cook at a glacial pace, which results in an extra-pulled, melting finish.
Instead of apple and fennel, serve the pork with our Christmas coleslaw to act as a crunchy foil for all that tender meat.
Looking for something to serve on Christmas Eve? One-pot recipes require minimum effort for maximum gain, allowing you to get on with important tasks like sprout-prepping and potato-peeling. This deluxe duck tagine is packed with festive flavours like cinnamon, dates and citrus.
Serve with a simple couscous, then kick back and cruise into the feasting.
A succulent festive dish, our herby slow cooker pork loin recipe is accompanied by roasties, veg and a boozy honey-mustard gravy.
For another winter warmer, try our slow cooker pork casserole.
The trick with mulled wine is not to let it get too hot as you’ll boil away the alcohol content, so making it in a slow cooker is an easy way to moderate the temperature. Slow cookers usually have a keep warm function, too, so your wine can stay toasty during your party.
Why not try our slow cooker mulled cider next.?
Treat your guests to this sensational slow cooker cheesecake. With an oaty biscuit base, a velvety centre and zingy blackberry syrup, this dazzling dessert has all the makings of a celebratory showstopper.
For sweet fiends, now try our no-bake cheesecake recipes.
Relax at the end of the big day with a warming mug of hot chocolate. This slow cooker special is made from a mix of luxurious double cream and dark and milk chocolate. Top with marshmallows and chocolate gratings for an indulgent twist. For a boozy kick, add a splash of your favourite liqueur or spirit to each mug – it is Christmas, after all!
See our round-up of hot chocolate recipes and boozy hot chocolates for more ideas.
By the time the main event is over, we often crave hearty, nourishing dishes, and there’s nothing as nourishing as soup. This traditional recipe uses leftover roast chicken, but turkey works just as well. You can even throw a cooked carcass in and pull the meat off after. The bones will impart flavour, acting as a kind of instant stock.
See more of our warming winter soups.
Bringing together the best of both worlds – a self-saucing pudding and a fondant – this is a match made in heaven for any chocoholics.
Can’t get enough? Try our top desserts with chocolate.
If you’re bored of the same old Christmas turkey leftovers, try this slow cooker turkey pho. With a delicate, aromatic broth, it’s made with your leftover turkey carcass to help get the most out of your meat.
Alternatively, try our easy vegan pho.
Start this sticky toffee pudding going in the morning and by the evening you’ll have a warming, comforting classic ready to serve up with vanilla ice cream. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Try our gluten-free sticky toffee pudding if you need to avoid the flour. We also have plenty more slow cooker desserts.
Using up leftover parsnips from your roast, this vegan soup takes just 15 minutes to prepare. It can also be frozen to be enjoyed at a later date.
We have plenty more slow cooker soup recipes and vegan soup recipes where that came from.
With Christmassy cinnamon, zesty orange and juicy cranberries, this slow cooker beef gives great festive flavour. Slow cooking the beef also makes it incredibly tender, allowing you to opt for a cheaper cut of meat.
Discover more family slow cooker ideas.
An easy Christmas gift to get the kids involved with, this festive fudge is flavoured with a mixture of milk and dark chocolate.
Feeling inspired? Try more homemade Christmas gift ideas.
More on slow cookers
Best slow cookers to buy
Video: How to use a slow cooker
Family slow cooker ideas
10 top tips for using a slow cooker
Genius everyday recipes for your slow cooker
Are you a slow cooker devotee? We’d love to hear what you cook in yours…