Slow Cooker Recipes Perfect for Christmas Potlucks

A traditional seaside shrimp boil in a slow cooker will make a splash at your next gathering. To avoid overcooking the seafood, bring the slow cooker with you and do the final stage of heating while people are nibbling on their hors d’oeuvres.

Crowd-pleasing pulled pork is an inexpensive way to entertain. Give the sandwiches a festive touch with the addition of fried shallots and fresno chilies, and don’t forget to bring extra sauce for dipping.

Make sure to serve this hygge favourite of Sweden with either lingonberry or red currant jelly, a traditional condiment pairing to complement and tame these savoury meatballs. You can also try these Scandinavian cardamon buns.

Serve this versatile baked beans dish, which eats like a chili, as a main or hearty side. A full pound of ground pork, chili powder, cumin and diced tomatoes makes this a meal in its own right.

Serve this versatile baked beans dish, which eats like a chili, as a main or hearty side. A full pound of ground pork, chili powder, cumin and diced tomatoes makes this a meal in its own right.

Butternut squash, golden raisins and dried apricots lend sweet notes to this Moroccan inspired turkey stew, while allspice and chiles add warming undertones.

The only tricky part to this recipe is making sure your purchased ham fits in the slow cooker — after that, it’s smooth sailing with a simple apricot and Dijon mustard glaze.

A slow cooker keeps mulled wine at the perfect temperature for guests to wander by and ladle out their own libation throughout the evening. Stack some pretty mugs and a ladle and saucer to avoid drips by the slow cooker to set up a mulled wine station for stress-free serving.

An herb paste of fresh rosemary, sage and thyme slathered on this pork roast makes all the difference in the final product — a tender and delectable entree that will be the star of a potluck party.

Try and source the leaner flat cut for this recipe to ensure neat slices of corned beef, although the fattier point cut is also still delicious. Braised in beer and served with cabbage and horseradish sauce, this is a hearty dish that will inspire conviviality.

A pot of mulled cider is a lovely and warming icebreaker for any gathering. As a nice bonus, you’ll fill your own home with the lovely scent of cinnamon and other spices during the preparation, putting two houses in the holiday spirit.

This beef paprikash may look humble, but topped with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of chives, each serving is a thing of beauty.

Pearl barley makes risotto a possibility in a slow cooker. Paired with meaty cremini mushrooms, gratings of Parmesan and a splash of sherry vinegar, this woodsy vegetarian option will be a hit with all diners.

These mashed potatoes are anything but bland, due to the addition of sharp Cheddar and fiery horseradish. Plus, this recipe can be prepped ahead of time and held at the perfect temperature in the slow cooker itself — no need to reheat.

Using dried apples will allow for recognizable apple slices at the end of the slow cooking process, while a quick brine on the pork chops the night before ensures that the meat stays nice and juicy.

This simple, curry inspired dish can be assembled then left to bubble away on its own. Bring cooked quinoa as a side, or packaged papadums, naan or coconut rice.

Forget the marshmallows — adding crunchy walnuts, jewelled pomegranate seeds and lemon juice make for a sophisticated sweet potato dish that looks properly festive.

Get inspired by the cakes of yesteryear with this slow cooker banana upside down cake. This recipe advises adding a paper towel lining just under the lid to prevent condensation off the lid from dripping onto the cake.

Lining the insert with foil makes for easy cleanup and prevents burning the brown sugar and dark rum topping on this cake (just don’t mix it up with similarly decorated pineapple ring and maraschino cherry ham, if another party guest brings it!)

This recipe is for fans of fudgy, rather than cake-like, brownies — in fact, it’s so soft and gooey that it’s scooped to serve instead of slicing. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream, or a dollop of whipped cream or even crème fraîche.

Moist and sticky toffee pudding stays that way through low and slow steaming in the slow cooker. Top it off with a luscious caramel sauce spiked with freshly grated nutmeg.

Apples do double duty in this recipe, which combines the whole fruit with cider or juice. Adding in chopped dried cherries, cranberries or other fruit will dress up these apples for the festive season.

A slow cooker helps keep cheesecakes together and crack-free. In the winter, serve with a compote of frozen berries or your favourite topping — this recipe is endlessly adaptable.