Side Dishes from the Slow Cooker

Spare the oven and prepare these tasty side dish recipes in a slow cooker.

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Stewed Green Beans and Tomatoes

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Stewed Green Beans and Tomatoes Recipe
Our update to this favorite Southern side will remind you of great Asian takeout. Don't be intimidated by red curry paste; it's a subtly spicy blend of fresh ginger, lemongrass, garlic, and chiles.

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Slow Cooker Hoppin' John

Photo: Mark Thomas; Styling: Lynn Miller

Slow Cooker Hoppin' John Recipe
This slow cooker hoppin' john recipe is perfect for New Year's Day celebrations.

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Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon Recipe

Make Ahead: Pop this sweet potato mixture into your slow cooker on Thanksgiving morning. It will be ready to serve as soon as everyone sits down to dinner.

4 of 22

Slow-Cooked Collard Greens

Photo: Oxmoor House

Slow-Cooked Collard Greens Recipe
A sprinkling of pepper sauce is the ultimate Southern condiment for these greens.

Prep: 5 minutes, Cook: 9 hours

Slow-Cooker Size: 6-quart

5 of 22

Santa Fe Black Beans

Oxmoor House

Santa Fe Black Beans Recipe
Black beans are a staple side to any Mexican dish. Serve these beans warm and tender after 10 hours in the slow cooker.

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Slow-Cooker Molasses and Spice Wheat Berries

Photo: Travis Rathbone

Slow-Cooker Molasses and Spice Wheat Berries Recipe

7 of 22

Balsamic Root Vegetables

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Balsamic Root Vegetables Recipe
Cooking sweet potatoes, parsnips, carrots and onions over low heat in a mixture of brown sugar, balsamic vinegar and olive oil creates an unbelievably rich and mellow flavor.

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Cornbread Dressing

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Cornbread Dressing Recipe
Start with crumbled cornbread and a package of herbed stuffing mix for this traditional cornbread dressing that’s cooked in the slow cooker. Cooking the dressing in the slow cooker frees up oven space for the turkey.

9 of 22

Hot-and-Spicy Black-Eyed Peas

Hot-and-Spicy Black-Eyed Peas Recipe
Spice up black-eyed peas with canned Mexican stewed tomatoes, jalapeño pepper, and ground red pepper. Cook in the slow cooker until the peas are tender, and then add the rice.

10 of 22

Green Bean Casserole

Photo: Oxmoor House

Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Convenience products like canned green beans, canned cream of mushroom soup, presliced mushrooms, and preshredded Cheddar cheese are key ingredients in this speedy side dish. Assemble the recipe in less than 6 minutes and then forget about it for the next 2 1/2 hours.

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Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe
Start with canned sweet potatoes for a hassle-free casserole that takes less than 15 minutes to assemble. The casserole cooks on the countertop so you have plenty of room in the oven to prepare your main dish.

12 of 22

Squash and Cornbread Casserole

Photo: Oxmoor House

Squash and Cornbread Casserole Recipe
Dress up traditional squash casserole by adding carrots, corn, and cornbread topping for a favorite Southern side.

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Extra-Cheesy Macaroni and Cheese

Photo: Oxmoor House

Extra-Cheesy Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Cut out prep time by adding uncooked pasta straight into the slow cooker. All of the ingredients cook together resulting in a creamy, family-favorite side dish.

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Spicy Sausage Grits

Photo: Oxmoor House

Spicy Sausage Grits Recipe
With a spicy blend of sausage, corn, and creamy cheese grits, you can't go wrong serving this great version of a Southern classic for a holiday breakfast or brunch.

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Toasted Herb Rice

Photo: Oxmoor House

Toasted Herb Rice Recipe
Try these three simple steps to easily boost the flavor of this six-ingredient side dish. First, toast the rice to enhance its nutty flavor, second, cook the rice in broth instead of water, and third, add toasted pine nuts before serving for extra crunch.

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Tiny French Beans with Smoked Sausage

Photography: Jim Bathie; Styling: Jan Gautro

Tiny French Beans with Smoked Sausage Recipe
Flageolets are tiny, tender beans that are pale green in color, have a mild flavor, and are popular in French cooking. The combination of the creamy beans, the smokiness of the turkey sausage, and the addition of fresh thyme give this side dish a warm, comforting flavor.

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Slow-Cooked Collard Greens

Photo: Oxmoor House

Slow-Cooked Collard Greens Recipe
Collard greens are the most tender when they're slow cooked in a variety of seasonings. Start the greens in the morning before work so they'll be ready by suppertime. Pair with cornbread and hot pepper sauce for an unforgettable Southern delicacy.

18 of 22

Walnut-Stuffed Apples

Photo: Oxmoor House

Walnut-Stuffed Apples Recipe
Tender apples topped with dried fruit, nuts, and brown sugar-cinnamon glaze double as a sweet side or a healthy dessert. Pair with ham steak and green beans for a simple and flavor-packed meal.

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Peppered Corn on the Cob

Photo: Oxmoor House

Peppered Corn on the Cob Recipe
Corn cobs rubbed with garlic butter and wrapped in bacon are sure to be a hit at your next barbecue.

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Sweet Pepper Relish

Photo: Oxmoor House

Sweet Pepper Relish Recipe
Keep this 4-ingredient side on-hand to dress-up chicken, fish, or beef. This sweet-and-spicy condiment is so versatile that is also works well as a topping for burgers and sandwiches or as an appetizer when served over cream cheese.

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Candied Yams

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Rose Nguyen

Candied Yams Recipe
The flavor combination of brown sugar, vanilla, and sweet potatoes are reminiscent of cool-weather holidays. Pair with traditional holiday entrées like ham, turkey, or beef tenderloin.

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Side Dishes from the Slow Cooker

1 of 22

Stewed Green Beans and Tomatoes

2 of 22

Slow Cooker Hoppin' John

3 of 22

Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon

4 of 22

Slow-Cooked Collard Greens

5 of 22

Santa Fe Black Beans

6 of 22

Slow-Cooker Molasses and Spice Wheat Berries

7 of 22

Balsamic Root Vegetables

8 of 22

Cornbread Dressing

9 of 22

Hot-and-Spicy Black-Eyed Peas

10 of 22

Green Bean Casserole

11 of 22

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping

12 of 22

Squash and Cornbread Casserole

13 of 22

Extra-Cheesy Macaroni and Cheese

14 of 22

Spicy Sausage Grits

15 of 22

Toasted Herb Rice

16 of 22

Tiny French Beans with Smoked Sausage

17 of 22

Slow-Cooked Collard Greens

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Walnut-Stuffed Apples

19 of 22

Peppered Corn on the Cob

20 of 22

Sweet Pepper Relish

21 of 22

Candied Yams

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