21 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes to Bring to Your Next Potluck (2024)

Just because you're tasked with bringing a potluck dish, doesn't mean it has to be difficult. Make your next potluck get-together easier than ever by using your slow cooker. These slow cooker potluck recipes are simple to prep the day before, or even the morning of, the event. These may be the easiest potluck dishes you've ever made, and they're sure to wow your friends and family.

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Slow Cooker Potluck Spareribs

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These spareribs are prepped and in the pot in only 10 minutes. "The best spare ribs I've ever had partially because of the sauce but mostly because of the spare ribs. I usually just make regular ribs but these were amazing. Super easy recipe and everyone loves them," says reviewer Tanya Kerr.

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Hobo Beans

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"This slow cooker recipe delivers a hearty dish of hamburger, bacon, and beans in a thick and sweet sauce," says recipe creator Heather. Reviewers say you can substitute any of the beans in the recipe for different beans, depending on your preference. Brown the ground beef before mixing all of the ingredients in your slow cooker for an easy side.

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Slow Cooker Cheesy Potatoes

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These potatoes take five minutes to prepare and only require four ingredients. Simply combine hash brown potatoes, condensed Cheddar cheese soup, evaporated milk, and French fried onions to make this cheesy comfort food.

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Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork

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This Texas-style pulled pork is so good even the picky eaters will love it. "Best pulled pork I have ever tasted! Plus it was very easy. I am taking my slow cooker camping just to make this again," says home cook Shay.

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Slow Cooker Baked Beans

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What's a potluck without baked beans? Reviewers say these slow cooker beans taste like traditional Boston baked beans, but they're easier to make because you don't have to watch them simmer on the stove. "I went to bed with the stuff going and when I got up in the morning my whole house smelled amazing. I opened the lid on my crock pot, and oh happy day! Beautiful brown, sweet baked beans with a gorgeous thick sauce! People were practically pile driving into them at the BBQ! I have no plans to ever make baked beans in the oven again," says reviewer Danielle Heiderich.

No Fuss Shredded Beef Tacos

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The secret ingredient in these easy beef tacos is coffee. "The coffee in the recipe adds a hint of smokiness and assists with tenderizing the meat as it cooks," says recipe creator rknotthere. Serve with tortillas and your favorite toppings.

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Sloppy Joe Mamas

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These easy-to-make Sloppy Joes are kid friendly and ready to be served in just two hours. "This was awesome! It tasted soooo much better than the canned stuff. I added a half a chopped bell pepper to get more veggies in the boys but it will be on our rotation from now on," says reviewer Jimmie Souza.

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Amazing Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake

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"I made recipe exactly as printed and it came out moist and delicious. It's super easy and such a great idea to make it in a slow cooker," says home cook sylviav78. Serve warm and topped with vanilla ice cream.

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Slow Cooker Funeral Potatoes (Hash Brown Casserole)

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This easy casserole is in the slow cooker in 15 minutes and ready to serve in just three hours. This recipe uses crushed potato chips as a topping, but Allrecipes Allstar Soup Loving Nicole says you can use the traditional cereal topping if you prefer.

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Buffalo Chicken Dip

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Everyone knows Buffalo chicken dip is a great addition to any potluck, and this recipe only requires five ingredients. "Oh my goodness----I can't believe how delicious this was (and so easy!). I made it for a neighborhood party (doubling everything) and it was gone. I made it up the day before refrigerated it overnight and then put it all in a crock-pot and reheated it for the party (keeping it on the warm setting during the party)," says home cook MOMTOKTL.

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Grandpa's Classic Coney Sauce

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"My Grandfather owned a drive-in restaurant back in the 1950's. This is his exact recipe for Coney Dogs from back in the day. I make this on special occasions and it is always hit with friends and family," says recipe contributor Sean S. This coney sauce is delicious served over hot dogs and topped with cheese, and it only takes 10 minutes to prep.

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Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

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This slow cooker creamed corn only requires five ingredients, and you can use frozen or canned corn. "This recipe was so easy. I just dumped everything together and stirred it every hour. The entire family loved this, and my mother-in-law wanted a copy of the recipe," says reviewer REBELDI.

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Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

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This slow cooker apple crisp recipe is an easy way to make this classic comfort food dessert. Some reviewers suggest adding oatmeal to the crumb mixture to make it crispier. Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream.

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Betty's 3-Bean Hot Dish (a la Minnesota)

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This three-bean dish uses pork and beans, kidney beans, and butter beans, but reviewers say you can substitute them for any other bean, such as black beans or garbanzo beans. Simply cook bacon, ground beef, and onion before adding all the ingredients to your slow cooker and cooking for an hour and 20 minutes. "My new 'go to' bean recipe. It has more of a BBQ flavor then the traditional sweet recipes," says reviewer Dee Grimsey.

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Slow Cooker Green Beans

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If you're looking to add some veggies to the potluck, try this easy green bean recipe. Simply combine frozen green beans, bell peppers, onions, bacon, and butter to your slow cooker — and if you want a healthier version, replace the butter with olive oil.

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Barbacoa-Style Shredded Beef

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This barbacoa beef is a copycat recipe for Chipotle's fan-favorite barbacoa. "Holy tacos! Used a regular crockpot to make this recipe...easy to toss together. Meat was tender, juicy and had just enough kick to it. Will be making this one again," says home cook Karol.

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Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

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This creamy macaroni and cheese takes 15 minutes of prep time and is the perfect comfort food for your next potluck. "I have made this a couple times and everyone loves it. I usually make this when I know there are going to be children to feed but the adults are the ones that go up for seconds," says reviewer Laura Henninger.

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Slow Cooker Italian Beef for Sandwiches

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While this recipe uses a rump roast, reviewers recommend making this 5-star Italian beef with chuck roast because it shreds better. Serve on crusty rolls with roasted sweet or hot peppers, mushrooms, red onion, pepperoncini, or any toppings you like. "Absolutely AWESOME!!! The prep couldn't have been easier, and the house smelled wonderful all day," says home cook MomSavedbyGrace.

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Outrageous Warm Chicken Nacho Dip

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"This is my jazzed up version of classic queso dip taken to a heartier level, perfect for football games, tailgating or for taking along to pot lucks in a slow cooker! This is a serious crowd-pleaser that is served hot as a dip, spooned over crisp tortilla chips nacho-style, or rolled up in a warm flour tortilla! The heat can be turned up or down with the addition of jalapeños to taste," says recipe creator brightlightz. This dip only takes 20 minutes to prep, but you can make it even easier by using rotisserie chicken.

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Little Smokies

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These little smokies are easy to make and a great appetizer for your potluck. Reviewers say the barbeque sauce you use is very important to the taste of this recipe. "The brown sugar in the recipe is perfect for cutting the tangy flavor of the BBQ sauce making a rich flavorful sauce. This will be the only little smokies recipe I use at my parties from now on," says reviewer Ducati996.

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Mississippi Pot Roast

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This five-ingredient Mississippi pot roast recipe takes five minutes to assemble in the slow cooker. For a potluck, it's best served on sandwich buns. "I've actually made this a dozen times or so, and it never, EVER disappoints! Fantastic flavors, the roast pulls apart with a fork, and the pepperoncinis melt in your mouth," says home cook Mark Bone.

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21 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes to Bring to Your Next Potluck (2024)

FAQs

What is best to cook in a slow cooker? ›

The Best Foods to Cook in Your Slow Cooker
  • Long-Cooking Cuts of Meat. Tough cuts of meat that turn out meltingly tender when cooked low and slow are made for this appliance. ...
  • Whole Chicken & Chicken Thighs. ...
  • Soups, Stews & Chilis. ...
  • Dips.
Jan 6, 2020

How can I make my potluck more fun? ›

One thing you can do to make a potluck more fun is to have a theme. It could be a place or an era in history, or maybe a popular movie or something. Another thing that makes potlucks better is if someone kind of coordinates what people are bringing to some degree, so you don't wind up with 6 salads and no main dish.

What is a good finger food to bring to a potluck? ›

No-Cook Finger Food Ideas for Parties
  • Deli Pinwheels. What are some good finger foods for a picnic? ...
  • Charcuterie Board. Excite your guests with fun charcuterie board ideas at your party. ...
  • Shrimp co*cktail. ...
  • Antipasto Skewers. ...
  • Veggie Tray. ...
  • Caprese Skewers. ...
  • Chips and Dips. ...
  • Melon Prosciutto Skewers.
May 29, 2024

What store-bought food can I bring to a potluck? ›

Appetizers
  • Sushi. If there's a boat I want to sail away on, it's a sushi boat. ...
  • Cheese and Charcuterie Fixings. Has anyone ever been sad to see a cheese and charcuterie board at a potluck? ...
  • Canned and Jarred Goods. ...
  • Shrimp and co*cktail Sauce. ...
  • Chips and Dip. ...
  • Frozen Apps. ...
  • Fried Chicken. ...
  • Soup.
Sep 16, 2023

What are the disadvantages of a slow cooker? ›

What are the disadvantages of a slow cooker? Slow cookers only apply heat to the bottom of the crock, which cuts down on their ability to reduce liquids and brown foods, and develop flavor the same way a Dutch oven or pressure cooker can.

Why can't you put raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

If you simply pop some raw meat in your slow cooker, it won't have a chance to brown, which adds some much-needed flavor and cuts down on plenty of unappealing grease. Instead, you're better served by browning raw meat in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker with your other ingredients.

What is the difference between a slow cooker and a Crockpot? ›

However, Crockpots generally have ceramic or porcelain pots, while most slow cookers have a metal pot. As with a lot of cooking appliances, the biggest difference comes from the distribution of heat.

What's better than a slow cooker? ›

Many people think that Instant Pots are just electric pressure cookers, but they're actually multi-cookers that cover a wide variety of functions: They slow cook, steam, warm, saute and work as a rice cooker in addition to pressure cooking.

What is the most popular size slow cooker? ›

The 6- or 7-quart models are among the most popular, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're the best choice for everyone. (By the way, here's our favorite slow cooker brand.) Find yourself among the descriptions below to learn which slow cooker we'd recommend for you.

What is the easiest thing to bring to a potluck? ›

Easy, quick snacks that you can make without needing to heat up anything are your best bet for last-minute potluck prep. Dips, guacamole, lettuce wraps, salsa, salad, and no-bake finger foods are all great options.

What not to bring to a potluck? ›

These Are The 5 Worst Dishes To Bring To Holiday Potluck Dinners
  • Baked potatoes in aluminum foil. When the potatoes cool down, the moisture and steam in the foil can create a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. ...
  • Mayo-based salads. ...
  • Fish and seafood. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Leafy green salads.
Dec 8, 2023

How many dishes should you bring to a potluck? ›

Main dishes and side dishes are the heart and soul of a potluck feast. These dishes tend to be more substantial and filling, so it's essential to strike a balance and avoid excessive portions. As a general rule, plan for one main dish serving and one or two side dish servings per person.

What is the best dish to bring to a party? ›

38 Ideas For Party Food That Will Please Any Crowd
  1. Chicken Fajita Quesadillas. tasty.co. ...
  2. Cheeseburger Sliders. tasty.co. ...
  3. Tomato Basil Bruschetta. tasty.co. ...
  4. Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball. tasty.co. ...
  5. Chicken Pesto Pinwheels. ...
  6. Garlic Parmesan-Stuffed Mushrooms. ...
  7. Deep-Fried Mini Calzones (Panzarotti) ...
  8. Honey Lime Sriracha Chicken Poppers.
Dec 21, 2023

What are the rules of bringing something to a potluck? ›

Potluck Etiquette Rules To Follow

Firstly, make it clear as soon as possible that you are attending and excited to help bring a dish. Next, make sure you offer to bring a certain dish (and have it confirmed by the host or group) instead of just showing up with something.

What is typical of a potluck? ›

Description. Potluck dinners are events where the attendees bring a dish to a meal. The only traditional rule is that each dish be large enough to be shared among a good portion of the anticipated guests. Guests may bring in any form of food, ranging from the main course to desserts.

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