16 Easy Slow Cooker Side Dishes That Take Little Effort (2024)

Vanilla-Butter Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate Syrup

Bet you've never had Brussels sprouts like this before. Our delicious slow cooker vegetable side dish cooks the sprouts with broth and garlic. Once they're crisp-tender, stir in a tasty blend of butter and vanilla bean paste. Top with bacon, pecans, and our homemade pomegranate syrup for a truly memorable side.

Three-Cheese Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes are a delicious addition to any dinner, but our slow cooker version takes the cake. Not only is it super easy, but it's made with cream of potato soup and three kinds of cheese, making it ooey-gooey good. These slow cooker potatoes will make any fall meal more comforting and hearty.

Buy It: Crock-Pot Slow Cooker ($50, Target)

Rustic Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Chicken broth seasoned with garlic makes these slow-cooker fluffy mashed potatoes exceptionally flavorful. In fact, these mashed potatoes are among our top-rated recipes of all time! Once you try them yourself, you'll see why this recipe reigns as king of all slow cooker side dishes.

Buy It: Zekpro Potato Masher ($13, Walmart)

Orange-Sage Sweet Potatoes with Bacon

Take a break from traditional candied sweet potatoes and serve our herb-accented golden slices instead. Zesty citrus brightens the natural sweetness, while salty bacon adds a savory touch. This slow-cooker vegetable side would also make a great addition to your Thanksgiving dinner menu.

Cauliflower and Broccoli in Swiss Cheese Sauce

Swiss cheese and Alfredo sauce make a rich and creamy blend, but it's the herbs that elevate this cheesy vegetable dish to the sublime. If you're assuming creamy sauce means high-calorie, think again. This slow cooker side dish checks in at fewer than 200 calories per serving.

Wild Rice with Pecans and Cherries

This delicious slow cooker side dish has so many bright, fresh flavors you might not guess it came from your handy countertop appliance. Dried cherries provide tart flavor to our herbed wild rice dish, while toasted pecans bring an irresistible crunch. Green onions and shredded carrots add bright color.

Buy It: OXO Y-Peeler for Julienne Cutting ($10, Bed Bath & Beyond)

Slow-Cooked Sourdough Peasant Bread

This beautiful loaf of bread surprisingly "bakes" in a slow cooker. When you need a few slow cooker side dishes for potluck get-togethers, make this easy bread recipe one of them. It's super simple to stir together and make in your slow cooker and makes enough for everyone in your crowd to have a slice.

Potato Chip-Topped Green Bean Casserole

No Thanksgiving menu is complete without a green bean casserole. But with how delicious this slow cooker side is, you might make it year-round. Instead of the fried onion strips, our Test Kitchen tops the green bean dish with potato chips.

Buy It: Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker ($27, Walmart)

Braised Chickpeas with Midsummer Vegetables

This summery recipe requires some marinating time, but we don't mind when pretty much all of our favorite veggies are represented in this easy slow cooker side. Chicken broth ties the chickpeas and seven different veggies together. You can also turn this side dish into an entrée—just add your favorite protein.

Warm Eggplant and Kale Panzanella

Salad in a slow cooker? Yes, it can be done! Simmer kale and eggplant in your slow cooker alongside tomatoes, bell peppers, and onion, then toss with bread cubes and shredded Parmesan to finish. You won't find too many other slow cooker vegetable sides quite like this.

Acorn Squash with Orange-Cranberry Sauce

No matter how you serve this festive cranberry-sauced squash (meat, poultry, or fish would all taste great), it's a top-notch way to round out a meal. Orange marmalade, raisins, and jellied cranberries make the delicious sauce. And letting the acorn squash simmer in the sauce all day means every bite will be just as tender and tasty as the last.

Cider-Maple Brussels Sprouts

Apple cider and maple syrup transform simple Brussels sprouts into a warm and cozy winter side dish that's impossible to resist. A sprinkling of salt and pepper balances the sweet flavors. To add a little freshness to this slow cooker vegetable side, serve with a few sprigs of fresh thyme.

Sweet Ginger Root Veggies

Give earthy beets and carrots a makeover with pomegranate juice and fresh ginger. It takes 15 minutes of prep, plus time in your slow cooker, to make this fantastic slow cooker side dish. That long simmer time makes ruby-red beets tender and sweet.

Vegetable Casserole

Polenta, spinach, tomato, radicchio, Italian cheese, and two kinds of beans simmer with garlic and basil pesto in this delicious vegetarian dish. It's hearty enough to serve on its own for dinner, but a scoop or two also makes a tasty slow cooker side. Bookmark this recipe to use up the last of your fresh summer veggies.

Orange-Glazed Carrots and Parsnips

Sweet, tender carrots and parsnips get an elegant update when glazed with a double punch of citrusy flavor: orange marmalade and orange juice. Quick-cooking tapioca thickens the delightfully delectable sauce. This easy slow cooker side dish can make an autumn meal feel like a special occasion.

Apple-Buttered Sweet Potatoes

Combine a few different fall favorites into one with this slow cooker side recipe. Cubes of sweet potatoes and Granny Smith apples cook alongside dried cranberries, spices, and apple butter to make a tasty side dish that won't last long at the dinner table. We love how the hearty flavors come together in the six-ingredient slow cooker side dish.