20 Slow Cooker Holiday Main Entrées – Make the Best of Everything

Introduction

The holidays are the perfect time to gather with loved ones and enjoy unforgettable meals—but spending all day in the kitchen isn’t everyone’s idea of fun. With these 20 Slow Cooker Holiday Main Entrées, you can savor festive flavors, keep things stress-free, and free up valuable oven space for other dishes. From classic comfort foods to inventive twists on traditional favorites, there’s a crowd-pleasing entrée here for every holiday table.

Why Choose Slow Cooker Holiday Entrées?

Slow cooker main courses are a holiday cook’s best kept secret. They combine hands-off simplicity with deeply developed flavors and tender textures. Whether you’re hosting a big feast or enjoying a cozy family dinner, these dishes take the guesswork out of preparing the centerpiece of your meal, ensuring everything comes together with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness.

Holiday Slow Cooker Favorites You’ll Love

This selection features the best-of-the-best slow cooker entrées for the holiday season. Think succulent glazed hams, fall-apart roasts, savory poultry, vegetarian mains, and international specialties that bring a world of flavor to your table—all effortlessly made in your trusty crockpot.

How to Make Slow Cooker Holiday Main Entrées Shine

The secret to unforgettable slow-cooked holiday mains is layering flavors and choosing quality ingredients. Start with your protein—whether it’s beef, pork, turkey, chicken, or a hearty vegetarian option. Add aromatics like onions, garlic, and fresh herbs. Build flavor with broths, wines, spices, and citrus. The low and slow cooking ensures everything turns out juicy, tender, and deeply flavorful.

20 Slow Cooker Holiday Main Entrée Ideas

1. Maple-Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
2. Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with Red Wine Gravy
3. Garlic Herb Turkey Breast
4. Cranberry Balsamic Pork Loin
5. Vegetarian Wild Rice & Mushroom Stuffed Peppers
6. Lemon Dill Poached Salmon
7. Honey Mustard Spiral Ham
8. BBQ Pulled Jackfruit (Vegan)
9. Herbed Chicken & Apples
10. Orange-Ginger Duck Breast
11. Moroccan Spiced Lamb Shanks
12. Festive Stuffed Acorn Squash (Vegetarian)
13. Slow Cooker Osso Buco
14. Bourbon-Glazed Short Ribs
15. Tuscan White Bean & Kale Stew (Vegetarian/Vegan)
16. Chipotle Pineapple Pork Shoulder
17. Slow Cooker Roast Beef with Au Jus
18. Caramelized Onion & Sage Chicken
19. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili (Vegan/Vegetarian)
20. Apple Cinnamon Pork Chops

💡 Meal Planning Tip: Save this entire menu or individual recipes in CookifyAI to instantly generate an organized holiday shopping list split by store section—making holiday grocery trips simpler and stress-free!

Instructions (General Template)

1. Place your chosen protein in the slow cooker. Pat dry and season with salt, pepper, herbs, and spices.
2. Add aromatics—such as chopped onions and garlic—plus your preferred flavorings: broth, wine, citrus juice, vinegars, or sauces.
3. If making a vegetarian entrée, layer heartier ingredients (beans, squashes, mushrooms) at the bottom, with any grains or grains on top.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-5 hours, depending on protein and recipe. Most meats are done when fork-tender or reach safe internal temperature.
5. For a finishing touch, transfer sauce to a saucepan to reduce or thicken, if desired. Garnish with optional fresh herbs or fruit before serving.

Serving Suggestions for the Ultimate Holiday Spread

Serve these main courses with festive side dishes like roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, wild rice pilafs, and bright salads. Don’t forget accompaniments like cranberry relish, gravy, or herbed compound butter for extra flair.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

Serves: Each recipe makes approximately 6-8 servings.
Calories: Will vary by entrée (for example, vegetarian stews are lighter at ~300 calories/serving, while glazed hams or short ribs are richer, at ~500-700 calories). For balanced holiday meals, pair mains with plenty of seasonal veggies.

20 Slow Cooker Holiday Main Entrées (Recap)

These holiday main courses celebrate both convenience and festive flavors. They’re proof you don’t have to spend your holidays in the kitchen to deliver mouthwatering, crowd-pleasing feasts—just let your slow cooker do the work!

Weekly Meal Planning

Holiday meal planning has never been easier. Save and schedule your favorite slow cooker holiday entrées into your weekly or holiday meal plan with CookifyAI for seamless coordination.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates exact ingredient quantities, even across multiple recipes
• Organizes your holiday shopping list by grocery store sections
• Prevents duplicate purchases and overspending
• Makes prepping for big gatherings efficient and stress-free

Pro tip: When you’re planning multiple holiday meals, CookifyAI’s scheduling tools help you see where ingredients overlap—such as herbs or broth—so you shop just once and avoid forgotten or excess items.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15-30 minutes per entrée
Cook Time: 3-8 hours slow cooker time
Total Time: Usually 4-8 hours (largely hands-off, with some recipes benefiting from an overnight chill or sauce reduction)

Ready to make your holiday menu easy, delicious, and memorable? Choose a few of these 20 Slow Cooker Holiday Main Entrées—your crockpot and your guests will thank you!