Menu Planning Central

Making Life Easier Since 2007!

  • Home
  • About
    • Lifetime Member Update
  • Menus
    • Current Family Favorites Recipes
    • Family Favorites – Free Week
    • Family Favorites Menu Plan
    • Healthy 30 Minute Meals – Free Week
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Login
    • Affiliates
  • Cart

Make Entertaining Easier with a Slow Cooker

Spread the love
    1    

Affiliate links are used in this post.
Make entertaining easier with a slow cooker

Do you enjoy entertaining? Use your slow cooker to help make a night of hosting friends and family in your home a lot easier. In fact, if you own multiple slow cookers or various kinds of slow cookers, then you may even be able to prepare your entire array of dishes, appetizer to dessert, with slow cookers. You will then be free to take part in the conversations going on around you rather than being set apart in the kitchen slaving over the stove.

Here are a few ideas that I’ve come up with to help you figure out how make entertaining easier with a slow cooker.

Do you own a Mini Crock Pot? This particular type of slow cooker is perfect for small gatherings where you only need to serve a few people. Prepare a delicious cheese dip, a tasty soup, or an easy appetizer. Serve alongside some crackers or a fresh loaf of sourdough bread and voila you’ve got an easy meal with little fuss.

While the Triple Crock Pot can be used in much the same way as the mini crock pot, it is also a bit more diverse since you have the ability to prepare different dishes in one slow cooker. Investing in more than one triple crock pot gives you the option to serve various kinds of side dishes, a few favorite desserts, several appetizers, or plan a ‘tasting’ party offering several different mini entrees to whet your guests’ appetite. In my mind, the triple crock pot is the perfect slow cooker option for those exciting football games enjoyed with your family each fall.

My next recommendation is not actually a slow cooker. However, the Turkey Roaster Oven is the perfect addition to a night of entertaining with slow cookers because it works in much the same way, allowing you to throw in your ingredients and then pursue other interests for a few hours while your meal cooks. According to the Amazon description, this roaster “Bakes anything your regular oven would, from muffins to yeast rolls to an entire sheet cake.” So, while you may wish to serve a turkey to your guests on certain occasions, this roaster is useful to you all year long. Prepare a large batch of rolls, lasagna, your favorite vegetable, and more.  I love it that this one piece of kitchen equipment can take the place of an extra oven!

 

The most exciting thing to me when it comes to entertaining with slow cookers is that, when armed with one (or more) of each of these recommended slow cookers, I am equipped to serve many dishes to many people with ease. Minimal attention is needed while everything cooks, and little cleanup is required when you’re gathering ends.

Do you want to make slow cooking cleanup even easier? Pop in a slow cooker liner before you add your ingredients and you’ve just eliminated cleanup!

To find the perfect slow cooker fit for you, take a look at the selection of slow cookers linked below.

Extra Large Slow Cookers

More Triple Slow Cookers

Small Crock Pots

Here are some resources to get you started with planning how to put your slow cooker to use when entertaining:

Do you have a favorite slow cooker or method for entertaining with slow cookers? Share your ideas with me!

[related_posts_by_tax]

Search this site…

Try Family Favorites Menu Plans for 7 Days - Free

Our Favorite Recipes

Pressure Cooker Mexican Carnitas

Easy Instant Pot Carnitas

Spread the love
    101    

Spread the love    101    This Easy Instant Pot® Carnitas recipe turns out soooo tender and juicy and is loaded with so much flavor.   This pressure cooker Mexican carnitas recipe is extremely versatile allowing the fall-apart-tender pork to be served in so many different ways. The beautifully seasoned, tender Mexican pork is delicious on its own, but […]

Family Friendly Recipes Week 3 Review

Spread the love
         

Spread the love         So last week I followed the February Family Friendly Week 3 plan and here’s what we thought: Ground Beef Stroganoff:  This was easy to make, but we felt it should have been saucier.  I will be fixing this recipe to reflect this. Mexican Meatloaf:  While we had the ground beef out for making […]

Affordable Thai Chicken Thighs

Instant Pot Savory Thai Chicken Thighs

Spread the love
    131    

Spread the love    131    These savory Thai chicken thighs are perfect when you are looking for a quick and delicious dinner recipe.  This affordable Thai chicken thigh recipe is made in your Instant Pot®, which means you can serve this dish on this busy weeknights. (Using chicken thighs in this recipe keeps it affordable, moist and juicy). […]

Rustic Mushroom Risotto

Spread the love
    98    

Spread the love    98     This mushroom risotto recipe goes “old school” with its traditional “stand and stir” technique. This approach may take a bit more time, but the results are well worth the effort. When making this recipe, don’t be tempted to substitute other forms of rice because they won’t deliver the coveted rich, creamy texture […]

Learn more about our menus and recipes!

Spread the love
         

Spread the love         Have you ever wondered what kind of food is included in the menu plans? Today I listed off some of the recipes that are included in the November menu plans for you and explained more about our awesome Early Bird Black Friday Sale that’s going on NOW! Want to know EVERY recipe included […]

Weeknight Lemon Rosemary Chicken

Easy Weeknight Lemon-Rosemary Chicken Thighs

Spread the love
    25    

Spread the love    25    Here is a perfect weeknight lemon rosemary chicken thigh dish that you and your family will love.  Not only is it loaded with flavor, it is quick, easy and prepared in just one skillet.    You are going to love the amazing flavor you get from the timeless combination of fresh rosemary, lemon, […]

20 scrumptious apple recipes

20 Scrumptious Apple Recipes

Spread the love
    95    

Spread the love    95     I love fall, and I love all the apple and pumpkin recipes that are so popular at this time of year! Today I’ve got a great round-up for you of 20 yummy apple recipes! Check these out: 1. Healthy Spicy Pumpkin and Apple Crumble Squares:  Lots of yummy whole foods, and of […]

One-Skillet White Bean and Spicy Sausage Soup

Spread the love
    24    

Spread the love    24       This soup is really delicious and it can be made in a single skillet for easy clean up. It freezes well so you can make larger batches for even easier weekday meals.  This recipe is included in November’s Family Favorites Menu Plan.  You can check out our menu plans here. Ingredients: […]

  • About
  • Contact
  • Member Login
  • Affiliates
  • Privacy & Disclosures
  • Terms

Copyright © 2026 · MenuPlanningCentral.com