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

20 Mouth-Watering Bacon Recipes

Spread the love
         

Spread the love            Got bacon lovers at your house?  Then you’ll love this round-up!  Twenty mouth-watering recipes, all featuring bacon!  We’ve got main dishes, breads, side dishes, and even desserts.  Enjoy. 🙂 1. Bacon Wrapped Chicken Kabobs:  Only 5 ingredients! 2. Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad:  Perfect for a potluck! 3. Caramelized Onion Bacon and Tomato […]

Blackened Broccoli

Spread the love
    24    

Spread the love    24     This simple, yet delicious, side dish comes together quickly so it is perfect for mid-week meals.  When lightly tossed with sesame oil, it pairs perfectly with Asian-inspired dishes like Seared Sesame Tuna with Mixed Greens. In addition, this flavorful dish goes well with everything from roasted chicken breasts to pan-seared pork chops. We […]

Chicken Potato Bake Was a Success!

Spread the love
         

Spread the love         As many of you probably know, I came on board as new owner of Menu Planning Central about 6 months ago. Since I wasn’t the original creator of the menu plans, I’m slowly making my way through the various recipes and enjoying using menu planning in my own life. Today I thought I […]

3 Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers

Spread the love
         

Spread the love          Need a last minute appetizer? This versatile recipe comes together in under 15 minutes, but looks and tastes like it took a lot longer. Ingredients: 1 bag mini sweet peppers in assorted colors
 6 oz. goat cheese 6 oz. ricotta cheese 3 T. fresh thyme leaves, stems removed
 4 strips thick-cut bacon, […]

Creamy Cilantro-Lime Sauce

Kicked Up Cilantro-Lime Cream Sauce

Spread the love
    2    

Spread the love    2    This kicked up cilantro-lime cream sauce makes EVERYTHING taste great!  It gets a boost of flavor from our homemade fajita seasoning and is perfect on salmon, chicken, veggies or this amazing South of the Border Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe and cilantro-lime rice from our fantastic  Family Favorites Menu Plans. It boasts a wonderful […]

This Crock Pot is only $8.99!

Spread the love
    1    

Spread the love    1    Affiliate links have been used in this post. Are you wanting to get a crock pot, or maybe you’re thinking you’d like an extra one to use for the upcoming holidays? Either way, I wanted to let you guys know about this awesome low-priced deal on a 2 quart Crock Pot that has […]

Cheesy Veggie Chowder

Spread the love
         

Spread the love          Are you ready for this gorgeous, warm, soothing soup? Oh yes!     Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons butter 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 cup finely chopped carrot 1 celery stick, finely chopped (feel free to add more celery if you like celery; I don’t, so I don’t add much) 1 Tablespoon minced garlic […]

Quick & Easy Shrimp Dinner

Delicious Shrimp Saganaki

Spread the love
    40    

Spread the love    40     When you need an absolutely knock your socks off, quick & easy appetizer to serve, try this Easy Shrimp Saganaki recipe. The flavor is just so beautiful. It is one of my all time favorite Greek appetizers. Once you try it, it will become one of yours too! I love to serve it […]

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

Copyright © 2026 · MenuPlanningCentral.com