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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FAQs

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

​The best foods to bring to a potluck are easy-to-make dishes and finger foods like cheese dip, corn on the cob, casseroles, guacamole, slow cooker mac and cheese, potato salad, caprese, charcuterie boards, jalapeño poppers, sliders, pinwheels, and pasta salad.

What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
  1. Raw Meat.
  2. Seafood.
  3. Pasta.
  4. Rice.
  5. Delicate Vegetables.
  6. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
  7. Dairy.
  8. Wine and Other Liquor.
Jan 19, 2024

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

Easy Finger Food Recipes to Make Ahead
  • Fried Pickles. Treat your guests to fried pickles for fun finger food ideas. ...
  • Fried Mac and Cheese Rolls. ...
  • Deviled Eggs. ...
  • Honey Garlic Meatballs. ...
  • Garlic Breadsticks. ...
  • Salted Soft Pretzels. ...
  • Whipped Ricotta Crostini. ...
  • Vietnamese Spring Rolls.
2 days ago

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

What is a good side dish for a potluck? ›

Like with homemade cornbread and sweet tea, there's no such thing as too much when it comes to your potluck side dishes. We're talking a table lined from end to end with cheesy scalloped potatoes, creamy green bean casserole, cool broccoli-and-grape pasta salad, and maybe some fluffy corn pudding.

What's the difference between slow cooker and 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 is the best meat to cook in a slow cooker? ›

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

What happens if you don't brown meat before a slow cooker? ›

"Browning, or caramelizing, meat before putting it into a slow cooker isn't 100 percent necessary, but it is well worth the effort for the most flavorful and full-bodied end result," he says. "The caramelized surface of the meat will lend rich flavor and color to the finished dish."

What tastes better in a slow cooker? ›

Here are some great long-cooking cuts to try in your slow cooker: Beef: chuck roast, brisket, stew meat and short ribs. Pork: pork shoulder, pork butt, pork ribs, country-style ribs, ham.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

What's better than a slow cooker? ›

✔️ Instant Pots are multi-functional.

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.

Is it rude not to bring food to a potluck? ›

Anything More Than Empty Hands Is Acceptable

It's a fun communal activity that also takes some weight off the poor host. So can you show up to a potluck empty-handed? Heck no. That's the whole point!

What to bring for finger food? ›

Best Finger Foods
  • Pigs in a Blanket.
  • Antipasto Skewers.
  • Pepperoni Pizza Rolls.
  • Fried Mac and Cheese Balls.
  • Deviled Eggs.
  • Jalapeño Poppers.
  • Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites.
  • Vegetarian Stuffed Mushrooms.

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