Festive Slow Cooker Entertaining Tips and Recipes

Ah, the holidays, that time of year when time seems to fly by too quickly to get through your to-do list before guests arrive. What if the slow cooker was there to get through the last sprint of this festive marathon?

This handy appliance is an extension of the oven, with the advantage of autonomous cooking that does not require supervision. It’s perfect to lighten the meal prep load so that you can spend more time with loved ones. Here are some great tips and recipe ideas for a delicious, stress-free holiday season thanks to the slow cooker.

Inspiring recipes to share

For a convivial potluck

This formula, where each guest brings one component of the meal, has the advantage of relieving the pressure on the host, in addition to encouraging conversation around everyone’s recipe choice. As for the slow cooker, it saves on time in the kitchen, leaves the oven and burners available to guests who need to reheat their dishes, and ensures that the dish stays hot throughout the mealtime.

There are many slow cooker recipes that lend themselves to potlucks:

• A holiday punch, like mulled wine or spiced cider. For a version suitable for everyone, replace the alcohol with apple juice.
• A creamy, cheesy or spicy dip with raw vegetables, croutons and an assortment of crackers.
• Nostalgic bites, like maple cocktail sausages or turkey meatballs. With the help of mini bamboo skewers, it’s easy to eat them standing up or sitting on the sofa.
• Tasty ribs to cut into 1 or 2 rib portions for ease of enjoyment.
• A comforting casserole of pasta, tuna or veggies.
• Shredded meat to top mini burgers or tacos. Put shredded cheese, coleslaw and chopped green onions in small bowls next to the slow cooker. Your guests will be able to make their own sandwich according to their tastes and desires.

For a chic and generous meal

Are you planning to entertain your guests around a nicely set table? The slow cooker allows you to do your last-minute shopping and set up your decorations while the dish quietly cooks.

On the menu for a holiday dinner in the slow cooker:

• A seafood chowder or a hearty soup made with legumes and seasonal vegetables, such as root vegetables, potatoes or sweet potatoes. For an even more indulgent version, add sausage, bacon or diced smoked tofu.
• A unifying ham with sweet, savoury and smoky flavours.
• Meat in sauce such as veal blanquette, blade roast in red wine or chicken with honey and mustard. Add fresh bread on the side to enjoy the sauce to the last drop!
• A vegetarian stew inspired by our tradition or other cultures, such as mushroom meatball stew, tofu bourguignon or sweet potato curry for a menu that makes a change.
• A roast turkey breast, to be served in slices topped with a brown, creamy onion or tangy cranberry sauce. Even if it tastes good as is, the roast can also be stuffed with fruit, nuts or cheese. Do you like to present a whole bird to your guests? Chicken is the perfect option that will fit in the slow cooker.
• A meat pie, or a lentil meat pie for vegetarians and vegans.
• A meat sauce on fresh pasta. Opt for long pasta and sprinkle the plate with herbs for a look that’s as chic as it is tasty!
• A melt-in-your-mouth potato or cauliflower gratin with cheese.

Using the slow cooker for a large table

These 8 basic rules will ensure you have a successful slow cooker holiday meal.

1. Organize your menu according to your appliances.

Slow cooker, oven, stovetop: Take stock of the items available to you in preparation for your menu. Make sure your slow cooker’s capacity is appropriate for the number of guests and the recipe being considered. If you’re planning a lot of dishes, two slow cookers could be a plus; a small size (2 L) will come in handy for a hot dip, while a more standard size (6 L) will be perfect for the main course or a side.

2. Make a game plan.

While the slow cooker saves time in the kitchen as it works away unsupervised, cooking a dish in this appliance takes some time (from 6 to 10 hours). So plan each step of the meal prep to start the recipe on time. Are you going to put the slow cooker in plain sight on the buffet so everyone can help themselves? Don’t forget the hookups! You may need an extension cord.

3. Don’t skip the thawing step.

If you’re using frozen ingredients, such as meat or seafood, don’t forget to factor the thawing step into your game plan. To prevent bacteria from growing, food should be completely thawed before reaching the slow cooker.

4. Choose the right cut of meat.

To please your guests, you may be tempted to cook tender or so-called “noble” cuts of meat. These aren’t the most suitable cuts for the slow cooker, though, as they are likely to become hard and dry. The slow cooker’s slow and low cooking is more suitable for tougher cuts as it softens them. As a bonus, it’s less expensive!

Go for less tender pieces of meat like a blade or cross rib roast for beef, lamb shoulder or shank, veal cheeks, osso buco or pork ribs. For chicken, opt for dark meat (legs, drumsticks, wings, thighs). Turkey breast is the exception to this rule and keeps all its tenderness in the slow cooker!

5. Sear the meat and vegetables.

Browning meat or vegetables in a skillet with a little oil before placing them in the slow cooker is not a requirement, but taking the time to do so will add flavour to your dish. It’s a little effort for big results!

6. Don’t overcrowd the slow cooker.

For optimal cooking, the slow cooker should be at least half full, but should also not be overcrowded. Ideally, you should not exceed two-thirds of your capacity.

7. Do not lift the lid while cooking.

Resist the temptation to remove the lid from the slow cooker to stir the contents or smell its delicious aromas. This simple gesture can lower the temperature by several degrees. It will then take some time for the device to reach this optimal temperature again. And if your guests have access to the kitchen, warn them to not touch it either!

8. Keep warm, but don’t reheat in the slow cooker.

We like the slow cooker’s warm mode, which keeps your dish at a safe temperature for about 2 hours after it’s finished cooking. This ensures a hot meal for all guests, whether they serve themselves first or last! On the other hand, don’t use the slow cooker to reheat a cold dish. It would take too long to reach a safe temperature of 140°F (60°C) and bacteria could grow in the food.