Holiday Crockpot Recipes

Easy and Delicious Ideas

By Linda Larsen, About.com Guide

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Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

Linda Larsen

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Your crockpot can be your best friend during the holiday season. If you have two or three crockpots (something I highly recommend), you can have a hot drink waiting when you come home from a sliding party, munch on some savory appetizers, or serve a hearty soup to guests. Think about purchasing crockpots of different sizes, too; a 1-1/2 quart crockpot is perfect for holding a hot dip, while that great recipe for meatballs in a sweet and spicy sauce would work better in a 4 quart appliance. These holiday crockpot recipes will save you lots of time and energy this busy season.

The crockpot is also a great addition to the Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or Christmas menu. Cook sweet potatoes and a green bean side dish in the crockpot to free up your stove for turkey or ham. A delicious appetizer or two will give you more time for finishing touches in the kitchen. And there's nothing like coming home from a day of shopping to a one dish meal or hearty soup or stew ready and waiting for you.

There are also lots of gift recipes that you can make in the crockpot. From spiced nuts to sweet and sour chutney to homemade mincemeat, everybody will love these homemade gifts, and no one needs to know how easy they were to make.

These are special recipes, using foods and flavors of the season, with richer ingredients. As always, feel free to adjust these recipes according to your own tastes. Follow food safety information and directions, and enjoy getting your home and hearth ready for another holiday season!