9 Unexpected Things You Can Make in Your Slow Cooker

Your slow cooker isn’t just for making chili and pulled pork. Did you know you can make dessert, side dishes, and even drinks in it, too?! And, since it’s freezing outside (and your slow cooker makes the coziest comfort food dishes), what better time to start experimenting? This cooking method might be slow, but it sure does save you a whole lot of time at the end of the day!
 

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Clodagh McKenna's Slow-Cooked Creamy Cheddar Cauliflower with Hazelnut Crumb
When you’ve got to get dinner on the table, and the stovetop (and oven) is full, grab your best friend -- the slow cooker -- to make this creamy, crunchy side dish. It’s almost like having an extra set of hands in the kitchen!
 

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Slow Cooker PBJ Cheesecake
Peanut butter. Jelly. Cheesecake. All in one dessert? Jackpot! And don’t worry, the graham cracker crust is most certainly included. The cheesecake is assembled in a loaf pan while the slow cooker has a water bath in it. Just sit the loaf pan in the water bath, pop on the lid and let it steam away. You’ll have a perfectly cooked, moist cheesecake every single time.
 

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You Have to See This Viewer's Ingenious Slow Cooker Baked Potato Trick
Who wouldn’t want to come home to potatoes baked to perfection -- except they aren’t baked at all. While you were at work or running errands all day, the slow cooker was doing all the work for you! Click here to see how our viewer made it.
 

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Slow Cooker Triple Chocolate-Hazelnut Brownies
Brownies in a slow cooker? Oh yes, we did! You’d be surprised just how easy they are to make too. Just grab a box of your favorite brownie mix and follow the package directions, add in some chocolate chunks and drizzle some hazelnut chocolate spread. Line the slow cooker with foil so the brownies come out nice and easy when they’re done.
 

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Sunny Anderson's Apple-Cinnamon Blonde Gluhwein
Tending to a warm punch while you’re trying to do 100 things getting ready for a party should be low on your list of priorities -- so in this case, your slow cooker is your best friend. It’ll keep the punch warm without causing it to boil or cook off the alcohol. Give it a try!
 

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Slow-Cooker Pecan Pie
Like the recipe before, the trick to this sweet and gooey pecan pie is to line the slow cooker with foil. Just mix the ingredients together, dump them in the slow cooker, set it and forget it!
 

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Melissa d'Arabian’s Slow-Cooker Spaghetti Squash
Planning on using spaghetti squash for dinner? Get a head start on prep by letting it cook in the slow cooker all day while you’re out and about. Then, it’ll be ready for whatever you want to use it in (like this great spaghetti squash and turkey meatball recipe) when you get home!
 

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Carla Hall’s Slow-Cooker Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake
Who doesn’t love a fuss-free cheesecake? Cheesecake isn’t the easiest dessert to make since it usually requires a water bath -- in your oven! Making it in the slow cooker makes everything that much easier. Fill the slow cooker with water, assemble the cheesecake in a springform pan like you normally would, put the lid on to trap the steam and you’ll get a perfect, pretty cheesecake!
 

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Melissa Clark's Slow-Cooked Irish Oatmeal
Did you know you could make oatmeal in a slow cooker? Now you can make breakfast before you go to bed at night, and when it’s time to rise and shine, it’s ready! Now you’ll never have an excuse not to eat breakfast.


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