12 Crockpot Dinner Sides That Free the Weeknight Stove

ByDinner Made Eazy Team
Crockpot garlic mashed potatoes

Slow cooker sides that free burners for the main dish.

crockpot dinner sides belong in the slow cooker so the stove stays free for searing chicken, grilling, or last-minute pasta: garlic mash, honey carrots, baked beans, corn casserole, cinnamon apples, and more. These are sides only—pair them with any main you already love.

More related menus: easy crockpot dinner recipes, Sunday dinner ideas, hearty crockpot dinners, and crockpot recipes for easy dinners.

Prep 10-20 min
Cook 2-6 hr
Total 2-6 hr
Servings 6-10
Difficulty Easy

1. Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Garlic mashed potatoes
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Yukon potatoes with garlic and butter mash right in the cooker—the most requested crockpot dinner sides staple.

Prep 15 min · Cook 5 hr · Total 5 hr · Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 3 lb Yukon gold potatoes, cubed
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 cup chicken broth or water
  • 4 Tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Pepper

Steps

  1. Add potatoes, garlic, broth, and salt.
  2. Cook LOW 4-5 hours until very tender.
  3. Drain excess liquid if watery; mash with butter and milk.
  4. Season with pepper.
  5. Hold on WARM.

Tip: Cut potatoes evenly so they soften together.

2. Honey Glazed Carrots

Baby carrots with honey and butter turn glossy without hogging a burner.

Prep 5 min · Cook 5 hr · Total 5 hr · Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 2 lb baby carrots
  • 3 Tbsp honey
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup water
  • Parsley optional

Steps

  1. Add carrots, water, salt, honey, and butter.
  2. Cook LOW 4-5 hours until tender.
  3. Stir to coat in glaze.
  4. Add parsley.
  5. Serve warm.

Tip: Drain a little liquid if you want stickier glaze.

3. From-Scratch Style Baked Beans

Crockpot baked beans
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Canned beans dressed with brown sugar, mustard, and ketchup taste potluck-ready.

Prep 10 min · Cook 4 hr · Total 4 hr · Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 3 cans (15 oz) navy or pinto beans, rinsed
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • 2 Tbsp mustard
  • 1/4 cup diced onion
  • 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled optional
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Steps

  1. Stir beans with sugar, ketchup, mustard, onion, salt, and bacon.
  2. Cook LOW 4 hours.
  3. Stir; taste for sweetness.
  4. Hold on WARM for serving.
  5. Thin with water if thick.

Tip: Rinse beans to control salt and sauce thickness.

4. Corn Casserole Dump

Cornbread mix, corn, and sour cream bake gently into a scoopable casserole side.

Prep 10 min · Cook 3 hr · Total 3 hr · Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 1 box (8.5 oz) cornbread mix
  • 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
  • 1 can (15 oz) creamed corn
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar optional
  • 2 eggs

Steps

  1. Grease crockpot. Mix all ingredients; pour in.
  2. Cook HIGH 2-3 hours or LOW 4 hours until set in the center.
  3. Rest 10 minutes.
  4. Scoop to serve.
  5. Do not lift lid early.

Tip: Check center with a knife—it should come out mostly clean.

5. Cinnamon Apples

Crockpot cinnamon apples
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Sliced apples with cinnamon and brown sugar make a sweet side for pork or holiday plates.

Prep 15 min · Cook 4 hr · Total 4 hr · Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 3 lb apples, sliced
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • Pinch salt

Steps

  1. Toss apples with sugar, spices, lemon, and salt; add butter.
  2. Cook LOW 3-4 hours until soft but not applesauce.
  3. Stir gently.
  4. Serve warm.
  5. Great with pork chops.

Tip: Mix firm apples like Granny Smith with sweeter varieties.

6. Green Bean Remixed Casserole

Green beans with mushroom soup and fried onions recreate casserole vibes without the oven.

Prep 10 min · Cook 4 hr · Total 4 hr · Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 2 lb frozen green beans
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 cup fried onions
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Steps

  1. Mix beans, soup, milk, soy, garlic, and salt in cooker.
  2. Cook LOW 4 hours.
  3. Stir; top with fried onions for last 15 minutes on HIGH.
  4. Serve hot.
  5. Keep extra onions for crunch at the table.

Tip: Thaw beans slightly so they cook evenly.

7. Cheesy Broccoli Rice

Rice, broccoli, and cheese soup cook into a scoopable side that kids recognize.

Prep 10 min · Cook 4 hr · Total 4 hr · Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups long-grain rice, rinsed
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 3 cups frozen broccoli
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) cheddar cheese soup
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Steps

  1. Stir rice, broth, soup, salt, and garlic in cooker.
  2. Cook LOW 3 hours; stir in broccoli and cheddar.
  3. Cook 45-60 minutes more until rice tender.
  4. Fluff.
  5. Add splash of broth if dry.

Tip: Rinse rice to reduce stickiness.

8. Herb Stuffing

Boxed stuffing mix with broth and butter steams into a moist side while the oven stays free.

Prep 10 min · Cook 3 hr · Total 3 hr · Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 1 box (12 oz) stuffing mix
  • 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
  • 4 Tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1 tsp dried sage or poultry seasoning

Steps

  1. Sauté celery and onion in butter on stove 3 minutes or microwave soft.
  2. Combine with stuffing mix, broth, and sage in cooker.
  3. Cook LOW 2-3 hours until hot and fluffy.
  4. Fluff with a fork.
  5. Hold on WARM.

Tip: Do not overpack—stuffing needs steam space.

9. Crockpot Mac and Cheese

Crockpot mac and cheese
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Elbows with evaporated milk and cheddar make a creamy crockpot dinner sides hero.

Prep 10 min · Cook 3 hr · Total 3 hr · Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 1 lb elbow macaroni, uncooked
  • 4 cups shredded cheddar
  • 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
  • 2 cups milk
  • 4 Tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp mustard powder

Steps

  1. Grease cooker. Mix pasta, cheeses, milks, butter, salt, and mustard.
  2. Cook LOW 2-3 hours, stirring once, until pasta is tender.
  3. Add splash of milk if thick.
  4. Serve soon.
  5. Switch to WARM for serving.

Tip: Stir once mid-cook to prevent corner sticking.

10. Candied Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potato chunks with brown sugar and butter candy gently for holiday or weeknight plates.

Prep 15 min · Cook 5 hr · Total 5 hr · Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 3 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 4 Tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • Pinch salt
  • Pecans optional

Steps

  1. Toss sweet potatoes with sugar, cinnamon, salt, juice, and butter.
  2. Cook LOW 4-5 hours until tender.
  3. Stir gently; add pecans.
  4. Serve warm.
  5. Mash lightly if you prefer a softer side.

Tip: Cut cubes evenly for uniform candying.

11. Creamed Corn

Corn kernels with cream cheese and butter become a rich scoopable side.

Prep 5 min · Cook 4 hr · Total 4 hr · Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 2 lb frozen corn
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 4 Tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Pepper

Steps

  1. Combine all ingredients in cooker.
  2. Cook LOW 3-4 hours, stirring once.
  3. Mash some kernels for thickness.
  4. Taste for salt.
  5. Hold on WARM.

Tip: Full-fat cream cheese melts more smoothly.

12. Warm Dinner Rolls Hold

Store-bought rolls stay soft on WARM with butter so the oven can finish the main dish.

Prep 5 min · Cook 1-2 hr hold · Total 2 hr · Serves 12

Ingredients

  • 12 dinner rolls
  • 2 Tbsp melted butter
  • Foil
  • Optional: garlic powder

Steps

  1. Line cooker with foil; arrange rolls.
  2. Brush with butter (and garlic powder if using).
  3. Cover; hold on WARM 1-2 hours.
  4. Serve soft and warm.
  5. Do not use HIGH or rolls dry out.

Tip: This is a hold method—bake rolls first if they are raw dough.

FAQ

Can sides share a cooker with the main?

Better to dedicate the crockpot to sides and cook the main on stove or grill for food safety and timing.

How do I keep mashed potatoes warm?

Switch to WARM after mashing; stir in a splash of milk if they thicken.

Do dairy sides scorch?

Stir occasionally on HIGH and prefer LOW for mac and cheese or creamed corn.

What mains pair well?

Roast chicken, grilled sausages, pork chops, or store rotisserie chicken.

How should I handle leftovers safely?

Cook poultry to 165°F, ground meat to 160°F, and whole cuts of beef/pork to a safe doneness (many cooks use 145°F plus rest for steaks/roasts). Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and reheat to 165°F. See the USDA safe temperature chart and our recipe food safety disclaimer.

Wrap-Up

Free the stove with these crockpot dinner sides: garlic mash, honey carrots, baked beans, corn casserole, cinnamon apples, green bean remix, cheesy broccoli rice, herb stuffing, mac and cheese, candied sweet potatoes, creamed corn, and warm dinner rolls.

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