Four incredibly easy, slow-cooker side dishes for Thanksgiving

(Getty Images / Photo Illustration)

Stephanie O'Dea isn't a professional chef — in fact, she claims she isn't much of a cook at all — she's just a mom who loved her slow-cooker and had to start a blog for research at work.

Her blog, A Year of Slow Cooking, became hugely popular, and she created a cookbook of some of the best recipes from her yearlong experiment with slow cooking. The book includes recipes for classic slow-cooked fare, like soups and stews, plus lots of surprising recipes like peppercorn steak, Rice Krispies treats, baby food, and crayons (yes, crayons!). The cookbook also features tons of side dishes perfect for Thanksgiving.

O'Dea had seven slow-cookers going last Thanksgiving with all of the recipes plugged in and cooking by noon, leaving her time to clean up and even relax before her guests arrived. A relaxing Thanksgiving? Sounds amazing.

Even if you're not hosting your own Thanksgiving dinner this year, O'Dea says a slow-cooked side is perfect to bring over to your relatives' place, because although oven space may be limited, you can always find an outlet to heat up your dish when you cook in a slow-cooker.

(Hyperion )

Enjoy these recipes courtesy of Stephanie O'Dea's new book, Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking, and let us know any easy cooking tips you'll be using this holiday.

Slow-cooker cornbread stuffing recipe
Buttery cornbread gives this stuffing a new spin. You can easily make this slow-cooker dish vegetarian or gluten-free.

Slow-cooker cranberry sauce recipe
This sweet slow-cooker Thanksgiving staple is almost as easy as the canned stuff and even tastier.

Slow-cooker pecan-topped baked sweet potatoes recipe
Pecans and sweet potatoes: a delicious seasonal combination. With the slow-cooker, you’ll enjoy that smell of them cooking for five sweet hours.

Slow-cooker green bean casserole recipe
These slow-cooker green beans keep their taste and crunch; it's the perfect way to get some veggies into the holiday meal.

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• Five Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

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