4 Slow-Cooker Side Dishes for an Incredibly Easy Thanksgiving Dinner

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, CrockPot365.blogspot.com, A Year of Slowcooking, 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. 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.