13 Thanksgiving sides you can make in a slow cooker

Try making your stuffing in a slow cooker, rather than in the oven or inside the turkey.Elena Veselova/Shutterstock

• Whether you're hosting a downsized Thanksgiving dinner or planning to drop off some food for a loved one, a slow cooker or Crock-Pot can be an essential tool this holiday season.
• From stuffing to cranberry sauce and autumn-inspired soups, slow cookers can help you whip up a number of easy, crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving side dishes.
• You might not know that you can also make dinner rolls, mashed potatoes, and various casseroles in a slow cooker.

Thanksgiving is likely going to look quite different this year.

Many families nationwide might be planning downsized Thanksgiving celebrations or choosing to drop off food at a loved one's home to minimize face-to-face contact amidst surging coronavirus cases.

One tool that can save a lot of time and energy when it comes to cooking Thanksgiving dinner, no matter what you're planning, is a slow cooker.

Insider spoke to Sarah Olson, who runs the blog "The Magical Slow Cooker," about her favorite slow-cooker Thanksgiving recipes, tips for newbies using their slow cookers for the first time this holiday season, and dishes you might not know can be made in a Crock-Pot.

"I fell in love with the slow cooker when I became a new mom and also had to work full time," Olson said. "I was always too tired to make anything after work and we often ate fast food instead of preparing a meal. When I discovered a few of my favorite childhood recipes that I could cook all day while I was at work, that is when I became hooked."

Here are 13 Thanksgiving sides you can make in a slow cooker.