Slow Cooker Side Dish Recipes - Cooking Tips

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Using a slow cooker for cooking side dishes has several advantages. One nice advantage is when you need to prepare a slow cooker side dish recipe to take some where it can be cooked through the night or during the day, depending on when you need to serve it. When it is done you just unplug it and you are ready to go. The slow cooker side dish can then be plugged back in to keep it warm when serving. Another advantage of using slow cooker recipes is that when you are making a big meal and your oven is needed to cook other foods, a slow cooker recipe can be started a head of everything and be cooking while you are preparing the rest of the meal. Using the slow cooker side dish recipe will free space up in the oven for other foods.

Additional Slow Cooker Recipes:

Slow Cooking Appetizers | Slow Cooking Breakfasts | Slow Cooking Meats | Slow Cooking Meals
Slow Cooking Soups & Stews | Slow Cooking Desserts

Side Dish Recipes:

Slow Cooker Pineapple Glazed Carrots | Slow Cooker Cheddar Green Beans
Slow Cooker New Potatoes | Slow Cooker Easy Rice

Slow Cooker Pineapple Glazed Carrots
Ingredients: 2 or 3 quart slow cooker
	2 lbs. carrots 1/4 c. butter, melted 1/2 c. brown sugar	1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple, do not drain 1/2 c. shredded coconut

		Peel carrots and cut into strips that are approximately 1/2 inch wide and 2 inches long.
		For extra flavor, lightly brown the carrots in a skillet with a little butter on the stovetop before placing in the slow cooker. Just brown lightly, do not overcook.
		When browned, place carrots in the bottom of a 2 or 3 quart slow cooker.
		Mix all the other ingredients together in a bowl except for the coconut. Pour this mixture evenly over the carrots in the slow cooker crock. Place the cover on the slow cooker and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours until the carrots are tender.
		Remove the carrots from the slow cooker and use the coconut to garnish the carrots when serving.

Slow Cooker Cheddar Green Beans
Ingredients: 6 quart slow cooker
	4 cans cut green beans 1 can (10.5 oz.) French fried onion rings 3 cans (8 oz.) sliced water chestnuts	2 cans cream of mushroom soup 1/2 c. milk 3 c. shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 tsp. pepper

Drain the beans and water chestnuts. First place the beans in the bottom of the crock of a 6 quart slow cooker and then the French fried onion rings on top of the beans.
Then add the water chestnuts on top of the French fried onion rings.
Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl and stir until well mixed.
Spread the mixture over the water chestnuts in the crock but do not stir into the beans.
Place the cover on the slow cooker and cook for 5 to 6 hours. Or, cook on high for 3 hours.
When the beans are done, serve them from the crock or remove and place in a serving bowl.

Slow Cooker New Potatoes
Ingredients: 5 quart slow cooker
	24 new potatoes 2 tbsp. vegetable oil (can also use olive oil)	1 package dry Italian dressing mix

		Clean the potatoes thoroughly but do not peel. Place the potatoes in a sealable bag and then pour in the vegetable oil.
		Seal the bag and then toss the potatoes around in the bag until they are all evenly coated with oil.
		Sprinkle the dry dressing mix in the bag, seal, and toss again until the potatoes are coated with the mix.
		Place the potatoes in a 5 quart slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or turn on high and cook for 4 to 5 hours.
		The potatoes are done if tender when poked with a fork. The potatoes can be transferred to a bowl for serving or served in the crock, which would keep the potatoes warm longer.

Easy Slow Cooker Rice
Ingredients: 2 or 3 quart slow cooker
	2 c. raw white rice 4 tsp granule chicken bouillon (or 4 bouillon cubes)	3 1/2 c. water 2 tbsp. butter

Use 1/2 tbsp. of the butter to coat the bottom and walls of the crock from a 2 or 3 quart slow cooker.
Add the rice to the buttered crock. Cut the remaining butter into slices and place on top of the rice in the crock.
Boil the water, add the bouillon to it and stir until it is dissolved. Pour bouillon over the rice. Note: Canned chicken broth can be used in place of the chicken bouillon or water if desired. If using broth or water, add 1 teaspoon of salt also.
Cover the slow cooker and turn it on low. Cook the rice for 1 1/2 hours and then lift the lid and gently stir, but do not over stir. Stir only enough to turn rice over from top to bottom. Replace the cover and cook another hour on low. Note: The rice does not have to be stirred if you are not there to do it but it will help the rice cook a little more evenly.
Taste the rice to see if it is done. The texture should be tender, if not, allow the rice to cook longer. If done serve while warm. If left in the crock with the slow cooker turned off, the rice will stay warm for 1 to 2 hours.