Amazing slow cooker ideas for your next party

Entertaining is no easy feat, especially when you're preparing food for a large group. Here's how to let the slow cooker work its magic for your next event so you can spend more time entertaining and less time in the kitchen.

Slow cookers are ideal for serving dips and other hot appetizers. You only need a few ingredients to make spinach and artichoke dip, buffalo chicken dip or queso.

• When foods are prepared in a slow cooker, the ingredients have ample time to combine, which enhances the flavour of the dip.
• Prepare frozen meatballs in the slow cooker with a variety of sauces, such as sweet-and-sour sauce or barbecue sauce.

Slow cookers are great for prepping your entrees and sides, minimizing the amount of time you must spend in the kitchen.

• Pulled pork is easy to prepare and can feed a crowd. Place a pork butt or shoulder in your slow cooker, and add your favourite barbecue sauce for an entree that will make your guests' mouths water.
• Many oven-baked recipes can be altered for the slow cooker: Make macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans and many other delicious side dishes in your slow cooker, and kick up your feet instead of spending all day in the kitchen.

Perhaps your favourite entertaining recipe isn't a slow cooker one, but that doesn't mean that you have to pack up your slow cooker until your next event; use the slow cooker to serve hot foods instead.

• Rather than using an unreliable hot plate or worrying about the candles staying lit under a chafing dish, keep your food warm with a slow cooker.
• Be sure to set the slow cooker to the warm setting, rather than low or high, when using it store and serve food.
• You may overcook the food if the temperature in the slow cooker is too high.

Entertaining shouldn't leave you feeling overwhelmed in the kitchen. Design your next party menu around your slow cooker. When you let your slow cooker do the work, you'll feel more relaxed during your next event.

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