The holidays are supposed to be joyful, not stressful—but all the cooking, cleaning, and planning can quickly pile up. That’s where this collection of make-ahead recipes comes in to save your sanity! You can prepare delicious, crowd-pleasing meals ahead of time and actually enjoy your holiday gatherings. From tender pot roasts and flavorful soups to juicy turkey breasts and creamy casseroles, these dishes let your slow cooker or simple prep do all the work. You’ll want to see every recipe to create a festive spread that’s both effortless and unforgettable!

Easy Crock Pot 16 Bean Soup Recipe

A bowl of hearty bean stew with chunks of meat, diced carrots, and a wooden spoon. The dish is topped with shredded cheese and garnished with herbs. Crackers are placed beside the bowl on a wooden surface.
Easy Crock Pot 16 Bean Soup Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This simple step-by-step recipe will teach you how to cook hearty 16-bean soup with a ham bone in your crock pot. It’s great for easy make-ahead meals.
Get the Recipe: Easy Crock Pot 16 Bean Soup Recipe

Turkey Breast Recipe And Stuffing

A plate of sliced turkey breast covered with creamy gravy, garnished with fresh rosemary and sage. The dish is served on a white rectangular platter placed on a white cloth.
Turkey Breast Recipe And Stuffing. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Juicy and tender turkey breast with this simple crockpot recipe. Perfect for weeknights or as an easy holiday option with stuffing!
Get the Recipe: Turkey Breast Recipe And Stuffing

Tender Pot Roast and Gravy

Sirloin tip roast and vegetables
Tender Pot Roast and Gravy. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Your family will say thank you when you make this delicious slow cooker recipe for tender, juicy sirloin tip roast with a mix of delicious vegetables and savory gravy. This make-ahead recipe is an easy-to-prep sirloin tip roast in a slow cooker that is perfect for a hassle-free, mouthwatering dinner.
Get The Recipe: Tender Pot Roast and Gravy

Easy Crockpot Skyline Chili Recipe

A plate of spaghetti topped with chili, kidney beans, chopped onions, and shredded cheese. A fork is lifting some noodles. In the background, bowls of shredded cheese, chopped onions, and beans are visible.
Easy Crockpot Skyline Chili Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Crock pot copycat Skyline Chili recipe brings authentic flavor with a sweet, savory sauce spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
Get the Recipe: Easy Crockpot Skyline Chili Recipe

Tex-Mex Chicken Taco Soup (Crockpot Make-Ahead)

tex mex soup crokpot recipe
Tex-Mex Chicken Taco Soup (Crockpot Make-Ahead). Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Hearty Tex-Mex Chicken Taco Soup Recipe is an easy make- ahead soup recipe that is full of traditional Mexican seasonings and veggies.
Get the Recipe: Tex-Mex Chicken Taco Soup (Crockpot Make-Ahead)

Italian Crockpot Chicken Parmesan

A plate of spaghetti topped with homemade chicken parmesan, marinara sauce, and melted cheese, garnished with fresh basil leaves. The dish is served on a red and white plate, with a grater and a striped cloth napkin in the background.
Italian Crockpot Chicken Parmesan. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This Italian Crockpot Chicken Parmesan Recipe takes tender chicken breasts, coats them in Panko bread crumbs, and cooks them with marinara in a slow cooker.
Get the Recipe: Italian Crockpot Chicken Parmesan

Slow Cooker Cajun Smothered Chicken

cajun chicken and gravy
Slow Cooker Cajun Smothered Chicken. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This rich, Smothered Cajun Chicken Recipe is loaded with flavorful gravy and tender chicken breasts. Creole cuisine has never been so easy. Just pan-sear your chicken and finish this dish in a Crock Pot for a meal that needs 15 minutes of prep time and almost no effort at all. Great for a dinner party or a family night.
Get The Recipe: Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken

5-Ingredient Pork Chops Crockpot Recipe (5 Min. Prep)

Pork chops and gravy over mashed potatoes
5-Ingredient Pork Chops Crockpot Recipe (5 Min. Prep). Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This simple crock pot pork chops recipe requires only 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of preparation! Easy to make, saucy crock pot pork chops.
Get the Recipe: 5-Ingredient Pork Chops Crockpot Recipe (5 Min. Prep)

Old Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings

Old Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Old fashioned crock pot chicken and dumplings recipe creates soft chewy dumplings, tender chicken and veggies smothered in a creamy sauce.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings

Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken In Crockpot

A white scalloped plate with creamy pasta topped with a seasoned chicken breast, garnished with lemon slices and parsley. The dish is placed on a light background with a yellow and white checkered cloth beside it.
Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken In Crockpot. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Indulge in this Crock Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken smothered in a rich and creamy sauce that pairs perfectly with pasta. Only 15 minutes of prep.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken In Crockpot

Mexican Crockpot Chicken Tacos (5 Min. Prep)

Crock pot chicken for taco meat
Mexican Crockpot Chicken Tacos (5 Min. Prep). Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Mexican crockpot chicken tacos recipe with simple ingredients , 5 min. prep time, turns out perfect every time you make tacos.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Crockpot Chicken Tacos (5 Min. Prep)

Quick Prep Slow Cooker Taco Soup

A bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese and chopped green onions. The chili contains beans, ground meat, corn, and diced red peppers, with a rich, thick tomato-based sauce. Tortilla chips are placed beside the bowl on a colorful blue plate.
Quick Prep Slow Cooker Taco Soup. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Quick to prep, slow cooker taco soup recipe is my Pinterest follower’s top favorite. Made with Mexican spices, beef, beans, and veggies.
Get the Recipe: Quick Prep Slow Cooker Taco Soup

Easy Chicken And French Onion Soup Casserole

french onion chicken
Easy Chicken And French Onion Soup Casserole. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

French onion soup mix, a few pantry ingredients, chicken, and a slow cooker, you’ll have a hearty and satisfying one-pot casserole dinner.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken And French Onion Soup Casserole

Creamy Crockpot Chicken With Ranch

A plate of creamy chicken alfredo pasta garnished with shredded cheese and green onions. A fork is lifting a portion of the dish. The plate rests on a blue and white striped cloth.
Creamy Crockpot Chicken With Ranch. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Crockpot chicken with ranch is a simple, yummy recipe that combines cream cheese ranch dressing mix with tender, juicy chicken and pasta.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Crockpot Chicken With Ranch

Old Fashioned German Goulash

German goulash
Old Fashioned German Goulash. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This hearty Slow Cooker German Goulash recipe makes it easy to serve a delicious, authentic goulash soup. This German Goulash is chock full of tender beef and vegetables cooked to perfection in a richly seasoned red wine and sweet paprika broth.
Get The Recipe: Old Fashioned German Goulash

Slow Cooker Chicken In Green Salsa; Pollo Verde Recipe

chicken verde over rice
Slow Cooker Chicken In Green Salsa; Pollo Verde Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Easy Slow Cooker Pollo Verde Recipe highlighting a fresh roasted salsa verde and a step-by-step guide for making this authentic Mexican dish.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken In Green Salsa; Pollo Verde Recipe

Classic Mexican Steak Picado

Mexican steak piccata
Classic Mexican Steak Picado. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This classic Mexican Steak Picado Recipe smothers seared beef strips in a smoky tomato sauce with plabanos, jalapenos, green peppers, and onions. Here is the best part: this Crock Pot recipe takes less than 20 minutes to prepare. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or festive dinner party with friends.
Get The Recipe: Classic Mexican Steak Picado

Creamy Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken Recipe

Mississippi chicken
Creamy Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken Recipe . Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Deliciously creamy Italian Mississippi Chicken with tender chicken breasts, spicy Italian banana peppers, & heavy cream. Quick 10-minute prep!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken Recipe

Easy 3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe

Crock pot chicken wings with Dr Pepper and barbecue sauce beans brushed on
Easy 3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Easy 3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe made with three simple ingredients and a slow cooker, create tender finger-licking wings.
Get the Recipe: Easy 3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe

Old Fashioned Yankee Pot Roast Recipe

Yankee pot roast
Old Fashioned Yankee Pot Roast Recipe. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

You can make this Crock Pot Yankee Pot Roast that’s fork-tender and juicy with just 10 minutes of prep time. It’s easy, just fill your slow cooker and let it do all the work.
Get The Recipe: Old Fashioned Yankee Pot Roast Recipe

Creamy Chicken and Tortellini Soup

A bowl of creamy chicken tortellini soup with shredded chicken, cheese tortellini, diced carrots, and herbs, topped with grated cheese. Served in a white bowl with a red rim, accompanied by a silver spoon and a striped napkin on the side.
Creamy Chicken and Tortellini Soup. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This creamy soup pairs cheese tortellini, tender chicken, and Italian herbs for an easy and satisfying meal that feels festive.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken and Tortellini Soup

Crock Pot Whole Chicken Recipe

Whole roasted chicken in the crock pot
Crock Pot Whole Chicken Recipe. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This juicy, tender, crock pot whole chicken recipe is sure to become a favorite go-to recipe. Not only is it delicious, but the cost savings of making it at home compared to store-bought options is a great bonus. Your homemade crock pot whole chicken will also help you create multiple meals using the leftovers.
Get The Recipe: Crock Pot Whole Chicken Recipe

Hearty No-Bean Chili Slow Cooker Recipe

A bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions, and jalapeño slices. The dish is served in a white bowl on a green plate, with a green cloth nearby.
Hearty No-Bean Chili Slow Cooker Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Thick and meaty chili without beans recipe is made with savory chili seasonings, tomatoes, and chiles all slow simmered in your crockpot.
Get the Recipe: Hearty No-Bean Chili Slow Cooker Recipe

Easy 4-Ingredient Crockpot Chicken And Dressing

Four ingredient baked chicken with stuffing
Easy 4-Ingredient Crockpot Chicken And Dressing. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This simple chicken and stuffing crockpot with 4 ingredients is the perfect easy dinner that only takes 5 minutes to prep.
Get the Recipe: Easy 4-Ingredient Crockpot Chicken And Dressing

Chicken Corn Soup Recipe

Chicken corn chowder in a bowl with bacon and sprinkled on top
Chicken Corn Soup Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Crock pot chicken corn soup makes an easy meal for weeknights! It cooks up mostly unattended until you’re ready to serve it up for dinner. It is simple dump and go one pot meal that requires minimal effort for easy dinners.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Corn Soup Recipe

23 Christmas Side Dishes That Make Every Bite Merry

A white ceramic dish filled with baked crab dip topped with melted cheese and garnished with chopped green herbs. A wooden spoon and a napkin sit nearby on a light surface.
23 Christmas Side Dishes That Make Every Bite Merry. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Christmas dinner wouldn’t be complete without a show-stopping selection of side dishes! This roundup is packed with festive flavors, from creamy mashed potatoes to vibrant salads and cheesy casseroles. Each dish is designed to complement your main course and make your meal feel extra special. Discover all recipes—you’re bound to find a few new favorites for your Christmas celebration! Get All the Recipes: 23 Christmas Side Dishes That Make Every Bite Merry