Make Your Thanksgiving Sides In Your Slow-Cooker

The turkey is enough to focus on without managing the slew of pots and pans boiling away on the range. This year, make a little more room on the stove-top by making Thanksgiving sides and more in your slow-cooker. Beyond saving space on your stove, you can save yourself additional time in the kitchen that you can instead spend with family and friends on the holiday.

Click here for the 15 Slow-Cooker Recipes to Warm You From the Inside Out slideshow.

Put your slow-cooker to work making Slow-Cooker Mulled Apple Cider for your guests to warm up with before the main feast or you can use your slow-cooker to keep your side dishes warm while you wait for the turkey to cook.

You can make cranberry sauce, like this Kicked-Up Cranberry  Sauce with Chipotle Pepper recipe, by simply spraying the inside of your slow-cooker with cooking spray, and then dumping in all the ingredients to cook on high for five hours or cook on low for eight hours.

Do you find mashed potatoes to be a hassle, but you can't resist their buttery taste? Make easy Slow-Cooker Mashed Potatoes that you can prepare ahead of feasting day. This recipe says to use water instead of milk to keep the consistency just right.

Finally, even dessert can be turned into a slow-cooker hack with this recipe for Slow-Cooker Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake recipe.

Revolutionize your holiday cooking by breaking out the slow-cooker and using the spare minutes to enjoy time with friends and family.

Angela Carlos is the Cook Editor at The Daily Meal. Find her on Twitter and tweet @angelaccarlos.