5 LARGEST Crock Pots for Big Families and Gatherings

Whether you have a big family to feed each night or you cook food for family gatherings or during the holidays, having a large crock pot is a must.

In this article, we’ll be reviewing 5 of the best large crock pots available on the market and providing you with an in-depth buying guide to help you come to the right decision for your needs!

Let’s get started!

1. Crock-Pot 8-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker

The first large crock pot on our list, this 8-quart Oval Crock Pot has thousands of positive reviews and can feed a group of up to 10+ people. For its size and capabilities, it’s relatively affordable, even for those on a budget.

It’s an oval crock pot, making it great for different types of dishes including soups, dips, roasts, and even whole chicken or turkey dishes. It’s manually operated, meaning that it has a single dial that can be turned to OFF, or to the Low, High, and Warm settings.

The inner stoneware pot is both removable and dishwasher safe, along with the lid. The lid doesn’t have a locking feature, however, it’s made of glass so that you can keep an eye on the progress the food is making.

The inner stoneware pot (NOT the lid or outer pot) is both microwave and oven safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, but not safe in the broiler.

The exterior of the crock pot is sleek, polished black stainless steel, making it aesthetically appealing and easy to wipe up in the event of a spill or food dripping on the side.

All of the accents, including the handles, are black as well and the handles are cool-touch so that you don’t have to worry about being burned if you need to move the crock pot.

What We Like:

• Pleasingly affordable for the size
• The sleek appearance would match virtually any kitchen
• Large 8-quart crock pot can serve 10+ people
• Inner stoneware is removable
• Stoneware and lid are dishwasher safe
• Stoneware is both microwave and oven safe
• Handles are cool-touch
• The simple dial can be set to three functions, Low, High, and Warm
• The oval crock pot can be used for multiple dishes

What Could Improve:

• The lid isn’t locking, which may pose a slight issue if you’re looking to entertain with this crock pot or need to move it often
• No light or indicator to let you know that the crock pot is heating up or on
• No timer

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2. Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker

With nearly 10,000 positive ratings, it’s no surprise that this crock pot is high-quality. This is another oval crock pot, making it great for all kinds of dishes.

It has the capacity to hold a 7-pound roast and can serve 9+ people.

Similar to the previous crock pot, this crock pot features a single dial that can be set to Low, High, and Warm, or used to switch the crock pot off when not in use.

Both the inner pot and the lid are removable and dishwasher safe to make cleanup a breeze.

The lid is a glass lid so that you can keep up with the cooking process easier, though it isn’t a locking lid, meaning that traveling with this crock pot may turn out to be less than ideal if you’re not careful.

The inner pot (without the outer pot or the lid) is both microwave and oven safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

The exterior of this crock pot is modern stainless steel with all-black accents, including the inner pot, handles on the sides of the pot, as well as the lid, the dial, and along the bottom rim of the exterior pot.

The stainless steel makes the outer pot easy to clean if a spill should occur, and would look great with practically any type of kitchen decor.

What We Like:

• The oval inner pot makes this crock pot great for various dishes
• Can cook a 7-pound roast
• A 7-quart crock pot can make enough food to serve 9+ people
• Cool-touch handles
• Glass lid
• The inner pot is removable
• Dishwasher-safe inner pot and lid
• The inner pot is microwave and oven safe
• Simple dial operation can be set to Low, High, or Warm
• The stainless steel exterior is both fashionable and easy to wipe up

What Could Improve:

• The lid isn’t locking
• No indicator to let you know if the crock pot is heating up or still on
• No timer

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3. Hamilton Beach Extra-Large 10-Quart Slow Cooker

The largest crock pot on our list, the Hamilton Beach Extra-Large Slow Cooker is a 10-quart crock pot that has the capacity to cook a 10-pound turkey or 12-pound roast and serves well over 10 people.

Like the previous two crock pots, the Hamilton Beach is operated manually with a single dial that can be set to three functions: Low, High, and Warm, or used to turn the crock pot off.

What’s new thus far on our list, however, is the lid type. The lid of the Hamilton Beach is glass, making it easier to see the progress of your meal, and also features a tight locking mechanism to hold the lid in place to prevent spills during traveling.

Both the lid and the removable inner pot are dishwasher safe, making cleanup less of a chore, and the inner pot is oval so that it’s suitable for a variety of dishes.

The side handles are full-grip and cool-touch so that they won’t overheat and are textured in a way that prevents slipping hands.

They’re also wide enough to get a decent grip. The exterior of this extra-large crock pot is a lovely polished black with all-black accents and white text.

What We Like:

• Extra-large 10-quart capacity
• The oval shape allows for a variety of meal types
• Can hold a 10-pound, bone-in turkey or 12-pound roast
• Cool-touch and full-grip handles
• Locking glass lid
• The lid and inner pot are removable and dishwasher safe
• The exterior is a beautiful all-black and easy to clean
• Operation is made simple with the single dial and three heat settings

What Could Improve:

• No timer
• No indicator as to whether the crock pot is on or warming up
• The inner pot is not microwave or oven safe
• A little on the pricey side, but that’s to be expected with the quality and capacity provided

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4. Crock-Pot 8 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

Sizing back down to an 8-quart, this programmable crock pot is highly modern, and technologically advanced compared to the previous crock pots, and can serve 10+ people.

It’s large enough to cook a 6-pound roast or 8-pound, a bone-in whole chicken.

Unlike the previous crock pots, this crock pot is programmable and features a digital timer, and 4 buttons that allow you to increase or decrease the time, turn the crock pot on or off, and select one of the three temperatures; Low, High, or Warm.

Another feature that is unique to this crock pot, compared to the other crock pots on our list, is that after the timer ends, the crock pot automatically switches over to the Warm mode to keep your food at a temperature suitable for serving until you’re ready to eat.

The timer can be set up to 20 hours of cooking time.

The lid is glass, though it’s not a locking lid, and both the removable inner pot and glass lid are dishwasher safe. The exterior of the crock pot is sleek, black stainless steel that is both lovely to look at and easy to clean.

The accents, including the cool-touch handles and the lid handle, are all-black, and the buttons and control panel stand out in silver.

What We Like:

• Oval inner pot, making this a good option for various types of dishes
• 8-quart crock pot can serve 10+ people
• Programmable crock pot
• Features a timer and buttons
• A Book of recipes is included
• Beautiful exterior
• Easy to clean removable inner pot and lid
• Automatically switches to warming mode after timer ends
• The timer can be set up to 20 hours

What Could Improve:

• The lid doesn’t lock
• The inner pot is not microwave or oven safe

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5. Magic Mill 8.5 Quart Slow Cooker Crock Pot

The final large crock pot on our list, the Magic Mill Crock Pot is an 8.5-quart crock pot with a capacity large enough to feed 10+ people.

It’s an oval crock pot, which means that it’s great for a variety of food types and can fit a 6-pound roast or up to an 8-pound whole chicken.

It’s also a programmable crock pot, like the crock pot above, and features a digital blue timer, 4 buttons, and 3 indicator lights that let you know what mode you’ve selected (Low, High, and Warm).

The buttons consist of a power button, a mode button, and a plus and minus button to lower or increase the time. The timer can be set anywhere from 30 minutes up to 20 hours and when the timer ends, the crock pot automatically switches to the Warm mode.

The glass lid and removable inner pot are both dishwasher safe and the lid is locked, so moving the crock pot is made safer and easier. The safe-grip handles are wide and textured to prevent slipping and easy carrying.

What We Like:

• Oval inner pot is great for a variety of dishes
• Large enough to feed 10+ people
• Programmable rather than manual
• Features a timer and buttons, as well as light indicators
• The inner pot is removable
• Lid is glass
• Both lid and inner pot are dishwasher safe
• Lid locks

What Could Improve:

• Nothing!

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What to Consider When Buying a Large Crock Pot

When browsing for a large crock pot, there are a few key features that you’ll want to look for or consider. Some crock pots are more advanced than others.

In this section, we’ll be providing you with a buying guide to help you pick out the right features for you.

Size

There are a few different size of crock pots that are considered large; the 7-quart, 8-quart, 8.5-quart, and 10-quart. The 7-quart can feed 9+ people, the 8-quart can feed 10+, the 8.5-quart can feed 10+, and the 10-quart can feed 12+ people.

So, depending on the size of your family or how much you cook, you’ll need to find the right quart size for you.

All of the large sizes can fit a pretty hefty roast, a whole chicken, or even a whole turkey. If you’re unsure which size is ideal for you, you can go wrong with the average 8-quart.

Pot Shape

Crock pots often come in round, casserole, or oval pot shapes. Round pot shapes are best for dips, soups, and things of the like while oval inner pots are great for roasts, whole chickens, casseroles, and other elongated meals or big slabs of meat.

Ease of Cleaning

Though not all crock pots on the market have this ability, a majority do; and that is a lid and inner pot that can be put in the dishwasher. Inner pots and lids that are dishwasher safe will help save time on cleaning and help you get the stuck-on spots that may be left behind by hand washing.

Features

The average crock pot has a tempered glass lid that fits on the inner pot and can be lifted at any time. Others have lids that lock.

Crock pots with locking lids are great for when you travel and want to avoid any potential messes. Other features include larger handles, which are also great for whenever you have to move the crock pot.

Another feature that you may want to consider is an oven and microwave-safe inner pot. Some crock pots have inner pots that can be safely reheated in the microwave or in the oven up to 400 degrees.

Not all crock pots have this ability, however, so be sure that you check your specific crock pot to see if it can be used in the oven or microwave.

A great feature to look for if you’ll be serving is a rack to hold the lid or hold spoons. These are usually positioned on the back of the crock pot.

Operation

Crock pots are either manually operated or programmable. Manual Crock Pots have a single dial on the front of the crock pot that can be turned and set to Low, High, or Keep Warm.

Programmable Crock Pots often have a timer and buttons to turn the crock pot on or off, select the temperature, and set the timer.

Both manual and programmable crock pots are super easy to use, so choosing between the two really falls down to your preference.

Final Thoughts

After our review, we’ve come to conclude that the best large crock pot on our list is the Magic Mill 8.5 Quart Slow Cooker Crock Pot.

The reason is, it’s programmable and has the capacity to feed 10+ people, making it an excellent choice for both large families and gatherings (it’s not too big, and not too small).

The fact that it’s programmable provides users with an easier experience, especially with the built-in timer that automatically switches the crock pot to the Warm function to keep the food at serving temperature until everyone is ready to eat.

The lid locks, which is wonderful for traveling.

That said, all of the best large crock pots on our list are wonderful for large families or get-togethers and can provide food for well over 10 people. No matter which crock pot you choose, we know you’ll love it!