Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Home & Garden
  • Style & Culture
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021

      The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. Read More Next
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More Next
    • The Right Way to Heat a Pre-Cooked Ham

      It's so easy, trust us. Read More Next
  • Food

    Food

    See all Food

    Lost Cakes of the South

    These simple and spectacular Southern cakes deserve a comeback
    • All Food
    • All Recipes
    • Holidays & Occasions
    • Quick Fix Suppers
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Casseroles
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See all Holidays & Entertaining

    70 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart

    Fight writer's block and find ways to express your love with these romantic, funny, and short wedding vow examples.
    • Christmas
    • Entertaining
    • Thanksgiving
    • Southern Weddings
    • Easter
    • Kentucky Derby
    • Valentine's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Mother's Day
  • Home & Garden

    Home & Garden

    See all Home & Garden

    7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020

    ‘Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Before & After
    • Inspired Communities
    • Curb Appeal
    • House Plans & Builders
    • The Grumpy Gardener
    • Plant Names A-Z
  • Style & Culture

    Style & Culture

    See all Style & Culture

    50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime

    Curl up with a classic!
    • Southern Culture
    • Hair
    • Travel
    • Beauty
    • Pets
    • Southern Fashion
    • Healthy Living
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow us

  1. Southern Living
  2. food
  3. entertaining
  4. Slow-Cooker Appetizers

Slow-Cooker Appetizers

May 26, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Credit: Jennifer Davick
Nothing compares to the convenience of a slow cooker when you’re feeding a crowd. Not only are these slow-cooker appetizer recipes a breeze to pull together, they’re also utterly delicious.Fire up the slow cooker for your next tailgate, cocktail party, or casual get-together. Our Crock Pot recipes run the gamut from classics like cocktail meatballs, to new standby’s like Artichoke and Crab Meat Dip. We love the convenience of being able to fire up the slow cooker the night before the big game and then toting it to the tailgate the next day. Keep it simple, but don’t forget the fresh toppings to elevate these slow-cooker appetizers to the next level. Crunchy celery sticks are the perfect accompaniment for Buffalo Chicken-Cheese Dip, while our Candied Jalapenos and fresh guacamole can’t be missed atop oh-so-decadent Pulled Pork Nachos. If you’re looking for even more ways to use your slow cooker, check out our Best Slow-Cooker Recipes and our Chicken Slow-Cooker Recipes.
Start Slideshow

1 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Serve Up These Easy Apps at Your Next Event

1 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Slow-Cooker Chicken Lettuce Cups

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Chicken Lettuce Cups

This genius appetizer pairs the convenience of the slow cooker with fresh ingredients to make a riff on a taco that guests will love. For toppings, we chose green onion slices, sweet mini pepper slices, spicy pickles, and a sprinkling of dried crushed red pepper; but you can feel free to use whatever ingredients you like.

2 of 15

3 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce

Credit: Hector M Sanchez

Recipe: Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce

This meatball recipe couldn’t be easier. As the sauce simmers in the slow cooker, prepare the meatballs and refrigerate them on a baking sheet until ready to use. When you’re ready, add them to the slow cooker but make sure they’re completely submerged in the sauce.

3 of 15

Advertisement

4 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Artichoke and Crabmeat Dip

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Artichoke and Crabmeat Dip

This dip is a winner. Pick through the crabmeat to remove the fine cartilage, if you like, but take care to leave the prized chunks of lump crabmeat as intact as possible. A topping of coarsely crushed bagel chips gives a crunchy finish to this slow-cooker appetizer.

4 of 15

5 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Crawfish Dip

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Crawfish Dip

We guarantee you won’t have to worry about being the third person to bring this dip to the party. Step aside salsa and guacamole, there’s a new favorite dip in town. Our recipe yields 10 appetizer-size servings, so feel free to double (or triple) if you’ll be feeding a crowd.

5 of 15

6 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

If you have leftover beef (it’s unlikely once friends and family start to dig into this delicious appetizer) reheat and use in tacos for a quick weeknight meal. We topped our nachos with cilantro, avocado, and sour cream but feel free to use whatever flourishes you like.

6 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Asian-Ginger Wings

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Asian-Ginger Wings

Brown wings in the oven to give them a crisp and colorful skin before slow cooking for 4 hours. A sauce made with honey and teriyaki create the perfect salty-sweet combination. Kick up the heat by topping these flavorful wings with sliced red chile peppers.

7 of 15

8 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Slow-Cooker Beef Sliders with Pickled Peppers

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Sliders with Pickled Peppers

This is one of our favorite recipes to tote to the tailgate. Fire up your slow cooker the night before the big game, and the next day, pack it up, plug it in, and let your crowd build their own sliders.

8 of 15

9 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Chipotle-Barbecue Meatballs

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Chipotle-Barbecue Meatballs

A favorite slow-cooker party appetizer has received a sweet and spicy makeover that everyone will love. The best part of this recipe is how easy and convenient it is to pull together in a snap. An ingredient list consisting of frozen meatballs, bottled barbecue sauce, and cherry preserves make prep a breeze.

9 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Buffalo Chicken-Cheese Dip

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken-Cheese Dip

This appetizer recipe is as close to dumping all the ingredients in a slow cooker as you can possibly get. The only additional work you’ll need to do is sauté an onion for 4 minutes before adding it, along with the rest of the ingredients, to the slow cooker. Top with cheese for the last 30 minutes of cooking. We like serving this with celery sticks, but tortilla chips are also a great dipper.

10 of 15

11 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Baked Pimiento Cheese Dip

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Baked Pimiento Cheese Dip

Leave it to us to find another way to serve up this Southern staple. Serve this straight from your slow cooker if you’re entertaining casually. For a slightly elevated affair, serve in a chafing dish. Pair with crackers.

11 of 15

12 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Corn and Jalapeño Dip

Credit: Photo: Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: Corn and Jalapeño Dip

This creamy and cheesy dip only includes eight ingredients and minimal prep time.

12 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Pork Carnitas Nachos

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

Recipe: Pork Carnitas Nachos

These slow-cooker nachos were made for game day entertaining.

13 of 15

14 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Spicy White Cheese Dip

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Spicy White Cheese Dip

You can make this easy entertaining staple ahead of time and freeze it for up to one month.

14 of 15

15 of 15

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Tomato and Feta Dip

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tomato and Feta Dip

If you prefer a creamier texture, you can substitue goat cheese for the feta.

15 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 15 Serve Up These Easy Apps at Your Next Event
2 of 15 Slow-Cooker Chicken Lettuce Cups
3 of 15 Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce
4 of 15 Artichoke and Crabmeat Dip
5 of 15 Crawfish Dip
6 of 15 Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos
7 of 15 Asian-Ginger Wings
8 of 15 Slow-Cooker Beef Sliders with Pickled Peppers
9 of 15 Chipotle-Barbecue Meatballs
10 of 15 Buffalo Chicken-Cheese Dip
11 of 15 Baked Pimiento Cheese Dip
12 of 15 Corn and Jalapeño Dip
13 of 15 Pork Carnitas Nachos
14 of 15 Spicy White Cheese Dip
15 of 15 Tomato and Feta Dip

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Southern Living

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Books from Southern Living
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

View image

Slow-Cooker Appetizers
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.