Looking for no-fuss appetizer recipes? Bust out your slow cooker. Including juicy meatballs, creamy dips, and sliders, our top-rated slow cooker appetizers are the ultimate party starters. Plus, get some of our favorite slow cooker main dishes for easy weeknight meals.
Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Dip
No need to act like a short-order cook to assemble a sandwich for every guest. Share this slow cooker appetizer instead; it delivers everything you love about a Philly cheesesteak (roast beef, peppers, mushrooms, cheese) in a cozy, creamy dip. Scoop it up with toasted hoagie roll pieces, and everyone will feel like they’ve been transported to a sandwich shop walk-up window in the City of Brotherly Love.
Meatball Sliders
This saucy meatball recipe is an adorable—and surprisingly easy—way to get any party started. Gather a jar of marinara, frozen meatballs, and just a handful of other pantry staples, and you’re all set for snack success. The entire recipe requires just 10 minutes of prep. Set, forget, then nestle the slow cooker appetizer meatballs inside cocktail buns alongside Roma tomatoes and smoky provolone cheese.
Slow Cooker Jalapeño Popper Dip
All the flavors of classic jalapeno poppers star in this easy slow cooker dip recipe. Mix up cream cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon, jalapenos, and garlic to create the creamy base. When you’re ready to serve, top with crispy breadcrumbs and freshly sliced jalapenos.
Sweet-and-Hot Nuts
Although we suggest a mix of cashews, pecans, hazelnuts, and almonds, there’s no need to go nuts tracking down all those varieties if you don’t have them on hand. Combine your favorite nuts with a sweet-and-spicy blend of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and cayenne for an easy slow cooker appetizer or healthy snack. One recipe makes 22 servings, perfect for a crowd!
Gluten-Free Supreme Pizza Fondue
This snack tastes like your favorite slice, just with the “crust” on the side. That way, this semi-homemade slow cooker appetizer recipe can fit a low-carb and gluten-free diet if needed. Whether you scoop it up with vegetable slices, mini mozzarella balls, or bread pieces, the garlic-infused, turkey sausage-spiked tomato sauce will steal the show. Start with jarred marinara sauce to make it ultra-easy.
Zesty Fajita Bites
Five ingredients—including juicy chicken thighs and zesty fajita seasoning—get this slow cooker appetizer ready to party. We call for regular flour tortillas but feel free to try this with corn tortillas (for a gluten-free fix) or any flavored wrap you like. Don’t skip the pepper strips, which add a fresh element and satisfying crunch.
Caramelized Onion and Swiss Dip
You pretty much can’t go wrong with any recipe that starts with caramelized onions, white wine, and cheese. Need even more convincing to add this ooey-gooey slow cooker appetizer recipe to your party menu? Think of it like a European riff on queso. (Yes, please!) And the fussiest part, caramelizing the onions, is done for you in the slow cooker. Offer it with a variety of veggies for a refreshing, crunchy, light counterpart to the luscious and rich cheese.
Molasses-Lime Meatballs
Shh…it will be our little secret that these slow cooker appetizer meatballs sneak in some extra nutrition. Made with lean ground beef and turkey sausage held together by a bit of fiber-rich oats, these meatballs will satisfy carnivores and calorie counters all at once. A sweet yet tangy molasses-lime sauce adds bold flavor to the bite-size snacks.
Barbecue Weenies
One of the best-loved slow cooker appetizers out there has to be a little smokies recipe (aka little weenies). Part of their appeal is how incredibly easy they are to make. Here, you only have to measure the barbecue sauce, dump all three ingredients into the slow cooker for a couple of hours, and you’re done. There’s no excuse not to try them!
Gluten-Free Tex-Mex Cheese Dip
This easy slow cooker appetizer dip needs just two hours of hands-off time to become warm and melty. Serve the cheesy dip with pretzels, pickled jalapenos, chips, and fresh veggies.
Test Kitchen Tip
This dip is best served once it’s warm or soon after.
Slow-Cooked Pork Carnitas
Make carnitas appetizer-ready by serving them in lettuce cups topped with homemade salsa. We like to use crisp romaine lettuce leaves, but cabbage or corn tortillas would be equally good. Serve on a big platter with plenty of lime wedges.
Easy Slow Cooker Main Dishes
These are some of our top slow cooker recipes for the easiest meals that don’t take too much effort or time to prep.
Slow Cooker Coq au Vin combines hearty beef, earthy carrots and onions, and red wine for a full-flavored, hearty meal. Make enough to have leftovers!
A steaming bowl of Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup made in your slow cooker will be a welcome, warming meal your guests will love. Freeze some to have later.
Speed up your prep time with one of these 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker recipes. We love the Sausage and Bean Jambalaya and the Five Spice Chicken Wings.
