Score big at your next Super Bowl party with these easy slow-cooker appetizers. Cheesy dips, spicy wings, handheld sliders, savory meatballs and more cook hands-free, giving you more time to enjoy the game.
30 Super Bowl Appetizers to Make in Your Slow Cooker
Updated on Dec. 19, 2024
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Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
Total Time: 2 hours, 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Chicken, cheddar, cream cheese, buffalo sauce
Level: Easy
Creamy, spicy and full of flavor, this buffalo chicken dip captures all the flavors of classic buffalo wings without the mess. The slow cooker keeps it at the perfect temperature throughout the game. Leftovers, if there are any, are fantastic spread on Italian-style sandwiches or as a baked potato topping.
“If you like spice, you’ll love this dip. It’s super cheesy and full of rich flavor, and it really has that Buffalo wing taste!” —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
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Cranberry Sauce Meatballs
Total Time: 30 minutesMain Ingredients: Cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, frozen meatballs
Level: Easy
With just 10 minutes of prep time, it doesn’t get any easier than this. You’ll be reaching for a handful of these sweet and tangy meatballs at a time. Make a double batch and freeze half before adding the sauce—they’ll keep for up to three months, so you can always have some on hand.
“Using packaged meatballs helps save time in the kitchen and they are just as tasty as homemade. My friends look forward to enjoying these meatballs at our holiday gatherings and there are no leftovers! The sauce is tangy yet sweet, and the festive color is perfect for any party.” —Recipe contributor Amy Scamerhorn, Indianapolis, Indiana
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Refried Bean Dip
Total Time: 2 hours, 10 minutesMain Ingredients: Refried beans, picante sauce, Monterey Jack cheese, cream cheese, sour cream
Level: Easy
Itʻs not hard to see why this refried bean dip is a contest-winning slow-cooker recipe. The prep time is short, and the crowd will devour it. Serve as-is or as a topping over any of these nacho recipes.
“My friends and neighbors expect me to bring this irresistible dip to every gathering. When I arrive, they ask, ‘You brought your bean dip, didn’t you?’ If there are any leftovers, we use them to make bean and cheese burritos the next day.” —Recipe contributor Wendi Wavrin Law, Omaha, Nebraska
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Chili Queso Dip
Total Time: 2 hours, 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Ground beef, pork sausage, chili con carne, Velveeta
Level: Easy
Time-tested queso gets a delicious upgrade in the slow cooker with the addition of chili, creating a substantial dip that’s perfect for feeding a crowd. Skip the classic corn chips and use crispy taquitos for a super-fun Super Bowl twist.
“I’ve had this recipe for more than 42 years, but have updated it from time to time. This is an easy party favorite, and everyone loves the taquito dippers.” —Recipe contributor Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
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Simmered Smoked Links
Total Time: 4 hours, 5 minutesMain Ingredients: Smoked sausages, brown sugar, spices
Level: Easy
Sweet and spicy, these smoked sausages need just five minutes of work before transforming into glazed bites of perfection in the slow cooker. Serve on decorative toothpicks for a fun touch to your game day spread.
“No one can resist the sweet and spicy glaze on these bite-sized sausages. They are so effortless to prepare, and they make the perfect party nibbler. Serve them on frilled toothpicks to make them extra fancy.” —Recipe contributor Maxine Cenker, Weirton, West Virginia
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Slow-Cooker Cheddar Bacon Beer Dip
Total Time: 3 hours, 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Cream cheese, sour cream, beer, cheddar cheese, bacon
Level: Easy
This rich and smoky dip combines three game day favorites—cream cheese, salty bacon and hoppy beer—into one delicious appetizer. Choose from the best light beers for the tastiest results.
“My tangy, smoky dip won the top prize in our office party recipe contest. Other beers can work, but steer clear of dark varieties.” —Recipe contributor Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin
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Sweet 'n' Tangy Chicken Wings
Total Time: 2 hours, 35 minutesMain Ingredients: Chicken wings, ketchup, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard
Level: Easy
Skip the deep fryer and let your slow cooker do the work this Super Bowl season with this recipe for fall-off-the-bone tender wings. With just 20 minutes of prep, they slowly simmer in a sticky glaze that clings to every chicken wing.
“I love the convenience of slow-cooker recipes for get-togethers. Start these wings a few hours ahead of time and you’ll have fantastic appetizers ready when your guests arrive.” —Recipe contributor Ida Tuey, South Lyon, Michigan
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Pulled Pork Sliders
Total Time: 8 hours, 35 minutesMain Ingredients: Pork shoulder butt roast, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, honey barbecue sauce, Hawaiian sweet rolls
Level: Intermediate
The secret to these flavorful sliders lies in the contrast between the spicy pulled pork and the tangy slaw. Use lettuce wraps for a low-carb game day option, and lay out the toppings in bowls so guests can customize the sliders to their tastes.
“One of our favorite pulled pork recipes combines the heat of chipotle peppers with a cool tropical coleslaw. The robust flavors make these sliders a big hit with guests.” —Recipe contributor Kadija Bridgewater, Boca Raton, Florida
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Reuben Dip
Total Time: 2 hours, 5 minutesMain Ingredients: Corned beef, cream cheese, sauerkraut, sour cream, Swiss cheese
Level: Easy
This easy slow cooker dip transforms the classic Reuben sandwich into a savory appetizer to change things up for Super Bowl Sunday. Use well-drained sauerkraut to prevent the dip from becoming watery and chop the corned beef into small, uniform pieces for the best texture.
“This slow-cooked spread tastes just like the popular Reuben sandwich. Even when I double the recipe, it ends with an empty dish.” —Recipe contributor Mary Jane Kimmes, Hastings, Minnesota
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Bacon Dip
Total Time: 2 hours, 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Cream cheese, cheddar cheese, half-and-half, bacon
Level: Easy
For the smoothest texture, let the cream cheese come to room temperature before mixing. Serve with tortilla chips or sliced French bread for the perfect game day snack. For different flavor profiles in the dip, use any type of bacon you prefer.
“I’ve tried assorted appetizers before, but this one is a surefire people-pleaser. The thick dip has lots of bacon flavor and keeps my guests happily munching as long as it lasts.” —Recipe contributor Suzanne Whitaker, Knoxville, Tennessee
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Crispy Snack Mix
Total Time: 2 hours, 40 minutesMain Ingredients: Chow mein noodles, Rice chex, salted cashews, reduced-sodium soy sauce
Level: Easy
Elevate your Super Bowl spread with this crispy snack mix recipe. The buttery seasoning coats every single piece, while the slow cooking process ensures everything stays crispy. You won’t regret making a double batch—it really does disappear quickly!
“This recipe proves you can make just about anything in a slow cooker, even a delightfully crispy snack mix.” —Recipe contributor Jane Pair Sims, De Leon, Texas
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Slow Cooker Hot Crab Dip
Total Time: 2 hours, 10 minutesMain Ingredients: Cream cheese, sweet onion, Parmesan cheese, crabmeat
Level: Easy
If you love crab rangoon, then this simple dip will turn into a favorite. It combines sweet crab meat with cream cheese. Don’t skip the sweet onion—it’s responsible for this dip’s characteristic crunch.
“One batch of this slow-cooker appetizer isn’t enough for my family so I often double the recipe. Bits of sweet onion give the creamy dip a bit of crunch.” —Recipe contributor Terri Perrier, Simonton, Texas
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Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings
Total Time: 5 hours, 25 minutesMain Ingredients: Chicken wings, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes
Level: Intermediate
These succulent wings strike the perfect balance between sweet and spicy. Give the chicken added crispiness by broiling for a few minutes before adding them to the marinade in the slow cooker.
“The meat literally falls off the bones of these wings! Spice lovers will get a kick out of the big sprinkling of red pepper flakes.” —Recipe contributor Sue Bayless, Prior Lake, Minnesota
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Slow-Cooker Cheese Dip
Total Time: 4 hours, 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Ground beef, spicy pork sausage, Velveeta cheese, canned diced tomatoes and chiles
Level: Easy
The secret to this dip’s addictiveness is browning the beef and pork sausage really well—the crispy bits add incredible depth of flavor to the finished appetizer. For an even creamier dip, use cream cheese instead of Velveeta.
“I brought this slightly spicy cheese dip to a gathering with friends and it was a huge hit. The spicy pork sausage provides the zip!” —Recipe contributor Marion Bartone, Conneaut, Ohio
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Green Olive Dip
Total Time: 3 hours, 30 minutesMain Ingredients: Ground beef, refried beans, mild salsa, mozzarella cheese, green olives
Level: Intermediate
This unique dip combines the briny flavor of green olives with seasoned ground beef and gooey, melty cheese. Make extra—any leftovers can double as a filling for taco recipes.
“Olive fans will love this dip. It’s cheesy and full of beef and beans. It could even be used as a filling for taco shells.” —Recipe contributor Beth Dunahay, Lima, Ohio
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Ranch Mushrooms
Total Time: 3 hours, 10 minutesMain Ingredients: Mushrooms, ranch salad dressing mix, butter
Level: Easy
Infused with the characteristic flavors of ranch dressing, these savory mushrooms are known to disappear quickly at parties.
“I got this recipe from my sister-in-law, and it has become a family favorite. The mushrooms don’t last long once people know I have made them.” —Recipe contributor Jackie McGee, Byron, Minnesota
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Five-Cheese Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Total Time: 2 hours, 50 minutesMain Ingredients: Artichoke hearts, mozzarella, Asiago, cream cheese, feta, provolone
Level: Easy
The combination of five cheeses creates an exceptionally creamy dip, but timing is key—add each cheese gradually to prevent clumping. To prevent a watery dip, thoroughly drain both the spinach and artichokes before adding them in.
“This is the dish I am always asked to bring to events. I have made it for weddings, Christmas parties and more. If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can bake this in the oven at about 400° for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.” —Recipe contributor Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota
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Enchilada Meatballs
Total Time: 4 hours + coolingMain Ingredients: Cornbread/muffin mix, taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, ground beef
Level: Intermediate
Bring bold enchilada flavors to your Super Bowl appetizer spread by making a batch of these Mexican-inspired meatballs. After the quick use of the oven to bake the cornbread, the slow cooker transforms the meatballs into tender, sauce-coated bites. Looking for vegetarian potluck recipes? Swap out the beef for black beans to make a meat-free version.
“This is a twist on the ordinary potluck meatballs. These are easy, inexpensive and a hit for any occasion.” —Recipe contributor Terina Lewis, Decatur, Illinois
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Sweet & Spicy Peanuts
Total Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes + coolingMain Ingredients: Peanuts, sugar, butter, Sriracha chili sauce, chili powder
Level: Easy
Transform ordinary salted peanuts into an addictive, caramel-infused game day snack with just 10 minutes of prep. Once cooled, they’ll keep for a week on the counter in an airtight container—if they last that long.
“With a caramel-like coating and a touch of heat from the hot sauce, these crunchy peanuts make a tasty anytime snack.” —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
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Cilantro & Lime Chicken with Scoops
Total Time: 3 hours, 45 minutesMain Ingredients: Boneless chicken breasts, lime juice, chunky salsa, cilantro
Level: Easy
This fresh-tasting chicken dip brings classic Tex-Mex flavors to the Super Bowl spread. Scoop it up with big corn chips or tortilla chips.
“I came up with this recipe when I was preparing for a large party and wanted a healthy Tex-Mex chicken to serve in tortilla chip cups. You can make this party dish ahead of time to free yourself for time-sensitive dishes.” —Recipe contributor Lori Terry, Chicago, Illinois
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Vegetarian Buffalo Dip
Total Time: 1 hour, 40 minutesMain Ingredients: Cream cheese, ranch salad dressing mix, black beans, mushrooms, Buffalo sauce
Level: Easy
This clever meatless version of buffalo dip is so flavorful that no one will realize it’s vegetarian—even meat-lovers will be impressed! Using the slow cooker lets the flavors develop over time while keeping the dip at just the right temperature throughout the game.
“A friend made Buffalo chicken dip and that got me thinking about creating a vegetarian dip with the same flavors. This addictive dip is so amazing, no one will miss the meat.” —Recipe contributor Amanda Silvers, Old Fort, Tennessee
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Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Total Time: 3 hours, 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Chicken breasts, Louisiana-style hot sauce, butter, Hawaiian sweet rolls
Level: Easy
The slow cooker does all the work here, creating tender, buffalo-flavored chicken after just 20 minutes of prep. For a richer flavor, butter and toast the rolls before serving.
“I came up with the idea for these sliders from my mom and dad, who’d made a similar recipe for a family get-together. To make it special, I sometimes use several different styles of buffalo sauce and let guests mix and match their favorites.” —Recipe contributor Christy Addison, Clarksville, Ohio
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Slow-Cooker Crab & Green Onion Dip
Total Time: 3 hours, 10 minutesMain Ingredients: Cream cheese, lump crabmeat, green onions, milk, prepared horseradish
Level: Easy
This indulgent seafood dip brings the flavors of the coast to your Super Bowl spread. For extra oomph, reserve some crab meat to use as garnish. Plate it with a crudités platter.
“This creamy dip reminds me of my dad, who took us crabbing as kids. Our fingers were always tired after those excursions, but eating the fresh crab was worth it.” —Recipe contributor Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
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Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls
Total Time: 3 hours, 35 minutesMain Ingredients: Chicken, ranch salad dressing mix, Buffalo sauce, egg roll wrappers
Level: Intermediate
The slow cooker creates a well-seasoned buffalo chicken filling that’s then wrapped and baked into crispy egg rolls. For bite-sized versions of these tasty game day treats, use wonton wrappers instead.
“This crunchy delight gets its start in the slow cooker. Tuck the chicken mixture in egg roll wrappers and bake, or use smaller wonton wrappers for a bite-sized version.” —Recipe contributor Tara Odegaard, Omaha, Nebraska
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Honey Buffalo Meatball Sliders
Total Time: 2 hours, 10 minutesMain Ingredients: Louisiana-style hot sauce, honey, Italian turkey meatballs, mini buns, blue cheese
Level: Easy
Delivering big buffalo flavor sans the messiness of wings, these slow-cooker sliders are just the right balance of sweet and spicy. Using frozen meatballs means you only need 10 minutes to prep.
“These little sliders deliver big Buffalo chicken flavor without the messiness of wings. The spicy-sweet meatballs are a hit on game day with kids and adults alike.” —Recipe contributor Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
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Slow-Cooker Mushrooms
Total Time: 6 hours, 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Mushrooms, pearl onions, garlic, reduced-sodium beef broth, balsamic vinegar
Level: Easy
Low and slow is key to achieving extremely flavorful and tender mushrooms. For even cooking, choose mushrooms that are similar in size and pat them dry for the best texture.
“Here’s a terrific healthy addition to any buffet spread. Mushrooms and pearl onions seasoned with herbs, balsamic and red wine are terrific on their own or alongside a tenderloin roast.” —Recipe contributor Courtney Wilson, Fresno, California
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Spicy Honey Sriracha Game-Day Dip
Total Time: 3 hours, 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Ground chicken, cream cheese, chicken broth, Sriracha chili sauce, honey
Level: Easy
Sweet meets spicy in this simple Super Bowl appetizer. Start with less Sriracha and adjust to taste—different brands vary in the level of heat they provide. You can also play around with different types of honey for whatever flavor you’re looking for.
“This creamy, spicy and salty dip is easy to whip up. I love dips for parties in the slow cooker—just turn the slow cooker to low once it is cooked and let your guests help themselves.” —Recipe contributor Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
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Quentin’s Peach-Bourbon Wings
Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutesMain Ingredients: Chicken wings, peach preserves, bourbon
Level: Intermediate
Combining the unexpected flavors of peaches and bourbon, this game day appetizer is sweet and lip-smackingly good! Use any leftover bourbon for these whiskey cocktails.
“My father and husband love bourbon flavor, so I add it to tangy wings baked in peach preserves. Stand back and watch these wings fly.” —Recipe contributor Christine Winston, Richmond, Virginia
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Cheeseburger Dip
Total Time: 2 hours, 10 minutesMain Ingredients: Ground beef, onion, cheddar cheese, prepared mustard, tomato, dill pickle
Level: Intermediate
Featuring all the classic cheeseburger flavors, this hearty dip transforms America’s favorite sandwich into a crowd-pleasing Super Bowl appetizer. Serve it with oven fries for a crispy vehicle.
“This fun dip recipe uses ingredients I always have in the fridge, so it’s easy to throw together on short notice.” —Recipe contributor Cindi DeClue, Anchorage, Alaska
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Chicken Cordon Bleu Sliders
Total Time: 2 hours, 50 minutes + standingMain Ingredients: Chicken breasts, cream cheese, Swiss cheese, cooked ham, Hawaiian sweet rolls
Level: Easy
These sliders transform a classic into a convenient party sandwich. Layer ham and Swiss cheese on slider buns for a handheld game day snack.
“I’m always searching for sandwich ideas. I like a good sloppy joe and wondered if I could make it even better. This experiment was met with the family’s approval.” —Recipe contributor Carolyn Eskew, Dayton, Ohio
Super Bowl Slow-Cooker Recipes FAQ
Is there a way to stop food from drying out in the Crock-Pot?
The key to preventing food from drying out in the slow cooker is maintaining proper moisture levels—tough meats do well with just the right amount of liquid and a longer and slower cooking process. Resist the urge to lift the lid during cooking as this releases essential moisture. For dips and appetizers that need to stay creamy in the slow cooker, stir occasionally and add a splash of warm liquid—broth, milk or cream—if it starts to thicken too much.
How long can I keep appetizers in the slow cooker?
Most appetizers can safely stay on the “low” or “warm” setting in the slow cooker for three to four hours during your party. For food safety, use a thermometer to ensure hot foods stay above 140°F. If serving appetizers for longer than four hours, consider making two small batches of the recipe and refresh the pot halfway through the festivities.
Can I make vegetarian or vegan appetizers in a slow cooker?
Absolutely! Many classic game day appetizers can be made vegetarian or vegan in the slow cooker, like the vegetarian buffalo dip. You can easily adapt other recipes by swapping the meat with mushrooms, beans or jackfruit. Dairy-free dips can be made using cashew cream, coconut milk or vegan cheese alternatives. Look for the best vegan cheese brands, too.
