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These 22 easy crockpot appetizers let your slow cooker handle the party food so your oven stays free for the main course. Most of them cook on LOW for 2 to 4 hours, then hold on the WARM setting for the rest of the gathering.
The four that bring the most readers to the site every winter are my Buffalo Chicken Dip, Rotel Dip, Mississippi Roast Sandwiches, and Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes. I’ve sorted everything below into hot dips, meatballs and wings, sliders, and sides so you can jump to what your party needs.
You can also use your slow cooker to help you with the main course. My Crock Pot Ham, crockpot lasagna, and crockpot turkey breast are all perfect for the holiday table.
Why you’ll love these crockpot hors d’oeuvres and appetizers!
I use my slow cooker every holiday season, and I want to tell you why. Making appetizers in my crockpot allows me to enjoy the party instead of being stuck in the kitchen cooking! It is so easy to toss the ingredients for a recipe into my slow cooker, turn it on, and then walk away, coming back to warm, delicious food ready to share.
I have lots of delicious crockpot appetizer recipes that I wanted to share, all of which will be perfect for your holiday table. The slow cooker meatballs are my favorite, but everyone begs me to make the sausage and cheese dip. You can’t go wrong with any of these quick and easy appetizer recipes!
🎄 Hands-off cooking – Your crockpot does all the work while you enjoy the party.
🍴 Stays warm for hours – Crockpots are perfect for buffets, game days, or holiday grazing tables.
🧀 Crowd-pleasing comfort food – From cheesy dips to savory meatballs, there is something everyone loves!
Jump to: Hot Dips · Meatballs and Wings · Sliders and Sandwiches · Sides for the Buffet · Keeping them warm · FAQs
Hot Dips
Dips are where the slow cooker shines: the cheese stays melted for the whole party and nobody is running back to the oven. These are the ones I make most, starting with the two that get the most traffic on the site every winter.
1. Buffalo Chicken Dip
If your holiday spread doesn’t include this dip, you might want to think twice about your menu. This dip is a true favorite every time it hits the plate. (It’s also a reader favorite here on All Things Mamma!)
2. Rotel Dip
When you need a last-minute addition to your holiday appetizer menu, go with this Rotel cheese dip. You’ll only need 3 ingredients. Plus, since it’s made in the crockpot, it’s practically effortless.
3. Spicy Sausage and Cheese Crockpot Dip
Give your tastebuds a true explosion of flavor with this spicy sausage and cheese crockpot dip. The dip is made with two types of cheese, black beans, corn, tomatoes, and green chilies. This irresistible combo of Tex-Mex ingredients slowly cooks in the crockpot to create one amazing appetizer.
4. Velveeta Queso Blanco
Creamy, luscious, and mouthwatering are just a few ways to describe this Velveeta queso blanco dip. The homemade cheese sauce will get your tastebuds rolling in the right direction for your holiday meal.
5. Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip
You better hurry to get some of this spinach artichoke dip on your plate when it hits the table. Combine everything in the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 2 to 3 hours, stirring now and then, until it’s hot and creamy.
6. Chili Cheese Dip
Bring the bold flavors to your holiday appetizers with this chili cheese dip. The crockpot lets the flavors in the chili develop slowly to create an out-of-this-world bite.
7. Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
If you love the classic version, but don’t love the heaviness it brings to your plate, switch it up and make this healthy version instead. This recipe keeps the same flavors of your favorite dip but lightens up the recipe, so you won’t feel guilty about going back for seconds and thirds of this crockpot appetizer.
8. Reuben Dip
If you love eating Reubens, you are going to adore this dip. It has all of the elements of the classic sandwich wrapped up into one bite, and it works in the oven or the crockpot.
9. Crab Rangoon Dip
All the creamy, crabby flavor of your favorite takeout appetizer in dip form. Mix everything together and heat it on LOW for 1 to 2 hours until it’s warm and melted, then serve with wonton chips or crackers.
Meatballs and Wings
Set these out with a jar of toothpicks and let the crockpot do the holding. Every one of them uses a short ingredient list and no chopping.
10. Grape Jelly Meatballs
When you want something sweet and tangy on the appetizer table, these are the meatballs to make — a handful of ingredients, no chopping. They work on the stovetop or in the oven, but the slow cooker is the one that lets you set them out and leave them.
11. Crockpot Frozen Meatballs
Would it really be a holiday party without a crockpot full of meatballs? A bag of frozen meatballs and one jar of sauce is all it takes, and they hold on WARM for the whole party. Want the sweet-and-savory chili sauce version instead? Make my Cocktail Meatballs.
12. Crockpot Buffalo Wings
Forget making a mess in the kitchen during the holidays and let the slow cooker handle the wings instead. They come out juicy and spicy, and the crockpot keeps them hot for as long as the party runs.
13. BBQ Meatball Sliders
Heat the meatballs in your crockpot, stir in the barbecue sauce, and set the slow cooker to warm next to a plate of slider buns. Everyone builds their own whenever they’re ready.
Sliders and Sandwiches
Shredded meat from the slow cooker plus a plate of slider buns is the easiest way to feed a hungry crowd. Set the crock to warm and let everyone build their own.
14. Mississippi Roast Sandwiches
Cut these classic Mississippi roast sandwiches into bite-sized pieces for the perfect holiday appetizer. The slow cooker does all the work to turn the shredded meat into a melt-in-your-mouth bite.
15. Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Get the party started right with a bite of barbecue chicken from the slow cooker. Swap out regular-sized burger buns for sliders to transform the dish into the ultimate holiday crockpot appetizer that couldn’t be easier to make.
16. Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
Transform this popular weeknight dinner meal into your favorite holiday appetizer. Use slider buns to serve the chicken. Or, use it as a dip for chips and veggie sticks!
17. Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken Ranch Sandwiches
Transform this easy weeknight meal into your favorite holiday appetizer in one simple step. Instead of using traditional sandwich bread, switch it out for slider buns. The cheesy chicken will taste just as good when it is bite-sized!
18. Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches
A chuck roast and a couple of packets of zesty Italian seasoning cook all day in the crockpot. Pile the shredded beef onto small rolls with a slice of cheese for party-sized sandwiches.
19. Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Pork roast slow-cooks until it falls apart, then gets tossed in a homemade barbecue sauce. Keep it on warm and let guests pile it onto slider buns all afternoon.
20. Crock Pot Hot Dogs
Stand the hot dogs up in the crockpot, cook on low for 2 to 3 hours, then switch to warm. There’s no water needed, and they hold for about three hours while everyone picks their own toppings.
Sides for the Buffet
Two comfort-food sides that double as party food when you serve them in small cups.
21. Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes
A simple potato dish is always a crowd-pleaser. This cheesy potato recipe will be just what you want to start off your holiday celebration.
22. Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese
Mac and cheese as an appetizer?! Why not! Serve it up in mini cups and the kids at your holiday party will be delighted.
How to Keep Crockpot Appetizers Warm for a Party
Cook on LOW until everything is hot and melted, then switch the slow cooker to WARM for serving. Give dips a stir every 30 minutes or so and keep the lid on between scoops so the edges don’t dry out. If you’re serving more than one, small 1.5- to 2-quart crocks are easier to fit on a buffet than a single large one, and a splash of milk brings a cheese dip back together if it thickens. Food-safety guidance is to keep hot food at 140°F or above, which the WARM setting on most slow cookers does for a few hours.
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FAQs
Yes. Once an appetizer is cooked through, switch the slow cooker to the WARM setting and leave the lid on between servings. Most dips and meatballs hold well for two to three hours this way. Stir dips occasionally so the edges do not dry out.
Yes. You do not need to precook chicken or meat before it goes into the crockpot. Follow the recipe and cook the meat completely, and it is safe to eat.
Most crockpot recipes need some kind of liquid to create steam while cooking. Follow the recipe you are making. Dips get their liquid from the cheese and dairy, and hot dogs release enough moisture on their own.
Crockpot is a brand of slow cooker, so every Crockpot is a slow cooker. The main difference is that Crockpot models use a ceramic pot that heats from all sides, while some other slow cookers heat only from the bottom.
In most cases, 4 hours on high is roughly equal to 8 hours on low in a slow cooker. Cooking on low lets flavors develop more deeply, while high heat cooks food faster but may change the texture slightly.
A good rule of thumb is three to four appetizers for a group of 10 to 12 when dinner follows, and five or six when the appetizers are the meal. Plan on four to six bites per person per hour.
Which one are you making first? Leave a comment and let me know how it went, and if you have a favorite crockpot appetizer I missed, tell me about it.
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