30 Amazing Crock Pot Appetizers to Try

On days when you don't feel like spending hours in the kitchen, a crockpot is a great tool to have. Whether you're cooking a meal or creating crowd-pleasing appetizers, crockpots make cooking easy without spending tons of time stirring and hovering over pans of food on the stove. Discover below 30 crock pot appetizers that will suit everyone's taste buds and simplify meal time.

1.Cocktail smokies

Cocktail weenies are a classic potluck and party dish that contains only three ingredients and can be easily doubled or tripled to suit larger parties. Start by adding a bottle of barbecue sauce, a jar of grape jelly - yes, grape jelly! - and two 14-ounce bags of little smokies to a crockpot. Stir your mixture and cook on high for two to three hours, until your smokies are cooked through. Check out a recipe on AllRecipes.

2.Honey mustard kielbasa bites

This kielbasa crockpot recipe is quick and easy, and it's bursting with sweet and tangy flavor, even though you didn't spend hours in the kitchen preparing it. In the crockpot, add one package of kielbasa with some yellow mustard, honey, garlic, and pepper. Mix the ingredients and cook on high for about 1.5 hours.

3. Hawaiian kielbasa

Hawaiian kielbasa adds a tropical twist to sausage, combining pineapple, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, apple cider vinegar, cornstarch, and lemon lime soda with kielbasa. After combining all the ingredients in the crockpot, cover and cook on low for two to three hours.Find the recipe here.

4. Teriyaki steak bites

This crockpot teriyaki steak bites recipe lets you and your guests enjoy juicy, tender meat, because the crockpot does all the work for you. This recipe does require making the sauce first, though, so you'll have to spend some time chopping and stirring. But once the sauce is done, all you do is pour it over the meat and cook on low for six hours. Start this dish in the morning, and it'll be ready just in time for your dinner party guests. See the recipe for yourself.

5. Honey buffalo wings

Enjoy hosting family dinner or football Sundays with this hands-off chicken wing recipe. These juicy, tender, small bites have a small kick from the buffalo sauce, which you can buy pre-made for even easier prep and cleanup. After combining the ingredients and placing in the crockpot, cook on high for two hours. Once the wings are cooked, serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing.

6. Swedish meatballs

A three ingredient meatball recipe? Sign us up! These Swedish meatballs are made out of frozen meatballs, sour cream, and cream of mushroom soup - that's it. Dump these ingredients into a crockpot and stir, then sit back and let the crockpot work its magic. Serve with a slotted spoon for small plate-sized servings or toothpicks to take out meatballs one by one.

7. Cranberry sauerkraut meatballs

Give your meatballs a tangy, fruity flavor with this cranberry sauerkraut recipe. These meatballs contain five ingredients and make roughly 50 meatballs. You'll need cranberry sauce, sauerkraut, chili sauce, brown sugar, and frozen meatballs. Combine all the ingredients in the crockpot and cook on low for four to five hours.

8. Pulled pork nachos

You can't go wrong with melt-in-your-mouth, juicy, cheesy, pulled pork nachos at your next get-together. Use the crockport to prepare the pulled pork, which needs garlic, apple cider vinegar, and various seasonings. Place the pork in the crockpot and cover with liquid and the seasonings, then cook on high for five to six hours, or low for eight hours. Once the pork is tender and easily shreds, lay it on top of tortilla chips, then coat in melty cheese and your favorite nacho toppings. (This part takes a little bit of oven time, but only a few minutes. It's worth it!)

9. Sausage Rotel dip

Rotel dip, sausage dip, or ugly dip, whatever you want to call it, this classic party dip is a staple in many households - and for a good reason. With just four ingredients, this tasty dip takes about three to four hours to simmer in the crockpot. To make it, you'll need crumbled sausage or ground beef, Velveeta cheese, cream cheese, and Rotel brand tomatoes with chilis. If you want to go the extra mile, garnish your Rotel dip with cilantro and serve. Serve with chips.The full instructions are here.

10. Bacon beer cheese dip

If you're cooking for a tailgate or hosting a 'Sunday funday' you may want to include this beer cheese dip on your appetizer menu. This dip combines cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheese, whipping cream, bacon, green onions, mustard, and beer to create this delicious, thick dip. If you have little ones at the party, you can also opt for non-alcoholic beer so everyone can try a bite. Cook your dip on low for three to four hours, then serve with pretzel bites, crackers, or tortilla chips.

11. Spinach artichoke dip

This delicious, creamy, cheesy classic sneaks in artichokes and spinach that even non-vegetable lovers won't object to. To create this dish, you'll need chopped artichoke hearts, frozen spinach, cream cheese, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, milk, and seasonings. Combine these ingredients and cook on high for two hours, stirring occasionally. Serve with tortilla chips, toasted baguette slices, or fresh vegetables for those who'd like a lower carb option.

12. Pepper jack queso

After serving this pepper jack queso at your next party, you might have everyone looking for the recipe. We won't gatekeep it.

To make this queso, you'll need half and half, American cheese, pepper jack, green chiles, corn, black beans, and a jalapeno. This recipe cooks in only 50 minutes in the crockpot, making it one of the faster-cooking options on this list.

13. Pizza fondue

This cheesy pizza fondue goes great with breadsticks, garlic toast, or even fresh veggies. For this slow cooker recipe, you'll need ground beef, an onion, pizza sauce, cheddar, mozzarella, basil, and garlic powder. With this recipe, most of the cooking will be in a saucepan. Once you have the meat cooked and the cheese near melted, you'll transfer to a crockpot to keep warm. It's all the cheesy, savory pizza goodness without the crust. Find the pizza fondue recipe here.

14. Pulled pork sliders

Smoky and spicy chipotle peppers, along with a tropical coleslaw, give these pulled pork sliders great flavor. You'll use the crockpot to make the pork. Cover and cook the meat on low for eight to 10 hours, then serve on sweet Hawaiian rolls with the tangy coleslaw topping.

15. Mashed potatoes

It takes time and effort to whip up delicious mashed potatoes over the stove. When you have company over you might want an easier, hands-off version, this mashed potato recipe comes to the rescue. It's buttery, creamy, and doesn't require you to spend hours in the kitchen. All you'll need is rinsed and chopped Yukon potatoes, chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarians), cream cheese, butter, and seasonings. Cook on low for five hours, stirring occasionally, then stir in some sour cream and fresh herbs before mashing up and serving. Learn how to make crockpot mashed potatoes here.

16. Cheesy potatoes

This simple recipe is always a party hit for all ages. To create this recipe, all you need is frozen potatoes, cheddar, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, an onion, seasonings, and crushed cheese crackers. Place everything into a crockpot and cook on low for about two hours. Once cooked, add more crushed crackers on top and enjoy.

17. Chicken taquitos

A spicy yet creamy chicken taquito may just be the newest hit on your next family night. You'll still have to do some of the heavy lifting, but the crockpot takes care of the star of the show - the meat filling. Add chicken thighs, cream cheese, chiles, enchilada sauce, and seasonings to a crockpot. Then, cover and cook on high for three hours. Once the chicken is juicy and tender, shred it and place it on a tortilla with shredded cheese. Once all your tortillas are filled, roll them up, assemble in a pan, and bake for an additional 10 minutes to give the shells a good crunch.Here's a recipe to try.

18. Chicken lettuce wraps

Whether you're looking for a lighter appetizer or following a low-carb diet, you'll want to add these chicken lettuce wraps to your list. These lettuce wraps feature a flavorful sesame-ginger sauce that covers the chicken in the slow cooker. After cooking the chicken on high for four hours, place a bit in a lettuce wrap and top with fresh veggies and herbs. Let your guests make their own lettuce wraps straight out of the crockpot for an interactive twist.

19. Slow cooker pinto beans

This slow cooker appetizer comes together from pantry ingredients, requires minimal prep, and is bursting with flavor. This dish contains pinto beans, chicken broth, pickled jalapenos, garlic, bay leaves, cotija, cilantro, and seasonings. Cook on low for about eight hours, and serve with a lime slice.

20. Butter and herb mushrooms

If you want a light and refreshing appetizer, try these crockpot butter and herb mushrooms. This recipe only takes five minutes to prep, then you can sit back and let the crockpot do the rest. For this dish, you'll need beef broth, mushrooms, balsamic vinegar, butter, garlic, and fresh parsley. Cover and cook on low for four to six hours, or until the mushrooms are soft.

21. Marinated olives

Marinated olives are a simplistic yet sophisticated dish everyone will enjoy snacking on. This recipe features fresh garlic, lemon, and crushed red pepper flakes, providing a zesty kick to your olives. Add all the ingredients to your crockpot and cook on low for two hours. Once the olives are done infusing, you can go the extra mile and stir in feta to further enhance the flavors.

22. Artichokes

Artichokes are an easy veggie you can throw in the crockpot and trust it'll come out cooked to perfection. This recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free, making it a great option if you have guests over with allergies. For this appetizer, you'll need large artichokes, vegetable broth, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and basic seasonings. Cook on high for three to four hours and enjoy.

23. Creamed corn

This creamed corn recipe contains just seven ingredients and comes together in four hours. It's the perfect appetizer to pair with ribs or chicken. All you need is corn, half and half, butter, cream cheese, garlic, thyme, and seasonings. After baking, serve crumbled bacon or sliced scallions for an extra burst of flavor.

24. Split pea soup

A warm, comforting soup is the perfect pre-dinner treat on a chilly, rainy evening. It's packed full of vitamins from various veggies like peas, onions, carrots, and celery. Plus, this recipe makes hosting your friends and family even better, as there's no pre-cooking prior to the crockpot. Simply chop your ingredients, dump them in the crockpot, and let it bake for four to five hours on high.Check out the recipe.

25. Vegan butternut squash soup

This vegan butternut squash soup is rich and creamy, but doesn't include any dairy. Instead, the recipe calls for coconut milk to give the soup its rich flavor. You can cook this soup on high for four hours or low for six. It serves roughly four to six people.

26. Chex Mix

This savory snack mix is perfect for game days, family nights, or around the holiday season. All you need to do is add your favorite snacks to your crockpot, and season with butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and salt. Cook on low for three hours then spread onto a baking sheet to let the mixture cool.

27. Candied spiced nuts

This candied spiced nuts recipe is perfect for the holidays when you need a quick, delicious dish. It comes together in about three hours and only contains eight ingredients. This recipe contains raw almonds, pecans, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and water. One batch makes about three cups, so if you're hosting a crowd you may want to double or triple the recipe.

28. Monkey bread

This monkey bread is a great dish to bring for a brunch outing, or enjoy as an appetizer or dessert. It's warm, cinnamony, and delicious, perfect for individuals of all ages. This dish comes together in only 2.5 hours, and serves 10 people. You can try the savory, garlicky version too if you don't have much of a sweet tooth.

29. Chocolate chip cookie

This crockpot chocolate chip cookie might just be your new favorite way to make this classic dessert. With crisp outsides and a gooey, melty inside, you'll want to come back for seconds. However, you will need to have some patience for this one. First, you'll need to mix the ingredients using an electric mixer, then you can add it to the crockpot. Cook on high for two to three hours then enjoy the rich chocolate goodness. (Keep in mind that this won't make individual cookies, but one big cookie that you spoon out onto plates to eat.)

30. Cranberry-walnut stuffed apples

These stuffed apples are the perfect sweet treat to enjoy before dinner. Grab some apples, walnuts, dried cranberries, oats, dried cranberries, butter, lemon juice, and apple cider to throw this recipe together. The apples take about four hours to cook and this dish serves four to six people. Find the recipe on Food Network.