11 Slow Cooker Appetizers for Game Day

wdc tv news staff

12 hours ago

The ideal Super Bowl appetizer is one you can set up early and then leave alone — after all, you're busy watching the game. Even better is when you can serve that recipe hot and it stays that way, all the way through the fourth quarter. That's where the MVP of your game-day spread comes into play: your slow cooker.

Slow cookers are the best way to keep your hot wings hot and your quesos ooey-gooey. If you have one, a mini slow cooker is perfect for serving smaller batches of apps, like warm olives or a roasted cauliflower spread. And if your slow cooker has sauté function, many of these dishes work as one-pot recipes. Others may require a little prep time on the stovetop or in the broiler, but they end in your slow cooker, where they'll be kept warm into overtime and beyond.

Queso Fundido

Fred Hardy / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle

Sauté tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, and onions in a splash of tequila before slowly adding shredded Monterey Jack cheese over low heat in this queso fundido recipe from 1988 F&W Best New Chef Rick Bayless.

Lubia Pokhteh (Red Kidney Bean Dip)

Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

This earthy, tart bean dip from chef and cookbook author Louisa Shafia is made by cooking, then mashing, red kidney beans with fire-roasted tomatoes, turmeric, coriander, and cumin. Turn the sautée function on for crispy, golden brown onions to shower on top.

Classic Swiss Cheese Fondue

Julia Hartbeck

You can dip almost anything into a classic pot of Swiss fondue: chunks of potatoes, toasted bread cutes, slices of ripe pear. Keep this Alpine classic warm in your slow cooker, and be sure to stir the fondue when you dip.

Honey Mustard Beer Cheese Fondue

Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Keoshia McGhee

There's not much better than melted cheese, and this recipe from F&W's Chandra Ram combines the rich medley of Swiss and cheddar with beer and mustard.

Philly Cheesesteak Queso

Abby Hocking

It doesn't matter what teams are playing: Justin Chapple's Philly-inspired queso is delicious enough to break out for any game-day match up. Provolone and white American cheeses form the base of a cheesesteak-themed dip that's topped with sautéed peppers, onions, and thinly sliced rib-eye steak.

Slow-Cooker Turkey Wings

Abby Hocking / Food & Wine

First brown, then braise, then broil these slow-cooker turkey wings for the perfect combo of tender and crispy. They need at least 3 1/2 hours to cook in a sweet and savory braising liquid so start early.

Warm Olives with Sesame Seeds and Oregano

Maura McEvoy

Simple and delicious, these lightly dressed olives (coated in toasted sesame seeds and fresh oregano) are cooked over low heat and served warm. If you have it in your pantry, za'atar can be swapped in for the oregano.

Roasted-Cauliflower-and-Sesame Spread

Joseph de Leo

Cauliflower is roasted in the oven before its tossed in a food processer with tahini and lemon juice to make a chunky puree for pita bread or chips. Served warm from the slow cooker to keep its earthy flavors nice and toasty through the end of the game.

Corn Queso Fundido

Chris Court

Frozen sweet corn, Monterey Jack cheese, and a poblano chile or two make up this sweet and slightly spicy queso fundido that is best served hot. Turn on your slow cooker's sauté function to brown the poblano, onion, corn, and garlic before you melt the cheese over low heat.

One-Pot Sticky Chicken Wings

Stephanie Meyer

The sauté function will help you cook these chicken wings until golden, before assembling ginger, chiles, star anise, cinnamon, sake, oyster sauce, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar over a low heat to make a rich and sticky glaze inspired by Andrew Zimmern's meals in Penang.

Aged Gouda Fondue with Caraway Croutons

Ryan Robert Miller

This creamy, Gouda-forward fondue calls for caraway butter, which is then brushed onto toasted, cubed chunks of baguette — perfect for dipping into a still-warm slow cooker.

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