8 Slow-Cooker Appetizers
Make entertaining easier by using your slow cooker to cook and serve appetizers. Choose one (or several) of these appetizer recipes to dish up beloved finger foods like cheesy dips, crunchy bites, and marvelous meatballs.
Gruyère-Bacon Dip
Serve this dip with assorted vegetable dippers. It's also tasty as a condiment spread on turkey burgers.
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Cheesy-Spinach Crab Dip
This cheesy crab dip makes a savory party appetizer with minimal preparation time. Serve warm with pita chips or whole-grain crackers.
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Cheesy Spinach-Artichoke Dip
This irresistible dip featuring three cheeses, Parmesan, feta, and cream cheese, and four vegetables, spinach, artichokes, onion, and sun-dried tomatoes, is sure to be the hit of the party. Soak the sun-dried tomatoes during the first hour of cooking so they'll be ready to add during the second hour.
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Thai-Style Ribs
With these appetizer ribs, there will be no more long hours of smoking on the grill or smoker. The slow cooker cuts the time in half while still yielding that much desired fall-off-the-bone texture. Cutting the rib racks in half makes a better appetizer-sized portion.
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Sina's Georgia-Style Boiled Peanuts
These Southern-style peanuts cook for 18 hours so a little planning ahead is involved to make sure they are ready to eat when you're ready to serve. Start them late in the evening so they can cook through the night and are ready for the picnic or tailgate the next afternoon.
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Chicken Wings with Spicy Chili Sauce
Chicken wings are a favorite party food so serve this spicy-sweet appetizer the next time you have friends over to watch the big game. They're sticky so be sure to serve with extra napkins!
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Chile con Queso
The slow cooker is perfect for keeping this spicy cheese dip warm throughout the party.