Irresistible Slow-Cooker Appetizers

Shape and bake the chicken meatballs ahead of time, then pop them in your slow cooker with cranberry and barbecue sauces.

Cranberry-Sauced Meatballs Appetizer

Smoky bacon and salty blue cheese bring new flavor to an old favorite.

Spinach-Artichoke Dip with Blue Cheese and Bacon

A boneless pork shoulder roast slow cooks with vegetables and herbs until it's fork-tender. Combine with a homemade barbecue sauce for the last hour of cooking, then spoon onto sliders with coleslaw and chopped pickles. 

Balsamic Vinegar and Honey Pulled-Pork Sliders

These tempting bite-size treats feature a slow-cooked mixture of onion, apple and cranberries served over a blend of cheeses on toasted French bread. Use any leftover onion mixture as a relish for pork or poultry.

Caramelized Onion-and-Cranberry Cheese Toasts

Stuff these easy slow-cooker meatballs with Greek Kasseri or feta cheese and top with our Greek Tomato Sauce for a crowd-pleasing starter.

Greek Stuffed Meatballs

Healthy snacking made easy! Slow cook cereal, seeds and nuts with a savory blend of lemon peel and herbs.

Lemon-Zested Snacker Mix

Cranberry juice, juice concentrate, spices, orange juice and water simmers in your slow cooker. If you're serving this punch at a party, keep it warm on the low-heat setting for up to two hours.

Mulled Cranberry Punch

Sweet barbecue sauce, refreshing mangoes and hot habaneros give zesty flavor and color to slow-cooked chicken. Serve on baguette slices with additional mango.

Mango-Habanero Pulled Chicken Bites

Don’t let the short ingredient list fool you: these chicken wings have huge flavor. That’s because they’re slow-cooked in a zingy garlic-and-ginger peanut sauce, with a pop of lime for good measure.

Thai Chicken Wings with Peanut Sauce

Start this appetizer by stir-frying packaged strips of chicken, pork or beef, then let the strips slow cook in a mix of spicy mustard and fajita seasoning. Fill warmed tortillas, slice and serve!

Spicy Mustard Stir-Fry Bites for a Crowd

For a super-easy appetizer: Slow cook mushrooms with crushed red pepper, hoisin sauce, water and minced garlic.

Hoisin-Garlic Mushrooms

A rich blend of apricot preserves, maple syrup and bourbon adds a sweet accent to smoked sausage.

Bourbon-Glazed Cocktail Sausages

Nuts in your slow cooker? Sure! Just toss them with sugar, butter and spices, and cook on low heat for two hours.

Slow Cooker Sweet-Hot Nuts

This combo of barbecue sauce, chopped veggies and cooked ground turkey tastes great on oven-crisped pita wedges. 

Barbecue Turkey Wedges

Spoon nutritious slow-cooked veggies onto sliced bread or crackers for a healthy appetizer.

Caponata Sicilianata

Artichoke hearts, dried tomatoes and sauce combine for a rich, creamy dip. Our recipe calls for processed Swiss cheese because it melts smoothly, but regular Swiss cheese will work fine, too. The dip will have a more stretchy, less creamy texture, but it tastes just as good.

Swiss-Artichoke Dip

Tea, four fruit juices and spices brew in your slow cooker. Serve the drink from the cooker or a heatproof bowl.

Tea And Cider Wassail

Choose your favorite flavor of chicken sausage links and cover with an easy homemade glaze.

Sweet-and-Sour-Glazed Chicken Sausage Bites

Guests will love this spiced mixture of apples, pears and cranberries. Cinnamon pita chips can be prepared a day in advance or purchased to save time. Top each serving with crumbled goat cheese.

Fruit Chutney with Spiced Chips

Slow-cooked pork shoulder roast turns to a tender shredded meat filling for flour tortillas.

Cuban Pork Wraps

Slow cook cheesy broccoli dip with reduced-fat cheeses, then serve with baked potato slices for a healthier alternative to full-fat or fried appetizers.

Broccoli-Cheese Dip with Potato Dippers

Molasses, lime juice and soy sauce add a pleasant kick to slow-cooked meatballs.

Molasses-Lime Meatballs

Click below for more great slow cooker recipe ideas for main dishes, dessers, appetizers, soups and side dishes.