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 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.
Pepper Jelly Cocktail Meatballs
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
Pork-and-beef meatballs in a sticky, spicy-sweet glaze made with pepper jelly and chipotles in adobo sauce is a winning combo. To adapt the recipe for a slow cooker, broil the meatballs ahead (then pop them in the freezer, if you like). On game day, combine the sauce ingredients in the slow cooker, then add the meatballs and cook on low until the sauce has thickened and the meat reaches 160°F on an instant-read thermometer.
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 former F&W editor Chandra Ram combines the rich medley of Swiss and cheddar with beer and mustard.
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 sauté 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 cubes, slices of ripe pear. Keep this Alpine classic warm in your slow cooker, and be sure to stir the fondue when you dip.
Philly Cheesesteak Queso
It doesn’t matter what teams are playing: Justin Chapple’s Philly-inspired queso is delicious enough to break out for any game day matchup. Provolone and white American cheeses form the base of a cheesesteak-inspired dip that’s topped with sautéed peppers, onions, and thinly sliced rib eye steak.
Slow Cooker Turkey Wings
First brown, then braise, then broil these slow cooker turkey wings for the perfect combo of tender and crispy. They need at least three and a half hours to cook in a sweet and savory braising liquid, so start early.
Roasted Cauliflower and Sesame Spread
Joseph de Leo
Cauliflower is roasted in the oven before it’s tossed in a food processor with tahini and lemon juice to make a chunky puree for pita bread or chips. Serve 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 you assemble 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.
Slow Cooker Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
© Fredrika Stjärne
Set aside just 25 minutes to mix and shape these meatballs, then let your slow cooker take it from there. Serve them solo for a satisfying appetizer, or nestle them in buns for a more substantial snack.
