10 Easy Crockpot Appetizers for Holiday Parties and Game Day

These easy crockpot appetizers make holiday parties a lot simpler. You’ll find meatball appetizers, crockpot dips, Hawaiian wings, and steak bites, all made in the slow cooker so you can enjoy your own party.

Six-photo collage of meatballs, spinach dip, buffalo chicken dip, Swedish meatballs, little smokies, and Hawaiian wings. Overlay text: Easy Crockpot Appetizers.

Plug in the crock pot, switch it to warm, and let your guests help themselves. Every recipe here takes 15 minutes or less to prep, and the oven stays free for the rest of the menu.

If you love an easy party spread as much as I do, you’ll also want my game day crockpot recipes, plus these Christmas appetizers and game day dips. Plenty of these double as tailgating snacks too.

Here are 10 crockpot appetizer recipes to keep on hand from Thanksgiving through the Super Bowl.

Tips for Serving Appetizers From the Crockpot

Switch to warm for the party. Most slow cookers have a warm setting that holds food at serving temperature. My favorite is this programmable slow cooker. It switches to warm on its own when the cook time is up, so the food waits on you instead of the other way around. Give dips a stir now and then so the edges don’t scorch.
Set out toothpicks and small plates. Toothpicks keep meatballs and steak bites easy to grab, and small plates and napkins keep the line moving.
Use more than one crockpot. Two or three slow cookers let you keep BBQ meatballs, a savory dip, and wings warm at the same time.
Prep ahead. Chop, shred, and measure the night before and keep it all in the fridge, so the morning is a quick dump and go.

Easy Crockpot Appetizer Recipes

Click on any photo or button to take you to the individual recipe instructions.

A close-up of a glazed meatball covered in thick barbecue and grape jelly sauce, held by a wooden toothpick. More crockpot meatballs are visible in the background, coated in the glossy sauce.

Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs

Frozen meatballs, barbecue sauce, and grape jelly are all you need for this sweet and tangy party classic. Dump everything in the crockpot and let it do the work.

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Coca-Cola meatballs in slow cooker with a wooden spoon.

Crockpot Coca-Cola Meatballs

Frozen cocktail-size meatballs simmer in barbecue sauce and a cup of Coca-Cola. Three ingredients and 5 minutes of prep make it an easy one to bring to a party.

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A hand holds a glazed honey BBQ meatball on a toothpick above a bowl of meatballs.

Crockpot Honey BBQ Meatballs

Homestyle frozen meatballs cook in a sticky sauce made with barbecue sauce, honey, and garlic. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes if you want a little heat.

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Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

Frozen homestyle meatballs cook in a creamy gravy made with beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, half and half, and sour cream. Worcestershire sauce and a few pantry spices round out the flavor.

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Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip

Shredded chicken, cream cheese, ranch, buffalo sauce, and cheddar melt together into a creamy, tangy dip. Top it with blue cheese crumbles and sliced scallions if you like.

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creamy crockpot spinach and artichoke dip in white bowl served with small pieces of bread for dipping

Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip

Cream cheese, parmesan, mayonnaise, and sour cream make a rich base for chopped spinach and artichoke hearts. Keep it warm in the crockpot and let guests scoop away.

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Tortilla chip being dipped in slow cooker cheeseburger dip.

Crockpot Cheeseburger Dip

Ground beef, bacon, cream cheese, cheddar, and Colby jack come together with ketchup, mustard, and dill relish. It tastes like a classic cheeseburger, only you eat it with a chip.

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A crockpot packed with pineapple brown sugar soy sauce Hawaiian wings. The chicken wings are topped with chunks of pineapple and chopped scallions.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Wings

Chicken wings cook in a sweet and salty sauce made with soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic. Fresh or frozen wings both work.

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Crockpot steak bites in au jus sauce with garlic and sweet onions.

Slow Cooker Steak Bites

Bite-size pieces of sirloin cook with sweet onion, garlic, and au jus gravy mix, with butter melting into the sauce. Serve them with toothpicks for an easy hearty appetizer.

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Little smokies in a slow cooker with a wooden spoon.

Crockpot Little Smokies

Little smokies simmer in barbecue sauce and grape jelly for a sweet and tangy bite. It takes about 2 minutes to put together, which is a lifesaver when you're hosting.

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Which one is going in your crockpot first this holiday season? Let me know in the comments.