12 Slow Cooker Appetizers From Wings to Queso to Keep the Party Hot Don't settle for cold dips. By Molly McArdle Molly McArdle Molly McArdle is Food & Wine's Updates Editor. She has written and edited stories about food, wine, culture, place, and technology for more than 15 years. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, GQ, Esquire, Oxford American, The Believer, Bookforum, and many more. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on February 1, 2026 Add Us On SAVE ALL RECIPES NEW! Save as a collection on MyRecipes Close Credit: Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Keoshia McGhee 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. Keep all of your recipes at your fingertips. With the MyRecipes app you can easily save and organize your favorites from anywhere, including Instagram and TikTok, in one convenient place. Get the free app. 01 of 12 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. Get the Recipe Save 02 of 12 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. Get the Recipe Save 03 of 12 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. Get the Recipe Save 04 of 12 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. Get the Recipe Save 05 of 12 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. Get the Recipe Save 06 of 12 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 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. Get the Recipe Save 07 of 12 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 three and a half hours to cook in a sweet and savory braising liquid, so start early. Get the Recipe Save 08 of 12 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. Get the Recipe Save 09 of 12 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. Get the Recipe Save 10 of 12 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. Get the Recipe Save 11 of 12 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. Get the Recipe Save 12 of 12 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. Get the Recipe Save Explore more: Food Holidays & Occasions Super Bowl Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit