Crock pot appetizers are a great snack to prepare for parties. Dips and meatballs are our go-to’s and I have some tasty recipes that are sure to get the party started!
More Collections: Crockpot Side Dishes, Crockpot Dinner Ideas, Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
Slow CookeD is the way
If you’re anything like me, you’re scrambling around trying to get ALL the party preparations ready the day of.
What if I told you I had something that could make it a *little* easier?!
Using a crock pot is a great way to free up some time for other party and dinner preparations. You can also use the pot to keep the appetizer dish warm throughout your event. It’s time to get your dip on and free up time for other preparations!!
Crock Pot vs Slow cooker
All crock pots are slow cookers, but not all slow cookers are crock pots. These kitchen tools are very similar and are often used interchangeably. It’s important to note that I also use these terms interchangeably and that when I use the term slow cooker I am referring to crock pots that cook slowly. So what is the difference?
- Slow cookers are typically a metal pot that sits on a heated surface or plate. It is much like cooking on a stove top.
- Crock pots act more like an oven. They’re usually a ceramic pot that sits in a heating element that surrounds all sides.
You can buy basic crock pots that have an off, warm, low, and high settings. These are typically manual. You can also find more high tech crock pots with extra settings and digital timers.
There are also different sizes you can buy from a mere 1 qt to extra large 10 quarts. An average size crock pot for dinners is usually 6 qts. Smaller 1.5-2 quart pots are great for party dips and to keep appetizers warm.
Best kind of slow cookers to Use:
Here are a few crock pots, with great reviews, you can find on Amazon:
- This Mini Crock Pot is 1.5 quarts with a manual dial and 4 settings.
- This Triple Slow Cooker Buffet has three 1.5 quart bowls, each with their own manual temperature dials.
- This Crock Pot is 6 quarts, portable with a locking lid, and has a manual dial with 4 settings.
- This Crock-Pot is 6 quarts, programmable and has a digital timer.
Crock Pot Tips
High on a crock pot is about 300°F. Low is about 200°F. One hour on high equals about 2 to 2 ½ hours on low.
Crock Pot Size: Many appetizer dishes, like dips, won’t need a large crock pot. Ideally, you want your recipe to fill your pot anywhere from ½ -¾ of the way for the best cook.
Don’t Peak: Unless otherwise directed don’t lift the lid. Quite a bit of the heat needed to cook the food properly escapes when the lid is lifted. It can take up to 20 added minutes to get back to the correct temperature.
Warm Setting: Once the dish has been cooked you need to remember to switch the setting to warm, otherwise the food can overcook. It is not recommended that you use the warm setting for longer than 4 hours so be sure to consider that when starting your dish.
The warm setting is also great to keep appetizers made by another method warm while transporting it or serving it at a party.
Transporting: A crock pot with a locking lid makes it super easy to transport food without spills or lost heat. (Just make sure the lid is NOT locked while cooking food)
- Don’t have a locking lid? I suggest removing the lid and placing a piece of “Press and Seal” food wrap over the pot. Replace the lid and use a large heavy duty rubber band to string around each handle, right over the top of the lid.
- Place the pot in a study laundry basket or box and make it snug with a towel to keep the pot from sliding around in the car.
Best practices for crock pots
Meat: Sea food, lean meat, frozen meat and meat that has the skin on should not be slow cooked.
Typically, you should brown ground beef, ground sausage, and bacon before adding to the crock pot, especially when used as a garnish.
Grains: Pasta and rice will become gluey when cooked for too long. Take care to precook it and add at the end of the cook time.
Veggies: Delicate vegetables, like green onions, become limp and soggy with prolonged cooking. Add these veggies at the end, unless it’s a tomato and soft is what you’re going for. More firm vegetables like carrots, potatoes do well, just be sure to cut them all the same size so the cook at they same rate.
Dairy: All of your cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and other dairy should be added in the last 30 minutes of cook time. Otherwise, it tends to curdle and separate.
Spice: If you love love love spice, then add those hotter ingredients at the beginning. The longer spicy ingredients are cooked, the hotter they will become. If you want a more mild dish, then add the spicier ingredients toward the end of the cook time.
Seasoning: In any case, be sure to season!! Salt, garlic, soy sauce, BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, buffalo wing sauce, Worcestershire sauce or what ever your flavor profile requires. When used properly, seasonings will make every appetizer a huge hit!
Dippables
If you are serving dips, be sure you have plenty of dippables on hand!
We love sturdy veggies like carrots, celery sticks, and broccoli. Tortilla Chips, pita chips, and crackers are perfect for any creamy queso or cream cheese artichoke dip. Even little smokies are perfectly dippable!
Too much liquid dilutes the taste of the dish.
Food on the bottom tends to cook faster than those on top. Unless otherwise directed, place meat in first, then add vegetables on top.
Prepare ingredients the night before and keep them in the fridge. Toss them in the crock pot in the morning and come home to a warm meal.
Crock Pot Appetizer DIPS
The two types of crock pot appetizers I mostly have on the site are dips and meatballs (and of course our Beanie Weenies)!
Dips and meatballs are two of the easiest things you can toss in your slow cooker and not even have to think about it!
Plus, both classics can even be served in the crock pot, which keeps them warm for your entire party.
**The following recipes are either made in the crock pot or have the instructions on how to make them in the crock pot.
Crock Pot Bean Dip – This Cheesy And Delicious Crock Pot Bean Dip Is Made With Hardly Any Effort! SO Easy, Convenient, And Perfect For Holiday Parties! Grab Those Chips And Get Dippin’.
Slow Cooker Artichoke Dip – Crock Pot Artichoke is the same cheesy, savory dip you’ve always loved, but made in a slow cooker. Make this tasty dip ahead and save time!
Crockpot Buffalo Dip – Cheesy, spicy Crockpot Buffalo Chicken dip is a flavorful party dip that can be easily made in the slow cooker! It’s great for game days and get togethers.
Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip – Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip is made easy in a slow cooker! With creamy cheese, shredded spinach, and chopped artichokes all melted together, it’s the ultimate party dip.
Sausage Cream Cheese Dip – Simple Sausage cream cheese Dip is delicious and perfect to serve at parties, especially for holidays! It is absolutely PACKED with flavor!
Chili Cheese Dip – Just Four Ingredients Make For The BEST And Yummiest Chili Cheese Dip! Melty Cheese And Hearty Chili Are So Tasty Together! It’s The Perfect Appetizer For Any Party.
Chicken Enchilada Dip – If You Love The Flavors Of Enchiladas Like We Do, You’ll Love This Dip. It Really Does Taste Like Creamy, Cheesy Enchiladas In A Delicious Appetizer Form.
Crock Pot Meatballs
And who doesn’t love meatballs? They’re simple and usually require few ingredients making them perfect for any get together!
BBQ Meatballs – Sweet + savory BBQ Meatballs are saucy and delicious with a bit of tanginess. With only 5 minutes of prep they are a breeze to make!
Barbecue Pineapple Meatballs – Easy Barbecue Pineapple Meatballs Are Perfect As An Appetizer For Parties And Get Togethers Or A Delicious Side Dish For Dinner.
Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs – Delicious 3-Ingredient Grape Jelly Meatballs. They Take Just Minutes To Prep And Are The Perfect Dinner Or Appetizer For Any Party Or Get Together.
Crockpot Meatballs – One Of The Easiest And Tastiest Meatball Recipes You’ll Ever Try! These Crockpot Meatballs Are Full Of So Much Flavor, And Perfect For Parties. Best Of All, They Only Require 5 Minutes Of Prep Work!
Asian Meatballs – Easy And Delicious Crock Pot Asian Meatballs Take Minutes To Prep, Are Perfect For Parties And Have That Asian Flavor We All Know And Love.
Brown Sugar Beanie Weenies – With Only 5 Minutes Of Prep And 3 Ingredients, These Brown Sugar Beanie Weenies Are By Far One Of The Easiest Appetizers! And They Taste Amazing!
A Fav in the Crock Pot
We love Hamburger Dip, and we love to serve it in the crock pot.
Since we like to have several appetizers at our gatherings, we like making sure at least one can be in the slow cooker. Not only does it free up the stove and oven, but it’s just so simple.
This recipe is also so delicious and a hit with anyone who tries it. 🙂
10+ Crock Pot Appetizers – Hamburger Dip + MORE
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic
- 1 jar medium chunky pace salsa
- 1-2 cans rotel tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 small block velveeta cheese
Instructions
- Cook and season beef, drain and keep in pan.
- Pour salsa in a blender and mix until smooth (this is an optional step, skip if you like the chunks)
- After meat is cooked and salsa is blended, place all ingredients in crock pot on med-high for at least 2 hours or until melted together.
The Complete List
Here are the picture recipe cards for all the recipes in this collection!
We hope this helps you in whipping up some nice and easy Crockpot Appetizers, perfect for sharing!
Be sure to check out all of our Appetizer Recipes!
More Collections: Easy Appetizers, Appetizer Dips, Healthy Appetizers
