25 Best Crockpot Appetizers to Bring to a Party
Bringing food to a party sounds simple until you’re stuck juggling a hot oven, a cold dip, and a car full of platters. A slow cooker solves a lot of that. It keeps dips warm, holds meatballs-style bites in sauce, and frees your oven for everything else.
Not every party appetizer belongs in a crock, and I’ve said so where that’s the case. The list is split into three groups so you know what to expect from each dish.
How to Use This List
- Crock makes it: the slow cooker does the main cooking or melting.
- Crock keeps it warm: you prepare part of the recipe on the stove or in the oven, then hold it warm in the crock on Low or Warm.
- No crock needed: the recipe is no-cook, oven-baked, or pan-fried. Bring it on a platter or in a cooler.
Set the crock to Low for dips and sauces, and stir every 15 to 20 minutes. Add cheese in small handfuls so it melts smoothly. Use the Warm setting for serving, and never let dairy boil.
Times below are for a 6-quart slow cooker, so check the dip near the minimum time.
Hot Dips Made in the Crock
1. Best Mexican White Cheese Dip
Crock makes it. Warm the evaporated milk and whole milk in the crock on Low. Add the white American cheese in small batches and stir until smooth, about 1 to 1½ hours. Stir in the green chiles, pickled jalapeños, garlic powder, cumin, white pepper, and onion powder. Keep on Warm for serving.
2. Easy Texas Trash Dip
Crock makes it. Stir the softened cream cheese and sour cream together, then add the refried beans, taco seasoning, drained green chiles, and 1 cup of the Mexican blend cheese. Cook on Low for about 2 hours. Sprinkle the last cup of cheese over the top, cover, and let it melt before serving with corn chips.
3. Secret Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip
Crock makes it. Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, fresh and pickled jalapeños, cheddar, garlic, and half the bacon in the crock. Cook on Low for 1½ to 2 hours, stirring halfway through. Top with the rest of the bacon and green onions before serving.
4. Ultimate Million Dollar Crack Dip
Crock keeps it warm. The original is served cold. For a hot version, make it in the crock on Low for 1 to 1½ hours, stirring in the cheddar. Crisp the bacon in a skillet and add it on top so it stays crunchy. Keep on Warm for the party.
5. Cold Halloween Buffalo Chicken Dip
Crock keeps it warm (optional). This is the cold version. For a hot party dip, warm it in the crock on Low for about 1½ hours, stirring often. The sour cream spiderweb only works on the cold version.
Hot Appetizers Held Warm in the Crock
6. Baked Chickpea and Rice Balls
Crock keeps it warm. Bake the balls in the oven as the recipe says, then nestle them in warm marinara in the crock on Low. Serve with toothpicks. The recipe itself suggests marinara as one of the dips.
7. Jalapeño Popper Wonton Cups
Crock keeps it warm. Bake the wonton cups in the oven. Keep the popper filling warm in the crock on Low, stirring often, and spoon it into the cups right before serving. Don’t put the wonton cups in the crock, or they’ll go soft.
8. Crispy Chicken Taquitos
Crock makes part of it. Cook the chicken in the crock on Low for about 4 hours with the salsa verde, then shred it for the filling. Roll and bake the taquitos as the recipe says. Serve with warm queso from the crock.
9. Mini Mushroom and Gruyère Pot Pies
Crock keeps it warm. Brown the mushrooms and make the Gruyère filling on the stove. Hold the finished filling in the crock on Low so you can fill the ramekins during the party. Top with puff pastry and bake.
10. Easy Gochujang Mushrooms
Crock keeps it warm. Cook the mushrooms and glaze in the pan as the recipe says. Transfer them to the crock on Low to keep them warm. Add the sesame oil and green onions just before serving so they stay fresh.
11. Cheesy Mini Grilled Cheese Sliders
No crock needed. Bake these in a 9×13 dish as the recipe says. Serve them right away while the cheese is melted.
12. Cheesy Bacon-Wrapped Green Bean Bundles
No crock needed. Blanch and wrap them, then bake at 400°F. They’re best hot from the oven.
13. Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers
No crock needed. Bake them on a sheet pan and serve warm.
14. Oven Fried Feta Rolls With Chili Honey
No crock needed. Bake them in the oven and drizzle with the chili honey just before serving so the phyllo stays crisp.
15. Longhorn Stuffed Mushroom
No crock needed. Stuff the caps ahead of time, then bake them at 375°F.
16. Flaky Jalapeño Popper Twists
No crock needed. Bake them on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Serve warm with ranch or hot honey.
17. Crispy Rice Paper Scallion Pancakes
No crock needed. Pan-fry them in a hot skillet and serve the moment they’re done.
Cold and No-Cook Party Appetizers
18. Slam Dunk Dip
No crock needed. This dip is sour cream, mustard, sriracha, lime, and spices. Chill it for 30 minutes and keep it cold on ice.
19. Creamy Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip
No crock needed. Mix it in a jar and chill it. It’s better after 30 to 60 minutes in the fridge.
20. Grandma’s Classic Party Shrimp Dip
No crock needed. Keep this chilled on ice until serving time.
21. Sweet and Savory Guava Dip
No crock needed. Chill it and bring it in a cooler.
22. Ranch Ritz Crackers
No crock needed. Toss the crackers in the ranch-oil mixture and serve in a bowl.
23. 5-Minute Boursin Appetizer With Pistachios & Hot Honey
No crock needed. Smash the Boursin onto a plate, top with crushed pistachios and hot honey, and serve with crackers.
24. Everything Bagel Cucumber Bites
No crock needed. Assemble the bites just before serving so the cucumbers stay crisp.
25. Maple Bacon Goat Cheese Crostini
No crock needed. Toast the baguette rounds, spread with goat cheese, and top with maple bacon. Serve warm or at room temperature.
