26 Of The Tastiest And Easiest Slow Cooker Appetizers

Appetizers can be small, bite-sized items that can be served with drinks and finger food to whet the appetite, or they can be larger, more substantial dishes. These recipes are both.

These slow cooker appetizers are perfect for entertaining, and the best part is that they are simple and easy to prepare.

For the most part, people have a love-hate relationship with slow cookers. But it doesn’t have to be that way. For example, we can make a delicious crock of pulled pork.

People love to have slow cooked appetizers because they will be succulent and the lists are endless of what types of food you will be able to cook.

If you are having guests around, you will be able to cater for them all because of the wide variety of meals you are able to make in the slow cooker!

Appetizers are one of the easiest ways to jazz up a party or get-together. They are also an important part of a healthy diet.

1. Stuffed Mushrooms

These easy stuffed mushrooms are great for appetizers, snacks, lunch, and dinner. Delicious, filling, and completely easy to make, this recipe for stuffed mushrooms is a great winter dish.

Sautéed spinach and mushrooms with herbed bread crumbs and topped with grated cheese. The perfect way of making a nice side dish.

2. Whiskey Short Ribs

Are you a meat lover and want to show off some beautifully succulent ribs (check out our favorite sides to serve with BBQ ribs) for your appetizer?

This dish is one that will definitely impress because it is simple but effective with taste and texture with the meat just falling from the bone!

It is quite popular to also add a side plate of mashed potato (see also ‘29 Of The Best Recipes For Leftover Mashed Potatoes‘) with the ribs for that extra texture.

3. Chipotle Meatballs

These are the best chipotle meatballs. The chipotle adds a smoky flavor to the meatballs. Serve the meatballs over pasta.

These chipotle meatballs are pretty spicy, but they’re also really versatile. Serve them with pasta, on a sandwich, or just as a snack.

They are a tasty, quick and easy way to add taco flavor to your favorite pasta. Serve with a simple tomato sauce and lots of fresh veggies.

4. Beef Nachos

Make a great dish using your leftover steak. You can even top them with jalapeño peppers and hot sauce. Beef nachos are a delicious snack that can be eaten at any time of the day.

Ideal for a lazy afternoon at home to really fill you up. This is also an ideal appetizer where you can add whatever topping you love!

5. Popper Chicken Taquitos

This recipe is a great slow cooked appetizer because it is fresh, filled with different seasonings and spices which you will want to create again and again.

The textures are all perfect with the crispy exterior and lovely warm interior holding all of the elements. The jalapenos bring the spice and the chicken is deliciously succulent!

6. Lime Chicken Wings

Chicken wings are a great meal option for anyone who loves to cook and loves chicken. They are easy to prepare, fairly inexpensive and definitely tasty.

Chicken wings are a classic dish that has come to be known as a bar-food staple. Whether you like them spicy, sweet, or a little of both, chicken wings are a great choice for any time of day and this lime option is full of zest!

7. BBQ Kielbasa

This is a great appetizer for all meat lovers who love that smoky flavor. That strong BBQ smell (see also ‘33 Simple BBQ Recipes Perfect For Cookouts‘) will hit you as soon as you walk into the house because it is very powerful but tastes delicious!

These are very simple to make and you need to make sure you have seasoned them well to make those flavors pop when cooked!

8. Honey Pulled Pork

These are like little mini pulled pork burgers that will go down a treat. They are just the right size and aren’t too filling and are super simple to make.

The sauce is beautifully smothered across the tender pork to make every bite a delight.

The honey and garlic really bring the sauce to life and the combination between the sauce and the meat is amazing.

9. Cheese And Bacon Potatoes

This might sound like an average appetizer but it is one of the best!

Everything is cheesy, gooey but also has the crisp of the bacon to even out the textures. It is very simple but effective for an appetizer to get you going before the main.

It is extremely easy to prepare and does not require too many ingredients to make it great!

10. Taco Dip

Most people might just think that this is just a regular dip (see also ‘33 Simple Dip Recipes Suitable For A Party’) but it definitely is not.

This dip is slow cooked to perfection with the best flavors mixed together. You have the spice, the sweetness and a great texture for any occasion.

It has ground beef, the chilis, peppers, onions and many more ingredients that make it to die for.

11. Buffalo Chicken Potato Skins

If you’re looking for a bit of a different type of appetizer (see also ‘38 Baby Shower Appetizers Recipes Your Guests Will Adore’) this could be a great option to try because it is definitely healthy and is very hands off because it is all down to the slow cooker to do its magic!

You can make your chicken as spicy as you like and make it suitable for you and your guests!

Roasted Chicken Potato Skins – These crispy little treats are a great side dish for any meal. For best results, chill the chicken and potato skins for at least two hours before cooking.

Bacon wrapped chicken and potato skins are delicious, super easy and quick to make, and a perfect finger food for any party or gathering (see also ‘32 Smart And Delicious Graduation Party Food Ideas‘)!

12. Little Smokies

This is a great option to add to a table of finger food for appetizers. This would also be a tasty appetizer for children too.

These little sausages are cooked in chili to give them that punch in comparison to regular little sausages. You can stack them up on sticks and dip them in a variety of sauces.

13. Lettuce Wraps

These are the types of appetizers you would see at a nice restaurant usually filled with duck! However, these little wraps are very easy to make at home.

You can either follow this specific recipe or you can try the duck option which tends to be quite popular too. This recipe includes walnuts and chicken as the main flavors.

14. Chicken Egg Rolls

Chicken egg rolls are a fun, delicious, and easy appetizer or snack.

Learn how to make them quickly and easily for any time you need a new finger food. These chicken egg rolls are a spicy and delicious snack.

You can also use chicken as a filling for tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. It’s also a great dish to serve to guests. This recipe also makes up to 16 egg rolls if you are sharing!

15. Sriracha Chicken Sliders

This is a great appetizer if you are sharing with others and you can make a dozen from using this recipe.

You are also able to freeze the chicken mixture so you do not have to waste any!

Both spicy and sweet, these delicious little tasters can be eaten on its own or you can put them in mini buns to make them small burgers.

16. Italian Mushrooms

This beautiful rich appetizer is more on the luxury side. However, it is very simple to make with only 4 ingredients needed!

They are not only great on their own but also with a side of mash and some meat too. A lot of people love to eat them on their own or with some crunchy bread.

17. Hawaiian Kielbasa

This Hawaiian kielbasa (see also ‘13 Greatest Polish Sausage Recipes For Dinner‘) is a wonderful braised pork sausage with a sweet and spicy flavor. It’s a delicious appetizer that you can serve with rice and vegetables.

Hawaiian kielbasa is a traditional Hawaiian meat sausage, packed with traditional Hawaiian flavors (check out our favorite Hawaiian recipes). Try it and you’ll find Hawaiian kielbasa is much more than a hot dog (see also ‘13 Delicious Appetizers To Make With Little Smokies‘)!

18. Warm Broccoli Cheese Dip

This broccoli cheese dip is one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever make! With a few ingredients and ten minutes, you can enjoy this creamy and delicious dip.

A quick and cheesy dip that can satisfy even the most hardcore of broccoli-lovers!! Easy, cheesy broccoli dip recipe with a little breadcrumb topping. Quick, easy and tasty.

19. Hot Crab Dip

This hot crab dip recipe is great for a party. It is really easy to make and we really enjoy it.

It is also a great dip for chips. Hot crab dip recipe is a delicious easy to make appetizer recipe. This dip is an easy dip recipe made with mayonnaise, sour cream, and plenty of real crab meat.

Crab dip, also known as crab dip recipe, is a dip made with mayonnaise, sour cream (see also ‘28 Delicious Ways To Use Leftover Sour Cream‘), and crab meat.

It is a popular appetizer in the United States. It can be served hot with vegetables or cold with crackers.

20. Chicken Taco Dip

Whether you’re hosting a party or just craving a tasty and healthy appetizer, this dip is perfect. It is extremely versatile, can be made ahead of time and is quick to assemble.

A delicious chicken taco dip that can be used as a spread or a dip for tortilla chips or maybe some garlic bread as well depending on what sort size appetizer you want!

21. Peppered Meatballs

These roasted peppered mushrooms are rich and delicious. They’re a great way to use up mushrooms that have lost their crispness.

These sticky, savory, and easy-to-make mushrooms are perfect with pork and grilled meats.

Peppered mushrooms are a tasty change from the usual mushroom recipes (see also ‘27 Best Mushroom Recipes For Family Meals‘) which still have the meatful flavor but just seasoned really well and gives a bit of a punch!

When these mushrooms are slow cooked, the mushrooms take on a different flavor than the usual earthy taste and the added pepper makes them spicier.

22. Spiced Mixed Nuts

Spiced Mixed Nuts are a delicious, healthy snack that are low in fat and great for on-the-go. They are perfect for picnics (see also ‘33 Super Easy Camping Recipes‘), barbecues, and parties!

This recipe makes a quick, easy and healthy snack, or a nutritious side dish. Mixed nuts, or makhanas, are a popular snack in India. They are usually snack size, and are eaten with salt, chili powder, and a squeeze of lime.

This type of appetizer is on the smaller side and is generally just for picking before the meal but can still be super tasty when they are slow cooked!

23. Chili Dogs

Bandito Chili Dogs are a classic Tex-Mex dish best enjoyed with a cold beer (see also ‘8 Best Beer Subscription Boxes‘) and some good friends.

If you’re game for the challenge of trying to perfect these authentic chili dogs, it’s time to get cooking! Bandito Chili Dogs are hand-stretched beef chili dogs that are covered with a red and yellow chili sauce (see also ‘Aji Amarillo Paste – The 5 Best Alternatives That You Can Try Now!‘).

It’s a popular street food of California. Bandito chili dogs are a twist on the traditional chili dog, with a unique ingredient that makes them different from the rest.

24. Peach And Whiskey Wings

These peach and whiskey wings are the perfect appetizer for game day, a dinner party, or even just a simple night at home!

They are packed full of flavor and are sure to please your guests. This recipe makes some killer chicken wings. The peach and whiskey glaze adds a nice kick.

The best part is, the sauce is quick and easy to make. This is a simple, juicy recipe for chicken wings that are so flavorful they’ll knock your socks off.

25. Teriyaki Turkey Sandwiches

This recipe is a perfect example of how to make a delicious and healthy turkey sandwich (see also ‘Ground Turkey Recipes: 33 Of The Best‘). A great sandwich for lunch or dinner at home. Turkey is a rich meat that you can eat on a low-carb diet.

This recipe provides instructions to turn the turkey into a tasty turkey sandwich. The succulent meat with the slightly crisp buns are the best combination for a light appetizer!

26. Sweet And Sour Chicken Wings

Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings are a delicious, finger-licking good appetizer that everyone will love. They are so easy to make and so good that you will make them all the time.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings Recipe; chicken wings are perfect for a snack or meal, get this recipe down.

Sweet and sour chicken wings with a creamy and spicy sauce, which is a perfect combination of sweet and sour.

The recipe is easy to make and the preparation time is not much. You can make the recipe in a large batch and store it in the refrigerator so that you can easily prepare the recipe.

Conclusion

Overall, when trying to choose your appetizers for either a family gathering, special occasion with guests or just a nice evening meal, you need to have variety.

There are so many different options here that you are able to mix and match really well for your guests. There are plenty of meat options, non-meat options, non dairy options and also lots of dips to enjoy.

Most of this is finger food but not all! They are all super tasty options, filled with tons of color and flavor to catch your eye.

Many of these recipes are also filled with spices and herbs which brings out a heap of new flavors you might not have cooked with before but it is always great to try new recipes and hopefully surprise yourselves!

Hopefully this guide has helped you pick the perfect appetizer for your meal or occasion and has given an extra few options to make sure most options have been listed.

Appetizers, including cold appetizers are one of the easiest ways to jazz up a party or get-together. They are also an important part of a healthy diet if you are looking to add these recipes to your everyday meals.

Many of them are listed as having low carbs and high in nutrition and specific vitamins. Therefore, look out for those descriptions if you’re looking for more healthy options!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Do You Call The Simplest Appetizer?

An hors d’oeuvre (/ɔːr ˈdɜːrv(rə)/ or DURV(-rə); French: hors-d’œuvre ɔʁ dœvʁ), appetizer or starter is a small dish served before a meal in European cuisine. Some hors d’oeuvres are served cold, others hot.

What Should I Serve For An Appetizer Party?

Planning Your Appetizer Party Menu

Bruschetta, breadsticks, crackers, and rolls are also mainstays. Protein: Serve meat or fish dishes, such as meatballs, chicken wings, or sushi, to give your guests protein (see also our favorite high protein recipes).

You could also make an egg, cheese, or tofu appetizer. Try these grilled appetizer recipes.

What Is A Finger Food Appetizer?

Finger foods are small, individual portions of food that are eaten out of hand. They are often served at social events.

The ideal finger food usually does not create any mess (i.e. no crumbs, drips, or any kind of mess), but this criterion is often overlooked in order to include foods like tacos.