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25 gameday snacks you can make in a slow cooker

Every week, Sunday rolls around before you know it, and if you’re anything like us, you won’t want to miss a minute of the action. You may want to opt to serve snacks and bite-size treats at your place in lieu of full meals, because the smaller the food, the less you’ll have to look away from the TV. (It’s science.) Utilizing a slow cooker or crockpot also means fewer trips to the oven and stove, because, let’s face it, you can’t be running back and forth all day like some sort of professional athlete. We’ll get you ready in time for kickoff by giving you 25 dips, bites, balls, and rolls that can all be prepared in the most super bowl of them all: your slow cooker.

1 of 25

Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

Photo by Betty Crocker

Without two hands and ninja focus, most cheeseburgers fall apart faster than a porous offensive line. Avoid a snack sack by opting for a bacon cheeseburger in dip formation instead. Betty Crocker is calling the plays on this recipe.

2 of 25

Bacon-Wrapped Lit’l Smokies

Photo by Crock-Pot Ladies

I’d eat my own hand if it were wrapped in bacon, but these slow-cooker, bacon-wrapped little smokies are probably a lot tastier… and you only need three ingredients! Wondering what the third ingredient is? Click here for the Crock-Pot Ladies recipe.

3 of 25

BBQ Chicken Dip

Photo by The Cookie Rookie

Buffalo chicken dips always get all the attention, and they don’t even contain any real buffalo. Try this BBQ chicken dip instead, and feel free to use your favorite sauce! The Cookie Rookie serves up a pro recipe right here.

4 of 25

Beef Nachos with Chili

Photo by A Spicy Perspective

Football is more exciting in the postseason, and nachos are more delicious with homemade chili con carne on top. Those are the rules; play by them, or you’ll earn an un-sports-fan-like conduct penalty. Avoid a flag by clicking here for the recipe from A Spicy Perspective

5 of 25

Beer Cheese Dip with Pretzel Bites

Photo by Delish

 I mean, what’s not to like? Pretzels, good. Cheese, good. Beer, good! We think you and this beer cheese dip will end up being the best of friends. Click here for some beery cheesy goodness from Delish. 

6 of 25

Bourbon-Glazed Kielbasa

Photo by Tammilee Tips

If you looked at our beer cheese dip recipe and thought, “Yeah, but what about people who like hard liquor?” then this is the recipe for you. Just try not to eat all of them in a single sitting; we’re your friends and we care about you. Get your snack and drink on with this recipe from Tammilee Tips.

7 of 25

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Photo by Food.com

Enjoy eating Buffalo wings but don’t want orange sauce covering your face and hands? Opt for this creamy, cheesy Buffalo chicken dip instead. Click here to make it at home, with some help from Food.com.

8 of 25

Buttery Ranch Mushroom Bites

Photo by Pip and Ebby

 Don’t trip, these mushroom bites are incredibly easy to make. All you need are mushrooms, butter, parmesan cheese, and ranch dressing mix… and your slow cooker, of course. Want the recipe? Pip and Ebby have you covered.

9 of 25

Chicken Enchilada Dip

Photo by The Blond Cook

 This dip is like a deconstructed chicken enchilada, but with tortilla chips instead of tortillas. (And you don’t need to feel like a tool for using the term “deconstructed.”) Q: How many blonds does it take to make this dip? A: Only one, The Blond Cook.

10 of 25

Corn-Jalapeño-Bacon Dip

Photo by Betty Crocker

Don’t forget to include some vegetables in your diet, like the corn and jalapeños found in this dip. Or maybe it’s just another excuse to pig out on cheese and bacon. You decide. Another nod to Ms. Betty Crocker for this recipe.


11 of 25

Crab Rangoon Dip

Photo by AllRecipes

“Rangoon” is the former capital of Myanmar, and we know this crab Rangoon dip will remind you of the delicious dumpling appetizer bearing the same name. Tip of the hat to AllRecipes for this one. 

12 of 25

French Onion Dip

Photo by The Country Cook

When someone asks where the French onion dip came from, you won’t have to hold up a jar bashfully. Instead, just hand over a photo of yourself — preferably one in which you’re grinning widely and flashing a thumbs-up while making this super simple snack. Props to The Country Cook for this recipe. 

13 of 25

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Taquitos

Photo by Creme de la Crumb

Serve up a taste of the islands (and Mexico too, we suppose) with these Hawaiian BBQ chicken taquitos. Creme de la Crumb has the recipe here.

14 of 25

Mac & Cheese Dip

Photo by Cook the Story

Here’s a way to enjoy mac & cheese somewhere between using a fork and scooping out mouthfuls with your hands. Simply pair it with your favorite chip. Thanks to Cook the Story for sparing us the silverware.

15 of 25

New York Pizza Dip

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Worried about making gameday snacks that can please adults and kids alike? Fuhgeddaboudit! This recipe for New York pepperoni pizza dip is all you need to satisfy the whole family (especially Vinnie, Paulie, and Tony). This Hamilton Beach recipe says the prep will take less than 30 minutes, or your pizza dip is free.

16 of 25

Parmesan Ranch Crackers

Photo by Damn Delicious

 If your ranch obsession is out of control, these crackers are the perfect snack. Each bite is popping with flavor, and munching on these snacks is much more elegant than chugging dressing straight out of the bottle. Click here for the damn delicious recipe from Damn Delicious.

17 of 25

Reuben Dip

Photo by AllRecipes

Reuben sandwiches (corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing) are great but all too often end up wet and soggy. The only times they aren’t, the sandwiches end up dried up and hard. Forget that noise and enjoy your Reuben in dip form instead! Get all of the recipe courtesy of AllRecipes. 

18 of 25

Sausage Bread

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Did you know your slow cooker can double as a breadmaker? It can, and despite the sound and look of this particular snack, sausage bread is just the thing your gameday party needs — especially if you kick off the celebration early in the day, because eggs. The Crock-Pot Ladies strike again with this recipe.

19 of 25

Slow-Cooker Chex Mix

Photo by Delish

Yes, you can make Chex Mix in a slow cooker. No, it’s not as simple as dumping a bag of Chex Mix into a slow cooker, but almost! Get the [still super-simple] recipe here from Delish. 

20 of 25

“So Nutty” Snack Mix

Photo by The Fit Fork

 If you’re crazy about nuts, you’ll go absolutely bananas for this snack mix. (Please note that the recipe does not actually contain any bananas. But nuts are technically a fruit, so there’s that.) The Fit Fork provides this not-so-fit recipe.

21 of 25

Spicy Beef Queso Dip

Photo by Brown Eyed Baker

Other than the fact that the bowl pictured is filled to precarious levels, this spicy beef queso dip is absolutely perfect. And even that’s only a temporary problem, as guests will gobble up all the dip before you know it. This recipe from Brown Eyed Baker makes our brown eyes blue.

22 of 25

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Photo by Taste and Tell

It turns out Popeye lied to us, and eating spinach does not, in fact, instantly give you gigantic muscles. The real ticket is eating spinach and artichoke… in dip form. Trust us, we’re doctors (of journalism). Taste and Tell tell us how to make (and taste) this dip here.

23 of 25

Sticky Chicken Wings

Photo by Homemade Hooplah

Remember all that stuff we said about wings being too messy? Forget it! We didn’t know what we were talking about. And to prove our point, here are some of the messiest (and tastiest) wings you’ll ever make. Recipe from the brilliant minds at Homemade Hooplah.

24 of 25

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Photo by Ocean Spray

This three-ingredient recipe is delicious to eat, simple to make, and impossible to forget. (But please tell that to my mother, who asks me for the recipe at least once every year.) This version from Ocean Spray is as basic as that person who sits near you at work. (You know who we mean.)

25 of 25

Whiskey Meatballs

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The best part of these whiskey meatballs? You probably already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen! (Ah, who are we kidding? The best part is the whiskey!) Get the recipe here courtesy of Plain Chicken.

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