8 Appetizers You Won’t Believe Came Out of a Slow Cooker

Time-strapped home cooks know the crock pot to be the secret behind a set-it-and-forget-it supper. But the ceramic vessel, which is typically tasked with breaking down tough cuts of meat, can also be your secret weapon at a holiday party. Next time it’s your turn to host cocktails at home, bust out the insert for one of these eight appetizers.

1. Hot Wings

The secret to these wings—which can skew Buffalo-style, Asian, or Latin, depending on your choice of hot sauce—is crisping them in a preheated oven at the very end for a browned color, flavor, and texture.
Photo and recipe from CHOW

2. Steamed Whole Artichokes

For a healthy snack or starter, try steaming whole globe artichokes in your crock pot. Serve them with red wine vinegar and olive oil for dipping.
Photo and recipe from The Kitchn

3. Cocktail Meatballs

Cocktail meatballs feel appropriate for any occasion, whether you’re throwing a tailgate or a highbrow holiday fete. Bonus idea: Prep and freeze, then defrost and pop 'em into the cooker when it’s go time.
Photo and recipe from Every Little Thing

4. Party Mix

The best party mixes are evenly seasoned, and leave your fingers a little sticky with spice. Achieve this by combining a medley of bite-sized crackers with butter, spices, and liquid smoke, then heating the party mix in the crock pot until dry and warm.
Photo and recipe from CHOW

5. Boiled Peanuts

Boiled peanuts, a Low Country favorite, are simple to make but require a watchful eye. Eliminate the caveat here by cooking peanuts in the slow cooker instead.
Photo and recipe from Add a Pinch

6. Cheese Fondue

Here’s a dirty secret that specialty kitchen stores don’t want you to know: You don’t need a fondue pot to make great fondue. Use a crock pot for our Alpine-inspired version; just make sure to stir the dip often.
Photo and recipe from CHOW

7. Cocktail Sausages

Use your slow cooker to warm toothpick-friendly cocktail sausages, and infuse them with a sweet-tangy-spicy mix of brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and Sriracha sauce.
Photo and recipe from Damn Delicious

8. Roasted Garlic

There’s hardly a more gratifying pleasure than the simple act of smoothing a clove of roast garlic on toast; step away from the oven in favor of the lower-maintenance slow cooker instead.
Photo and recipe from Shockingly Delicious; header image from CHOW

Susannah Chen is a San Francisco–based freelance writer. When she's not cooking or writing, she's on the hunt to find the world's best chilaquiles. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.