Recipes Everyday Cooking Slow Cooker 25 Slow Cooker Classics for Your Next Tailgate Never show up empty handed again. By Vanessa Greaves Vanessa Greaves Vanessa Greaves is a Senior Editor at Allrecipes with nearly two decades of experience helping home cooks gain confidence in the kitchen. A self-taught cook who grew up reading cookbooks for fun, Vanessa lives and breathes the challenges faced by busy everyday cooks to get dinner on the table. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines and Stacey Ballis Stacey Ballis Stacey Ballis is a novelist, cookbook author, freelance food and lifestyle journalist, and recipe developer who specializes in culinary fiction, and empowering home cooks to create extraordinary cooking and dining experiences for themselves and their loved ones. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Updated on October 17, 2024 Close Photo: Allrecipes Whether it is the final big game of the season or just a small gathering of devoted fans at your home, sports require a certain commitment to tailgating food. Tailgating is more of a style, really. It doesn't require you to commit to actually entertaining in a parking lot. In fact, most "tailgating" happens in the comfort of people's homes, gathered around a television instead of an open hatchback. No single tool is more of a game-changer for tailgate-style cooking than the slow cooker. Whether you are using it to prepare dishes ahead, keep them warm on the buffet, or even transport them to the game attached to a small generator, these recipes are all just what you want for any big game. With these 25 slow cooker tailgating recipes, you'll be prepared to serve up only the best food for any game. 01 of 26 Slow-Cooker Barbecue Ribs Allrecipes Magazine These finger-lickin' ribs get a brief bake before they go in the crock pot to cook off a lot of the fat. Winning Play: "The genius of this recipe is the first step - roasting ribs in the oven. This removes fat and liquid that would otherwise cause soupy results in the crockpot. For this, it deserves 5 stars!!" — PEACHESNCREAM2 View Recipe 02 of 26 Buffalo Chicken Dip Mackenzie Schieck With 3000+ reviews, this all-time classic football party dip has earned its hall-of-fame status. Winning Play: Many reviewers said they use blue cheese dressing instead of ranch to give it an authentic Buffalo chicken vibe, and shredded up cooked chicken breasts instead of canned chicken. 8 Hot And Cheesy Dips That Should Magically Appear At Every Party View Recipe 03 of 26 Easy Slow Cooker French Dip Jennifer Brandstrom A quick 10-minute prep and four ingredients is all it takes to get this juicy pot of beef ready for your game day party. Winning Play: "Slice your beef about 1/2 hr before you want to serve it and return it to juice. Wow!" — EUROMOM98 View Recipe 04 of 26 Slow Cooker Loaded Chicken and Potatoes Dotdash Meredith Food Studios “This slow cooker recipe is what cravings are made of,” said recipe developer Amanda Holstein. View Recipe 05 of 26 Cocktail Meatballs I mommyluvs2cook No one can resist these saucy balls. Whether alone or in a wrap or sub, these meatballs are as versatile as your team's defense. Winning Play: For easier prep, bake the meatballs at 350°F for about 30 minutes instead of cooking them in a skillet, then just pop them into the crock pot. To make it easier still, go with frozen meatballs for a seriously low-prep appetizer. View Recipe 06 of 26 Bacon Wrapped Smokies Lady Baker The recipe is ridiculously easy — cocktail weiners get wrapped in bacon and baked with a dusting of brown sugar, then you pop them into your slow cooker to serve warm at party time — but all that simplicity still earns this fan favorite a solid 5-star rating. Winning Plays: Crystal S uses maple-flavored bacon to amp up the flavor; MEOWSIES29 softens the bacon in the microwave to make for easier wrapping; Kaye Lynn recommends using cocktail smokies instead of cocktail weiners; Sarah Jo serves them with a dipping sauce of BBQ sauce and grape jelly. View Recipe 07 of 26 Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork Dotdash Meredith Food Studios You'll come back to this flavorful recipe all season long. Winning Play: Use a boneless pork shoulder instead of pork tenderloin. It's much cheaper and has tons of flavor. A scoop of crisp and tangy coleslaw over the top adds texture and helps balance out the richness of the sauce. The Best Meat for Slow Cooking Is Also the Cheapest View Recipe 08 of 26 Outrageous Warm Chicken Nacho Dip Marianne Here's what recipe submitter brightlightz says about this wildly popular dip: "This is my jazzed up version of classic queso dip taken to a heartier level, perfect for football games, tailgating or for taking along to pot lucks in a slow cooker! This is a serious crowd-pleaser that is served hot as a dip, spooned over crisp tortilla chips nacho-style, or rolled up in a warm flour tortilla! The heat can be turned up or down with the addition of jalapenos to taste." Winning Play: "I usually do half Velveeta, half sharp Cheddar. I will serve it with homemade lime-chili tortilla chips and the bottle of Frank's Hot Sauce. NOTE: Use homemade taco seasoning if you can. It's better than the pre-packaged stuff by a mile. I found Bill Echols is the best from this site." — Sarah Jo View Recipe 09 of 26 Slow Cooker Carnitas Tammy Lynn Set out hot tortillas and bowls of pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, guacamole, and sour cream, and you've got a DIY taco bar. Winning Play: Reviewer LucyDelRey suggests you spread out the pork on a rimmed baking sheet with some of the juice from the pot, and bake at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes to give the carnitas a crisp edge that usually comes from frying. View Recipe 10 of 26 Pepperoncini Beef TTV78 Tangy pickled pepperoncini peppers give this classic sandwich a real kick without being too hot to handle. Winning Play: Heap the sandwich with grilled onions and a slice of provolone cheese. Stick it under the broiler for a minute or two until it gets all melty. View Recipe 11 of 26 Emily's Chipotle Chili mommyluvs2cook Meaty, thick, and hearty. You can substitute any sausages you like to go with the smokey chipotle peppers, and some reviewers even doubled up on the peppers because that's how they roll. Winning Play: Balance out the spice with sweet cornbread on the side. How to Make the Best Homemade Chili View Recipe 12 of 26 Slow Cooker Bar-B-Q Party Mix Morticia Adams Any football gathering needs some good snacks. And there is nothing more classic than a great homemade spiced snack mix. For this one, you don't even need to turn on your oven, the slow cooker does all the work. Winning Play: Bacon salt ($6.50; amazon.com) really makes the difference in this snack mix. The hickory flavor isn't easily replicated by any other ingredient, but you can use seasoning salt in a pinch. 15 Easy and Tasty Snack Mixes View Recipe 13 of 26 Big Game Dip pelicangal No tailgating party would be complete without a cheesy hot dip, and this version ups the ante with sausage. All you need are a bowl of tortilla chips, and your guests can dive on into the melty goodness. Winning Play: If you want a milder dip, opt for mild sausage and mild salsa. If you think the hotter the better, go deep with hot sausage and hot salsa. Chef John's Best Party Dip Recipes View Recipe 14 of 26 Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Wings Scoot0023 Wings go with tailgating like milk goes with cookies, but they can be a bit fussy to make and keep warm. No one wants to have to be pulling pans out of the oven all day. These wings cook right in your slow cooker, and then you can keep them warm on the buffet for all the pleasure and none of the panic. Winning Play: To help get a crispy skin on the wings, broil them for a few minutes on high in the oven. Then put them right into the warming slow cooker so they can finish. 25 Favorite Chicken Wings for the Big Game View Recipe 15 of 26 Little Smokies Lela Is it even a tailgating party without some sort of sausage? These little cocktail weenies only need some toothpicks to deliver them into the happy mouths of your lucky guests. Winning Play: Where most cooks just empty a bottle of barbecue sauce into a slow cooker with the little weenies, this recipe goes a step further for a big gain — and you likely already have all the ingredients on hand. View Recipe 16 of 26 Slow Cooker Jalapeño Popper Taquitos Soup Loving Nicole If jalapeño poppers and taquitos had a baby, this recipe is it. The filling cooks right in your slow cooker, which eliminates a lot of the steps in your taquito prep, making it a much more achievable dish for the party. Winning Play: Most reviewers used chicken breasts. They'll both work great, so use whichever is cheapest or already in your fridge. View Recipe 17 of 26 Rachael's Superheated Cajun Boiled Peanuts Emily Want something a little unexpected on your buffet for your next tailgating gathering? These boiled peanuts are salty and spicy and delectable. Winning Play: Be sure to put out some bowls to capture the shells, and watch your guests embrace a traditional Southern snack that is always a hit. View Recipe 18 of 26 Hearty Vegan Slow-Cooker Chili Scott M. Chili is nearly synonymous with tailgating, but these days, so many people have dietary restrictions that it can feel a little overwhelming. A lot of vegetarians and vegans get relegated to making meals out of crudités and hummus or chips. This vegan chili might be meatless, but it is still hearty and delicious. Your meat-eating guests will still be satisfied, and your vegan and vegetarian pals will love your thoughtfulness. Winning Play: Serve with vegan agave cornbread muffins. 18 Vegan Appetizers That Everyone Will Love View Recipe 19 of 26 Easy, Two-Ingredient Pulled Pork mauigirl Sandwiches are a perfect choice for a tailgating party, and this pulled pork is as easy as two ingredients and your slow cooker. Add some buns, and you have everything you need to keep your guests happy. Winning Play: A few reviewers recommend a dry rub to help flavor the meat. This BBQ Spice Rub would work well with any flavor of barbecue sauce. View Recipe 20 of 26 Spicy Hot Chicken Legs Erinwoolsey Nothing is more tailgate-friendly than a one-handed snack; you don't even have to put down your beer! Chicken legs are a great choice, but most recipes have you cooking them in the oven, which is the last thing a busy host needs to add to their list. This version uses the slow cooker to eliminate the hassle. Winning Play: To get crispy skin, several reviewers recommend moving the legs to a baking sheet and broiling them or baking on high for a few minutes before serving. View Recipe 21 of 26 Warm Mexican Corn Dip Allrecipes Don't worry about putting away leftovers after the game. This dip will be cleaned out before halftime arrives. Winning Play: With only four ingredients, you can start making this dip about an hour before the game starts, and it'll be ready for dipping at kick-off. View Recipe 22 of 26 Cola Beans Allrecipes Need a great side dish for all of your tailgating foods? These classic sweet-and-savory baked beans with bacon will be your new favorite recipe. Especially if you are grilling for your gathering, the smokiness of the bacon will be a perfect match for your burgers and dogs. Winning Play: Several reviewers suggest cooking the bacon about halfway before adding it to the slow cooker to prevent a lot of excess grease that needs to be spooned off the beans before serving. View Recipe 23 of 26 Slow Cooker Fruit Cobbler Meredith When it comes to dessert, what would be more satisfying for a crowd than a slow cooker cobbler full of warm, fruity goodness? Winning Play: Serve some vanilla ice cream on the side, or just put out a can of aerosol whipped cream, and let everyone self-serve. View Recipe 24 of 26 Slow Cooker Potluck Spare Ribs Dotdash Meredith Food Studios What's better than ribs at a tailgate? This recipe is the one if you need to feed a crowd and want some easy, tender spare ribs to enjoy. Winning Play: "These crockpot spare ribs are perfect for a potluck. Use a slow cooker bag and cleanup is super easy. It's sure to be a recipe they beg for!" says recipe creator Maggie Ogier Luke. View Recipe 25 of 26 Boilermaker Tailgate Chili "This boilermaker chili is the one the gang eats at Purdue Boilermaker football games. I always prep and cook the chili the night before and then reheat it the next day. This is a combination of many different tomato-based chili recipes." —MIGHTYPURDUE22 View Recipe 26 of 26 More Inspiration Holiday Baker 10 Tailgating Recipes You Can Make Ahead of Time My Aunt’s 3-Ingredient Tailgate Dip Is the Only Reason I Like Football Season My Mom’s 4-Ingredient Dip Will Get You Invited to Every Tailgate for Eternity Was this page helpful? 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