23 Slow Cooker Classics for Your Tailgate

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Ribs

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

Buffalo Chicken Dip

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.

Easy Slow Cooker French Dip

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

Cocktail Meatballs I

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.

Bacon Wrapped Smokies

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.

Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork

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.

Outrageous Warm Chicken Nacho Dip

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

Slow Cooker Carnitas

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.

Pepperoncini Beef

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.

Emily’s Chipotle Chili

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.

Slow Cooker Bar-B-Q Party Mix

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.

Big Game Dip

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.

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Wings

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.

Little Smokies

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.

Slow Cooker Jalapeño Popper Taquitos

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.

Rachael’s Superheated Cajun Boiled Peanuts

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.

Hearty Vegan Slow-Cooker Chili

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.

Easy, Two-Ingredient Pulled Pork

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.

Spicy Hot Chicken Legs

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.

Warm Mexican Corn Dip

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.

Cola Beans

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.

Slow Cooker Fruit Cobbler

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.

Slow Cooker Potluck Spare Ribs

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.

More Inspiration