Irresistible Slow-Cooker Appetizers

By By the editors of MidwestLiving.com
January 10, 2014
Make zesty meatballs, tender pulled meat, crunchy snack mixes and savory dips in your slow cooker—perfect for serving at your next party.
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Cranberry-Sauced Meatballs Appetizer

Shape and bake the chicken meatballs ahead of time, then pop them in your slow cooker with cranberry and barbecue sauces.Cranberry-Sauced Meatballs Appetizer

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Spinach-Artichoke Dip with Blue Cheese and Bacon

Smoky bacon and salty blue cheese bring new flavor to an old favorite.Spinach-Artichoke Dip with Blue Cheese and Bacon

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Balsamic Vinegar and Honey Pulled-Pork Sliders

A boneless pork shoulder roast slow cooks with vegetables and herbs until it's fork-tender. Combine with a homemade barbecue sauce for the last hour of cooking, then spoon onto sliders with coleslaw and chopped pickles. Balsamic Vinegar and Honey Pulled-Pork Sliders

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Caramelized Onion-and-Cranberry Cheese Toasts

These tempting bite-size treats feature a slow-cooked mixture of onion, apple and cranberries served over a blend of cheeses on toasted French bread. Use any leftover onion mixture as a relish for pork or poultry.Caramelized Onion-and-Cranberry Cheese Toasts

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Greek Stuffed Meatballs

Stuff these easy slow-cooker meatballs with Greek Kasseri or feta cheese and top with our Greek Tomato Sauce for a crowd-pleasing starter.Greek Stuffed Meatballs

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Lemon-Zested Snacker Mix

Healthy snacking made easy! Slow cook cereal, seeds and nuts with a savory blend of lemon peel and herbs.Lemon-Zested Snacker Mix

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Mulled Cranberry Punch

Cranberry juice, juice concentrate, spices, orange juice and water simmers in your slow cooker. If you're serving this punch at a party, keep it warm on the low-heat setting for up to two hours.Mulled Cranberry Punch

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Mango-Habanero Pulled Chicken Bites

Sweet barbecue sauce, refreshing mangoes and hot habaneros give zesty flavor and color to slow-cooked chicken. Serve on baguette slices with additional mango.Mango-Habanero Pulled Chicken Bites

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Thai Chicken Wings with Peanut Sauce

Don't let the short ingredient list fool you: these chicken wings have huge flavor. That's because they're slow-cooked in a zingy garlic-and-ginger peanut sauce, with a pop of lime for good measure.Thai Chicken Wings with Peanut Sauce

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Spicy Mustard Stir-Fry Bites for a Crowd

Start this appetizer by stir-frying packaged strips of chicken, pork or beef, then let the strips slow cook in a mix of spicy mustard and fajita seasoning. Fill warmed tortillas, slice and serve!Spicy Mustard Stir-Fry Bites for a Crowd

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Hoisin-Garlic Mushrooms

For a super-easy appetizer: Slow cook mushrooms with crushed red pepper, hoisin sauce, water and minced garlic.Hoisin-Garlic Mushrooms

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Bourbon-Glazed Cocktail Sausages

A rich blend of apricot preserves, maple syrup and bourbon adds a sweet accent to smoked sausage.Bourbon-Glazed Cocktail Sausages

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Slow Cooker Sweet-Hot Nuts

Nuts in your slow cooker? Sure! Just toss them with sugar, butter and spices, and cook on low heat for two hours.Slow Cooker Sweet-Hot Nuts

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Barbecue Turkey Wedges

This combo of barbecue sauce, chopped veggies and cooked ground turkey tastes great on oven-crisped pita wedges. Barbecue Turkey Wedges

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Caponata Sicilianata

Spoon nutritious slow-cooked veggies onto sliced bread or crackers for a healthy appetizer.Caponata Sicilianata

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Swiss-Artichoke Dip

Artichoke hearts, dried tomatoes and sauce combine for a rich, creamy dip. Our recipe calls for processed Swiss cheese because it melts smoothly, but regular Swiss cheese will work fine, too. The dip will have a more stretchy, less creamy texture, but it tastes just as good.Swiss-Artichoke Dip

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Tea and Cider Wassail

Tea, four fruit juices and spices brew in your slow cooker. Serve the drink from the cooker or a heatproof bowl.Tea And Cider Wassail

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Sweet-and-Sour-Glazed Chicken Sausage Bites

Choose your favorite flavor of chicken sausage links and cover with an easy homemade glaze.Sweet-and-Sour-Glazed Chicken Sausage Bites

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Fruit Chutney with Spiced Chips

Guests will love this spiced mixture of apples, pears and cranberries. Cinnamon pita chips can be prepared a day in advance or purchased to save time. Top each serving with crumbled goat cheese.Fruit Chutney with Spiced Chips

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Cuban Pork Wraps

Slow-cooked pork shoulder roast turns to a tender shredded meat filling for flour tortillas.Cuban Pork Wraps

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Broccoli-Cheese Dip with Potato Dippers

Slow cook cheesy broccoli dip with reduced-fat cheeses, then serve with baked potato slices for a healthier alternative to full-fat or fried appetizers.Broccoli-Cheese Dip with Potato Dippers

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Molasses-Lime Meatballs

Molasses, lime juice and soy sauce add a pleasant kick to slow-cooked meatballs.Molasses-Lime Meatballs

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By By the editors of MidwestLiving.com