10 game day foods you can make in a slow cooker

Meatballs make the perfect appetizer for parties — however small they'll be this year — and are easy to make in a slow cooker.

Place your seasoned, raw meatballs into the slow cooker, top with sauce, and let the slow cooker finish them off, says one recipe by Spend With Pennies.

Sarah Olson also recommends slow cooker meatballs on game day, saying, "I love grape jelly meatballs which only has 3 ingredients and so good everyone will ask you for the
recipe!"

Read More: 15 things you didn't know you could make in a Crock-Pot

Brats with onions, peppers, and garlic simmered in the slow cooker along with beer are another one of Olson's favorite game day recipes — it's been a hit in previous years, when people could gather for games.

"When the guests arrive they get to choose when they want to eat since the slow cooker keeps these brats nice and warm during the game," she writes on "The Magical Slow Cooker."

Plus, you can even choose peppers to reflect the colors of your favorite team.

"Brisket is a natural partner for the slow cooker, as a gentle braise renders it meltingly tender," Kim Laidlaw writes in her cookbook, "Everyday Slow Cooking: Modern Recipes for Delicious Meals."

Laidlaw's recipe for slow-cooked braised brisket includes garlic, onion, dry red wine, carrot, and chicken or beef stock, with a chimichurri sauce.

Nothing screams "game day" more than finger-licking Buffalo chicken wings, and you might be surprised to learn you can make them in a slow cooker.

Sarah Olson's recipe for slow-cooked Buffalo chicken wings calls for thawed chicken wings, hot sauce, and unsalted butter. To get the wings super crispy, make sure to remember to remove them from the sauce after 2.5 hours of cooking and broil them in the oven before adding them back into the slow cooker.

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"One dish I think is so versatile is pork shoulder in a slow cooker with broth and a little salt and pepper," Laidlaw previously told Insider. "I just braise that and then you can turn into so many different things."

One of the best ways to utilize slow-cooked pork shoulder is to make pulled pork sliders with all that tender meat. Then, top with barbecue sauce and slaw.

If you're looking to add some carbs to your game day menu, look no further than a piping hot pot of macaroni and cheese. Sarah Olson's recipe uses cream cheese, milk, sharp cheddar, and white sharp cheddar.

One of the benefits of making a slow cooker Buffalo chicken dip — or any other side dish in a slow cooker — is that it can be prepared well ahead of time and reheated when you're ready to eat.

"There are so many different dips that can be made in the slow cooker, you can make Buffalo chicken dip, bacon cheeseburger dip, cheesy bean dip, Rotel and Velveeta Dip, and even artichoke dip," Olson said. "I like to serve all these dips with tortilla chips. Can't choose one dip? Make two or more for a variety for your guests."

"I often make a queso verde dip in my slow cooker for game days," Olson told Insider.

Her recipe for queso verde uses white Velveeta cheese, salsa verde, milk, and sour cream. The recipe serves 12, meaning you'll have tons of delicious leftovers to pair with chips or even layered on top of nachos the next day.

Spicy chili and chipotle turkey chili is another recipe you can leave simmering all day until you're ready to dig in. Paired with some cornbread, you've got a hearty meal that will last until the final whistle blows.

"I use three slow cookers for a nacho bar, which is a great way to utilize those smaller slow cookers," Olson said. "I use one slow cooker for nacho cheese (store-bought), one for seasoned ground beef, and one for refried beans. I also make a toppings bar that has salsa, sour cream, guac, olives, onions, and tomatoes."

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