7 Scrumptious Slow Cooker Dips

The Super Bowl is coming up. Whether you watch the game or the commercials or just enjoy getting together with friends, we all love the food. Super Bowl Sunday might be better known as the world championship day of snacking.

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, slow cooker dip is one of the best ways to keep your guests satisfied without spending the whole game in the kitchen. The slow cooker keeps the dip warm and delicious, and all you have to do is restock the dippers. No matter how the game turns out, you’ll be a winner.

Bonus: None of these seven mouth-watering recipes involve Velveeta. We’re not above Velveeta, but we really do love to use real cheese that we shred ourselves.

Slow Cooker Dip: Queso

This  queso recipe from Today may not pass muster with native Texans, but it certainly does appeal to us. You’ll need to saute some onion, garlic, jalapeño, and tomato on the stovetop first. Don’t leave out the jalapeño; removing the seeds and sautéing it will mellow the flavor. It’s these key ingredients that elevate queso beyond mere melted cheese.

After sautéing, add everything to the slow cooker and cook on low for an hour and a half. Once it’s finished, you can add more milk a tablespoon or two at a time to thin the queso and make it easier to dip. Serve with tortilla chips, of course.

Slow Cooker Dip: Corn Jalapeno

Get out the heavy duty dippers for this hearty dip featuring sweet yellow corn and fresh jalapeños. All ingredients go straight into the slow cooker, including the diced and seeded jalapeños. It won’t be too spicy for milder palates; all the cheese and corn will meld with the flavor of the jalapeños.

After two hours in the slow cooker on low, the cream cheese may need a good stir to fully melt and combine with the other ingredients. Do that, and then crank the heat up to high for another fifteen minutes before serving. Because this dip is so chunky, be sure you have tortilla chips or corn chips that can stand up to it.

Slow Cooker Dip: Buffalo Chicken

We love the idea of serving this hot and spicy dip instead of Buffalo wings, which can be messy and grow cold too quickly. Poach and shred or dice your chicken in advance, or use rotisserie chicken if you’re short on time. Then just toss all the ingredients in the slow cooker for up to two hours on high or four hours on low.

Adjust the amount of hot sauce to suit your taste. You can start with a half-cup if you prefer it mild, or go full heat with a whole cup. While we don’t expect Super Bowl snacks to be healthy, we do like the idea of using Greek yogurt in place of sour cream. Finally, we believe blue cheese is integral to Buffalo chicken, but leave it out if you must.

You can use tortilla chips for dipping, but we suggest carrots and celery too. Chunks of hearty bread like sourdough would also be delicious.

Slow Cooker Dip: Classic Bean

Store-bought bean dip is an oldie but goodie. However, this bean dip recipe got rave reviews, and it looks so easy we have to try it. Choose your refried beans and picante sauce based on how hot you like your dip. We would even combine all the ingredients right in the slow cooker instead of dirtying another bowl.

It will take two hours on high for this dip to cook, but the results ought to be worth it. Expect it to be cheesy and creamy, and not as chunky as store-bought bean dip. You can serve it with tortilla chips as suggested, but we’d probably opt for classic corn chips.

Slow Cooker Dip: Spinach Artichoke

This version of the classic dip is simple and straightforward. All the ingredients go straight into the slow cooker and cook on high for two hours. You can even use frozen spinach, but thaw it first. We suggest thawing it in a colander over a bowl or in the sink, where some of the excess liquid can drain. Press on the spinach gently to squeeze out the rest.

The recipe calls for smoked mozzarella, which could be a great opportunity to try the Breville Smoking Gun or the handheld smoker from Crafthouse by Fortessa. Pita chips and tortilla chips are both excellent choices for dipping, or try chunks of bread.

Slow Cooker Dip: Beer Cheese

We expect there will be plenty of beer for drinking at most Super Bowl gatherings, but save some for this savory dip too. Every beer cheese dip recipe we’ve seen calls for a lager or pilsner, so don’t use an IPA or stout or expensive craft beer. Drink those instead, and grab a bottle of Miller Lite for your dip.

Sauté the garlic and shallot, and melt the cheeses on the stovetop. Then you can transfer this dip to a slow cooker to keep it warm as you serve it. One of the advantages of this dip is how quickly it comes together; no need to allow hours for slow cooking. In this case, you’ll use your slow cooker simply to keep this dip hot and ready.

Slow Cooker Dip: Caramelized Onion

Of all the dips we’ve featured here, this onion dip might be a little highbrow for the Super Bowl. You may want to set it aside and share it with guests who will appreciate the effort it demanded.

First, you’ll  caramelize some onions on the stovetop, season them with thyme and sugar, and deglaze the pan with balsamic vinegar. The caramelized onions go into the slow cooker along with the other ingredients, to cook on high for two and a half hours. Near the end of the cooking time, you’ll add diced brie and shredded gruyere. If gruyere isn’t in the budget, use white cheddar or provolone. Either way, you can see why this dip is special.