Perk Up Your Old Crockpot Appetizer Recipes With A Few Special Surprises

With the holiday season quickly approaching, I’m guessing you have already pulled out some of your favorite appetizer recipes. You know you love those mouth-watering little treats and you know that your guests love to nibble on appetizers as they mingle.

Even if you are serving a big meal for your holiday celebration, your guests probably still enjoy a few snacks as they sit and visit before dinner. You’ve probably developed a few nice little appetizers that keep everyone happy as they mingle. But, do you want to keep serving the same dishes year after year? Breaking from your traditional dishes doesn’t have to be difficult if you know a few little tricks for making your appetizers a bit more special.

Let’s put your crockpot to work making something a little more special than the same little wienies, cheese dips, and barbecued meatballs that your guests have come to expect. It’s time to go beyond those simple treats and come up with appetizers that are worthy of your holiday get-together.

Cheese Dip: Your classic cheese dip is tasty enough, but wouldn’t it be even better with a few special ingredients. Mix up a Cheese & Artichoke dip to surprise and delight your guests. Now, your cheese dip will be remembered!

Add other tasty and tangy ingredients like Worcestershire sauce, Dijon or other spicy mustard, some red pepper flakes, and Parmesan cheese to liven up this traditional dip. Put your ingredients in the crockpot on low and cook for about 2 hours. Keep it warm and serve alongside a basket of fresh crusty bread, crackers, or chips for dipping.

Saucy Sausages: If little cocktail wienies are a favorite in your house, but the traditional recipe seems to have run its course, it’s easy to turn this classic into something uniquely yours. A tasty combination of smoked sausage, tart apples, and sweet onion, swimming in a sauce of balsamic vinegar, honey, brown sugar, and mustard will quickly become your new favorite Sweet and Tangy Sausage Appetizer.

If your guests were expecting the standard cocktail wienie appetizer, they’ll be pleasantly surprised when they bite into this sweet and spicy treat. Combine the ingredients in your crockpot, set it on low heat, and let cook for about 2 hours. Check to make sure the apples and onions are just cooked through but not turning to mush, then serve warm.

Meatball Bites: Those little meatballs swimming around in barbecue sauce are tasty, but are they special enough for your holiday event? Go ahead and make your mini meatballs out of your favorite recipe, but when it comes to the sauce, it’s time to do something special. Beer is the ingredient that kicks this appetizer recipe up a couple pegs. This Tangy Meatball Appetizer will have your guests wondering what makes the sauce so yummy. Start by making your favorite meatball recipe, form the mini meatballs, then brown them in a heavy skillet with cooking oil. Once they’re brown, put them in your crock pot.

In a bowl, create your sauce with beer, spicy tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and a little horseradish. Add salt, pepper, onion, garlic, hot sauce, or other seasonings you like. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and cook in your crockpot on low for about 2 to 3 hours or until the meatballs are cooked through. Now your little meatball appetizer won’t be like every other one on the block.

Nutty Snacks: I always think some pretty bowls of assorted nuts placed on tables around the room is a nice touch. But, instead of just dumping some mixed nuts in a bowl, why not cook up a batch to surprise your holiday guests? Because pecans are often associated with sweet snacks and desserts, these Cajun Style Pecans will be quite the surprise, indeed!

Use spices that are typically found in Cajun cooking, like cayenne pepper, ground oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, ground or dried thyme and even a little chili powder. Add salt and black pepper if you wish. Then mix these spices together with some melted butter and pecans. Put everything in your crockpot set on high, and cook covered for about 12 to 15 minutes. Then uncover your crockpot, turn it to low, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2 hours. After that, just cool the pecans on paper towels, a paper bag, or a baking sheet or rack.

Don’t limit yourself to the same old appetizers you’ve made for years. Serve your guests new, tastier versions of the appetizers you know and love by adding just a few simple, yet surprising ingredients!

Try your hand at some new crockpot appetizer recipes for the holidays to turn your routine appetizers into something spectacular and delicious. Get your family hooked on slowcooker cooking with tasty treats on your holiday buffet.