Football season is in full swing, and whether you’re watching for the actual sports or just to see what Taylor Swift is wearing to watch the Chiefs, that also means a whole lot of game-day cooking.
However, you don’t have to spend every Sunday sweating over a hot stove to serve favorites like Buffalo Chicken dip, ribs, or hot wings.
Business Insider spoke with cookbook authors Sarah Olson, who wrote “The Magical Slow Cooker,” and Kim Laidlaw, author of “Everyday Slow Cooking: Modern Recipes for Delicious Meals,” for ideas for easy game-day recipes.
These recipes can all be made in a slow cooker, allowing you to throw everything into your Crock-Pot and get back to the game.
Meatballs are a filling game-day appetizer you can make in a slow cooker.
Olson recommends her recipe for slow-cooker meatballs on game day.
“I love grape-jelly meatballs, which only have three ingredients,” she said. “They’re so good, everyone will ask you for the recipe.”
Another recipe by Spend With Pennies suggests placing your seasoned, raw meatballs into the slow cooker, topping them with sauce, and letting the slow cooker finish them off.
Beer brats can also be made in a slow cooker.
Brats with onions, peppers, and garlic simmered in the slow cooker along with beer are another one of Olson’s favorite game-day recipes.
“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 wrote on her website, The Magical Slow Cooker.
Plus, you can even choose peppers to reflect the colors of your favorite team.
Brisket is perfect for feeding a larger family.
“Brisket is a natural partner for the slow cooker, as a gentle braise renders it meltingly tender,” Kim Laidlaw wrote in “Everyday Slow Cooking: Modern Recipes for Delicious Meals.”
Laidlaw’s recipe for slow-cooked braised brisket features garlic, onion, dry red wine, carrots, and either chicken or beef stock, accompanied by a chimichurri sauce.
Pork shoulder is a slow-cooker staple you can use to make game-day sliders.
“One dish I think is so versatile is pork shoulder in a slow cooker with broth and a little salt and pepper,” Laidlaw told Business Insider. “I just braise that and then you can turn into so many different things.”
One of the best ways to use slow-cooked pork shoulder is to make pulled-pork sliders with all that tender meat. Then, top with barbecue sauce and slaw.
You can even make Buffalo chicken wings using a slow cooker.
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, remember to remove them from the sauce after 2.5 hours of cooking and broil them in the oven before adding them back to the slow cooker.
Pulled chicken with barbecue or Buffalo sauce is another great way to use your Crock-Pot.
One of the benefits of using a slow cooker is that you can start with a basic protein and jazz it up.
From Mexican-food-inspired spices to Indian simmer sauces, there are lots of ways to transform shredded-chicken dishes into something show-stopping by adding them to tacos, sandwiches, or salads.
Mac and cheese can also easily be made in a slow cooker.
If you want to add some carbs to your game-day menu, look no further than a piping hot pot of mac and cheese. Olson’s recipe uses cream cheese, milk, sharp cheddar, and white sharp cheddar.
Celebrity chef Martha Stewart’s recipe for slow-cooker mac and cheese is also easy to make.
“It is important to use pungent cheeses, such as sharp cheddar, mixed with a little Gruyere or pecorino Romano for extra bite, since the white sauce and pasta will absorb a lot of flavor,” Stewart writes.
Buffalo-chicken dip is another quick and easy favorite.
One of the benefits of making a slow-cooker Buffalo chicken dip — or any other side dish in a slow cooker — is that the recipe can be prepared well in advance 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.”
Spinach and artichoke dip is another game-day favorite you can make in a slow cooker.
One of the most popular game-day foods — that turns out even better and creamier in a slow cooker — is spinach and artichoke dip.
Made with full-fat cream cheese, shredded cheese, and mayonnaise, this recipe from Delish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Queso is a go-to game-day food that can be easily prepared in a Crock-Pot.
“I often make a queso verde dip in my slow cooker for game days,” Olson told Business Insider.
Her recipe for queso verde uses white Velveeta cheese, salsa verde, milk, and sour cream.
Chili is another popular recipe to make on game days.
Spicy chili and chipotle turkey chili is another recipe that can be left 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.
Slow cookers work perfectly to create an impressive — and tasty – nacho bar.
“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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