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

Posted by Guest Author on Nov 14, 2010 in Food | 66 comments

The holiday season is fast approaching and you need to grab your appetizer recipes and start planning. I know you have a few favorite treats that you like to share with your guests. Your mouth may be watering right now just thinking about those tasty snacks!

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: You can certainly make a simple little cheese dip that would be delicious, but, don’t you want to make a dip that your guests will remember, and talk about, and ask you for the recipe? How about an Artichoke and Cheese dip? By adding some chopped artichoke hearts to your favorite cheese dip you’ve perked this appetizer up enough to make it memorable.

Add a little zest to this dip by using freshly grated Parmesan cheese. For even more of a tangy flavor use some Dijon mustard and a little Worcestershire sauce if you like. And for some “heat” sprinkle in red pepper flakes or even some Louisiana Hot Sauce. Put everything in the crockpot on low for about 2 hours or until all hot and bubbly. Put out a bowl of crackers, bread, or hearty chips to complete this appetizer tray.

Cocktail Sausages: Think way beyond those little wienies and serve up an easy, but fancy, batch of sweet and tangy Apple Sausage Appetizers instead. Use any combination of ingredients such as brown sugar, honey, balsamic vinegar, and Dijon mustard, then instead of adding Vienna Sausages, cut up some good apple smoked sausage, some tart apples like Granny Smith, and some sweet onion and add that to the crockpot.

Although we know our Vienna Sausage appetizers are good, you’ll have to admit that this cocktail sausage appetizer is great! Mix together these special ingredients in your crockpot, turn it on low heat, and cook for about 2 hours, checking to make sure the onion and apple chunks are cooked, but don’t let them get soft and mushy.

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.

Pecan Snackies: Pretty bowls of nuts scattered about the tables in your home is certainly one way to serve delicious nutty snacks. But, rather than filling those bowls with the traditional mixed nuts from a jar, how about making a delicious and surprising treat? Turning pecans into sweet treats may be more expected, but that’s just why we’re turning pecans into a Nutty Cajun Treat!

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.

We all have our favorite appetizers that have become a tradition over the years. We can still enjoy these same appetizers, but don’t they deserve a little updating? And don’t our guests deserve a little special treat this year? Surprise them by tweaking your old crockpot appetizers and maybe you’ll start some brand new traditions!

Try your hand at some new Crock Pot recipes for appetizers to change your traditional menu into something unexpected, and delicious! Your family will be hooked on slowcooker cooking after they get a taste of your new and improved appetizers.

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