20 Slow-Cooker Recipes to Whip Up During March Madness
I consider myself a sports fan. I like watching sports. But really, what I like about the whole ordeal isn’t the games themselves, but the beer and snacks that tend to accompany them. And if you’re still on the fence about the whole sports thing, I know of a few truly delicious March Madness slow-cooker recipes that might just change your mind.
While I don’t religiously follow teams or work my schedule around the playoffs, I do have pretty strong feelings about game day snacks. Namely that every spread needs a good mix of sweet and savory snacks and there should be at least one thing that can count as a legitimate meal. And when it comes to the weeks-long event that is March Madness, slow-cooker recipes are always a safe bet.
See, when you’re watching daily games through the week, it’s likely you won’t have time to spend hours making snacks in the kitchen beforehand. This isn’t football season, where most of the action is packed into Sunday afternoon, giving you ample time to prepare. March Madness is like a viewing marathon for basketball fans, which means snacks need to be made at the ready—and still tasty.
Whether you’re hosting or headed elsewhere, the 20 March Madness slow-cooker recipes below will be guaranteed hits. Go on, give the people who don’t actually care about sports something to get excited about.
1. Copycat Chili’s Queso
Why try to perfect your own queso dip when Chili’s is already so damn good? Serve with chips and await your praise.
2. South Philly Style Italian Shredded Pork
The key to almost any sports fan’s heart is through a good pulled pork sandwich, isn’t it?
3. Buffalo Chicken-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Oh, you want to go all out? How do buffalo chicken-stuffed sweet potatoes sound to you? Excuse me while I dollop on an obscene amount of sour cream.
4. Taco Dip
Turn taco Tuesday into a party with this easy slow-cooker taco dip. Don’t forget the chips!
5. Boozy Salted Caramel Fudge
Need a sweet snack but don’t want to bake? Boozy, slow-cooker salted caramel fudge to the rescue.
6. French Dip Sandwiches
Don’t force guests to subsist on snacks alone. These slow-cooker French dip sandwiches are fun and simple, but count as a real meal.
7. Giant Chocolate Chip Raisin Cookie
This giant slow-cooker cookie is extra fudgy, with or without a big scoop of ice cream. Don’t listen to sports fans who say they’re too focused on the game to enjoy dessert!
8. Spaghetti and Meatballs
Another casual meal option? Slow-cooker spaghetti and meatballs. No guarantee you won’t be cleaning it up off the couch later, though.
9. Pizza Dip
Sure, you could just skip cooking and order pizza. Or, you could impress everyone with this slow-cooker pizza dip.
10. Korean Meatballs
These lil’ slow-cooker meatballs kind of look like basketballs, right? No? Well, they definitely taste better.
11. Spinach-Artichoke Dip
A party without spinach-artichoke dip is just a gathering. There, I said it! Consider this one a game-day essential.
12. Sweet Heat Kielbasa Dip
Nothing says “sports!” like slow-cooker melted cheese and sausage dip. It’s so good, your guests won’t really care who wins or loses the big game.
13. Salted Caramel Bars
Trust me, you’re going to hope for leftovers of these delicious slow-cooker salted caramel bars. They nail that perfect combination of sweet and salty I just can’t resist!
14. Thai Curry Nut Mix
Take your bowl of nuts to the next level with this creative slow-cooker Thai curry mix.
15. BBQ Chex Mix
Why buy Chex mix when you can make it to your exact preferences? Find out your guests’ faves beforehand or follow this recipe to a T.
16. Tater Tot Casserole
Everybody loves a good tot casserole, am I right? Cheesy, snacky and filling!
17. Monkey Bread
This isn’t just any bread. It’s pull-apart, slow-cooker monkey bread. AKA, the only dessert with leftovers perfect for breakfast the next morning.
18. Dinner Rolls
If you’re not feeling the monkey bread and want to go for OG carbs instead, you can’t get much more classic than these slow-cooker dinner rolls.
19. Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa Bites
No matter what you’re craving, these slow-cooker kielbasa bites knock sweet, savory and spicy flavors out of the park.
20. Buffalo Wings
If you’re not eating wings while you watch sports, are you even a real fan? The answer is probably not.
