Don’t Serve The Same Old Appetizers This Holiday Season – Kick Those Crockpot Appetizer Recipes Up A Notch

Now that the holiday season is right around the corner, you’ve probably started dragging out your recipes, including your favorite appetizer recipes. Everyone loves those tasty treats and you know your dinner guests like to grab a few bites as they visit.

Even when planning a big sit-down meal, your dinner guests will always make room for a few tasty bites before dinner. The trick to serving good appetizers is serving an attractive and delicious variety of dishes. This may be easier said than done when you have become so accustomed to making certain appetizers year after year.

It’s time to put your crockpot to work for you as you improve on your classic appetizers like cheese dips, cocktail wieners, and meatballs. Your holiday gathering is special. Shouldn’t your appetizers be special, too?

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 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.

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.

Mini Meatballs: Any meatball recipe will work for this, but the sauce is what makes this appetizer recipe different from your ordinary barbecue meatball appetizer. Beer is the secret ingredient for making this Saucy Meatball Appetizer nice and tangy and full of flavor. Begin by forming the meatballs and browning them in a skillet with a little oil. Then put them in your crockpot.

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 Snacks: A few pretty bowls of nuts scattered on tables throughout the house during your holiday gathering is always a nice touch. Instead of just pouring mixed nuts right out of the jar, how about your own special nutty treat? Pecans are often thought of as a dessert nut, so surprise your guests with pecans presented in grand Cajun fashion!

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!

Pick one of your favorite appetizer recipes for your crock pot and get started today learning how to save time and money using crockpot cooking in your own home.