10 Slow Cooker Appetizers You Need To Try (Slideshow)

Why reserve tacos only for Tuesdays? Carnitas tacos are super easy in the slow cooker and make the perfect summertime appetizer any day of the week. The zesty spices and slow-cooked flavors will truly put guests over the top. To make the carnitas tacos bite-sized, use a round cookie cutter or a glass to cut tortillas into mini portions.

Throwing that pork butt into the crock-pot with other tasty ingredients makes for effortless appetizers. Slow-cooked pulled pork can top rice cakes with a garnish of cilantro and white onions or a drizzle of BBQ sauce or can fill phyllo cups to dress it up. Pulled pork can be the life of your party in other ways, too — sliders might just be the epitome of snack food. Pulled pork sliders are a wonderful addition to your hors d'oeuvres roster, as pulled pork is super quick and hassle-free with a slow cooker. Just plop the ingredients your crock-pot and let it do its thing. 

Sausage and meatball bites are a sure thing when it comes to crowd-pleasing hors d'oeuvres, especially when the ingredients are as low maintenance as the recipe. Frozen meatballs + little smoked sausages + a variety of flavorful sauces + slow cooker = appetizer happiness. 

As a game day favorite and perfect staple for backyard barbeques, Mexican seven layer dip is also a stress-free appetizer when the slow cooker is involved. Layers of refried beans, black beans, onions, peppers, cheese, and sour cream, will all become friends in the crock-pot, and score a homerun for your party.

Party guests always value creativity, especially in hors d'oeuvres. But hosts appreciate time-saving techniques.  Slow-cooked teriyaki chicken and macaroni salad sliders meet both requirements and are sure to be a crowd pleaser. 

Dip bowls are often focal points at parties. Try a spicy jalapeno spinach dip with parmesan and cream cheese cooked up in your crock-pot for the next get-together. Because really, who doesn't like cheesy dips?

For something a little different and quirky at the next shindig, mini cheeseburger pies do the trick.  Though this twist on the good ol' slider takes a little prep, your slow cooker will do most of the work and these bite-size pies will be great to pass around to your guests.

Potato skins are a great vehicle for toppings of many sorts.  Load potato skins up with slow-cooked pork, and your guests will think you're a culinary genius. What's a better combination than meat and potatoes?

Most anything drenched in barbecue sauce is delicious. But chicken, brined and cooked until tender in a crock-pot, shredded and drowned in sweet and spicy barbecue sauce, sounds close to perfection. Throw that slow-cooked barbecued chicken on little buns, and voila! The perfect appetizer.

Most of us love to nosh no matter what diet we're on, but light party snack options can be far and few between. On top of having fewer calories, apricot chicken lettuce wraps are made easy with the help of a slow cooker. Boom, a simple and refreshing appetizer.