Whether you have a house full of fans cheering on their team or an informal gathering of people more interested in million-dollar commercial spots, the Super Bowl has proven to be a huge at-home event year after year. Where there’s a group, there’s bound to be a spread of delicious appetizers, sides, dips and savory entrees to be had.

If you have a bunch of guests coming in to your house, it pays to work ahead and let slow cookers keep things warm throughout your party. Most of these recipes can be made on the stove or in the oven and then transferred to a slow cooker so you can focus on the game.

Try any of these game day recipes for a stress-free Super Bowl party. Have a favorite party recipe that you want to share? Email it to me for a chance to be published.

Smoky, Meaty Chili

Change up your go-to chili with this recipe, calling for smoked brisket and some sweet barbecue sauce. If you don’t have a smoker or just don’t feel like buying a whole brisket just to dice up and throw into this chili, we recommend finding a local spot that can sell you some already smoked by the pound.

It’s a great recipe to start up a couple hours before kickoff and let it simmer in a slow cooker to keep warm.

This recipe was a pitmaster’s entry into a chili cookoff featuring professionals from around Charlotte, North Carolina, so it’s bound to be worth seconds.

Read the full recipe.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Among party dips served warm, buffalo chicken dip reigns supreme. This recipe takes the hassle out of making the crowd favorite. Sure, you could poach a few chicken breasts yourself, but this recipe gives a shortcut via your grocery store’s rotisserie chicken counter.

Tangy, cheesy and topped with fresh cilantro for a little brightness, you may want to be ready to make another batch of this buffalo chicken dip.

Read the full recipe.

Easiest Queso

Got a hankering for the Tex-Mex favorite? This simple queso recipe is a surefire winner.

It combines some ground beef and pico de gallo, as well as a bed of sliced avocado that the queso is poured over, making the whole dish extra creamy. While queso is always great with tortilla chips, this one is also great served with celery, carrots and bell pepper strips to dip.

Read the full recipe.

Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Dip

The beauty of slow cooker recipes is how hands-off they are after a few easy steps. If you’re already using your only slow cooker to keep your chili or queso warm, don’t be afraid to ask a guest to bring one from home to help out. If you want to make cleanup even easier, make sure to use a slow cooker liner.

Spinach and artichoke dip is a great match for the tortilla chips you’ll likely have for a party, but it’s a great dip for crostini or any toasted bread you have on hand, pretzel thins or even veggie tray items.

Read the full recipe.

Crab Meat Nachos

Try a fun, lighter spin on nachos with this recipe. Top mounds of tortilla chips with a mixture of crab meat, cream cheese, lime and sour cream for a unique twist on the Mexican snack.

You can go all-out and buy fresh lump crab meat, or stay cost-conscious and use canned crab meat. The mixture is getting spooned onto a bed of tortilla chips on a baking sheet and baked for 20 minutes, so you may not even be able to tell the difference after that.

Read the full recipe.

Hearty Pantry-clearing Queso

Sure, there’s another queso on this list. That one is more akin to a beginner’s queso recipe. This one is perfect for a hearty, seven-layer-dip-inspired queso.

It’s also a great option for clearing out some pantry and produce staples. Need to use up that bell pepper, some salsa verde and a block of cream cheese? This queso is for you.

The recipe only calls for one pot, so in addition to being a hearty side for your party, it’s got minimal cleanup involved.

Read the full recipe.

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