48 Game Day Recipes for the Instant Pot and Slow Cooker

Score a touchdown with these Instant Pot and slow cooker game day recipes. The best part about game day is the food. Really, any excuse to bust out chicken wings and queso is my kind of event.

I've rounded up a variety of game-day-winning recipes, from slow cooker corn dip and Hawaiian meatballs to beefy bacon chili and pulled pork sandwiches. You'll find low-carb, keto, vegan, gluten-free options, and more.

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Four images in a grid, buffalo chicken dip in a bowl, bbq meatball on a fork, bbq chicken drumsticks, and hard boiled eggs.

Jump to:

What is a slow cooker?
What is an Instant Pot?
Dips and Spreads
Meatballs and Little Smokies
Finger Foods
Chili
Chicken Wings, Ribs, and Drumsticks
Shredded Meat Recipes
💬 Comments

What is a slow cooker?

Slow cookers are cooking appliances that cook food for a long period of time using relatively low temperatures.

You'll often see recipes labeled "Crock-Pot" rather than slow cooker. Crock-Pot is one specific brand of slow cooker, but all slow cookers have two basic settings: high and low. You can cook any "Crock Pot" recipe in any brand slow cooker.

Why use a slow cooker?

Slow cooker recipes are a great option for events and parties because you can make a large quantity of food (I use a 6-quart cook and carry Crock Pot) and keep it warm. Dump-and-go slow cooker recipe will keep you out of the kitchen so you can sit down, relax, and enjoy the game.

What is an Instant Pot?

An Instant Pot is a specific brand and type of pressure cooker. As it sounds, pressure cookers cook food under high steam pressure insight a tightly sealed pot.

There are very basic pressure cookers (the old school large pots with locking lids), and then there are smart, multi-functional, programmable slow cookers like the Instant Pot. Other multi-functional brands of pressure cookers include Comfee and Ninja.

Why use an Instant Pot?

The Instant Pot is great because it pressure cooks, sautés, slow cooks, and more. Plus, like a slow cooker, it will keep your food warm. I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Duo.

More advanced pressure cookers (e.g., Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot Duo Crisp) now have crisping lids to air fry your food.

Many recipes can be made both in a pressure cooker and a slow cooker, but the pressure cooker has one obvious advantage: speed. When you're under a time crunch, pressure cooking in the Instant Pot is often the way to go.

Dips and Spreads

Wings and dip are my essential game-day dishes. Bring on the cream cheese.

Try a classic queso or buffalo chicken dip, or go for a more unique dip recipe like slow cooker corn and pepper cheese dip.

Instant Pot White Queso Dip

Creamy and cheesy Instant Pot White Queso Sausage Dip made with jalapenos, mild sausage, and White American cheese. This cheese dip is perfect with tortilla chips and pretzels!

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip

The flavor of buffalo wings in an easy, no mess dip. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip is a great game day or party appetizer made with real chicken.

Easy Slow Cooker Corn Dip

This mouthwatering corn dip is a creamy and cheesy dip made effortlessly in your slow cooker. Instructions for oven baking provided.

Slow Cooker Reuben Dip

Rich and creamy, this appetizer recipe is just loaded with the ever-popular flavors of a Reuben sandwich. It’s so much healthier than typical Reuben dips, but no one can ever taste the difference.

Slow Cooker Corn and Pepper Cheese Dip

Sweet, creamy and cheesy with a delicious bite from fres corn and peppers is what you will find in this Slow Cooker Corn u0026 Pepper Cheese dip.

2-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chili Cheese Dip

This two ingredient Chili Cheese Dip recipe is made in the slow cooker and is not only easy, but also delicious! After all, don’t you have enough to do when preparing for guests?

Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wing Dip

Easy Crock Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wing Dip appetizer for your next party or game day. Great chicken dip for the non-spicy crowd.

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip

Creamy and cheesy Instant Pot Buffalo chicken dip made in just half an hour! Perfect for game day, potlucks, movie nights, and any party!

Instant Pot BBQ Queso Dip

Instant Pot Queso Dip is delicious but add a little leftover pulled pork and you have heaven! This is perfect for that next potluck or game day party.

Slow Cooker Queso Blanco Dip

Queso Blanco Dip is always a hit! With only 4 ingredients, white cheese dip is easy to make. Directions for slow cooker, stove-top, and microwave included.

Instant Pot Spinach Artichoke Dip

Spinach and artichoke cheese dip is a popular appetizer easy to make at home. Keto friendly, gluten-free creamy dip can be made in Instant Pot or oven.

Crock Pot Corn Dip

Crock Pot Corn Dip is a creamy delicious dip with sweet corn and just the right kick of spices.

Easy Slow Cooker Bacon Jam

Slow cooker bacon jam is salty and sweet. It makes a great appetizer and is the perfect condiment. Makes a great gift packed in a jar.

Meatballs and Little Smokies

Frozen meatballs and cocktail weenies lend themselves well to dump-and-go recipes. They're pre-cooked, so really the goal here is to warm them through with a tasty sauce. Just fix it and forget it.

3-Ingredient Hawaiian Meatballs

Easy 3 Ingredient Hawaiian Meatballs made with frozen meatballs, pineapple chunks, and sloppy joe sauce in the slow cooker. Perfect appetizer.

Slow Cooker Little Smokies in Honey Garlic BBQ Sauce

Slow Cooker Little Smokies in Honey Garlic BBQ Sauce are one of the easiest, tastiest party foods ever and perfect for your next Game Day event!

Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Cocktail Wienies

Cocktail Wienies with Grape Jelly-Chili Sauce from The Southern Slow Cooker a tasty snack perfect for game day or family gatherings!

Instant Pot BBQ Meatballs

These Instant Pot BBQ Meatballs are easy and fast to make with only three ingredients: frozen meatballs, BBQ sauce, and honey.

Hot dogs cut in small bite size pieces covered in BBQ sauce in a slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Bourbon Hot Dogs

These Slow Cooker Bourbon Hot Dogs are exactly what you need to enjoy your BBQ without heating up the whole house.

Finger Foods

Finger foods are the first to disappear because they're easy to eat. When you're at a party or a potluck and you've gone through multiple plates, finger foods are the MVP.

Slow Cooker Loaded Sriracha Chicken Kettle Chips

Slow cooked, pulled Sriracha chicken piled on to crispy kettle chips with bacon, jalapeno, tomato, and tons of cheese. This spectacular party recipe will absolutely WIN any gameday gathering.

Instant Pot Deviled Eggs

Instant Pot Deviled Eggs are a quick and reliable way to make this classic appetizer! Use the 5-5-5 method to hard boil the eggs that peel like a dream for the easiest way to make deviled eggs ever.

Slow Cooker Hot Dog Pull Apart

This easy crockpot hot dog pull-apart is a fun and deliciously different way to use your slow cooker. The perfect appetizer to share anytime!

Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Nachos

An EASY and delicious nacho recipe using pulled pork! Use your slow cooker or crock pot and you can forget about it until right before the big game!

Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

Boiled peanuts are a classic Southern snack mostly found at road side stands and local convenient stores where they are boiled in a pot for hours in salty water.

Instant Pot Southern Deviled Eggs

These low carb Instant Pot Southern Deviled Eggs make a perfect appetizer and are super easy to make because they start with Instant Pot hard boiled eggs.

Instant Pot Popcorn

Instant Pot Popcorn is an easy, affordable, and healthy way to make popcorn at home. And you can flavor it with your favorite seasoning.

Instant Pot Cassava Fries

Cassava fries are pure, delectable comfort food! Perfect for Paleo and AIP diets, these savory treats are made in the Instant Pot and on the stove top and need only sea salt as an embellishment.

Instant Pot Sous Vide Egg Bites

This 4-ingredient, easy Instant Pot sous vide egg bites recipe is just like Starbucks. See how to make sous vide egg bites in the Instant Pot, including bacon gruyere and other flavors.

Chili

There are millions of ways to make chili. You can go big and beefy, big and beany, or bean-free.

Slow Cooker Beefy Bacon Chili

Slow Cooker Beefy Bacon Chili is a hearty, meaty chili with a little kick of spice, and lots of flavor! The best crock pot chili recipe. Game Day or anytime

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

White Chicken Chili is a deliciously easy dish. Ready in under 40 minutes! Hatch chilies bring extra heat to this dish.

Slow Cooker Vegan Chili

If you want an simple, satisfying meal, try this easy vegan chili. It’s so nice to toss ingredients into the slow cooker and not need to worry about them until you’re ready to eat.

Slow Cooker Beef and Bacon Chili (no beans)

Slow cooker ground beef chili simmers in rich tomatoes and spices. Add crispy bacon plus fun and delicious toppings for the ideal low-carb keto chili.

Chicken Wings, Ribs, and Drumsticks

Wings are a game-day classic for a reason. They're easy to make (especially in the Instant Pot), and they're always a crowd favorite. I like to make a classic buffalo wing and then something a little different like a spicy jalapeño sauce.

Instant Pot Coca Cola Chicken Wings

Make deliciously sticky Instant Pot Chicken Wings with just 6 ingredients. Instant Pot Coca Cola Wings are a great appetizer or easy dinner.

Instant Pot Jalapeño Barbecue Chicken Wings

If you love chicken wings, but think it is too hard to make them at home, you are going to love this Instant Pot Chicken Wings Recipe.

Slow Cooker Ribs

These slow cooker ribs are pork baby back ribs coated in homemade spice blend and barbecue sauce, then cooked in the crock pot until tender.

Instant Pot Chicken Wings

This low carb piri piri chicken recipe is FULL of incredible flavor without the heat. This easy chicken wings recipe is naturally gluten free, grain free, soy free, and dairy free. It follows the SCD, paleo, whole30, and keto diets.

Easy Instant Pot Teriyaki Wings

This easy Instant Pot teriyaki chicken wings recipe has delicious Asian flavors that will delight your guests and become a favorite.

Instant Pot Chili Lime Chicken Wings

Perfectly seasoned and juicy Chili Lime Chicken Wings. Make these Instant Pot Chicken Wings for an easy game day dish or simply enjoy as an appetizer anytime.

Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

These slow cooker chicken drumsticks are coated in a spice rub and barbecue sauce, then cooked to tender perfection in the crock pot.

Shredded Meat Recipes

If you want a more open-ended option, I recommend shredded chicken, pork, or brisket. They're great for sliders, sandwiches, quesadillas, and more. Plus, these recipes will make for leftovers you'll want to keep around.