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.

Courtesy of Le Creme De La Crumb.

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.

 

Courtesy of Jawns I Cooked.

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?

 

Courtesy of Well Plated.

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.

 

Courtesy of The Chunky Chef.

4. Taco Dip

Turn taco Tuesday into a party with this easy slow-cooker taco dip. Don’t forget the chips!

 

Courtesy of Baking Queen 74.

5. Boozy Salted Caramel Fudge

Need a sweet snack but don’t want to bake? Boozy, slow-cooker salted caramel fudge to the rescue.

 

Courtesy of Recipe Girl.

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.

 

Courtesy of Baking Queen 74.

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!

 

Courtesy of That’s What Che Said.

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.

 

Courtesy of Foodtastic Mom.

9. Pizza Dip

Sure, you could just skip cooking and order pizza. Or, you could impress everyone with this slow-cooker pizza dip.

 

Courtesy of Life With the Crust Off.

10. Korean Meatballs

These lil’ slow-cooker meatballs kind of look like basketballs, right? No? Well, they definitely taste better.

 

Courtesy ofGimme Some Oven.

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.

 

Courtesy ofHost the Toast.

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.

 

Courtesy of Slow Cooker Gourmet.

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!

 

Courtesy of Cotter Crunch.

14. Thai Curry Nut Mix

Take your bowl of nuts to the next level with this creative slow-cooker Thai curry mix.

 

Courtesy of Crazy for Crust.

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.

 

Courtesy of Sweet Beginnings Blog.

16. Tater Tot Casserole

Everybody loves a good tot casserole, am I right? Cheesy, snacky and filling!

 

Courtesy of Baked by an Introvert.

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.

 

Courtesy of Growing Up Gabel.

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.

 

Courtesy of Real Housemoms.

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.

 

Spend with Pennies.

20. Buffalo Wings

If you’re not eating wings while you watch sports, are you even a real fan? The answer is probably not.