Whether you’re hosting a houseful of fans or settling in for a full afternoon on the couch, game-day food should be plentiful, satisfying and easy to serve. The slow cooker is an essential tool for crafting the ultimate spread. It can tenderize pork, chicken or beef while you tackle the rest of toppings and sides. These recipes include all the crowd-pleasing essentials, from dips to wings to chili, without requiring you to spend the entire game in the kitchen.

Little smokies are a one-bite party staple, and this version gives the sweet sauce a grown-up upgrade. Apple jelly, maple syrup, cider vinegar, and a splash of bourbon create a glossy glaze that pairs beautifully with either pork or beef cocktail sausages.

Pulled pork is a game-day classic for a reason. It feeds a crowd, can be prepped ahead and you can serve it straight from the slow cooker. Start with a spice-ribbed pork shoulder and cook it in a tangy mixture of cider vinegar, tomato paste and brown sugar until it’s fall-apart tender.

Buffalo chicken dip and game day go hand-in-hand. This version delivers the familiar combination of shredded chicken, hot sauce, Cheddar and blue cheese while using reduced-fat cream cheese, low-fat Cheddar and buttermilk to lighten things up. Serve it with crackers and sliced veggies.

You don’t need to stand over a fryer to serve tender, flavorful wings. These cook in a sticky Chinese-style barbecue sauce made with honey, hoisin, soy sauce, oyster sauce and five-spice powder. If you want, put them under the broiler for a minute to get a caramelized, lightly charred finish.

Ree Drummond’s queso gets plenty of flavor from sautéed onions, diced green chiles, smoky chipotles and green chile enchilada sauce. Add it all to a slow cooker with American cheese until its melted and bubbly and serve with chips or sliced veggies.

The retro combination of grape jelly, chili sauce, and cocktail meatballs remains a party favorite. In this version, Dijon mustard, cider vinegar and hot sauce add just enough acidity and heat to balance the mix and keep it from veering overly sweet.

Slow-cooked ranch chicken turns and ordinary tray of nachos into a filling game-day centerpiece. Once the chicken is tender, shred it over tortilla chips with Cheddar, queso fresco, red onion and jalapeño. Right before your guests arrive, put the tray under the broiler until the cheese is bubbling and crisp.

Ground chicken, two types of beans and fire-roasted tomatoes make this chili hearty without relying on beef. Shredded sweet potato melts into the mixture as it cooks, while chipotles, cumin, cinnamon and cloves build a deeply spiced flavor. Set out sour cream, shredded cheese, scallions and pickled jalapeños so guests can customize each bowl.

Bring a little coastal flair to the watch party with a shrimp boil made right in the slow cooker. Potatoes cook slowly in a seasoned broth before corn, smoked sausage and shrimp are added near the end. Serve directly from the cooker with hunks of crusty bread.

Sliders are easy to grab between plays, and this recipe makes enough for everyone to come back for seconds. The beef cooks directly in a tangy tomato sauce with bell pepper, celery, Worcestershire sauce and warm spices. The slow cooker eliminates the need for painstaking prep — just add all the ingredients and let it roll.

You can never have too many warm, cheesy dips on the game-day table. Smoked mozzarella gives this spinach-artichoke version extra depth, while cream cheese and Parmesan make every scoop rich and satisfying. Serve it right from the slow cooker with tortilla chips, crackers, or toasted bread.

A build-your-own taco bar lets everyone assemble dinner without missing a play. The pork shoulder cooks in a bold sauce made with ancho, pasilla and chipotle chiles, plus honey, cider vinegar and warm spices. Scoop spoonfuls onto corn tortillas and add your favorite taco toppings.

This hearty queso is substantial enough to keep hungry fans satisfied through overtime. Browned ground beef gets seasoned with chili and garlic powder, then combined with salsa and plenty of melty cheese in the slow cooker.

Brisket doesn’t need to be smoked overnight to become deliciously tender. After a few hours in the slow cooker, simmering with brown sugar, mustard, soy sauce, red wine vinegar and stout beer, the beef is soft enough to enjoy on a sandwich. Enjoy it on soft brioche rolls with a pile of coleslaw.

Drumsticks are affordable, easy to serve and substantial enough to anchor the game-day spread. The chicken cooks in a sweet yet savory hoisin and honey sauce that thickens and concentrates as it simmers. If you prefer a kick, add a dash of dried chile flakes to the mix.

Don’t forget something sweet for the final quarter. Frozen peaches make this cobbler easy to prepare in any season, while a homemade biscuit topping flavored with cinnamon, ginger and almond extract turns golden and tender as it cooks. Enjoy it warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream.

These ribs cook low and slow in a sticky sauce made with apricot preserves, ketchup, mustard, chipotles and fresh ginger. A final trip to the oven sets the glaze and gives the ribs a lacquered finish that makes them impossible to resist. Just make sure there’s a generous stack of napkins nearby.

This Georgia-style pulled pork is made for fans of tangy, vinegar-forward barbecue. A bone-in pork roast cooks over sweet onions until tender, then gets paired with a cider vinegar sauce. Serve it on buns and let guests add as much sauce as they like.

A slow simmer gives this beef and black bean chili plenty of time to develop rich flavor. Fresno chile, red pepper flakes and warm spices bring the heat, while a splash of cider vinegar adds brightness. Set out a topping bar and let everyone build their own bowls.