20 Snacks to Enjoy While You’re Watching the Oscars

updated Mar 14, 2022

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sheetpan of nachos at a table — Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Jesse Szewczyk
Vegetarian Chili Cheese Nachos

Where will you be during the hours preceding the Oscars this weekend? If your answer involves a couch and some snacks, then you have come to the right place.

These appetizers and snacks are here to power you through the best-dressed commentary all the way to best picture, whether you’re in the mood for a creamy dip, something crunchy and fried, or both. Here are 20 recipes to enjoy while watching the Oscars.

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Use store-bought ravioli for an easy take on this appetizer favorite.

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Air Fryer Egg Rolls

For delicious and crispy egg rolls, look to the air fryer.

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It only takes five minutes to whip up this fresh dill dip. From carrots and celery to crispy potato chips, your dipping options are endless.

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Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers

These air fryer jalapeño poppers are the perfect make-ahead appetizer if you're running short on prep time.

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Vegetarian Chili Cheese Nachos

Easy veggie chili and creamy queso team up in this rich, cheesy vegetarian snack.

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Flaky Garlic Bread Pinwheels

These fast and fancy apps are basically garlic bread rolled up in pinwheel form with buttery, flaky puff pastry from the freezer section.

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Smoked Salmon and Crème Fraîche Kettle Chips

Top potato chips with smoked salmon and suddenly they're a classy snack. Add some bubbles and you have a fast and fancy treat.

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Baked Brie in Puff Pastry

Learn how to wrap Brie in puff pastry with the toppings of your choice for an easy yet decadent snack for the Oscars.

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Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs

Toss everything in the slow cooker and in just over an hour you've got a winning app with a full-flavored sticky sauce. Add the meatballs to a platter or serve them up straight from the slow cooker.

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Crunchy Baked Avocado Fries

These crispy-on-the-outside, rich-and-creamy-on-the-inside fries could almost go in the healthy category — they're baked in the oven and made with good-for-you avocado. But at the same time, there's something quite decadent about them that puts them squarely into the dressed-up snacks camp.

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Classic Cheese Ball

Old-school cheese balls are making a comeback, and for good reason. Mild cream cheese is amped up with the addition of sharper cheeses, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and herbs and then rolled in crunchy things like nuts, bacon, or crushed crackers. Serve it with celery and carrot sticks — or your favorite buttery crackers.

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Taco dip may seem more Super Bowl Sunday than red carpet, but we're including it here to inject a nice, down-home dose of reality into the evening. Besides, we like to think bringing together layers of refried beans, shredded cheddar, and sour cream is award-worthy as well.

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What more could you ask for on Oscars night than the beyond-your-wildest-dreams mash-up of shredded potatoes and sauerkraut, deep-fried to golden-crispy perfection? These cute little tots are meant to serve two, but we know that "serves two" really means "serves one," right?

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Black Salt-and-Pepper Roasted Cashews

Nuts are a wholesome snack, but they can get a little boring and repetitive. Not so with these lively cashews! An intriguing mix of various peppers and salts make these little morsels a wild mix of fruity, sharp, umami, spicy, and just plain irresistible.

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Minty Sweet Pea and Mascarpone Dip

This dip marries rich mascarpone with bright peas, mint, lemon, and garlic. Make sure to pair it with plenty of crudités.

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Ham, Asparagus & Gruyère Tart

A buttery, flaky puff pastry tart crowned with roasted asparagus, diced ham, and a cheesy egg custard is not just pretty to look at — it's also oh-so tasty.

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5-Ingredient Totchos

Now's the time to give that bag of tater tots in your freezer the red carpet treatment. Bake them like a tray of nachos, then dress them up like a loaded baked potato, with plenty of sharp cheddar, crumbles of salty bacon, and generous dollops of sour cream.

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Homemade Summer Rolls

Ignore the name — these light and delicious rolls can be made year-round. They're basically a salad in a wrapper and their beautiful presentation is perfect for Oscars night.

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Oven-Roasted Chickpeas

Is there anything the chickpea cannot do? We think very little. In this case, it soaks up all sorts of succulent flavors and spice while crisping up in just a wee bit of oil in a very hot oven. Chickpea magic! And perfect for when you want a little spicy crunch.

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Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs with Toasted Pecans

Elevating deviled eggs with pimento cheese and pecans is a bold and brilliant move — just the kind of upgrade you want when watching the Oscars. Rich egg yolks are folded into mayo, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, chopped red pepper, and finished with just a splash of hot sauce. The filling is stuffed back into the eggs and topped with a final scatter of pecans.

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