70+ Easy Appetizer Recipes for Any Occasion

updated Jul 3, 2023

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Credit: Joe Lingeman

While appetizers might mostly be considered party food, I disagree with that sentiment — I love starting the night off with a snack regardless of whether I am hosting a dinner party or it’s just my husband and me staying in together on a Saturday. Pop open your favorite bottle of wine, prepare a simple appetizer, and suddenly dinner is an extra-fun event. Or choose a couple of easy appetizer recipes and make them the main event of the evening.

No matter the occasion — big or small — we’ve rounded up some our favorite appetizer recipes for you. They span from the absolute easiest to wholesome options and vegetarian and vegan ones, too. Here are more than 70 great appetizers to try.

In This Article

Dips
Easy Appetizers
Slow Cooker Appetizers
Crostini
Vegetarian and Vegan Appetizers
Healthy Appetizers

Dips

Not only are these dips at the top of the list for quick and easy appetizers that come together with just a few ingredients (and make-ahead potential), but they also are crowd-pleasers every time. Pair them with your choice of tortilla chips, crackers, pita, or veggie sticks.

1 / 15

The Best Hummus from Scratch

Skip the store-bought stuff — making it yourself is so easy and will be far tastier.

2 / 15

Muhammara (Roasted Red Pepper Dip)

This Middle Eastern dip, which originated in Aleppo, Syria, features roasted red peppers, walnuts, and tangy pomegranate molasses.

3 / 15

Lemon-Garlic Whipped Feta with Pesto

An extra-creamy dip that's ideal served with pita chips, crostini, or vegetable crudité and a bottle of your favorite rosé.

4 / 15

Cool, Creamy Greek Tzatziki Sauce

Tzatziki is a Greek yogurt-based sauce with cucumber, garlic, and fresh herbs. Here's how to make the best version of this versatile condiment at home.

5 / 15

Perfect Guacamole Go to Recipe

6 / 15

Baba Ghanoush Go to Recipe

7 / 15

Fresh Veggies with Cumin-Lime Yogurt Dip Go to Recipe

8 / 15

Slow Cooker Spinach-Artichoke Dip

Bring steakhouse-style spinach-artichoke dip to your next party with this easy slow cooker recipe.

9 / 15

Butternut Squash and Parmesan Dip

Butternut squash is roasted then blended with herbs and Parmesan for a creamy dip.

10 / 15

Baked Jalapeño Popper Dip

Baked jalapeño popper dip is ultra creamy and cheesy, with just the right amount of heat, and a buttery, crunchy Ritz cracker topping.

11 / 15

Easy, Cheesy Hot Pizza Dip

Layered with marinara sauce and three kinds of cheese, this hot dip tastes just like pizza.

12 / 15

Butter-Baked Saltines with Chili Crisp Yogurt Dip

Butter-baked crackers pair delightfully with a spicy, garlicky yogurt dip, made with plain yogurt and chili crisp. It transports well and wows any crowd, making it the ultimate potluck side.

13 / 15

A recipe for classic crab dip made with cream cheese and cheddar cheese and baked in the oven.

14 / 15

Roasted Red Pepper & Marcona Almond Dip Go to Recipe

15 / 15

Moroccan-Spiced Roasted Carrot Hummus Go to Recipe

Easy Appetizers

These are the absolute easiest apps you can make. Whether you haven’t planned ahead or you’re looking for an impromptu snack, these have you covered.

1 / 16

Pigs in a Blanket

These buttery flaky pigs in a blanket come together in a flash thanks to canned crescent roll rough and mini cocktail sausages.

2 / 16

Slinky Red Peppers with Capers and Sherry Vinegar

This low-effort, high-reward appetizer made of four pantry ingredient is far greater than the sum of its parts. The sharp tang of the sherry vinegar, briny capers, and richness of the olive oil have time to meld with the peppers.

3 / 16

Pepperoni Bread

Store-bought pizza dough is this recipe's hack for an impossibly easy and tasty pepperoni bread.

4 / 16

3-Cheese Tomato Tart

This easy tomato tart is layered with three cheeses on a flaky puff pastry base.

5 / 16

Stuffed Mushrooms

Filled with crispy panko, fresh herbs, and a double dose of cheese, this elegant app is always quick to be devoured.

6 / 16

Easy Baked Buffalo Wings

Here's how to make a batch of Buffalo chicken wings in the oven; you only need four ingredients.

7 / 16

BBQ Ranch Chicken Bites

All you need is chicken, ranch dressing, and barbecue sauce to reach BBQ ranch nirvana.

8 / 16

Garlic-Parmesan Wings

These ultra-crispy wings are blanketed with a double dose of punchy garlic, plenty of salty Parm, and some melted butter for good measure.

9 / 16

Easy Leftover Risotto Balls (Arancini)

Let's be honest, creamy, cheesy risotto balls are the real reason to make risotto in the first place.

10 / 16

Bacon-Wrapped Scallops

Bacon-wrapped scallops may sound like an appetizer only served at fancy cocktail parties, but these two-ingredient bites can be prepped and cooked in less than 30 minutes.

11 / 16

These totchos taste just like a loaded baked potato with bacon, cheddar, and sour cream.

12 / 16

Tiny Party Pizza Tarts

These two-bite tarts are inspired by classic margarita pizza and come together easily with the help of store-bought puff pastry.

13 / 16

Pepperoni Chips

These crispy, crunchy, salty, spicy little guys are sure to be a hit among anyone you serve them to.

14 / 16

Learn how to make this 3-ingredient, vegan and gluten-free flatbread that cooks in under 10 minutes.

15 / 16

Stuffed Peppadews with Parmesan & Salami

These spicy, tangy, savory bites are the perfect impromptu appetizer.

16 / 16

Smoked Salmon and Crème Fraîche Kettle Chips

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

Slow Cooker Appetizers

From savory caramelized onion dip to cheesy tots, here are our favorite slow cooker appetizers to make and devour whenever you feel like it.

1 / 5

Honey Garlic Meatballs

Combine freezer meatballs with a few pantry staples and plenty of pungent garlic for a glossy, sweet-and-savory app with a full-flavored sticky sauce — the slow cooker does most of the work.

2 / 5

Slow-Cooker Caponata

This version of the Sicilian eggplant relish made with celery, onion, and tomatoes cooks up hands free for an easy appetizer.

3 / 5

Cheesy Taco Crock Tots

Served straight from the slow cooker, these tater tot tacos are scooped into bowls and finished with a dollop of sour cream and a spicy spoonful of fresh pico de gallo.

4 / 5

Slow-Cooker Chex Party Mix

Yes, really! This is the perfect solution for those times when you're already using your oven for other dishes.

5 / 5

Chicken Parm Meatballs

Slow cooker chicken meatballs loaded with Parmesan cheese cooked right in marinara sauce.

Crostini

We love any appetizer we can serve on toast rounds (crostini, if we’re getting fancy). They’re easy for guests to pick up and eat in one or two bites, and you can really make them out of anything.

1 / 10

Fig, Honey, and Blue Cheese Crostini

The better your base, the better your appetizer will be.

2 / 10

Extra-Crispy Eggplant Crostini

This crispy fried eggplant recipe rethinks the concept of crostini. Slices of panko-crusted eggplant are fried in a cast iron skillet and showered with tasty toppings.

3 / 10

Fall Apple Crostini

The epitome of savory and sweet, this lightly crisp French bread is topped with vegan "cream cheese" made from cashews, sautéed spiced apples, and a pinch of thyme.

4 / 10

Crostini with Pea Shoots and Strawberries

Everything we love about spring on little toasts.

5 / 10

Crostini with Zucchini Squash and Feta

Go heavy on the cheese, and toss thoroughly to encourage the cheese to break down a bit and meld into a coating for the zucchini.

6 / 10

Borscht Crostini

These quick and easy borscht-inspired crostini take all the flavors of the beet-based soup and pile them on high on toasted bread for a tasty party app.

7 / 10

Miso-Roasted Wild Mushroom Crostini

Earthy, satisfying and a cinch to make, these miso-roasted wild mushroom crostini will be the stars of your soirée.

8 / 10

Spinach and Ricotta Crostini with Kalamata Olives

This recipe is bright and festive enough for the season, but easy enough to offer year round.

9 / 10

Braised Romaine Lettuce Crostinis

Aside from being absolutely delicious and the perfect weekend small bite/snack, plus you’ve probably got all of the ingredients to make it in your fridge right now.

10 / 10

Josephinas, also known as Howell’s Bread, are slices of French bread topped with a mixture of softened butter, shredded Monterey Jack, mayonnaise, garlic, and green chiles, then broiled until golden-brown.

Vegetarian and Vegan Appetizers

While many classic appetizers tend to be meaty (hello, pigs in a blanket!), we’ve got plenty of great meat-free options for you too. A handful of these are also dairy-free, so they’re a great choice if you’re looking for a vegan option.

1 / 19

A combination of tofu and vital wheat gluten to achieve a hearty, meat-like texture perfect for a delicious plant-based take on wings.

2 / 19

Mozzarella-Stuffed Peppadew Peppers

This fast and fancy appetizer with colorful peppers and milky mozzarella cheese is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

3 / 19

Oven-Fried Pickles

These oven-baked pickles are just as crispy as their fried friends and when partnered with a peppery dip make the perfect party starter.

4 / 19

Fried Mushrooms

Crispy beer-battered fried mushrooms are the best thing to happen to the appetizer table.

5 / 19

Tomato & Mozzarella Caprese Skewers

Tomato-mozzarella salad on a stick is simply an easier way for a crowd to enjoy it. It also ensures a perfect ration of cheese to tomato to basil.

6 / 19

Baked Brie in Puff Pastry

Like all of the best appetizers I can think of, this one rates low on the difficulty scale and high on the delivery scale. The combination of warm, melted cheese and crispy pastry is virtually impossible to resist.

7 / 19

The Best Deviled Eggs

Perfect deviled eggs, creamy and a little tangy - classic! Here's the simplest way to make easy-peel boiled eggs and to devil them deliciously.

8 / 19

Roasted Shishito Peppers

Roasted shishito and padron peppers are an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer. Savory, salty, and occasionally spicy, it's hard to stop at just one!

9 / 19

Baked Zucchini Fries

These crispy fries are a fun departure from potatoes fries and just as tasty.

10 / 19

Make-Ahead Gougères

The secret to being the hostess with the mostest? Gougères in your freezer.

11 / 19

Spiced Cucumber Sticks with Chaat Masala

Cucumber sticks become a fast and fancy appetizer when they're sprinkled with fragrant spices.

12 / 19

Smoky Puff Pastry Stars

Feel free to use any of your favorite cookie cutters to make these playful puff pastry appetizers.

13 / 19

Cauliflower Fritters with Mint & Pea Spread

Make extra of these fritters if you can — they're great leftover for lunch.

14 / 19

Maple-Tamari Roasted Almonds

While you can buy roasted almonds that are already seasoned, it's a lot more fun to make them yourself.

15 / 19

Veggie Nori Rolls

Don't worry if your rolls don't turn out looking perfect — even if they're messy they'll be delicious.

16 / 19

Sweet Potato and Spinach Pakoras with Sweet and Sour Sauce

These crispy Indian fritters are packed with veggies and are spicy, sweet, and savory all at once.

17 / 19

Roasted Curried Chickpeas with Rosemary and Thyme Go to Recipe

18 / 19

Quick-Pickled Baby Carrots Go to Recipe

19 / 19

Stuffed Cucumber Kimchi (Oi Sobaegi Kimchi) Go to Recipe

Healthy Appetizers

If you’re looking for something fresh, light and simple, these feel-good appetizers won’t steer you wrong.

1 / 10

Mediterranean-Inspired Turkey Pinwheels

These spiraly snacks only take 15 minutes to assemble.

2 / 10

Easy Shrimp Ceviche

A simple shrimp ceviche for beginners that is made with poached shrimp instead of raw and finished with tomato, avocado, and cilantro.

3 / 10

Potato Nachos with Pinto Beans and Spinach

Here's an easy, veggie-driven appetizer that can also double up as a family-friendly dinner.

4 / 10

Firecracker Shrimp Skewers

These shrimp are grilled and glazed with a spicy-sweet marinade that will have you licking your fingers and reaching for (at least) one more.

5 / 10

Crispy Corn Fritters

Making fresh summer corn into crisp corn fritters is one of the fastest ways to turn corn on the cob into a hearty snack.

6 / 10

Chicken Summer Rolls

Packed with juicy chicken, ribbons of crisp veggies, creamy avocado, and a lush layer of fresh herbs, this easy summer meal is bursting with freshness.

7 / 10

Beet-Cured Salmon

This vivid side of cured salmon is pink-hued thanks to the addition of shredded beets.

8 / 10

Prosciutto-Wrapped Avocado with Goat Cheese and Arugula

Avocados star in these easy keto roll-ups, which are just right for lunches or appetizers.

9 / 10

Rainbow Vegetable Spring Rolls

Feel free to mix and match the veggies here to make these spring rolls your own.

10 / 10

Mediterranean Turkey Meatballs with Herbed Yogurt Sauce

Make a double batch of these turkey meatballs and you'll have enough leftover for lunch or dinner the next day.

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