41 Party Appetizer Recipes

Tuna-Apple Mini Melts

A creamy tuna-apple mixture fills mini-phyllo pastry shellsand is topped with Havarti cheese slices to make a tasty bite-sized appetizer.

• Recipe: Tuna-Apple Mini Melts

Stuffed Mushrooms with Pecans

Guests will be amazed at the better-than-the-restaurant-version taste of these garlicky cheese-stuffed mushroom caps. Garnish with fresh basil for a springlike presentation.

• Recipe: Stuffed Mushrooms with Pecans

Tiny Tomato Tarts

With all the flavor of a traditional tomato pie, these Tiny Tomato Tarts will be a hit at your party!

• Recipe: Tiny Tomato Tarts

Marinated Mozzarella

These snacks are as simple as sliced cheese. Prepare them ahead of time to allow ample chill time. Be sure to garnish with a sprig of parsley or rosemary for a bit of panache.

• Recipe: Marinated Mozzarella

Cheese Ring with Strawberry Preserves

Make this appetizer your go-to crowd pleaser. Charmingly retro, the cheese ring is dressed up with sweet strawberry preserves that pair perfectly with the sharp Cheddar cheese.

• Recipe: Cheese Ring with Strawberry Preserves

Blue Cheese-Bacon Dip Appetizer

Bake Blue Cheese-Bacon Dip appetizer in four small baking dishes, and place throughout the party area.

• Recipe: Blue Cheese-Bacon Dip

Marinated Shrimp-and-Artichokes

This recipe can double as a side dish or appetizer. Feta cheese, fresh herbs, and a garlic-and-herb marinade give the shrimp and artichokes outstanding flavor.

• Recipe: Marinated Shrimp-and-Artichokes

Mushroom Puffs

Flaky puff pastry envelopes a rich mix of cream cheese, mushrooms, onions, and Parmesan cheese. You can even assemble and freeze these ahead of time.

• Recipe: Mushroom Puffs

Quick Winter Pickled Veggies

Serve alongside Deviled Ham Terrine, or add to your favorite martini or Bloody Mary. Make extra as a takeaway for your guests. Pickles may seem summery, but you can enjoy them using seasonal fall and winter produce.

• Recipe: Quick Winter Pickled Veggies

Green Goddess Dipping Sauce

Parsley, dill, and tarragon pack this creamy sauce with herb-fresh flavor. There's no need for chopping; the sauce is super easy to prepare in the food processor. Serve with boiled shrimp or veggies.

• Recipe: Green Goddess Dipping Sauce

Pinchos

The Spanish love these tiny nibbles they call pinchos. Skewer any two items on a pick, and serve a colorful assortment on a tray. Try our combinations, or experiment with some of your own.

• Cube of salami + small gherkin pickle
• Cube of fontina cheese + dried Mission fig quarter
• Quartered marinated artichoke heart + 1 boiled medium-size shrimp
• ½ small fresh mozzarella ball + rolled-up roasted red bell pepper strip
• ½ pickled okra + one piece of country ham

Sweet-'n'-Salty Honey Cheese Spread

Sweet-'n'-Salty Honey Cheese Spread is ready in only 10 minutes, perfect for last-minute company. A generous drizzle of the sticky sweetener is the finishing touch. Serve with assorted crackers.

• Recipe: Sweet-’n’-Salty Honey Cheese Spread

Spicy White Cheese Dip

Made-from-scratch Spicy White Cheese Dip gets its kick from canned diced tomatoes and green chilies.

• Recipe: Spicy White Cheese Dip

Assemble-Your-Own Barbecue Stacks

Have a few of these yummy Barbecue Stacks ready to go when your friends arrive. The rest can be put together by your guests.

• Recipe: Assemble-Your-Own Barbecue Stacks

Mini Crab Cakes

Garlic-Chive Sauce and a squeeze of lemon juice add zesty flavor to Mini Crab Cakes.

• Recipe: Mini Crab Cakes With Garlic-Chive Sauce

Mustard-Dill Tortellini Salad Skewers

These festive party pick-ups get a quick start with refrigerated cheese tortellini. If you’re short on time, simply toss the ingredients together in a pretty bowl and set out some forks.

• Recipe: Mustard-Dill Tortellini Salad Skewers

Warm Turnip Green Dip

It's Southern tradition to have a little hot sauce with your turnip greens, so be sure to offer guests several brands to choose from on the side.

• Recipe: Warm Turnip Green Dip

Lemon-Basil Antipasto

Arrange-and-serve Lemon-Basil Antipasto is not only fun to eat and beautiful, it's also really easy. Decoratively place ingredients on the platter. Cover with damp paper towels and plastic wrap, and refrigerate up to four hours. Just before guests arrive, uncover, drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, and sprinkle with basil, salt, and pepper.

• Recipe: Lemon-Basil Antipasto

Brown Sugar Fruit Dip

Choose any fresh, seasonal fruit to pair with this creamy dip. We prefer strawberries, pineapple, and grapes. Adding a hint of coffee liqueur to the dip gives it an extra kick of flavor.

• Recipe: Brown Sugar Fruit Dip

Tomato-Rosemary Tart

Lemon zest provides a lovely counterpoint to Tomato-Rosemary Tart. Slice this savory pie into bite-sized pieces for guests to enjoy. 

• Recipe: style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tomato-rosemary-tart-10000001906339/">style="text-decoration: underline;" class="Apple-style-span">Tomato-Rosemary Tart

Curried Shrimp Tarts

Ready-made pastry shells make preparation of these tarts super-fast. Simply spoon a shrimp-and-cream-cheese mixture and jarred mango chutney into the shells. Top with chopped fresh chives and toasted sweetened coconut.

• Recipe: Curried Shrimp Tarts

Dressed-up Salsa

Save time by picking up gourmet salsa in a jar and adding a couple quick ingredients for fresh, homemade taste.

• Recipe:  Dressed-up Salsa

Guacamole-Goat Cheese Toasts

Mini pita rounds create a sturdy base for Guacamole-Goat Cheese Toasts. Feel free to use French baguette slices instead. Top with chopped tomatillo and tomato for a touch of crisp acidity.

• Recipe:  Guacamole-Goat Cheese Toasts

Sweet Potato Squares With Lemon-Garlic Mayonnaise

The roasted goodness of sweet potatoes and crispy smoked sausage delivers loads of flavor in a small bite. Serve Sweet Potato Squares with Lemon-Garlic Mayonnaise warm or at room temperature.

• Recipe:  Sweet Potato Squares with Lemon-Garlic Mayonnaise

Southwestern Dips

The sweet heat of Mango Salsa, creamy Guacamole, and zesty Pico de Gallo create a flavorsome dipping trio.

• Recipes:
   Mango Salsa
   Pico de Gallo
   Guacamole

Chicken Caesar Salad Bites

N/A

Texas Cranberry Chutney

A sweet-tangy accompaniment to a variety of grilled meats, Texas Cranberry Chutney also makes a mouthwatering appetizer when served over cream cheese or warm Brie. Be sure to send a jar home with your guests.

• Recipe: Texas Cranberry Chutney

Italian Skewers

Italian Skewers are the perfect pickup appetizers for a crowd. The best part? They can be made ahead.

• Recipe: Italian Skewers

Curried Chicken Tea Sandwiches

This top-rated recipe was made to serve to a crowd. You and your guests will rave over the distinctive combination of ingredients such as cream cheese, curried chicken, orange marmelade and flaked coconut over wheat bread.

• Recipe: Curried Chicken Tea Sandwiches

Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Find it Fast
Appetizer Spoons: Try these for a fun look. They’re the Appetizer Spoon Set (set of 12) from Crate & Barrel; www.crateandbarrel.com.

• Recipe: Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Rolled Olive Sandwiches

If you want a complete throwback recipe that is still delicious today, try the classic taste of Rolled Olive Sandwiches.

• Recipe: Rolled Olive Sandwiches

Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Bread

We've taken garlic bread up a notch. These tasty toasts make perfect entertaining starters. For a light meal, serve them with a salad and glass of wine. Mix spreads the day before, and refrigerate overnight. You'll only need to slather them on French bread and bake for a super-quick presentation. So skip the carb counting, and crunch into something delicious.

• Recipe: Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Bread

Shrimp Mojo de Ajo

Great for small get-togethers, this mini-kebab can be served straight from the grill while guests mingle. "Mojo de Ajo" means garlic sauce, and this recipe calls for ¾ cup garlic! Don't let that scare you; the garlic sauce becomes smooth when cooked and mixed with flavorful guajilo chiles.

• Recipe:  Shrimp Mojo de Ajo

Spicy Boiled Shrimp With Creamy Buttermilk-Avocado Sauce

Boiled shrimp makes a perfect party starter, especially when paired with a delicous dipping sauce like Creamy Buttermilk-Avocado Sauce. Tip: To ensure that shrimp stays chilled, place half out when guests arrive, and replenish the platter as needed.

• Recipe: Spicy Boiled Shrimp With Creamy Buttermilk-Avocado Sauce

Baked Fig Crostini

Salty bacon and goat cheese add the perfect balance to the fig-and-honey-topped crostini.

• Recipe: Baked Fig Crostini

Spiced Butternut-Pumpkin Soup

This yields more than enough for appetizer-size servings. Divide up the leftovers, and freeze for a last-minute meal during the busy month of December.

• Recipe: Spiced Butternut-Pumpkin Soup

Caesar Salad Bites

Fresh, chilled Caesar Salad Bites are tasty, super-easy make, and perfectly suitable for eating out of hand.

Turn these appetizers into a pretty salad by layering veggies and croutons in a clear ice bucket or trifle dish and topping with dressing and parsley.

• Recipe: Caesar Salad Bites

Baked Goat Cheese Dip

This warm and creamy dip is filled with zesty tomato flavors. Serve with assorted cut vegetables and bread cubes.

You can prepare the dip in advance and freeze it for up to 1 month. Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight then stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking.

• Recipe: Baked Goat Cheese Dip

Bacon-Grits Fritters

A Southern cooking perfection, these tasty treats take the best of breakfast—grits, bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese—and re-create them as scrumptious fried balls. Serve with hot sauce.

• Recipe: Bacon-Grits Fritters

Salt-and-Pepper Oven Fries

Serve Salt-and-Pepper Oven Fries in votive holders for a fun look. Dip fries in Lemon-Garlic Mayo.

• Recipe: Salt-and-Pepper Oven Fries

Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

You can also serve the delicious Slow-Cooker Beef in slider buns with your favorite sandwich toppings for a heartier meal.

• Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

Southern-Style Smørrebrød

Sparked by the leisurely pleasures of the cocktail-and-canapé Mad Men era, smørrebrød (Danish open-faced sandwiches) are the latest craze in stress-free entertaining. With a little clever prep, you can set out an impressive DIY spread in under an hour. Now we'll toast to that. Skål, y'all!

• Recipe: Southern-Style Smørrebrød

Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

Perfect as a bowl-game party bite, you can also serve this Slow-Cooker Beef recipe in slider buns with your favorite sandwich toppings.

• Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos