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Classic Appetizers for A Crowd We'll Always Love

By Maggie Burch

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Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

When you cook and entertain guests often, it can be fun to try new recipes every once in a while. You might get tired of the same flavors or ingredients, or need something new and inventive to keep you on your toes. But when you’re short on time or really want to impress your friends and family, you probably fall back on some never-fail classics that you know well. Even with the pros in the Southern Living test kitchen working on new recipes all the time, we know the dishes that have stood the test of time have remained favorites for a reason and are worth keeping in your arsenal. So the next time you’re hosting a party or are bringing a dish to a potluck, turn to one of these appetizer recipes that have gotten rave reviews for decades. Scroll down for 7 vintage appetizers so good that we’ll always bring them back.

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How To Make Homemade Cheddar Cheese Straws

RECIPE: Cheddar Cheese Straws

With a recipe this simple and delicious, you'll never serve store-bought cheese straws again.

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Afterburners

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Afterburners

This popular recipe combines unexpected ingredients in the best possible way. And these shrimp-stuffed peppers are especially delicious when served with a spicy queso dip.

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Cocktail Meatballs

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Cocktail Meatballs

Perfect for every event from football tailgates and holiday parties to bridal brunches, this recipe for cocktail meatballs has been around the Southern party circuit a time or two—and for good reason.

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Cheese Snappy Wafers

Credit: Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: Cheese Snappy Wafers

Southern hostesses have known for decades just how reliable cheese wafers are when it comes to pleasing hungry house guests. They’re quick, easy, and undeniably delicious—what else could you ask for?

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Tex-Mex Deviled Eggs

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Tex-Mex Deviled Eggs

If you haven’t sensed a theme yet, dishes with cheese or a little spice tend to be winners with just about any crowd. We first published this recipe in the ‘90s, so while not quite vintage, it’s well on its way to becoming a well-loved Southern classic.

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Cheddar-Horseradish-Walnut Cheese Ball

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Cheddar-Horseradish-Walnut Cheese Ball

This one deserves a place on this list so much that we even wrote an article about it: It’s Not a Southern Party Without a Cheese Ball. If you haven’t yet mastered this classic Southern appetizer recipe, there’s no time like the present.

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Lump Crab Mornay

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Lump Crab Mornay

Once you’ve mastered a go-to dip recipe, you’re set for any potluck that might show up on your calendar. The delicious blend of creamy cheese and just a little bit of heat has long made crab mornay a Southern classic worth making a classic of your own.

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By Maggie Burch