32 Retro Party Appetizers We'll Never, Ever Stop Making

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs

Back in the day, cocktail meatballs might as well have been a requirement on the appetizer spread. We wouldn't mind if that rule stuck around.

Recipe: Cheddar-Horseradish-Walnut Cheese Ball

We'll repeat it until the cows come home: It's not a Southern party without a cheese ball.

Recipe: Tomato Tea Sandwiches

The tomato sandwich is a tale as old as time—but these cookbooks were savvy enough to include a miniature appetizer version, too. Odds are, you know the easy version, but make sure to try our Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise next.

Recipe: Hot Cheesy Crab Dip

Crab dip is always welcome at a friendly gathering, from football tailgates to the Christmas party.

Recipe: Smoked-Fish Dip

Guaranteed to rake in the compliments, this smoked fish dip is packed full of fresh herbs like scallions, parsley, and dill. 

Recipe: Basic Pimiento Cheese​​​​​​​

Now, every Southern cook knows how to make a top-notch pimiento cheese spread, but the add-on ingredients can change from one to the next, with things like Worcestershire, cayenne, and even shaved onion making appearances. This one is a winner.

Recipe: Spinach-Artichoke Dip

Ah, the dip that launched a thousand renditions. This most iconic of snacks comes in many variations, but here's a traditional crowd-pleaser.

Recipe: Butter-Baked Saltine Crackers

Southern hostesses for generations past have known how to upgrade any store-bought staple, including saltine crackers. 

Recipe: Classic Deviled Eggs

Show up with a tray of deviled eggs, and you're instantly the favorite of everyone in the room.

Recipe: Ham-And-Cheese Sliders

Southerners will instantly recognize this handheld staple, and the first bite is bound to kickstart all kinds of reminiscing about the last time a melty, gooey, baked ham-and-cheese slider hit the taste buds.

Recipe: Buttery Toasted Pecans

This is about as simple as it gets—and perfect for setting out in a bowl when unexpected company drops by.

Recipe: Baked Oysters with Bacon, Greens, and Parmesan

Something about baking oysters elevates them from basic to party-worthy, and you can't change our minds about that. Parmesan cheese is a tasty pairing with bacon and collard greens. 

Recipe: Beer-Cheese Fondue

Either by way of melty cheese or gooey chocolate, fondue gave every cocktail party guest something fun to do back in the day.

Recipe: Bacon Bites

Crispy bites of salty goodness are what awaits you with this three-ingredient recipe that always disappears before anything else.

Recipe: Cheese Dreams

What's a cheese dream, you might ask? Well, if you don't know, bless your heart. These bites of heaven are enough to make a Southern crowd holler.

Recipe: Sweet Heat Garden Pickles

The vintage cookbooks never met something they couldn't pickle, mark our words. It so happens that these pickled vegetables make the perfect appetizer accoutrement.

Recipe: Chicken Liver Mousse Crostini with Pepper Jelly

This retro snack might seem out-there to some, but to us it's just nostalgic enough to keep around. This smooth, velvety mousse gets topped with spicy-sweet pepper jelly.

Recipe: Crab Cake Bites with Old Bay Seasoning

Crab cakes always feel like a delicious splurge for any special occasion, and making them miniature-sized ensures everyone gets a bite. 

Recipe: Angel Biscuits

These fluffy, petite biscuits make the best accessory to any spread, especially when pimiento cheese or chicken salad is involved.

Recipe: West Indies Crab Salad

This little-known Southern salad—believed to have originated in Mobile, Alabama—is a beloved party snack you'd find in a tattered coastal cookbook. (But it's still just as popular today.) Place it out with crackers and crudité.

Recipe: Baked Goat Cheese Spread with Pepper Jelly

Pepper jelly and cream cheese is a duo that never disappoints, but goat cheese works just as deliciously and adds a bit of extra tang. 

Recipe: Party Poppers

You can hardly go wrong with a spicy jalapeno stuffed with melty cheese and wrapped in bacon. This recipe is a longtime classic appetizer, reimagined.

Recipe: Homemade Chicken Salad

It's hard to beat this protein-packed spread for daytime entertaining, no matter if you like a classic recipe or one with extra flair, like our Cranberry Chicken Salad.

Recipe: Oysters Rockefeller

This recipe dates back to 1899, and since then it's earned a long-standing spot in any Louisiana community cookbook.

Recipe: Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad

It doesn't get more festive than party puffs. Classic ham salad just sends it over the edge.

Recipe: Lump Crab Mornay

This dip is decadence in a dish. Its masterful blend of creamy cheese, crabmeat, and just a little bit of heat has long made crab mornay a Southern classic.

Recipe: Asparagus-and-Goat Cheese Mini Quiches

Mini quiches separate ho-hum brunches and showers from next-level affairs. Smaller snack food is the way to go for instant party success.

Recipe: Sparkling Cranberries

Like tasty little jewels, these sugared berries make the perfect party attaché.

Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad

Don't worry, this isn't just cut fruit in a bowl. It's dressed up for a party with orange juice, honey, and mint.

Recipe: Classic Sausage Balls

Simple, yet totally crowd-pleasing, sausage balls are every Southern cook's three-ingredient trick up the sleeve. Try our updated twist on this classic snack: Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites.

Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Straws

You won't find a one-bite wonder like the cheese straw or biscuit. Crunchy, cheesy, and oh-so addicting, they've saved hostesses for generations.

Recipe: Red Chipotle Pepper Jelly

If you have a jar of this pepper jelly in your fridge or freezer, you're a block of cream cheese and a pack of crackers from one of the most nostalgic Southern appetizers ever.