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 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: 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: Creamy Shrimp Dip with Crispy Wonton Chips

Yes, creamy seafood dips were very much in style back in the day. But these crispy wonton chips alone make us want to keep this dip around.

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.