Food and Recipes Appetizers Spectacular Party Recipes That You Can Make In Your Sheet Pan By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is a Digital Associate Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories.She grew up in Mobile, Alabama, which she insists is home to the country's first Mardi Gras (not New Orleans) and now lives in Birmingham with her husband and rescue pup Rocky, whose name is unrelated to The University of Tennessee (Roll Tide). Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on September 22, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Greg DuPree We all know that sheet pans can work weeknight miracles for dinner, but sheet pans are one of the most versatile kitchen tools you own. In addition to amazing one-dish dinners, if you're not using your sheet pan for breakfast, appetizers, and dessert, you're in for some of the best sheet pan recipes yet. Party planning is stressful, and there's always pressure to get the menu just right. With these sheet pan recipes, you don't have to worry about appetizers or snacks. Whether you're gathering to watch a sports event or sitting down for a dressy dinner party, let these sheet pan recipes give your guests a warm welcome. Some of your favorite appetizer recipes can be made in your sheet pan, like sheet pan pizzas, nachos, potato skins, cheese straws, and more. Plus, all of these sheet pan recipes are kid-friendly, so bring on the company. You might want to buy another sheet pan, because with these incredible recipes, you'll be using it all the time. 01 of 27 Bacon Bow Tie Crackers Recipe: Bacon Bow Tie Crackers Buttery crackers and salty bacon slices are a match made in snack heaven. Only two ingredients, crackers and bacon, are needed to make this recipe, so it is just as simple as it is delicious. 02 of 27 Sheet Pan Nachos Greg DuPree Recipe: Sheet Pan Nachos Take the baking sheet straight from your oven to your dining room table with these easy, cheesy nachos. In this recipe we use chuck beef, but you could swap out the beef for a protein of your choice. 03 of 27 Mini Potato Skins Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop styling: Claire Spollen; Food styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Mini Potato Skins This five-ingredient recipe is simple, delicious, and sure to please guests of any age. These delightful bites of cheesy goodness will be gone before the final guest even arrives. 04 of 27 Ham Biscuits Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Ham Biscuits We'll never turn a fluffy buttermilk biscuit away, especially when it's accompanied by country ham. Pair them with our favorite spreads—Creole Mayonnaise, Compound Butters, Spiced Apple Butter and Pimiento Cheese—and every guest's taste will be satisfied. 05 of 27 Baked Brie Bites Laurey W. Glenn Recipe: Baked Brie Bites This recipe only requires five ingredients (one of which is salt), but it will undoubtedly be your new last-minute get-together appetizer. With about 10 minutes prep time and seven to eight minutes baking time, trust us when we say it does not get any easier than this. 06 of 27 Potato-Crusted Pizza Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Potato Crusted Pizza Forget about ordering takeout for a party, this pizza made with frozen potato rounds takes less time to make than getting food delivered. The combination of crispy potato, tomato and cheese makes for a delicious bite. 07 of 27 Cheese Dreams Southern Living Recipe: Cheese Dreams For the plan-ahead host, you can freeze these dreamy bites for up to three weeks, so have a batch ready to go for drop-by company. Trust us when we say these live up to their name. 08 of 27 Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls Southern Living Recipe: Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls This long-time Southern favorite is getting a spruce up with pimiento cheese. Perfect for brunch, or really any time of day, freeze a batch and heat a few up for a last minute soiree or a book club snack. 09 of 27 Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese Mac and cheese is a longtime Southern favorite. You will not find a church picnic, back yard barbecue or holiday celebration without this signature side dish. The butternut squash in this recipe makes this mac and cheese dish the star of any supper or event you bring it to. 10 of 27 Spinach-and-Artichoke Bites Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith Recipe: Spinach-and-Artichoke Bites Your favorite party dip wrapped up in a buttery crescent roll? Oh yes we did. This recipe could be a pre-party project for the kids or you could roll up your own in a flash. 11 of 27 Sheet Pan Hanger Steak and Vegetables Victor Protasio; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sheet Pan Hanger Steak and Vegetables At most Southern wedding receptions, there is a carving station, so why not have something similar for an at-home celebration? We love this recipe for its easy clean up and elegant appearance. 12 of 27 Fire Crackers Recipe: Fire Crackers Let's face it: we Southerners know our way around a Saltine. These bite sized snacks, also known as the Alabama Fire Cracker will live on in appetizer infamy. 13 of 27 Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad There's a reason ham salad is a Southern recipe that's been around for so long—it's easy to make and delicious, especially served between airy cheese puffs. These appetizer treats can be made ahead of time, too! 14 of 27 Fig Flatbread Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Recipe: Fig Flatbread This gorgeous flatbread is an amazing combination of sweet and savory, and store-bought pizza dough makes it a snap to make. With fresh figs, goat cheese, balsamic, and arugula, you are hard pressed to find a more delicious and elegant combination. 15 of 27 Focaccia With Ricotta And Crispy Herbs Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Focaccia With Ricotta and Crispy Herbs Yes, you can make focaccia in your sheet pan, and yes, your friends will ask you to make it at every gathering once you do. While it might sound daunting, this impressive-looking project is a snap to put together with store-bought pizza dough. 16 of 27 Bacon-And-Egg Tarts With Goat Cheese Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Bacon-And-Egg Tarts With Goat Cheese From brunch to dinner, these bacon-and-egg tarts are sure to please every time. And while we love a classic breakfast casserole, these tarts with frozen puff pastry are just as easy to put together. 17 of 27 Spicy Cheese Twists Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Spicy Cheese Twists We all need a little bit of spice in our lives, and with this take on the classic cheese straw, we are sure to get our daily dose of heat. Serve these up at your next party or box them up in a cookie tin to bring to your favorite hostess. 18 of 27 Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites While small in size, these bites will make a big flavor impact on your party menu. Best of all, these savory snacks are great to have in your freezer for emergency appetizer needs. 19 of 27 From-Scratch Oven Fries Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: From-Scratch Oven Fries As we have shown you, your sheet pan can do many magical things, and few things are better than home-cooked fries. Perfect for get-togethers with kids of all ages, this side dish never lasts long. 20 of 27 Bacon Bites Oxmoor House Recipe: Bacon Bites Life is better when it is bacon-wrapped. Three ingredients will get you the most talked about appetizer at the party. 21 of 27 Cheddar Cheese Straws Lee Harrelson Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Straws We would be remiss to not include our staple appetizer. Cheese straws are a classic Southern party snack that will never disappoint. 22 of 27 Chile-Lime-Honey Roasted Peanuts Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Chile-Lime-Honey Roasted Peanuts Cocktail hour and peanuts go hand-in-hand. It's just a fact of life. With only six ingredients, this sweet and spicy snack is bound to be a crowd pleaser. 23 of 27 Ranch Snacker Crackers Sheri Castle Recipe: Ranch Snacker Crackers Ranch seasoning has the power to bring people together, or at least, to the bowl. These easy, seasoned snacks will not last through the party. 24 of 27 Pizza Pepper Poppers Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Recipe: Pizza Pepper Poppers In need of a gluten-free appetizer? We've got you covered! These easy, cheesy bites are perfect for game day or sleepover parties. 25 of 27 Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels Tasty hot or at room temperature, these bites are the perfect snack for a crowd. This recipe makes 40 pinwheels full of bleu cheese, chicken, and hot sauce. 26 of 27 Party Poppers Hector M. Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Party Poppers These easy snacks live up to their name. Jalapeños stuffed with chicken-cream cheese filling and wrapped in hickory-smoked bacon will be the talk of any gathering. 27 of 27 Sheet Pan Fajitas Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin Recipe: Sheet Pan Fajitas This sheet pan dinner is the perfect thing to bring to any taco or margarita night. Serve with tortillas and all the fixings your heart desires. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit