50+ Festive Mini Appetizers

By Southern Living Editors
March 19, 2012
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

These mini appetizers put the party in the palm of your hand. They make enjoying festive food simple, and these recipes make it fun. Our recipes for mini appetizers include new twists on traditional Southern classics. From mini chicken and waffles to mini tomato sandwiches, honey we shrunk your Southern favorites! These tiny bites will disappear so quickly, and with kid-friendly mini appetizers like meatball sliders and pizza poppers, every family member will love these. Fill a plate with these mini appetizers and savor every little flavor-filled bite.

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These Miniature Southern Classics are Fit for a Crowd

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Shrimp Boil Skewers

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Recipe: Shrimp Boil Skewers

Serve this colorful appetizer in small cups if you want to skip the skewers.

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Buttermilk Chicken and Waffles

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Buttermilk Chicken and Waffles

Keep waffles warm in a 200° oven up to 30 minutes before assembling. Top waffles with chicken, and drizzle with Peach-Horseradish Maple Syrup.

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Hoppin' John Parfaits

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Hoppin' John Parfaits

Layer black-eyed pea mixture, hot cooked rice, and tomato mixture in 12 (7-oz.) glasses for a charming presentation.

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Chicken Salad Tarts

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Chicken Salad Tarts

This chicken salad appetizer recipe is perfect for any occasion and (almost!) too pretty to eat.

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Crab Cake Hush Puppies

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Crab Cake Hush Puppies

Serve these tasty hush puppies with your favorite rémoulade or cocktail sauce.

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Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise

Credit: Victor Protasio

Recipe: Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise

Tomato sandwiches are a Southern mainstay, so we made them appetizer friendly and added our new favorite condiment—bacon mayonnaise.

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Cheese Dreams

Credit: Photo: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart

Recipe: Cheese Dreams

This recipe makes a huge batch of these cheesy bites, but don’t worry: They freeze beautifully.

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Mini Potato Skins

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop styling: Claire Spollen; Food styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Mini Potato Skins

These crispy wonders have everything you love about a loaded baked potato in one bite.

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Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs

This retro appetizer will never get old in our house.

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Cheesy Garlic, Herb, And Ham Bites

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Cheesy Garlic, Herb, And Ham Bites

We made your favorite hot ham and cheese sandwich into the most indulgent appetizer that starts with puff pastry from your freezer.

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Spinach-Stuffed Mushrooms

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Spinach-Stuffed Mushrooms

Two appetizer all-stars—spinach dip and stuffed mushrooms—meet in this new party go-to.

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Queso-Filled Mini Peppers

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Queso-Filled Mini Peppers

If you can’t go to a Mexican restaurant without ordering queso, this appetizer is a homemade must-try.

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Baked Brie Bites

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Baked Brie Bites

This recipe takes everything you love about creamy baked brie and puts it into an adorable (and no-mess!) package.

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Potato Puffs with Toppings

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Potato Puffs with Toppings

These precious puffs basically give you an excuse to eat fancy tater tots.

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Cheesy Mushroom Tartlets

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Cheesy Mushroom Tartlets

This vegetarian appetizer doesn’t skimp on heartiness.

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Mini Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas

Credit: Stephen DeVries

Recipe: Mini Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas

These muffin-tin bites are way easier to throw together than the usual stuffing and rolling that comes with enchiladas.

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Spinach-and-Artichoke Bites

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Spinach-and-Artichoke Bites

This recipe wraps classic spinach-and-artichoke dip in buttery crescent rolls for a mess-free appetizer.

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Bacon Wrapped Smokies

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Smokies

Mini smokies are always a hit at parties,and wrapping them in bacon only ups the delicious ante.

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Spicy Bisquick Sausage Balls

Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel Food Styling: Ali Ramee Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland

Recipe: Spicy Bisquick Sausage Balls

These bites are the best thing you can do with that box of baking mix in the pantry.

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Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts

Love tomato pie? Try these colorful, mini versions for a fun appetizer.

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Mini Crab Cakes with Cajun Sauce

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Mini Crab Cakes with Cajun Sauce

Crab cakes feel fancy but are super easy to make. Creating tiny patties makes them perfect pre-dinner.

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Prosciutto-Wrapped Mango Bites

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Prosciutto-Wrapped Mango Bites

This recipe proves how a few simple ingredients can look and taste totally elegant together.

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Party Poppers

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Party Poppers

Who doesn’t love this famously popular appetizer?

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Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce

This kid-friendly appetizer comes together with help from your slow cooker.

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Pickled Shrimp-and-Citrus Endive Cups

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Pickled Shrimp-and-Citrus Endive Cups

This appetizer makes old-school favorite pickled shrimp easier to eat and prettier for your platter.

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Creamy Feta Phyllo Bites

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Creamy Feta Phyllo Bites

This phyllo cups are filled with a blend of creamy cheese and fresh, crunchy veggies.

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Crispy Pork Meatballs

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Crispy Pork Meatballs

These Asian-inspired meatballs come with a friendly warning from one Test Kitchen professional: “Careful, you’re going to overeat.”

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Blue Cheese-and-Pecan Stuffed Cherry Peppers

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Blue Cheese-and-Pecan Stuffed Cherry Peppers

You won’t believe how flavors balance so beautifully in one small bite.

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Mini Mushroom-and-Goat Cheese Pot Pies

Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton

Recipe: Mini Mushroom-and-Goat Cheese Pot Pies

These adorable pot pies are delicious warm or at room temperature.

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Chicken Salad Swiss Cheese Puffs