Food and Recipes Party Food and Drink 30 Quick and Easy Appetizers Built for Hassle-Free Hosting By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 20, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Caitlin Bensel Throwing a party shouldn't be stressful. Start your easiest party ever with quick recipes for easy dips, simple spreads, and pick-up bites that can be made ahead or assembled in minutes. This selection of quick and easy appetizers will have you out of the kitchen in no time, enjoying the fun with your friends and family. Most of these recipes come together in under 30 minutes (some of them in under 15). Hosting a tailgate or a watch party? Country Ham & Biscuits are a delicious way to start the party, and guests can munch throughout the game on easy appetizers like Sheet Pan Nachos and Fire Crackers. An outdoor picnic calls for fresh appetizers showcasing garden produce; whip up a batch of Black-Eyed Pea Hummus and serve with fresh veggies, or choose Black Bean and Corn Salsa use what's in your pantry. If you need a recipe that you can make ahead or just assemble minutes before your guests arrive, check out this medley of quick and easy appetizers. The next time you're entertaining in a pinch, just turn to these quick and easy appetizer recipes. 01 of 30 Sheet Pan Nachos Greg DuPree Recipe: Sheet Pan Nachos If you're searching for a substantial appetizer that'll satisfy a crowd, look no further than simple Sheet Pan Nachos. You can dress them up with chorizo and refried beans, or you can stick to the classic. 02 of 30 Homemade Onion Dip Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Homemade Onion Dip Put away the flavoring packets: This homemade onion dip is just as quick, and it'll be your new go-to. 03 of 30 Texas Caviar Southern Living Recipe: Texas Caviar When it comes to this classic Southern app, there's no cooking required. Talk about the ultimate summertime dish. 04 of 30 Stuffed Endive with Herbed Goat Cheese Laurey W. Glenn Recipe: Stuffed Endive with Herbed Goat Cheese Spoon a mixture of goat cheese and cream cheese into little endive "cups" and your appetizer is as good as done. 05 of 30 Mini Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas Stephen DeVries Recipe: Mini Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas Dress up flour tortillas by baking them in a muffin tin to create cute-as-can-be mini enchilada cups. 06 of 30 Cornmeal Popovers Laurey W. Glenn Recipe: Cornmeal Popovers Didn't think you could pull off homemade bread in time for the party? Think again: These popovers come together in just 30 minutes. 07 of 30 Baked Brie Bites Laurey W. Glenn Recipe: Baked Brie Bites There are a few appetizers that you really can't beat, and these Baked Brie Bites are one of them. Your guests would never guess how easy they really are to make. 08 of 30 Warm Cheese and Spicy Pecan Dip Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Warm Cheese and Spicy Pecan Dip This dip combines two of our favorite things—warm cheese and spiced pecans—in one epic appetizer. An added bonus: It only requires 5 minutes of active time. 09 of 30 Fire Crackers Recipe: Fire Crackers The South's most beloved appetizer is one of its simplest—all it takes is a few seasonings and a package of saltine crackers. Baking optional. 10 of 30 Basic Deviled Eggs Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Basic Deviled Eggs Mama always said not to mess with the classics. These flavorful eggs have been on our appetizer spreads for as long as we can remember. 11 of 30 Spinach-Artichoke Dip Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Spinach-Artichoke Dip Has the party really started until there's a bowl of Spinach-Artichoke Dip on the table? No, we didn't think so. 12 of 30 Cheddar Cheese Straws Photo: Lee Harrelson Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Straws Keep a batch of this cheesy dough on hand at all times and bake just before your guests arrive. 13 of 30 Buttery Toasted Pecans Iain Bagwell Recipe: Buttery Toasted Pecans No Southern gathering is complete without a bowl of toasted nuts on the table, and these fan-favorite pecans only call for 4 ingredients. 14 of 30 Rotel Sausage Dip Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Rotel Sausage Dip This 6-ingredient appetizer comes together in your slow cooker. Plus, who can resist a big bowl of melty cheese? 15 of 30 Buttery Garlic Shrimp Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Buttery Garlic Shrimp One of the many virtues of seafood is its quick cook time—this Buttery Garlic Shrimp will be on the table in 15 minutes. 16 of 30 Pimiento Cheese Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Pimiento Cheese Pimiento Cheese has always been there for us, and when you're entertaining, store-bought is simply not an option. Once you make this Southern classic once, you'll be whipping it up every week. 17 of 30 Black Bean and Corn Salsa Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Black Bean and Corn Salsa Ditch the jarred stuff and go a more creative route with this refreshing Black Bean and Corn Salsa. 18 of 30 Bacon-Pimiento Guacamole Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Bacon-Pimiento Guacamole Give your guac a Southern spin with the addition of bacon and pimientos. It'll become your new signature appetizer. 19 of 30 Creamy Crab Dip with Peppadews Alison Miksch Recipe: Creamy Crab Dip with Peppadews As if making this crab dip could get any easier, you can put it together ahead of time and store it in your freezer. Just bake for 15 minutes and serve. 20 of 30 Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus You may be used to classic chickpea hummus, but any Southern crowd will rave over this black-eyed pea version. 21 of 30 Ham Biscuits Photo: Tina Cornett Recipe: Ham Biscuits Leftover ham has never looked so good. These simple Ham Biscuits take well to big-batch preparation. 22 of 30 Ranch Snacker Crackers Sheri Castle Recipe: Ranch Snacker Crackers Your guests will be munching on these addictive, ranch-seasoned oyster crackers all night long. 23 of 30 Bacon Bow Tie Crackers Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman Recipe: Bacon Bow Tie Crackers The key to a great appetizer is simplicity; with only 2 ingredients—bacon and butter crackers—this recipe has snacking down to a science. 24 of 30 Pizza Pepper Poppers Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Recipe: Pizza Pepper Poppers Say "Pizza Pepper Poppers" three times fast. By the time you're through, the whole plate will be picked clean. 25 of 30 Cheesy Garlic, Herb, and Ham Bites Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners These petite bites may look extra-elegant, but thanks to frozen puff pastry and garlic-and-herb cheese, they take less than 30 minutes to make. 26 of 30 Smoky Snack Mix Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Smoky Snack Mix A homemade snack mix instantly elevates any party spread, and this smoky version may just be our favorite ever. 27 of 30 Blue Cheese-and-Pecan Stuffed Peppers Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith Pull together these bite-sized stuffed peppers without even turning on your oven. 28 of 30 Olive Oil Popcorn with Garlic and Rosemary Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Olive Oil Popcorn with Garlic and Rosemary Seasoned with olive oil, rosemary, and fresh Parmesan, this is certainly not your average bowl of popcorn. 29 of 30 Baked Brie with Jezebel Peaches Iain Bagwell Recipe: Baked Brie with Jezebel Peaches We'd pick this timeless appetizer out of the lineup any day. 30 of 30 Creamy Feta and Herb Dip Antonis Achilleos; Prop styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Creamy Feta and Herb Dip This bright, tangy dip is the ideal companion for crudité or flatbreads. 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