Food and Recipes Entertaining Ideas & Tips 23 Quick and Easy Appetizers Built for Hassle-Free Hosting By Southern Living Editors Updated on November 2, 2022 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 23 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. 16 of 23 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. 17 of 23 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. 18 of 23 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. 19 of 23 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. 20 of 23 Ranch Snacker Crackers Sheri Castle Recipe: Ranch Snacker Crackers Your guests will be munching on these addictive, ranch-seasoned oyster crackers all night long. 21 of 23 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. 22 of 23 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. 23 of 23 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit