Holidays & Occasions Mother's Day 35 Mother's Day Appetizers That Your Southern Mama Will Love 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 6, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Oxmoor House Come Mother's Day, show the special women in your life how much you care about and appreciate them with a spread of the most tasty snacks and appetizers. Finger foods help encourage plenty of chit-chat and quality time, and you're able to prolong the loving spring occasion as long as the bites keep coming. These appetizer recipes are easy to make and don't take too much time. Set up everything buffet-style, and feel free to throw in a build-your-own mimosa bar or shortcake bar, so everyone can make their treats to their liking. These appetizers will be bringing everyone back to the table to grab more, so don't be afraid to make extra. These Mother's Day recipes will satisfy the toughest critic and best home cook: Mama. Here are 35 perfect Mother's Day appetizers to make this year. 01 of 35 Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls Anna Theoktisto/Getty Images Recipe: Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls What would a brunch be without sausage? Ditch the patties and go with easier-to-eat sausage balls—and this update to the classic adds pimiento cheese. 02 of 35 Snickerdoodle Doughnut Hole Muffins Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Snickerdoodle Doughnut Hole Muffins These sweet bites will be the first to disappear off the table. 03 of 35 Mini Shrimp Rolls Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Mini Shrimp Rolls Would it really be a party without shrimp salad? We didn't think so. These mini rolls are a crowd-pleaser. 04 of 35 Deviled Egg Salad and Asparagus Tartines Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Deviled Egg Salad and Asparagus Tartines Remember Mom's egg salad? We've given it a kick and a crunch with this beautiful, seasonal appetizer. 05 of 35 Smoked-Fish Dip Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Smoked-Fish Dip This fancy dip is a wonderful opportunity to present smoked fish as an appetizer. 06 of 35 Spicy Strawberry-Goat Cheese Crostini Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Spicy Strawberry-Goat Cheese Crostini You'll be amazed at how perfectly balanced the flavors are in this grabbable appetizer. 07 of 35 Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Instead of serving pepper jelly and cream cheese for the crowd to continuously dip into, try these crackers that everyone can individually pop on their plates. 08 of 35 Spicy Cheese Twists Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Spicy Cheese Twists It's hard not to love the addition of Gouda cheese and thyme to these crispy cheese straws. 09 of 35 Easy Egg Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Easy Egg Salad Perhaps no dish says "spring luncheon" more than a pretty tray full of tea sandwiches. 10 of 35 Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad Retro ham salad meets its match with crunchy homemade cheese puffs. You can make the cheese puffs ahead of time and freeze until Mother's Day. 11 of 35 Banana Fritters Jennifer Causey Recipe: Banana Fritters Yes, brunch dessert is a thing. Add something sweet to the spread with these fried banana dippers. 12 of 35 Warm Cheese Box Bites Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Warm Cheese Box Bites These cheesy bites are truly an appetizer dream. 13 of 35 Bacon Bites Oxmoor House Recipe: Bacon Bites You know it's going to be a great meal when it starts with this three-ingredient snack. 14 of 35 Smoky Field Pea Hummus Recipe: Smoky Field Pea Hummus Your family will love this extra Southern spin on hummus. 15 of 35 Mini Potato Skins Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop styling: Claire Spollen; Food styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Mini Potato Skins This popular potato dish is equally welcome at brunch, thanks to the addition of bacon. 16 of 35 Classic Strawberry Shortcake Southern Living Recipe: Classic Strawberry Shortcake Set up a build-your-own-shortcake station and let family members pile up their own toppings. 17 of 35 Basic Deviled Eggs Southern Living Recipe: Basic Deviled Eggs Deviled eggs are practically a requirement at Southern gatherings in the spring. 18 of 35 Mushroom-Stuffed Phyllo Cups Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Mushroom-Stuffed Phyllo Cups These cheesy little bites have just enough crunch. 19 of 35 West Indies Crab Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: West Indies Crab Salad This flavorful crab salad originated in Mobile, Alabama, and we're sure your Mama is going to request it again next year. 20 of 35 Baked Goat Cheese Spread with Pepper Jelly Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Baked Goat Cheese Spread with Pepper Jelly You can prep this dip a day in advance and bake it before your Mother's Day meal to save you time if you're hosting. 21 of 35 Strawberry Caprese Salad IAIN BAGWELL Recipe: Strawberry Caprese Salad Start your meal with a spring-forward version of your favorite caprese salad served over crostinis. 22 of 35 Creamy Avocado Dip Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Creamy Avocado Dip This lightened-up dip recipe won't spoil your crew's appetite before the big meal. 23 of 35 Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts Alison Miksch Recipe: Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts These pretty little bites are like mini tomato pies, but they're so much easier to make. 24 of 35 Spinach-and-Artichoke Bites Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith Recipe: Spinach-and-Artichoke Bites These tiny delights are a mess-free way to enjoy your favorite creamy dip. 25 of 35 Stuffed Endive with Herbed Goat Cheese Laurey W. Glenn Recipe: Stuffed Endive with Herbed Goat Cheese These healthy veggie bites are a gorgeous addition to your Mother's Day lineup. 26 of 35 Mini Tomato Sandwiches with Bacon Mayonnaise Victor Protasio Recipe: Mini Tomato Sandwiches with Bacon Mayonnaise We turned your favorite tomato sandwich into an adorable snack the whole family will gobble up. 27 of 35 Hot Crab-and-Artichoke Dip Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey Recipe: Hot Crab-and-Artichoke Dip You know a dish is going to be good when it includes fresh crab meat and Old Bay seasoning on the ingredient list. 28 of 35 Mini Crab Cakes with Cajun Sauce Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Mini Crab Cakes with Cajun Sauce If you're really looking to impress this Mother's Day, try an appetizer that sets the bar high for the meal. 29 of 35 Creamy Spinach-Ricotta Crostini Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Creamy Spinach-Ricotta Crostini These creamy crostinis are topped with prosciutto. 30 of 35 Baked Brie Bites Laurey W. Glenn Recipe: Baked Brie Bites This is our go-to, super-easy appetizer for any type of gathering, any season. 31 of 35 Bacon Deviled Eggs Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Bacon Deviled Eggs According to Test Kitchen Pro Ann Taylor Pittman, "A good deviled egg is one with a well-seasoned, firm filling." This recipe's filling is both, thanks to a heaping of thick-cut bacon. 32 of 35 Homemade Chicken Salad Southern Living Recipe: Homemade Chicken Salad Chicken salad is always welcome. 33 of 35 Chicks in a Blanket Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Chicks in a Blanket These addicting bites always start brunch off on a happy note. 34 of 35 Deviled Potatoes Hector Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Deviled Potatoes Deviled eggs and potatoes…who wouldn't love this two-bite wonder? 35 of 35 Spicy Bisquick Sausage Balls Photography: Caitlin Bensel Food Styling: Ali Ramee Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland Recipe: Spicy Bisquick Sausage Balls Mama won't even be offended that you didn't use her old sausage balls recipe when she tastes this spicy take on the classic. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit