Easy Appetizers

Start your party off right with these easy appetizers that can be whipped up in a pinch. Whether you’re preparing for a dinner party or last minute guests, these quick tasty snacks are sure to please!

More Collections: Mexican Appetizers, Party Appetizers, Finger Food Appetizers

Easy and yummy!

I love doing appetizers because everyone can have a wide sampling as they wish. From cheese balls and spreads to poppers and wings, choose from a variety of mouth-watering snacks depending on how much time you have to prepare. There is sure to be something for everyone!

Easy appetizer recipes are ones that fit into one or more of the following categories:

• Can be made in 20 minutes or less
• Uses less than 5 ingredients
• Can be made ahead of time
• Ones that guests bring 😁 (Can’t get easier than that!)

What are the most popular appetizers?

Finger foods are popular and fall under the appetizer category. They include appetizers that are individual portions that can be eaten without utensils, are mess free and easily consumed when standing and mingling with others.

Easy appetizers for a crowd are also pretty popular. Some recipes simply produce a lot, like potato chips and dips. Guacamole, and salsa also tend to make an appearance at most any gathering. Other recipes can easily be doubled or tripled to feed more such as these Brown Sugar Beanie Weenies.

Planning Your Easy Appetizers

Easy appetizers that can sit out:

Most appetizers are able to easily sit out for a couple of hours without worry. Charcuterie boards are a great example of this as are dips like salsa and hummus. Some appetizers, like chicken wings taste great at room temperature.

The ones you need to worry about are appetizers that need to be kept cold or hot.

Use chafing dishes & crock pots to keep things like creamy dip and meatballs warm. When you’re serving appetizers that need to be kept cold, I suggest placing out only what can be eaten within 30 minutes and then refill as needed.

You can also add ice to a bowl or platter and place the appetizer on top to keep it cold longer.

Easy appetizers you can make ahead of time:

There are so many easy appetizer that can be made ahead of time. Anything that is served cold, can normally be made several hours or even days before and stored in the fridge.

Warm items may not be able to be completely made ahead of time, but they can be prepped beforehand and kept in the fridge, then all you have to do is heat them up before serving.

When prepping FRUITS ahead of time you may need to treat the slice so they don’t brown. One easy way is to brush them with lemon juice. Another way is to sprinkle them with Ball’s Fruit Fresh, which can normally be found in the food storage section at the grocery store.

When prepping items with VEGETABLES ahead of time be mindful of stronger veggies than may cause other ingredients to take on their flavor notably onions, garlic and cut peppers. These should be stored separately and added in before you finish preparing the dish. This typically applies to colder appetizers like salad and veggie trays.

Easy appetizers you can freeze ahead:

Having a few favorite appetizers that can be frozen ahead of time can come in handy in so many ways.

If you’re planning a large party or holiday meal anything that you can do ahead of time is key. If you’re invited to, or decide to host, a last minute party having something to pull out of the freezer and heat is like magic.

A few thoughts about freezing:

I think that many foods particularly meats, taste best when served after being cooked for the first time. If I have a recipe that can be frozen without being cooked, then I prefer that option. A good example is Bacon Wrapped Smokies. Freeze them right after wrapping with bacon.

Some items can be fully cooked and still reheat wonderfully. I have found that these involve some type of bread like these Sausage Rolls.

Be aware of freezing sauces with dairy. Dairy tends to separate and can reheat grainy. I have found that to reheat such recipe on the stove top over LOW heat. As you do so you can add a bit more dairy to help smooth out the dish.

One of my favorite ways to stock up on freezer dishes is to simply double something I’m already making.

Tips for Serving

Serving and displaying appetizers varies according to your venue, which dishes you choose and how many you’ll be serving, but in general you can display them one of 2 ways:

• Divide the items and have them placed in various areas around the venue. Be sure that you set out plates, napkins and any necessary utensils around the room as well. 
• Have all appetizers in one location. Be sure to arrange cutting boards and platters so that guests don’t have to reach over taller items like crock pots and tiers.

One of the most difficult menu questions is how much to make. You definitely do not want to run out of food, but you also don’t want to have a whole lot of leftovers either.

A few tips for how much to make:

• If you have fewer than 10 guests offer 2-3 different types of apps. 
• If you are having more than 10 guests add another dish for every 5-8 more people.
• Try to balance out the types of dishes that you choose. Have a mix of warm and cool, light and heavy, proteins and produce. Vary the colors and textures as well. 

 How much per person:

• When serving appetizers before dinner you will only need to plan for about 3-5 pieces per person.
• When apps are the main food at an event you’ll need to plan to serve about 10-12 pieces per person for a two hour party. Add about 5 more pieces per person for every hour after.

What should I bring to a last minute party?

To me a last minute party is one you find out about within 24 hours of the event.

Chances are those 24 hours are already busy and you start stressing about how you’re going to also whip up an appetizer. Take a breath and choose a recipe that you have all or most of the ingredients already.

If you do need to stop at the store, then it will be a quick in and out for only 1-2 items. You can also pick an appetizer that can either be made ahead of time, or completely prepared in under 30 minutes. The recipe list is longer than you may think! Four of my favorite last minute appetizer ideas include:

Chips and Homemade Salsa like this Salsa Verde. It’s also easy to keep an avocado or two on hand for a quick guacamole.

Spice up refrigerator dough to create a delicious dish like these Pizza Roll Ups.

Make a sweet dip for slices of fruit and crackers like this Cheesecake Dip.

This Pull Apart Bread is another favorite to make. It looks intense, but only requires 5 ingredients and can be made in 30 minutes.

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Quick and Easy Appetizers

Asparagus Roll Ups – Asparagus Rolls Wrapped In Puff Pastry, Filled With Cream Cheese And Topped With Parmesan. So Simple And Delicious, It’s The Perfect Side For Any Meal.

Dill Vegetable Dip – The Perfect Go-To Veggie Dip For Parties And Snacking. Use It For Vegetables, Chips, Or Whatever You Feel Like! Even If You Don’t Like Dill Pickles, You’ll Love This Dill Vegetable Dip.

Buffalo Chicken Taquitos – Serve these Buffalo Chicken Taquitos as an easy dinner idea, or as an appetizer at your next party or get together.

Jalapeno Poppers – Spicy Fried Jalapeño Poppers Are A Classic Appetizer That Everyone Wants! Bite Into These Cheesy Poppers For A Flavor Explosion!

Queso Blanco – The Best And Easiest Queso Blanco Recipe Out There. This Delicious Dip Is Made In No Time, And Will Be The Perfect Addition At Your Next Get Together, Especially Served With Tortilla Chips And Veggies.

Mini Deep Dish Pizzas – Mini Deep Dish Pizzas are our new favorite dinner recipe. They’re easy, quick and can be made custom for each person with their favorite toppings!

Chili’s Salsa – The restaurant salsa you know and love, made at home anytime you like! This Chili’s Salsa copycat recipe is literally made in minutes with the help of a blender.

Sausage Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls – This simple 3-ingredient appetizer is great for parties and get togethers and is so full of flavor! Everyone will love these Sausage Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls.

Homemade Bruschetta – This Yummy Homemade Bruschetta Is Quick, Simple And Perfect For Any Party! It Takes Just 5 Ingredients And Is The Perfect Appetizer For Any Occasion.

Taco Dip – Loaded With All Of Your Favorite Taco Toppings, This Creamy Taco Flavored Dip Is Perfect For Dipping With Tortilla Chips. We Love This Appetizer For Parties And Get Togethers.

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Easy apps for a Crowd

Spinach Artichoke Dip – This Is The BEST Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe, And The Ultimate Dip For Any Get Together! Filled With Spinach, Artichoke Hearts, Cheese, Sour Cream, Cream Cheese, And Mayo – This Dip Is Sooo Cheesy And Perfect For Any Gathering!

Hamburger Dip – A cheesy, hearty dip made with only 4 ingredients—this Savory Hamburger dip is always a hit at parties.

Grape Jelly Meatballs – Delicious 3-Ingredient Grape Jelly Meatballs. They Take Just Minutes To Prep And Are The Perfect Dinner Or Appetizer For Any Party Or Get Together.

Deviled Eggs – Nothing Better Than A Smooth Deviled Egg Appetizer! You’ll Be Surprised With How Easy These Are To Make. Tons Of Flavor, Super Delicious And Perfect For Parties And Holidays.

Bacon Wrapped Smokies – Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies Sprinkled With Brown Sugar, And Baked To Perfection. These Bacon Wrapped Weenies Are The Ultimate Appetizer For Any Party, And Always The First To Disappear!

Cream Cheese Green Chili Dip – Cream Cheese Green Chili Dip is one of our favorite appetizers. It is is delicious and takes just 1 minute to make!!

Hot Dog Nuggets – Hot Dog Nuggets only require TWO ingredients and make a perfect for lunch, dinner or even a party appetizer! Kids and adults alike will love these little bites.

Crockpot Meatballs – One Of The Easiest And Tastiest Meatball Recipes You’ll Ever Try! These Crockpot Meatballs Are Full Of So Much Flavor, And Perfect For Parties. Best Of All, They Only Require 5 Minutes Of Prep Work!

Cream Cheese Fruit Dip – This Cream Cheese Fruit Dip Is One Of The Best Fruit Dip Recipes You Will Ever Try! It Takes Just 5 Simple Ingredients – Cream Cheese, Vanilla, Sugar, Marshmallow Fluff, And Cool Whip – And ALWAYS Vanishes In Minutes! Definitely A Crowd Favorite!

Loaded Baked Potato Rounds – Loaded Baked Potato Rounds are a simple, quick and delicious side. Dip it in sour cream or your favorite dip!

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Easy Make Ahead Appetizers

I always have at least one of my items be something that I can make the day before and store it in the fridge, or that I can throw in the crock pot the morning of. 

Crock Pot Buffalo Dip – Cheesy, spicy Crockpot Buffalo Chicken dip is a flavorful party dip that can be easily made in the slow cooker! It’s great for game days and get togethers.

Slow Cooker Artichoke Dip – Crock Pot Artichoke is the same cheesy, savory dip you’ve always loved, but made in a slow cooker. Make this tasty dip ahead and save time!

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball – Spruce Up Your Holiday Appetizers With A Tasty Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball. Not Only Is It Easy But It’s Delicious And Perfect Served With Crackers And Veggies.

Fruit Kabobs – Colorful Fruit Kabobs Are The Best Appetizer Or Side For Any Occasion! Load Up Your Favorite Fruits And Get Snacking.

Veggie Tortilla Roll Ups – These delicious Veggie Tortilla Roll Ups are made from a rolled tortilla filled with Ranch Veggie dip, and chopped veggies, making them the perfect bite-sized party appetizer!

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It’s At Every Party!

We are all about the appetizers – especially when it comes to parties and get togethers!

We love having a variety of apps at each function, but one we ALWAYS have at every one is chip dip.

We have the ingredients on hand at all times and it takes about a minute to throw together!

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The Complete List

Here are the picture recipe cards for all the recipes in this collection!

We hope this helps you in creating a tasty spread with these Easy Appetizers. Every one is a winner!!

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Be sure to check out all of our Appetizer Recipes!