Lemon-Caper Parmesan Potato Salad Bites
Turn "jacket potatoes" into irresistible potato salad bites. Capers offer a twist on traditional relish; they're actually pickled flower buds and add bright, briny flavor to this appetizer.
Cheese Truffles
Pimiento cheese transforms into tiny little cheese truffles in this effortless recipe. These bite-sized cheese balls are perfect for your next party or get-together and are an easy no-cook solution to that appetizer spread. Roll each cheese ball into chopped toasted pecans, parsley or crumbled bacon for irresistible flavor in every bite.
Bacon Endive Tomato Bites
Multicolored grape tomatoes shine in these little bites. Prepare this appetizer when the tomatoes are at their ripest, sweetest, and juiciest. This starter makes for a bright and fresh starter that is bursting with flavor and color. On the light side, this appetizer will ensure that you and your guests don't get too full before the main course.
Mini Corn Dogs with Cranberry Mustard
The Chardonnay in a brut blend pairs well with the corn and the mustard, while the Pinot Noir builds bridges to the hot dog and the cranberry in the dip.
TIP: Make the Cranberry Mustard before you start the dogs.
Mini Caprese Bites
Learn how to make easy and delicious mini caprese bites for a quick, no-cook party appetizer that your guests can't resist.
Strawberry Bruschetta
Usher in the warm days of spring and summer with Strawberry Bruschetta. This refreshing mixture of nectarine, grape tomatoes, strawberries, and basil are served over baguette slices with slatherings of goat cheese.
Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
Prepare the fig jam for this savory-meets-sweet appetizer up to three days in advance, and store in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature, and assemble bruschetta just before serving. For smaller groups, use half the amount of bread. Leftover jam is great on toast at breakfast.
Fruit, Cheese, and Herb Skewers
Stack various combinations of fruit, mozzarella cheese, and herbs on 6-inch wooden skewers for a fun and fresh party appetizer that can be made up to three hours ahead of time.
Peaches and Cream Mini Cupcakes
Petite and almost too cute to eat, these miniature cupcakes are infused with the sweet flavor of summer's juiciest fruit.
Pizza Sticks
Jarred bruschetta topping, chock full of flavorful herbs and veggies, saves both money and prep time for these cheesy pizza sticks. Simply top a refrigerated thin pizza crust with the bruschetta topping and a shredded cheese blend, bake, and cut into bite-size strips.
Creamy Pesto Pinwheels
Make quick and easy appetizer pinwheels with sandwich bread, cream cheese and prepared pesto.
Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers
Put out half of the skewers, and keep the remaining chilled until ready to serve. Everyone loves a good melon salad, so we took that idea and "skewer-ed" it. Salty cured ham meets creamy, fresh melon for the ultimate savory/sweet combination. With the addition of smooth mozzarella cheese, these skewers are texturally satisfying and not shy on flavor. Your guests will absolutley the easiness and accessibility of these skewers, and you'd be surprised at how impressed they'll be.
Chicken Salad Tarts
This appetizer recipe for Chicken Salad Tarts is perfect for any occasion and (almost!) too pretty to eat.
Bruschetta with Peach Salsa and Melted Brie
Place the cheese in the freezer for about 20 minutes for easier cutting. To make this appetizer in advance, you can prepare and refrigerate the salsa up to a day ahead. Toast bread and assemble just before serving.
Crab Cake Hush Puppies
Serve these Crab Cake Hush Puppies with your favorite rémoulade or cocktail sauce for tasty appetizers. Hush puppies, a Southern classic made by deep-frying a cornmeal batter gets a seafood makeover. Served with a creamy, thick dipping sauce, these salty critters are a great option for a potluck meal or an appetizer that serves to impress. Freeze any leftovers and defrost up to 3 months later.
Crispy Baked Ravioli
With just 4 ingredients, you can prepare these baked ravioli bites that are perfect for dipping in marinara sauce.
Mini Peppermint and Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes
To cut this recipe in half, just omit the egg whites from the filling.
Grilled Stuffed Jalapeños
The rich and creamy combination of bacon, cream cheese, and cheddar nicely contrasts the muted spice of grilled jalapeño peppers. This appetizer recipe is a healthy, fresh alternative to the popular breaded and fried version.
Goat Cheese Poppers with Honey
In addition to being a delicious appetizer that feels special, these Goat Cheese Poppers with Honey make for extra awesome croutons on salads and as "meat" balls for vegetarian pasta dishes. Be sure to bring your oil to the right heat before adding the poppers--if the oil is not hot enough, you will end up with a soggy, greasy mess instead of crisp poppers. Available at most stores that carry kitchen equipment for around $10, a kitchen thermometer is an incredibly worthy investment.
Cheese Dreams
These savory little gems will be the first appetizer to disappear. Make them the day before and refrigerate, or you can freeze them up to 3 weeks in advance. If frozen, pop in the oven straight from the freezer and increase the bake time by 10 minutes. We find that sharp cheddar works best for creating a super cheesy flavor, but feel free to experiment with your favorite flavor of cheddar--an aged white cheddar would be amazing here.
Creamed Spinach Phyllo Cups
Turn a beloved side dish into a cute and savory appetizer. Frozen phyllo shells speed prep time, as does bagged baby spinach (rather than frozen). Toasting the phyllo cups keeps them crisp longer after being filled.
Skewered Persimmon and Herb Bites
The combination of persimmons with Southeast Asian herbs and dunk sauce comes as a surprise in these quick appetizers, and it's totally addictive. You'll need 20 short (3 1/2 in.) bamboo skewers; cut bigger ones if you can't find this size.
Stuffed Celery
For an easy side dish, serve guests Stuffed Celery. This stuffing is also great as a dip. In your food processor, blend until creamy for the right consistency and serve with crudites or pita chips.
Mini Quiches
Five ingredients and 5 minutes of baking gets you these mini quiches, tasty pastry cups filled with egg and cheese and topped with bacon.
Caramelized Onion-Apple Bites
These savory hors d'oeuvres can be assembled in advance—ideal for relaxed entertaining. Prep and Cook Time: 1 1/2 hours. Notes: The onion-apple topping can be made up to 2 days ahead. The triangles can be prepared, covered, and chilled the morning of a party, then popped into the oven when guests arrive. They can also be frozen, wrapped well, for up to 3 months (do not defrost before baking).
Egg and Anchovy Crostini
Chris Cosentino—chef at San Francisco's Incanto restaurant and author of Beginnings; My Way to Start a Meal (Olive Press; $25)—likes his eggs with soft yolks, and here he nestles them into lemon-scented toasts. Instead of using ordinary canned anchovies, he uses marinated white anchovies, which have a fresher, cleaner taste.
Pepper Jelly-Goat Cheese Cakes
Microwave pepper jellies in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 20 to 25 seconds or until melted.
Creamy Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Cups
The filling can be made and refrigerated up to a day in advance, then brought to room temperature before filling the cups. Phyllo shells come conveniently prebaked, so they're ready to fill once thawed.
Pimiento Cheese Squares
We take the flavors of the South's favorite spread and make into savory bites of Pimiento Cheese Squares--perfect for parties or gifts.
Smoked Trout, Arugula, and Granny Smith Stacks
Crisp apples serve as a base for Smoked Trout, Arugula, and Granny Smith Stacks, lending crunch and flavor to these healthy bites.
Herbed Onion Parmesan Toasts
An all-Chardonnay blanc de blancs has an herbal quality that loves the green onions and dill in this appetizer, a brioche layer that echoes the toast itself, and a bright acidity that cuts through the rich mayo and cheese.
Melted Manchego Tortas with Romesco and Chorizo
Spanish flatbreads, or tortas, are a tapas staple. Make these with thin sandwich round halves and a 1 1/4-inch circular cutter. You'll only use 1/4 cup of the romesco, but the remainder makes a great sauce for meats, vegetables, or fish.
Chicken Sausage Puffs with Creamy Mustard Dipping Sauce
Shortcut items, such as fully cooked chicken sausage and coarse-grained mustard make these Chicken Sausage Puffs an easy go-to recipe around the holidays.
Mini Corn Cakes with Smoked Salmon and Dill Crème Fraîche
Make these in the morning, and top with salmon and crème fraîche just before your guests arrive. Tight on time? Use store-bought blini instead.
Mini Corn Cakes with Smoked Salmon and Dill Crème Fraîche Recipe
Cumin-Roasted Cashews
This simple appetizer of Cumin-Roasted Cashews is full of flavor and will subdue an appetite until the feast is complete.
Brie with Jeweled Fruit Compote
This lovely appetizer is about as quick and easy as it gets--as tasty, too. You don't even need to let the cheese come to room temperature first; the warm fruit that goes on top will soften it up. Serve with crostini or crackers.
Peach-and-Blue Cheese Bites
Pair tangy Gorgonzola cheese with a sweet peach spread for an impressive and delicious display of bite-sized tartlets.
Seared Beef Tenderloin Mini Sandwiches with Mustard-Horseradish Sauce
These mini sandwiches are a great beef tenderloin appetizer. Serving beef tenderloin as an appetizer is an elegant, yet budget-friendly way to enjoy a pricey cut of meat.
Seared Beef Tenderloin Mini Sandwiches with Mustard-Horseradish Sauce Recipe
Modern Cheese Balls
These are not your mother's cheese balls. First, they're made with goat cheese and shaped into bite-size balls, making them super easy to serve and eat. Also, they're rolled in a variety of tasty toppings: wasabi-coated peas, crushed gingersnaps, granola, and a Parmesan-fennel seed mixture.
Brownie Bourbon Balls
In this quick-and-easy rendition, we used packaged brownie mix, a little bourbon, and chopped toasted walnuts for a spunky after-dinner treat.
Classic Shrimp Cocktail with Red and Green Sauces
For convenience, make this dish ahead, and refrigerate until time to serve.
Endive Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Walnuts
This elegant first course showcases a marvelous partnership between slightly bitter endive, creamy goat cheese, and sweet orange juice. From pretty presentation to fantastic flavor, you can't go wrong with this simple appetizer.
Goat Cheese Tarts with Lemon-Fig Compote
These dainty little bites are surprisingly simple to prepare. The phyllo pastry shells are sold in the frozen food section in the supermarket; thaw before filling. The lemon-fig topping lends a subtly sweet note to the savory goat cheese filling. Prepare the compote up to two days in advance, and store it in the refrigerator.
Chocolate Banana Bites
If you're craving something sweet, try these super simple chocolate bites. These freezer treats are delightful frozen or thawed, and make a great party snack. Insert toothpicks into each bite to serve to guests easily and be prepared to share the recipe with everyone who asks!
Onion Frittata Bites
Sweet caramelized onions and salty Parmesan cheese flavor these bite-sized appetizers. Bake the day before the party; cover and refrigerate in the baking dish. Shortly before guests arrive, reheat at 200° for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, garnished with sour cream and chives.
Panko-crusted Crab Cake Bites with Roasted Pepper-Chive Aioli
Crab cakes crusted with panko—coarse Japanese-style breadcrumbs—are super easy, elegant appetizers that are perfect for any occasion.
Panko-crusted Crab Cake Bites with Roasted Pepper-Chive Aioli Recipe
Ham-and-Cheese Skewers
Thread blue cheese wedges, apple slices, cubes of deli ham, and fresh watercress leaves onto wooden skewers for a super fast, super easy appetizer.
Pigskins in a Blanket
Using puff pastry instead of crescent roll dough to wrap up the sausages adds a great deal of richness and flavor. And replacing the pig in this version of pigs in a blanket is fully-cooked chicken sausage.
Yummy Sausage Cups
These yummy sausage cups are the perfect morning treat. Easy to grab and go, these little cups will be a hit at your next brunch.
Greek Olive Cups
These tasty cups can be made ahead and frozen. Fill the cups in their trays, then place the trays in heavy-duty plastic zipping bags and freeze them up to one month. When ready to bake, remove the cups from their trays and place them on an ungreased baking sheet. Let the cups stand 10 minutes before baking. Bake as directed in the recipe.
Double Peanut Butter Candy Bites with Granola
Make a little magic with peanut butter cookie dough, mini peanut butter cup candies, and granola. When you offer these 3-ingredient sweet treats at your next dessert party they’re sure to disappear quickly.
Tomato-Feta Bites
Start with frozen puff pastry to make these 6-ingredient Mediterranean-style appetizers featuring the savory goodness of tomatoes, kalamata olives, and feta cheese.
Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites
Cram all the amazing flavor of pecan pie into these bite-sized treats that are perfect for parties and gift-giving alike.
Sausage Balls
Freshly shredded cheese is a must for these sausage balls, which have become a traditional favorite during the holiday. This three-ingredient recipe is the perfect finger food for Christmas morning when children are too excited to sit down for breakfast, but it's also a great choice for breakfast and brunch any time of the year.
Bourbon Balls
Bourbon Balls offer up a powerful punch while packaged in a small bite. These sweet, no-bake treats are a favored gift and a perfect nibble for parties.
Goat Cheese-and-Olive Mini Tarts
Use frozen mini phyllo pastry shells, goat cheese and storebought olive tapenade to make these quick and easy 5-ingredient appetizers.
Mini Sausage Tarts
Easy to make but mouthwatering enough to serve as Hors d'Oeuvres, these little tarts are party-perfect... but fair warning: Mini Sausage Tarts will disappear faster than you can make them.
Chocolate Bruschetta
Salt enhances the chocolate flavor. For best results, use good-quality chocolate and coarse sea salt. Garnish with fresh mint leaves instead of orange rind, if desired.
Chicken Salad Tomato Cups
Shredded chicken salad, when paired here with fresh herbs, is served up in little tomato cups: which makes this item the perfect finger food for your next party or get-together.
