43 Easy Party Appetizers

Make It a Stress Free Celebration

Easy Baked Brie

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

You've got enough to do as a party host. Cleaning the house, getting everything set up, figuring out how many of the people who RSVP-ed yes will actually come. Add these easy party appetizers to your roster to take one more worry off your list so you can enjoy the get-together as much as your guests. Many of these can be made ahead, come together in less than 30 minutes, or use the slow cooker so you don't have to hover over the stove. Pour yourself a glass of wine and get ready to relax.

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    Devils on Horseback

    Devils on Horseback Appetizer Recipe

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

    This is an ideal appetizer for entertaining. Just about everyone loves the combination of salty bacon with rich and sweet dates and creamy cheese. You can assemble them ahead of time, and refrigerate until just before party time, when they can be baked in the oven before serving.

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    Whipped Feta

    A bowl of whipped feta topped with pine nuts, olive oil and black pepper served with cucumbers and pita

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    Whipped feta’s tangy, salty flavor and creamy texture make it a satisfying and versatile spread or dip. But it’s also one of the simplest no-cook recipes you will ever make. 

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    Blue Cheese Figs

    Blue Cheese-Stuffed Figs

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    The flavor combination of deeply sweet figs and sharply pungent blue cheese is one of those surprisingly perfect match-ups, where opposites attract like two puzzle pieces. We like to use a softer, creamier blue cheese like gorgonzola dolce for the textural similarity, but any blue cheese works.

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    Apple Kelbasa

    Stovetop Apple Kielbasa

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

    Kielbasa has a distinctly garlicky and herby flavor and is a common staple on Polish tables. These are heated on the stove top in a Dijon mustard and apple sauce and make the perfect hearty winter appetizer.

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    Salmon and Horseradish Cheeseball

    Salmon Cheese Ball With Horseradish

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

    Canned flaky salmon and cream cheese come together to make this retro and elegant appetizer.  The horseradish gives it a little extra kick, though you can add more spice with hot sauce or red cayenne pepper instead.

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    Classic Deviled Eggs

    Classic Deviled Eggs

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

    Classic deviled eggs are easy to make and only take a few simple ingredients: hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, and mustard, along with a little seasoning. It's also easy to customize the flavors by adding an ingredient like pickle relish or Everything Bagel seasoning. Boil the eggs ahead of time and stash them in the fridge to make assembly quicker. Double the recipe if you're serving a crowd.

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    Guacamole Deviled Eggs

    Guacamole Deviled Eggs

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    Combining two classic appetizer recipes creates this delicious guacamole deviled eggs recipe. It can be served at warm-weather parties because no mayonnaise is used—the yolks get their creamy spreadability from the avocado.

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    Smoked Oyster Dip

    Smoked Oyster Dip in a bowl, served with crackers and celery sticks on a plate

    The Spruce / Abby Mercer

    Chopped canned smoked oysters, makes the prep time for this creamy dip minimal. Serve this tasty smoked oyster appetizer dip with crackers, tortilla chips, pita chips, or cucumbers.

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    Slow Cooker Ham Balls

    Slow Cooker Ham Balls on a plate

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

    Whether you're having a family holiday party or a big bash for friends, you need all the help you can get in the saving time department. Using a slow cooker to serve tasty appetizers is a great strategy, and this ham ball recipe is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

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    Spiced Beef Hummus

    Spiced Beef on Hummus

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    Making hummus at home means you can adjust the level of garlic and add whatever spices you want. It takes just minutes to put together. The warm, spiced beef with creamy hummus creates a wonderful taste and texture pairing that is perfect scooped up with toasted pita bread.

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    Chicken Liver Paté

    Jewish-Style Chicken Liver Pate

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    Use your food processor to make this decadent, make-ahead chicken pate. The flavors need to meld overnight in the fridge so it frees up time on party day. It works well on appetizer-sized toast, crackers, or melba toast.

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    Vegan Spinach Dip

    Easy Vegan Spinach Dip

    The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

    In this simple and easy vegan spinach dip recipe, you use a vegan packaged soup mix, frozen spinach, and a non-dairy sour cream and just mix it all up together. It really couldn't possibly be easier or more foolproof.

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    Cranberry Brie Bites

    Cranberry Brie Bites

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    Frozen puff pastry makes these cranberry brie bites easy. You can buy puff pastry cups or shape them into these adorable bundles yourself. Funky brie and sweet-tart cranberries go together perfectly, but you can use other cheeses if you prefer.

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    Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Dip

    Crock Pot Broccoli Cheese Dip

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

    Reminiscent of warm and comforting broccoli cheddar soup, this broccoli cheese dip is sure to be a hit at your game day party or any other gathering. This dip requires just a few ingredients (chopped broccoli, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream and Velveeta cheese) and minimal prep work.

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    Creamy Crab Dip

    Creamy Crab Dip With Cream Cheese

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    Cream cheese and mayonnaise are combined with the crabmeat to make this creamy, tasty dip. Carrot and celery sticks are excellent choices for dipping as well as crackers or chips. It's a very easy dip to prepare with just a few simple seasonings. 

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    Crockpot Beer Cheese Dip

    Crockpot Beer Cheese Dip

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    This simple appetizer recipe is very delicious and perfect for movie night or a game day. It will stay warm and creamy for about four hours. Crockpot beer cheese dip can be made with real beer or non-alcoholic beer and it will be delicious either way.

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    Easy Baked Brie

    Easy Baked Brie

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    For a classic appetizer that looks so much more complex than it is, you can't go wrong with baked brie. Oozing, funky brie, sweet fruit preserves, candied walnuts, and of course, tiny toasts complete the platter. Serve with fancy crackers or sliced baguette for the prettiest presentation.

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    Shrimp Cocktail

    Beer-Steamed Shrimp

    The Spruce / Sabrina Russo

    It's hard to resist shrimp cocktail and this recipe shows you just how simple it is to make at home. Rather than pre-cooked shrimp, raw shrimp are steamed in beer until they're pink and tender. Once chilled, serve with spicy cocktail sauce.

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    Bacon Wrapped Sausages

    Bacon-wrapped sausages

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

    Smoked sausages, bacon, and brown sugar are the core ingredients in a recipe that's sure to be a hit. They're really versatile as appetizers for holiday gatherings and go well with honey mustard, homemade ketchup, or spicy salsa.

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    Sausage Dip

     Recipe in a bowl, served with a side of chips

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

    This dip recipe is a crowd-pleaser that you can easily accommodate for all tastes. Once you make this sausage dip, you won't be able to get enough of it, because it’s so good and satisfying. Serve it hot on toast, with corn chips, or sliced bell peppers. The options are limitless!

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    Buffalo Wings

    Transfer baked wings to plate

    The Spruce Eats

    This is a baked version of the famous Buffalo chicken wings, which makes them easier to prep than the traditional deep fried version, but every bit delicious. And, as is served with the original Buffalo wings, make sure to accompany these spicy wings with blue cheese dip—either homemade or store-bought—and celery sticks.

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    Instat Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip

    Instant pot buffalo chicken dip

    The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

    It's no surprise Buffalo chicken dip is a fan favorite for any occasion. You can enjoy all the flavors Buffalo chicken wings in one bite, while keeping your fingers clean. This is recipe the ultimate last-minute snack because it takes only minutes with the help of the Instant Pot.

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    Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

    Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

    Kristina Vanni

    Bacon-wrapped asparagus spears are a delightful appetizer or side dish. They only require three ingredients and can be made quickly and easily thanks to the air fryer. When air frying bacon-wrapped asparagus, you don't need to pre-cook the bacon wrap. The air fryer produces crispy, evenly browned bacon by circulating hot air around the food. 

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    Herbed Feta

    Feta With Olive Oil and Herbs

    The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

    No cooking is required for this quick and easy feta appetizer, ideal for hot summer days when you don’t feel like turning on the stove. It is also great for a picnic or a summer party. The preparation, which is actually more an assembly of the ingredients, takes less than 10 minutes. 

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    Cold Buffalo Cheese Dip

    Cold Buffalo Cheese Dip

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    This flavorful Buffalo cheese dip is made with only four ingredients. Cream cheese, mayonnaise, and Buffalo wing sauce are combined with some chopped celery for a crunchy, tasty dip. 

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    Garlic Crab Bruschetta

    Buttery Garlic Crab Bruschetta Recipe

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

    Bruschetta is a classic Italian snack of grilled bread drizzled with olive oil and rubbed with garlic (and sometimes a cut ripe tomato.) It's a simple, magical delight from which many variations have sprung, including this recipe which features lots of garlic, butter, and flavorful crabmeat.

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    Smoked Salmon Dip

    Smoked Salmon Dip

    The Spruce / Crystal Hughes

    This bright and flavorful smoked salmon dip only takes minutes to whip up and can be made ahead of time for a last-minute appetizer. Serve the creamy spread with crackers or bagel chips.

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    Caramelized Candy Peanuts

    Caramelized Candied Peanuts

    The Spruce Eats

    Instead of your standard bowl of mixed nuts, set out these sweet caramelized peanuts. Watch the sugar carefully as it caramelizes so it doesn't burn and store them tightly covered so they don't go soft. A pinch of coarse salt will level up the flavor beautifully, and a tiny bit of chili powder will add some spice.

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    Vegan Baba Ganoush

    Easy vegan baba ganoush eggplant hummus

    The Spruce

    For guests with dietary restrictions, serve this vegan, gluten- and dairy-free baba ganoush that has flavor to spare. Roasted eggplant gives it a lovely smokiness plus chickpeas pack it full of protein. Sour lemon juice, creamy tahini, and garlic round it all out. Make it up to seven days ahead of time and store in the fridge for party time.

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    Southern-Style Pickled Shrimp

    pickled shrimp in a large jar
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Southern-style pickled shrimp have a mild, herbal flavor that tastes like shrimp cocktail's more flavorful cousin. And you can let them marinate up to 24 hours. Chopped fresh dill has the most traditional pickle flavor, but you can substitute thyme, parsley, tarragon, chives, or a blend.

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    Moutabel

    eggplant dip in bowl with vegetables and pita for dippping

    The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

    Moutabel is a spicier version of baba ghannouj, a popular dip made from eggplant and tahini. Not only is it easy to make, but it is also even better the next day.

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    Pimento Cheese Spread

    Southern Pimento Cheese Spread in a bowl

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    This popular pimento cheese spread couldn't be easier to prepare, but your guests will gobble it up. Adjust the heat level by adding more or less hot sauce and use real cheddar cheese for the best flavor and texture. Leftovers make next-level grilled cheese sammies.

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    Crescent Roll Pigs in a Blanket

    Crescent Roll Pigs in a Blanket

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

    No one ever turned down these simple, flaky pigs in a blanket. Canned crescent rolls and refrigerated cocktail weenies make these a snap to prepare for a last-minute gathering. Sprinkle some coarse sea salt, or poppyseeds over the dough when fresh out of the oven for extra oomph.

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    Easy Queso

    Easy and Delicious Queso Dip

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

    This Tex-Mex classic packs a lot of flavor from cheese, diced vegetables, and seasonings. The creamy ingredients somewhat tone down the spicy elements, but just enough heat is left to make it interesting.

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    Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

    Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms With Parmesan Cheese

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    Crabmeat and breadcrumbs make up a simple and very tasty stuffing for mushrooms. The crab stuffing is loaded with texture and buttery flavor. Some finely minced red bell pepper and green onions add festive color to the stuffing.

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    Bacon Wrapped Scallops

    Easy Bacon-Wrapped Scallops

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    A popular appetizer, scallops wrapped in bacon are a snap to prepare and the presentation is impressive, making the perfect recipe to include in your party fare. It's no surprise this appetizer has stood the test of time as the smoky flavor of the bacon is a perfect pairing for the sweetness of the scallops

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    Baked Spinach Balls

    Baked Cheesy Spinach Balls

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    For the vegetarians in your group, baked spinach balls will hit the spot. Read the label on your packaged stuffing crumbs first though, since many do include chicken broth. If you have stale bread lying around, this recipe can help use those up, too.

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    Sweet Crunchy Nuts

    Sweet Crunchy Nuts Recipe

    The Spruce / Abby Mercer

    Every appetizer spread needs something sweet to balance out the savory, and these sweet nuts are the perfect thing for guests to nibble on. These little tidbits are highly addictive. You can use just about any type of nut you like or mix them up for a special treat. They are so easy to make but so tasty. Put these sweet crunchy nuts into a nice glass jar or tin, and they make a tasty gift from the kitchen for any occasion.

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    Baked Brie in Puff Pastry

    fruit platter with bake brie in puff pastry

    The Spruce Eats/Cara Cormack

    Baked brie in puff pastry (also called brie en croûte) is an elegant cheese appetizer, and you don't have to be a pro to prepare and bake it. You can throw this appetizer together in as little as 10 minutes—it's easy enough to make for a quick family snack and fancy enough for a holiday party or special event.

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    Crab Rangoon Dip

    Crab Rangoon Dip

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    Get all of the flavor of crab rangoon and none of the work by making this creamy, cheesy, seafood-forward crab rangoon dip instead. Serve it with crispy fried wonton strips for dipping, to get the full effect.

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    Spinach and Artichoke Dip

    spinach and artichoke dip with chips

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney 

    If you always order spinach and artichoke dip at your neighborhood restaurant, you may be amazed how easy it is to make. This creamy, cheesy, veggie-packed dip is welcome at any gathering. You can even serve it in your slow cooker to keep it warm.

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    Chipotle Pumpkin Queso Dip

    Chipotle pumpkin queso dip recipe

    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

    Chipotle, pumpkin, and cheese come together in the deliciously spicy, and velvety dip. It's the perfect fall party snack, with pumpkin puree perfectly complimenting the smoky chipotle peppers.

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    Pepperoni Bread

    pepperoni bread

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

    With just six ingredients including store-bought bread dough, and only 20 minutes prep time, you can have this delicious pepperoni bread party-ready without much effort. The dough is layered with Parmesan, herbs, pepperoni, and provolone, rolled up, and baked until golden. Slice and serve with marinara for dipping.