Healthy Appetizer Recipes

Entertain the smart way with these healthy appetizer recipes from Food Network.

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Chunky Guacamole

One more reason to celebrate guacamole: Avocados are rich in just the kind of "good" fats health experts encourage us to eat. In Ellie's version, diced red onion is key — it gives a great bite to chunks of creamy avocado.

Get the Recipe: Chunky Guacamole

Cracked Pepper Potato Chips with Onion Dip

Ellie’s baked potato chips have a satisfying crunch and less fat than store-bought, and once you try this easy, homemade onion dip, you’ll never buy it at the store again.

Get the Recipe: Cracked Pepper Potato Chips with Onion Dip

Broccoli- and Cheddar-Stuffed Potato Skins with Avocado Cream

Ellie puts a healthy spin on a classic appetizer by using reduced-fat sour cream in the avocado topping and Canadian bacon, which has only a quarter of the fat of regular bacon.

Get the Recipe: Broccoli and Cheddar-Stuffed Potato Skins with Avocado Cream

Baked Mini Corn Dogs

These adorable appetizers are as tasty as the corn dogs from the cart at the state fair, with one big difference: Two of these have fewer calories than one classic corn dog.

Get the Recipe: Baked Mini Corn Dogs

Five Layer Mexican Dip

Ellie's five-layer Mexican dip is loaded with beans, corn, avocado, cilantro and cheese; serve it with baked tortilla chips, pita chips or crudite.

Get the Recipe: Five Layer Mexican Dip

Baba Ghanoush

To make this flavorful baba ghanoush, Ellie bakes an eggplant to just the right softness, then mixes the pureed flesh with garlic, lemon, tahini and chopped fresh parsley.

Get the Recipe: Babaganoush

Polenta Squares with Mushroom Ragu

Giada De Laurentiis tops bite-size polenta squares with a savory mushroom sauce for an easy, elegant appetizer.

Get the Recipe: Polenta Squares with Mushroom Ragu

Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Get the party started with Ellie's version of this restaurant-favorite dip, made healthy with low-fat cheeses and light sour cream

Get the Recipe: Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Crisp Mozzarella Sticks

Baked-not-fried mozzarella sticks are a fun crispy, oozy, appetizer for the whole family — and one that has calcium goodness. The pizza flavor profile makes them extra tasty for kids' palates.

Get the Recipe: Healthy Mozzarella Sticks

Lighter Creamy White Bean Dip

Cottage cheese adds creaminess — and an extra boost of protein — to white bean dip.

Get the Recipe: Lighter Creamy White Bean Dip

Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce

A marinade of ginger, fish sauce, lime and lemongrass infuses the chicken with flavor — without all the fat. The peanut sauce gets madeover with some light coconut milk and reduced-fat peanut butter. A crunchy slaw brings it all together.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Mushroom Pesto Crostini

Pungent porcini mushrooms plus garlic and Parmesan give great kick to Giada's pesto that's balanced with crunchy crostini slices. They're a great crowd-pleaser for a party or just to eat as a snack.

Get the Recipe: Mushroom Pesto Crostini

Kale and Artichoke Dip

This has all the warm creamy goodness of party-favorite spinach artichoke dip, but with far fewer calories and fat. Kale adds heartiness and packs in a variety of nutrients — it's one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat.

Get the Recipe: Kale and Artichoke Dip

Hot Crab Dip

Reduced fat cream cheese and sour cream give this dip its signature creamy texture with less fat. Crab boil spice, lemon and fresh herbs add more low-cal flavor.

Get the Recipe: Hot Crab Dip

Spiced Edamame

Toss tender, cooked edamame pods in a homemade chili salt made using chili powder, red pepper flakes and dried oregano. The spicy blend complements the beans' mildly sweet flavor.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Edamame

Slim Six-Layer Dip

Low-cal flavor boosters, like chili paste, garlic, cilantro and jalapeno, make this six-layer dip tastes even better than the original, with fewer calories and less fat.

Get the Recipe: Six-Layer Bean Dip

Cherry Tomatoes Stuffed with Chicken Apple Salad

Sweet, hollowed-out cherry tomatoes make perfect, tiny bowls for a chicken-apple salad filling.

Get the Recipe: Cherry Tomatoes Stuffed with Chicken Apple Salad

Edamame Hummus

Change up your hummus routine with frozen edamame. You'll add a pretty hue to your appetizer spread and up your protein intake.

Get the Recipe: Edamame Hummus

Ellie's Antipasto Sausage Skewers

Ellie threads Italian sausage, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and fresh basil on skewers for a hearty, healthy appetizer.

Get the Recipe: Antipasto Sausage Skewers

Ellie's Green Goddess Dip

Ditch mayonnaise-laden ranch dressing and serve crudites with Ellie's green goddess dip instead. Start with a low-fat buttermilk base, then blend in creamy avocado and fresh scallions, tarragon and parsley.

Get the Recipe: Green Goddess Dip

Surf 'n' Earth Stuffed Mushrooms

Pack mushrooms (which are from the earth) with lump crab meat (from the surf) for a savory, bite-size appetizer with a punny name.

Get the Recipe: Surf 'N Earth

Greek Yogurt Onion Dip

Use Greek yogurt for a healthier spin on beloved onion dip. This version incorporates shallots and chives, and it can be served with sliced vegetables or low-salt pretzels or pita chips.

Get the Recipe: Greek Yogurt Onion Dip

Crabmeat Fondue

Use skewers to dip fresh vegetables like celery and cauliflower into this lightened-up crab dip, or serve it with cubes of whole-grain bread.

Get the Recipe: Crabmeat Fondue

Chicken Sate with Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce

"Sate" is a fancy way to say chicken-on-a-stick and Ellie's version can be made on the grill or using a grill pan. Serve the chicken skewers with a Thai-inspired peanut dipping sauce.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Sate with Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce

Easy Chicken-Mushroom Quesadillas

A little bit of cheddar cheese goes a long way in flavoring Ellie's easy, family-friendly and fiesta-worthy quesadillas.

Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken-Mushroom Quesadillas

Giada's White Bean and Roasted Eggplant Hummus

Roasting eggplant brings out a smoky flavor and removes its toughness. Pairing it with soft cannellini beans creates a creamy dip that serves as the perfect topper for sliced cucumber.

Get the Recipe: White Bean and Roasted Eggplant Hummus

Panko-Crusted Chicken and Crudites with Blue Cheese Dip

This nostalgic meal combines two party favorites: chicken fingers and veggies and dip. The chicken is coated in egg whites and crispy panko breadcrumbs for a satisfying crunch, and the blue cheese dip is made with yogurt instead of traditional mayo.

Get the Recipe: Panko-Crusted Chicken and Crudites with Blue Cheese Dip

Soft Asian Summer Rolls with Sweet and Savory Dipping Sauce

Summer rolls have a shape similar to egg rolls but they're made with softened rice paper, chopped vegetables and herbs — and they're not fried. They make fresh, light starter, perfect for summer, like their name implies.

Get the Recipe: Soft Asian Summer Rolls with Sweet and Savory Dipping Sauce

Tamari Pecans

Tamari is a dark soybean sauce that is like a thicker version of soy sauce. Its mellow flavor gets amped up by cayenne pepper as the coating for these fiery pecans.

Get the Recipe: Tamari Pecans

Roasted Beet and Lentil Dip

This brightly-hued dip is packed with fiber, thanks to both red beets and lentils. Serve it with pretty veggie spears like endive, Persian cucumbers and baby carrots.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Beet and Lentil Dip

Sausage Phyllo Rolls

This slimmed-down version of sausage balls uses light puff pastry instead of greasy biscuits as the wrapper. You get all the savory flavor you love, for only 220 calories per serving.

Get the Recipe: Sausage Phyllo Rolls

Cucumber-Dill Yogurt Dip

Using yogurt instead of sour cream or cream cheese in dips ensures all of the creaminess, with just a fraction of the fat and calories.

Get the Recipe: Cucumber-Dill Yogurt Dip

Grilled Prawns with Caper Tzatziki

Here's a cool restaurant trick: Claire butterflies the ends of her shrimp so that they can sit up on the plate.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Prawns with Caper Tzatziki

Neelys' Quiche Tartlets

These individual, cheesy quiches are a great way to start a meal in the right direction.

Get the Recipe: Gina's Quiche Tartlets

Holy Moly Guacamole

Holy moly, it's lighter guacamole, made with mashed avocados, peas and Greek yogurt.

Get the Recipe: Holy Moly Guacamole

Ellie's Crab Cakes

Ellie Krieger relies on good-quality lump crab, not fillers, to make this cake shine. A panko breadcrumb crust keeps them moist inside and crisp on the outside.

Get the Recipe: Crisp Crab Cakes

Pear and Pistachio Guacamole

Diced pears and chopped roasted pistachios add a surprising crunch to this notoriously creamy dip.

Get the Recipe: Pear and Pistachio Guacamole

Kale Chips

For a healthier appetizer, try crisp baked kale leaves, or kale "chips." A sprinkle of brown sugar adds a smidge of sweetness to the antioxidant-packed super veggie.

Get the Recipe: Kale Chips

Popcorn Shrimp with Chili-Lime Dipping Sauce

Ellie's lightened-up popcorn shrimp have a great crispy coating without the calories, thanks to flour spiced with ancho chili powder, egg whites and yellow cornmeal. Coat your baking sheet with canola oil and heat it up in the oven first so when you add the shrimp, they'll immediately start to crisp up.

Get the Recipe: Popcorn Shrimp with Chili-Lime Dipping Sauce

Spicy Succotash Dip

Succotash gets a makeover in this light and airy dip made of pureed lima beans and roasted red peppers topped with fresh corn and tomatoes. No matter the season, the flavors of this creamy treat will remind you of summer.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Succotash Dip

Oven-Baked Onion Rings

Forgo the deep fryer for a baking sheet and you'll be churning out healthier onion rings in no time. A baked potato chip and low-fat buttermilk coating complete these crunchy snacks.

Get the Recipe: Oven Baked Onion Rings

Kale Pesto and White Bean Dip

This rich vegan dip is packed with healthful ingredients. It even includes nutritional yeast, a great dairy-free alternative to cheese if you're looking to reduce or eliminate dairy in a recipe.

Get the Recipe: Kale Pesto and White Bean Dip

Bacon, Jack and Jalapeno Quesadillas

Food Network Kitchen slimmed down classic bacon-Jack quesadillas, without sacrificing that satisfying, ooey-gooey texture. Turkey bacon and reduced-fat cheese make these snacks irresistible and good for you.

Get the Recipe: Bacon Jack and Jalapeno Quesadillas

Lightened-Up Guacamole

This lighter version of guacamole is extra-creamy because of the addition of protein-dense silken tofu. Not only does it make a super-smooth puree, it reduces the fat and calories in the overall recipe.

Get the Recipe: Lightened-Up Guacamole

Dolmades

These traditional Greek stuffed grape leaves are a great way to start a meal. This recipe makes 30 Dolmades: invite a friend over to help you roll the rice-and-herb mixture in tender grape leaves before a dinner party.

Jerk-Spiced Carrot Dip

Serve this jerk-spiced dip made with carrots and coconut milk with warm flatbread and a fun tropical drink to transport yourself to a sunny island.

Get the Recipe: Jerk-Spiced Carrot Dip

Edamame and Miso Dip

Serve this creamy dip packed with umami flavor as a fun, slightly exotic alternative to hummus.

Get the Recipe: Edamame and Miso Dip

Tortelloni Kebabs

These kid-friendly kebabs are easy to assemble and fun to eat. Serve them with a side of marinara sauce or pesto for dipping.

Get the Recipe: Tortelloni Kebobs

Lima Bean Dip

Frozen lima beans become a surprising star in this garlicky alternative to guacamole.

Get the Recipe: Lima Bean Dip

Healthy Sweet Potato Dip with Spiced Pita Chips

Here's a vibrantly colored and creamy dip that's a great alternative to hummus. We included instructions for making homemade pita chips but you can skip that part and use store-bought instead.

Get the Recipe: Healthy Sweet Potato Dip with Spiced Pita Chips