12 Last-Minute Appetizers from the Pantry
Last-minute guests? Turn pantry and fridge staples into quick company-worthy snacks.
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Ingredient: Jarred or Canned Olives
Appetizer: Marinated Olives
Warm in olive oil with seasonings of your choice — try red pepper flakes and garlic, fennel seeds and coriander, or orange zest and rosemary.
Ingredient: Plain Yogurt
Appetizer: Yogurt Dip
Spike this veggie-friendly dip with lemon zest and chopped garlic or horseradish.
Ingredient: Popcorn
Appetizer: Spiced Popcorn
Skip the ho-hum salt; drizzle this no-fail snack with melted butter and a few shakes of something from the spice rack. Try seafood seasoning (Old Bay), five-spice powder, smoked paprika or herbes de Provence.
Ingredient: Pita Pockets
Appetizer: Pita Chips
Cut into triangles, toss with olive oil and grated Parmesan, then toast for homemade pita chips.
Ingredient: Packaged Hummus
Appetizer: Dressed-Up Hummus
Dress up this refrigerator staple by scooping it into a pretty bowl; drizzle it with olive oil and sprinkle with paprika or cayenne.
Ingredient: Baguette or Country Bread
Appetizer: Garlic Crostini
Slice, rub with garlic and olive oil, toast and voila! Instant crostini.
Ingredient: Goat Cheese Log
Appetizer: Herbed Goat Cheese
Roll in chopped fresh herbs — think parsley, cilantro, chives or a mix — for a quick cheese-and-cracker upgrade.
Ingredient: Tortillas
Appetizer: Quick Quesadillas
Sandwich these rounds with cheese — cheddar, mozzarella, Havarti, Swiss (almost anything melty works) — and pop under the broiler for easy quesadillas to serve in wedges. Extra points for adding pickled jalapenos, chipotles in adobo or any shredded chicken you might have on hand.
Ingredient: Jarred Roasted Red Peppers
Appetizer: Red Pepper Crostini
Slice into strips and toss with olive oil and something green — think chopped cilantro, parsley, capers or scallions — for a hearty toast topper.
Ingredient: Frozen Pizza Dough
Appetizer: Cinnamon Twists
For a sweet take on breadsticks, shape thawed dough into strips and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar before baking.
Ingredient: Nuts
Appetizer: Herbed Nuts
Take a note from hotel bartenders and serve these warmed and tossed with melted butter and coarse salt. Throw in a sprig of fresh rosemary or thyme if you're feeling fancy.
Ingredient: Canned Chickpeas
Appetizer: Toasted Chickpeas
Rinse, dry and toss with olive oil and curry powder before toasting in a pan until crispy.
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