31 Easy Appetizers That Are Perfect for Any Occasion
Whether you’re hosting cocktails for your friends or throwing an all-out dinner party, these small bites are sure to impress.
Related To:
Photo By: Renee Comet ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Renee Comet ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Renee Comet ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Renee Comet ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Renee Comet
Photo By: Renee Comet ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Renee Comet ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Renee Comet ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Renee Comet ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Renee Comet ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Photo By: Renee Comet ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Renee Comet ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
©2008, Hearst Communications, Inc.
Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher
Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher
Photo By: Martha Tinkler
Photo By: Matt Armendariz
Flavor-Packed Bites
Appetizers may be small, but they often make the biggest impression. Whether you choose beautifully topped bruschetta, the always-popular pigs in a blanket or an array of party-worthy dips, the colorful presentation and perfectly paired flavors (because you’re serving wine or cocktails too, right?) are guaranteed to keep your guests coming back for more. Just take these show-stopping bites, for example. Valerie creates a sophisticated appetizer by layering roast beef, horseradish cream and chives into pillowy mini Yorkshire puddings. It sounds (and looks!) fancy but is surprisingly easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Mini Yorkshire Puddings with Roast Beef and Quick Caramelized Onions
Warm Brie with Fuji Apple, Pear and Melba Toasts
Get the Recipe: Warm Brie with Fuji Apple, Pear and Melba Toasts
Bacon-Wrapped Dates Stuffed With Chorizo
This classic, sweet-and-savory appetizer is a cinch to pull off. Best of all, it’s ready in under an hour, giving you plenty of extra time to tackle all the other things on your to do list.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Chorizo
Spanish Tortilla
Get the Recipe: Spanish Tortilla
Shrimp Cocktail with Quick Remoulade
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Cocktail with Rach's Quick Remoulade
Cheddar and Bacon Pinwheels
You can never go wrong with bacon — especially when it’s rolled up in puff pastry with sharp Cheddar cheese!
Get the Recipe: Cheddar and Bacon Pinwheels
Pea Pesto Crostini
Get the Recipe: Pea Pesto Crostini
Crab Cakes and 5-Ingredient Remoulade
Ree cooks her crab cakes under the high heat of the broiler but you can fry them in a pan if you’re out of oven space. Just add butter to your skillet over medium heat and sear the cakes until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
Get the Recipe: Crab Cakes and 5-Ingredient Remoulade
Pasta Chips with Alfredo Dip
Here's one more way to love pasta: as a crispy snack. Serve it up golden fried with a smooth and creamy sauce for dipping.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Chips with Alfredo Dip
Blue Cheese Stuffed Tomatoes
You only need 7 simple ingredients to make these delicious small bites. But don’t worry, they won’t be lacking in flavor — they’re loaded with blue cheese, bacon and fresh chives.
Get the Recipe: Blue Cheese Stuffed Tomatoes
Cacio E Pepe Cheese Puffs
Ina says, "When friends come over for dinner and I have a lot to cook, I serve the simplest appetizers: shards of aged Parmesan, slices of good salami and a bowl of salty Marcona almonds. But when I invite people to come for just a drink, I go all out and make something special like these cheese puffs, inspired by ones I had at Missy Robbins’s restaurant Lilia in Brooklyn. Everyone always loves them!"
Get the Recipe: Cacio E Pepe Cheese Puffs
Spanakopita Chicken Meatballs with Spicy Cucumber and Yogurt Sauce
Get the Recipe: Spanakopita Chicken Meatballs with Spicy Cucumber and Yogurt Sauce
Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil
Get the Recipe: Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil
Blini with Smoked Salmon
Get the Recipe: Blini with Smoked Salmon
Fried Pork Dumplings
Get the Recipe: Pan-Fried Pork Dumplings
Clams Casino
Littleneck clams are the perfect pick when you’re making appetizers. They’re smaller but that means they’re sweet and tender — and just the right size for a one-bite starter.
Get the Recipe: Clams Casino
Pizzette with Gorgonzola, Tomato and Basil
Get the Recipe: Pizzette with Gorgonzola, Tomato and Basil
Cheese-Stuffed Dates with Prosciutto
Get the Recipe: Cheese-Stuffed Dates with Prosciutto
Cornmeal Blini Bites
Get the Recipe: Cornmeal Blini Bites
Roasted Shrimp with Homemade Cocktail Sauce
Get the Recipe: Roasted Shrimp with Homemade Cocktail Sauce
Charcuterie Board Bites
Instead of setting out a charcuterie board (and having your guests huddle around to wait their turn) layer all of the iconic flavors onto individual bites of baguette. Genius!
Get the Recipe: Charcuterie Board Bites
Smoked Trout Canapes with Creme-Fraiche and Herb Sauce for Two
Get the Recipe: Smoked Trout Canapes with Creme-Fraiche and Herb Sauce for Two
Maple Pepper Pecans
Get the Recipe: Maple Pepper Pecans
Tea Smoked Chicken
Get the Recipe: Tea Smoked Chicken
Star Puffs
Get the Recipe: Star Puffs
Lemongrass-Cured Salmon Canapes
Get the Recipe: Lemongrass-Cured Salmon Canapes
Wrap-Party Apps
Get the Recipe: Wrap-Party Apps
Crab Stick Crackers with Crab Dip
Imitation crab sticks can do more than fill California rolls or kani salad. We use these tasty seafood snacks in two ways: first, pulled apart and fried into crisp, delectable crackers; second, chopped into a creamy baked dip to serve with the crackers. They’re a great addition to your next party spread.
Get the Recipe: Crab Stick Crackers with Crab Dip
Crosshatched Baked Brie
While we love baked brie wrapped in puff pastry as much as the next person, sometimes you just don’t want to fuss with dough of any kind. This breaded version comes out crisp, golden and buttery, giving even the fanciest baked Brie a run for its money. Cross-hatching not only looks cool, it helps heat the cheese heat evenly. And if you opt for gluten-free breadcrumbs, everyone at your party can enjoy this crowd-pleasing molten beauty.
Get the Recipe: Crosshatched Baked Brie
How To Build a Perfect Charcuterie Board
A beautiful charcuterie board is a statement piece and a time saver, since it typically requires no cooking. The word "charcuterie" refers to cold cooked, cured or smoked meats, and it’s also the name of the French stores in which they are sold. So, in the most official sense, a traditional charcuterie board is just a meat platter. These days, charcuterie boards have risen to a revered status in the world of snacks and appetizers, with most boards incorporating cheese, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, pickles and other treats. Aim for contrasting and complementary tastes and textures when choosing pairings and experiment with flavor combinations: sharp cheeses such as asiago or Roquefort drizzled with honey or paired with jam, dry, salty crystallized cheeses such as Parmesan or Pecorino paired with fatty cuts of meat like soppressata or bresaola, crunchy nuts or crackers with gooey triple-cream or burrata and piquant condiments such as mustard and pickles to cut through the richness of salami or pâté.
Get the Recipe: How To Build a Perfect Charcuterie Board
Clam Dip
Clam dip is one of those old-timey New England dishes that is popular up and down the coast, often made for family gatherings like barbecues or holidays. Every New Englander who knows the dip probably has an opinion on whether it should be made with cream cheese or sour cream (or both), and which mix-ins should be added. This version is classic and simple, made from cream cheese, canned clams (which you can use straight from the can, no cooking necessary), scallions, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Feel free to serve it with your favorite dippers, whether those are potato chips, sliced vegetables or even Fritos.
Get the Recipe: Clam Dip