Easy Appetizer Recipes

These easy appetizer recipes are fun to eat and simple to prepare.

My favorite kind of party is one where there are finger foods. I enjoy this either as the host or as the guest. Easy appetizers are a great way to start your party on the right foot and get your guests in a good mood.

As the hostess, serving simple-to-make appetizers gives me a chance to circulate and talk to people and still get all the party stuff done.

As a guest, I like just a little bite of a variety of things and not a whole meal, especially if I am standing for a while.

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Easy appetizers can be as simple as single-portion foods such as smoked salmon and chives with cream cheese on a cracker, or as complex as an antipasto platter where the guests help themselves to a wide array of choices.

Here are a few finger foods to try at your next party.

Make your own easy appetizers with cream cheese, pecans, and cranberries on homemade crostini. They are simple to prepare!

These mini portion phyllo cups are filled with cream cheese and crab. They are a small-sized crab rangoons.

Your guests will love them. Get the recipe here.

Be sure to serve some mini cocktail napkins with this one. The sauce is super tasty and sticky!

Perfect for the Super Bowl game, these sticky chicken wings are very easy to make and so, so tasty.

Don’t throw the pumpkin seeds away after you carve your pumpkin. Save them and roast the seeds with olive oil, salt, pepper, and paprika for a tasty and nutritious snack.

If you like an appetizer with just a bit of a kick, try these bacon-wrapped chicken bites. They are a real crowd pleaser.

These portobello mushrooms are stuffed with fresh herbs, onions, and laughing cow cheese. My party guests love the recipe!

No party is quite complete without a scoop or two of your favorite guacamole dip and chips. Every time I serve this dip, it disappears.

You can also make some homemade crostinis and spread the dip for an easy serving bite.

This recipe is super easy to make and always a hit at my holiday parties.

This spicy chickpea appetizer is healthy and full of protein. This one would be easy to serve in small plastic cups for bite-sized portions.

Get the Recipe –>> Martha Stewart.

This festive Mexican dip is a showstopper. The dip is prepared and then baked ,and served in a pumpkin bowl. It’s easy, delicious, and decorative, too!

These meatball cupcake appetizers will have your guests thinking about mom’s meatloaf. The mini size is perfect to serve with drinks.

Shared from Look then Cook.

These bacon-wrapped potato appetizers will disappear in a flash. Super easy to make, and who doesn’t love bacon-wrapped anything?

Shared from Martha Stewart

How cute are these mini potato bites appetizers? These are the perfect bite-sized portions.

Shared from Remodelaholic

I love this idea for a mini burger and tomato on a waffle fry. Compact and easy, this easy appetizer will have you longing for your next burger.

Shared from Better Homes and Gardens.

Finish up the party with these Oreo bonbons. They are bite-sized, easy to make, and delicious. Get the recipe here.

Tips for making easy appetizer recipes

Feeling daunted about the idea of hosting a party with appetizers? Don’t be! There is no easier type of entertaining. Here are some tips to make the party preparation go seamlessly.

Prepare 2-3 appetizers for each guest from scratch, but then purchase the rest. This makes setting up a breeze.
Prepare the home-made items in advance if you can. Then all you will need to do is reheat and garnish when your guests arrive.
Keep color in mind when preparing the menu. We eat with our eyes first! Garnishes with fresh herbs add color to a plate inexpensively and quickly.
Have one hot dish ready that you can serve in a slow cooker. It can be prepared early in the day, and guests always love a warm dish. My crock pot taco chili is a good choice.
Don’t forget the drinks. They go perfectly with appetizer recipes.
Who doesn’t like a dessert? Be sure to have at least one sweet dish. Mini-sized portions are always a hot.
Be sure to have a pot of coffee handy, too.

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Admin note: this post for easy appetizer recipes first appeared on the blog in June of 2013. I have updated the post to add new photos, more recipes, and a video for you to enjoy.

Here is one of my favorite party appetizers. These bite-sized stuffed mushrooms are always a hit!

Yield: 18 stuffed mushrooms

Stuffed Mushrooms with Cheddar Cheese

Panko bread crumbs give a light and crisp finish to these amazing stuffed mushrooms

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

18 white mushrooms
2 scallions, chopped
4 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 3/4 cups of Panko Bread crumbs
1 teaspoon of fresh oregano
3 1/2 ounces of reduced fat Cabot Cheddar cheese (any type will do but I prefer the flavor of Cabot cheeses)
Fresh parsley to garnish

Instructions

Wash the mushrooms and pat dry. Remove the stems and finely chop them and also remove the gills and discard.
Sauté the mushroom stems and scallions in 2 teaspoons of the olive oil.
In a large bowl, combine the mushroom stems and scallions.
Add the bread crumbs and oregano and mix well.
Crumble the cheese into small pieces in a bowl.
Add the cheese to the crumb mixture and combine well. Spoon it in to the mushroom caps.
Drizzle the remainder of the oil over the mushrooms.
Broil on a well oiled broiler rack under a preheated medium high broiler for about 10 minutes, until cooked through and the cheese has melted.
Serve hot as a side dish or appetizer.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 91Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 166mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g

Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.