43 Easy Party Appetizers

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.

Holiday Punch

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Devils on Horseback

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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