13 Quick and Easy Party Snacks and Appetizers

Diary free soft pretzels recipe — The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Whether you're getting together with family, going to a holiday party, or celebrating at the office, you'll probably be asked to bring a snack or dish. Here you'll find a number of and popular finger foods and party snacks, and many of them are super easy to prepare. While some are best served hot, others are served at room temperature so you can bring them with you to the party.

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Parmesan Crostini Crisps

The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

When you want a crispy, crunchy snack that pleases the masses, these simple Parmesan crisps are perfect. Flavored only with olive oil and real Parmigiano-Reggiano (real Parmesan) cheese they are not only tasty, but extremely easy to throw together. Make a lot…they are very addictive.
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Easy No-Cook Salsa

The Spruce / Sonia Bozzo

This easy no-cook salsa is great for kids' lunches, parties, and family meals. It's made with canned petite or regular diced tomatoes, so there's far less chopping involved. Feel free to use fresh tomatoes, especially if they're in season.
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Spiced Savory Spiced Mixed Nuts

Diana Rattray

These savory spiced nuts are always a hit! Worcestershire sauce and a variety of spices give them loads of flavor. You won't be able to stop snacking on these tasty mixed nuts.
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Nutella Pastry Puffs

Chocolate spread on anything is an absolute treat. But how about an impressive-looking, perfectly warm, Nutella-oozing pastry puff? Our quick and easy recipe puts the most decadent and crispy pastry on your table.

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Vegan Soft Pretzels

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

This recipe is a vegan snacking staple for kids and adults, great for movie nights and after-school snacks, and the perfect appetizer. Feel free to sprinkle your pretzels with spices, sugar, or nutritional yeast for different flavor variations.
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Cheese Straws

Ian O'Leary / Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images

These easy cheese straws are sure to be a hit. One of the tricks is to use sharp cheddar for the best flavor. Add a little more cayenne pepper for extra punch. The dough is easy to make either in a food processor or mixing it in a bowl. Then it takes only minutes to roll them into straws and bake. You can serve them warm or make them ahead and serve at room temperature.
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Pigs in a Blanket

The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

Mini hot dogs or sausages are wrapped with cheese in refrigerated crescent rolls to make this crowd-pleasing appetizer. You can dress them up by brushing the top of each crescent-wrapped hot dog with an optional egg and water mixture and then sprinkling them lightly with sesame seeds or poppy seeds. Serve them with mustard and chili sauce or barbecue sauce.
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Baked Spinach Balls

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

These baked spinach balls are a great appetizer and are very easy to make. They are finger food if you simply serve them speared with a toothpick. You can provide dipping sauces such as a grainy mustard, marinara sauce, chipotle mayonnaise, or a mustard and mayonnaise dip. You may find you enjoy them so much that you'll be making them as meatless meatballs to have with spaghetti.

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Tortilla Roll-ups

Eric Isaac Moment / Open / Getty Images

Serve these tasty, easy tortilla snacks with your favorite salsa, guacamole, or a spicy dip. This recipe uses a cheese and vegetable filling with cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and chopped vegetables. You can spice them up with some minced jalapeno peppers. You can also change it up by adding meat such as diced ham, crumbled bacon, or thinly sliced turkey.
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Quick and Easy Popcorn Balls

The Spruce/Diana Chistruga

These popcorn balls are a snap to make with freshly popped popcorn, sugar, and corn syrup. Make these popcorn snacks for a party or game-day gathering.
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Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Whether for a family movie night, snack or game-day appetizer for friends, these bacon-wrapped poppers can't be beat. These cheese-filled poppers are wrapped in bacon and baked to perfection in the oven—there's no messy, hot oil to contend with, and they don't need to be cooked in batches.
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Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp

The Spruce Eats/Julia Hartbeck

Bite-sized bacon-wrapped shrimp appetizers look and taste elegant enough for a party. Or, try bacon-wrapped scallops instead. You can make them ahead and then transfer them to a warming tray or slow cooker for serving. Experiment with seasoning them with lemon pepper or a little Creole or Cajun seasoning. Serve with lemon aioli for dipping.

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Crockpot Chex Party Mix

Acme Food Arts / Getty Images

Making your own party mix allows you to choose what savory crunchy snacks to include. This recipe shows how you can make it in a crockpot, which is a great way to multitask. You might also use a variation to make it gluten-free.