Easy Appetizer Recipes (2024)

Celebrate a special occasion or just a fun Friday night with our easy recipes for dips, fondues, meatballs, snack mixes and more party appetizer foods.

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Cheese Fondue

Classic cheese fondue is a splurge in every sense--but it's also guaranteed bliss. (And you don't even need a fondue pot!) CJ Bienert, owner of The Cheese Shop of Des Moines, shares his easy recipe.

Warm and Cheesy Recipes

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Cast-Iron Garlic Shrimp with Chorizo and Green Onions

In her latest cookbook Company: The Radically Casual Art of Cooking for Others, Amy Thielen celebrates inviting people into your home and feeding them well—and without pretension. This Spanish-inspired shrimp dish is perfect for winter game nights.

Minnesota Chef Amy Thielen is Bringing the Ease Back to Entertaining

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Ripe Olive Cheese Ball

Perfect for parties and tailgating! Make these cheese balls up to three months ahead of time then freeze. Thaw frozen cheese balls overnight in fridge before serving.

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Gouda and Red Onion Pizza

This easy appetizer pizza features shredded Gouda and caramelized onions. The recipe comes from Gouda maker Oakvale Farmstead Cheese in London, Ohio.

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Smoked Gouda Artichoke Spread

This easy cheese spread from Shelly Westerhausen Worcel, author of Platters and Boards, is highly addictive thanks to the slight tang and brightness from marinated artichoke hearts and smokiness from the smoked gouda. You can make the spread a few days ahead and store in the fridge until ready to serve.

The No-Fail Relish Tray is Here

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Make-Ahead Mini Cheese Balls

The customization opportunities for these easy mini cheese balls are endless—plus, they can freeze for up to three months!

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Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

Fresh herbs season this ridiculously simple spread from BelGioioso Cheese in Wisconsin. It keeps well in the fridge and is delicious with cherry tomatoes or other vegetable dippers, as well as crackers or baguette slices.

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Cranberry-Sauced Meatballs Appetizer

Shape and bake the chicken meatballs ahead of time, then pop them in your slow cooker with cranberry and barbecue sauces.

Irresistible Slow-Cooker Appetizers

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Swiss-Artichoke Dip

Artichoke hearts, dried tomatoes and sauce combine for a rich, creamy dip. Our recipe calls for processed Swiss cheese because it melts smoothly, but regular Swiss cheese will work fine, too. The dip will have a more stretchy, less creamy texture, but it tastes just as good.

Easy Dip Recipes

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Smoked Whitefish Spread

Horseradish adds zing, celery adds crunch and pickles add tang to this addictive mix of cream cheese and smoked fish. We prefer to serve it with unsalted crackers or flatbread. Look for smoked whitefish at specialty groceries, or substitute another hot-smoked fish (such as salmon).

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Phyllo Cheese Straws

This classic Southern appetizer gets a Midwestern twist with frozen phyllo dough surrounding feta and fresh parsley. So easy!

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Bacon-Stuffed Mushrooms

This five-ingredient recipe comes from the bacon pros at Nueske's meats in Wisconsin.

Smoky, Sizzling Bacon Recipes

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Marinated Cheese Cubes

Pantry ingredients turn ordinary Monterey jack into a deli-style party snack that tastes even better when you make it ahead. You can prep it three days in advance.

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Cheesy Snack Mix

Grated Parmesan cheese gives extra cheesy flavor to this blend of crispy corn and rice cereals, canned shoestring potatoes, crisp breadsticks and bite-size cheese crackers.

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Roasted Shrimp cocktail with Bloody Mary cocktail Sauce and Lemon-Chive Mayo

Skip the supermarket tray. Our shrimp co*cktail update is the ultimate make-ahead party app. Roasting brings out the shrimp's natural sweetness, and the two homemade sauces are ridiculously simple.

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Turkey Pesto Sliders

These six-ingredient party sandwiches are simple and delicious. The recipe comes from Indianapolis-based blogger Annie Marshall.

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Buffalo Sweet Pepper Poppers

These easy appetizers combine two party favorites—jalapeno poppers and buffalo chicken wings.

Try Our Buffalo Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese Dressing

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Tangy Sour Cream and Onion Dip

Onion dip is a classic for a reason—and this 100 percent homemade version is one of the best we've tasted. It's fab with potato chips, of course, but we also love it with crisp Romaine or Little Gem lettuce leaves for a lighter twist.

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Jack Cheese and Smoky Chipotle Fondue

Lots of Monterey Jack cheese goes into this creamy fondue, along with sour cream, chipotle peppers and bacon. Scoop up with bread or tortilla chips.

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Feta, Honey and Date Spread

This spread can be made ahead and stored in the fridge up to 3 days. For a flavorful dipper, brush pita wedges with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and thyme before toasting in oven.

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Mini Italian Beef Sandwiches with Pepperoncini Slaw

These little beef sandwiches make a great appetizer for a party. And you can put them together in just 20 minutes.

Super Sandwich Recipes

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Not Your Ordinary Brie

Apple-cranberry chutney adds a spicy kick to this warm, baked brie appetizer.

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Easy Appetizer Recipes (2024)

Cheese Fondue

Cast-Iron Garlic Shrimp with Chorizo and Green Onions

Ripe Olive Cheese Ball

Gouda and Red Onion Pizza

Smoked Gouda Artichoke Spread

Make-Ahead Mini Cheese Balls

Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

Cranberry-Sauced Meatballs Appetizer

Swiss-Artichoke Dip

Smoked Whitefish Spread

Phyllo Cheese Straws

Bacon-Stuffed Mushrooms

Marinated Cheese Cubes

Cheesy Snack Mix

Roasted Shrimp co*cktail with Bloody Mary co*cktail Sauce and Lemon-Chive Mayo

Turkey Pesto Sliders

Buffalo Sweet Pepper Poppers

Tangy Sour Cream and Onion Dip

Jack Cheese and Smoky Chipotle Fondue

Feta, Honey and Date Spread

Mini Italian Beef Sandwiches with Pepperoncini Slaw

Not Your Ordinary Brie

Roasted Shrimp cocktail with Bloody Mary cocktail Sauce and Lemon-Chive Mayo