60 Easy Party Appetizers & Quick Recipes

5 from 6 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 12 people
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When I’m hosting, appetizers are always my secret weapon—they’re easy to prep ahead, look beautiful, and keep guests happy while you pour the drinks! I’ve rounded up over 60 of my favorite party appetizers to make sure your next gathering is effortless and delicious

The Best Easy Party Appetizers

You’ll find every type of appetizer you can think of, from dips and finger foods to cheesy goodness and beyond! So get ready to wow your guests with some amazing eats!

Dips and Spreads

yogurt fruit drip with lemon zest

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Fruit Dip

This is truly the best yogurt fruit dip to dip in your favorite fruit in. It’s perfect for a fruit platter too.

easy queso dip

Easy Queso Blanco Dip

The most flavorful, easy queso Blanco dip ever! It’s perfect for dipping tortilla chips in. This is made with American white cheese, whole milk, diced chilies, and green onion.  

platter with crackers, vegetables and goat cheese dip

Goat Cheese Dip

If you love the rich flavor of goat cheese, then this is your dip! A whipped goat cheese served with fresh, crisp veggies and crackers is the ultimate party appetizer. It’s an easy recipe to make!

Recipe for yogurt tahini dip topped with lima beans, lemon, olive oil and green onions.

Creamy Yogurt Dip

A creamy dip made with tahini! We made this dip for a party and it was a huge hit! It goes perfectly served with soft pita bread or pita chips.

blue cheese dip

Blue Cheese Dip

If you’re looking for delicious blue cheese dip to go with chicken wings, this is the best! Another super easy party dip to make that’s so flavorful and made with just 3 ingredients! It doesn’t get easier than that!

Party appetizer with fresh vegetables served with homemade hummus.

Hummus Appetizer

You can make your own homemade hummus, which tastes nothing like store-bought! Creamy, delicious hummus is a perfect appetizer.

pink beet dip

Best Beet Dip

Not only does this dip have a vibrant color, but it’s also so incredibly flavorful! Made with greek yogurt, beets, and garlic. It’s a great dip for crackers and pita!

Honey drizzled over whipped ricotta.

The Best Whipped Ricotta Dip

A fluffy, creamy dip that only uses 3 ingredients and takes less than 5 minutes to make!

guacamole dip
Image Via Two Peas and Their Pod

Guacamole

There is nothing better than a good guac! Always a crowd favorite and perfect for fiestas!

spicy bean dip appetizer
Image via House of Yum

Spicy Bean Dip

We love a good bean dip, especially one with a little kick. Serve this with corn chips for an easy appetizer.

Spinach Artichoke Dip
Image via Cooking Classy

Spinach Artichoke Dip

A creamy, cheesy dip that is typically made with spinach, artichokes, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. It is often served with chips, crackers, or bread for dipping.

French onion dip
Image via Recipe Tin Eats

French Onion Dip

There is nothing more flavorful than French onion dip. We love it served with potato chips!

seven layer dip recipe
Image via House of Yumm

Seven Layer Dip

A popular dip that’s made with 7 ingredients such as black beans, party mole, sour cream, and more. This dip is often served at a super bowl party or game day.

hot crab dip
Image via How Sweet Eats

Hot Crab Dip

If you love seafood, try making this Cranberry dip with lump crab meat, cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, and garlic.

how to make caramel sauce

Homemade Caramel Dip

This dip is sweeter, but it still works as a great appetizer when paired with fresh apples and fruit.

Easy Finger Foods

Finger foods are another great option for easy party appetizers because they’re easy to eat and don’t require any utensils.

mini meatballs on small wooden spoons with sauce

Mini Meatballs

Don’t underestimate a mini meatball appetizer! Not only are they great if you’re just serving apps at a party but they will fill each guest up. But they are also incredibly flavorful and easy to make!

appetizer with chips and prosciutto

Truffle Potato Chips and Prosciutto

This is a unique party appetizer that will wow your guests! It’s super simple to make using potato chips, truffle oil, and prosciutto!

easy party appetizer sandwich

Ham and Cheese Sliders

One of our most popular party appetizers is our ham and cheese sliders. These will go very fast at your party so make a few batches! They’re savory with ham and cheese and baked on a Hawaiian roll.

Mini Lobster Rolls on Hawaiian Rolls

Mini Lobster Rolls

These mini lobster rolls are a delightful play on the New England classic! It’s an easy lobster recipe that’s the perfect party food. Quick to whip up and they look great, no to mention taste delicious.

salmon skewer

Salmon Skewers

Our salmon skewers are not only a healthy appetizer for a party but they are so easy to make! They only take about 6 minutes to bake in the oven and are so well served with our cilantro sauce.

stuffed mushroom appetizer
Image via Delish

Stuffed Mushrooms

Baby Bella mushrooms are perfect for stuffing with breadcrumbs, cheese and herbs! They’re flavorful and easy to make.

antipasti skewers

Antipasto Skewers

Truly a very easy appetizer that is made by adding fresh mozzarella balls, olives, cherry tomatoes, salami, and fresh herbs onto a skewer. We make them as one of our Christmas appetizers each year.

Also, check out our holiday appetizer platter for kids too.

jalapeño poppers

Jalapeño Poppers

If you haven’t had a jalapeño popper, you’re missing out! One of our favorite appetizers on this list and they are so easy to make. It’s jalapeño pepper, stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped with bacon. They’re baked until golden brown and delicious! Great for game-day parties!

marinated olives

Marinated Olives

These are the best-marinated olives! They’re warmed in a skillet with olive oil, lemon zest, and chili pepper. They’re perfect to serve with a cheese board.

flavored popcorn appetizer

Seasoned Popcorn

Popcorn will always be the easiest appetizer ever! Everyone loves snacking on popcorn and it’s great for movie nights, Oscar parties, and more. To elevate it, add spices, herbs, and seasonings to it.

Pigs in a Blanket

A classic mini hot dog appetizer made with small hot dogs and crescent rolls. They are often served with dijon mustard and are the perfect finger food!

Crockpot Honey Garlic Little Smokies

Super flavorful mini hot sausages that are cooked with honey and garlic in a slow cooker! The slow cooker keeps these warm and you can serve them right before guests arrive.

oyster appetizer

Oysters on The Half Shell

Serve oysters as an elegant party appetizer. They can be made a few different ways and served with a yummy sauce and lemon juice.

We also love pairing oysters and other seafood appetizers with Champagne.

Grilled Butter Oysters

If you want to add more flavor and take oysters up a notch, then these grilled oysters are for you! They are grilled with a garlic butter sauce and are so flavorful!!

Bacon-Wrapped Dates

This is an easy, three-ingredient appetizer made with bacon, dates and goat cheese. It’s so flavorful and easy to make, they’re always a hit!

mozzarella sticks
Photo Via Stress Baking

Mozzarella Sticks

Thee take a little more time, but they’re still pretty easy to make. They are also super flavorful and creamy with a crunch texture. Serve them with marinara.

Potato Skins

These are the best when they’re topped with cheese, sour cream, and bacon! We especially love them served with ranch.

fish and chips appetizer

Fish N Chips

This is a fun take on real fish n chips! We made these for our Oscar party and it was such a hit. It’s fresh cod, dipped in a quick homemade batter, and then pan-fried. Then we add it to a chip with a dollop of tartar sauce!

Shrimp Cocktail

Boiled or steamed shrimp is served with a special cocktail sauce consisting of horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup!

smokes salmon appetizer
Image via Recipe Tin Eats

Smoked Salmon Appetizer Bites

Similar to little tea sandwiches these are bite-sized savory app made with smoked salmon. You can also make this with tuna fish too.

Prosciutto Wrapped Avocado Appetizers
Image via Platings and Pairings

Prosciutto Wrapped Avocado Appetizers

These are as delicious as they look! A different take on jalapeño poppers, for this easy appetizer you just need avocado and prosciutto!

You can also wrap prosciutto over cantaloupe too for an easy and delicious party app.  

mini poke bowl party appetizers

Mini Ahi Poke Bowls

We are huge fans of poke! Fresh ahi marinated in delicious soy sauce and oils. You’ll be surprised that it’s an incredibly easy appetizer to make and serve! Find the full recipe in the recipe card below.

Cheesy Goodness

Everyone loves a cheesy appetizer! These recipes could not be easier. They are savory and super flavorful.

cheese platter for an easy part appetizer

Cheese Boards

Make a wonderful cheese board for your party. It’s an easy appetizer to make and you can customize it to a theme or season. We’ve made cheese boards for Halloween and for Thanksgiving!

the best baked brie with marinated olives

Creamy Baked Brie with Marinated Olives

This is one of our favorite appetizers! It’s rich and creamy and beyond easy to make. You can also wrap it in puff pastry for extra goodness. You can make it with marinated olives or baked brie with figs! This recipe is always a hit and perfect for a party.

Marinated Mozzarella

Creamy mozzarella cheese, marinated in herbs and spices red pepper, and garnished with olive oil. Serve it with olives, crackers, and charcuterie.

Goat Cheese, Walnuts and Honey Crostini

This is a very simple recipe to make using just a few ingredients. The creamy goat cheese pairs nicely with the nutty flavor of the walnuts. You can add apple or pear to this for even more flavor.

Baked Brie with Figs

This recipe is similar to our baked brie, but it’s made with fig jam and baked in refrigerated pie dough.

chili crunch feta easy party appetizer
Image via How Sweet Eats

Chili Crunch Baked Feta

An irresistible cheese dish that is all tossed into one dish and baked. The chili crunch goes perfectly with the creamy, melted feta!

Cheese Balls

A classic cheese ball is one of our favorite party appetizers! It’s nostalgic but also very delicious. Serve it with some crispy garlic bread or crackers for a fun party app.

Parmesan Crisps

Parmesan crisps are perfect to serve with dips or eat on their own. They’re gluten-free and have a cheesy, nutty flavor.

Skillet Chili Nachos

The ultimate nachos, cooked in a cast iron skillet. This is a cheesy and delicious appetizer your guests will love.

How to bake apples and pears

Pear and Apple Chips

A an easy fall party appetizer are pear and apple chips. These are thinly sliced and then baked until crispy. They’re a great pairing with dips.

Canapés

Canapés are small, bite-sized pieces of bread or crackers that are topped with various savory or sweet toppings. They make for an elegant and sophisticated appetizer option.

smoked salmon appetizer

Easy Chip and Smoked Salmon Canapé

This is a fun appetizer idea! Using good quality chips (we used Food Should Taste Good), packaged smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumber, reddish, a little onion and capers just stack the ingredients onto a chip and viola!

 Crostini with hard boiled egg

Hard Boiled Egg Crostini

An easy-to-make crostini recipe with hard-boiled eggs, radish, and arugula! It’s the perfect brunch appetizer and festive for Easter or spring. 

Pear, Walnut, and Ricotta Crostini

Juicy pears add so much flavor to his crostini. Drizzle with a little honey for some added sweetness.

Cranberry Brie Bites

These fluffy pastries are easy to make with crescent roll dough, brie, and cranberry sauce. You can use any jam when making this appetizer.

Smoked Salmon Canapés

bite-sized pieces of smoked salmon that are served on a cracker or bread.

Spicy Crunchy Tuna Tartare Canapés

Boards and Platters

Making easy appetizer boards is also a great way to feed a crowd. They’re easy to make as most of the ingredients are already made it’s just about assembling a board. Here are a few of our favorite boards:

greek appetizer platter

Greek Mezze Platter

Our Easy Greek Mezze (Meze) Platter is perfect for a simple evening with friends! You don’t have to cook any of this and it’s all about artfully preparing a gorgeous platter with easy ingredients!

southern cheese appetizer board

Southern Charcuterie Board

One of our favorite versions of cheese and charcuterie board is this southern-inspired board filled with three types of sausage, pickled vegetables, BBQ sauce, pimento cheese, and more! 

how to make a fruit and cheese platter

Fruit and Cheese Platter

Cheese and fruit platters are a great way to wow your guests while feeding them some universally loved food items. They’re easy to assemble and look beautiful! 

Easy Party Desserts

Check out all of my easy party desserts to go with these savory appetizers!

Appetizer Tips

When it comes to serving appetizers, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, you’ll want to make sure you have enough appetizers to feed your guests. A good rule of thumb is to have at least five or six different options for a small gathering, and eight to ten options for a larger party.

Second, you’ll want to think about how you will serve the appetizers. If you’re having a sit-down dinner, you can place the appetizers on a kitchen island or a separate table.

If you’re having a cocktail party, you can set up a buffet with all of the appetizers so guests can help themselves.

You’ll want to make sure you have enough napkins and plates for your guests.

Lastly, if you’re serving food outside, make sure you use food covers to keep bugs away.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are easy appetizers for a party?

There are many easy appetizers for a party, but some of the most popular options include dips and spreads, finger foods, cheese-based appetizers, and canapés. You can also assemble a cheese board for a really easy appetizer.

What are some good cold appetizers for a party?

Some good cold appetizers for a party include hummus, guacamole, various dips and spreads, vegetable tempura, and crudité canapés.

What is an easy appetizer to bring to a party?

An easy appetizer to bring to a party could be anything from store-bought hummus to homemade mini quiche. You can also make a quick cheese and fruit platter to bring as well. We also love pings in a blanket and jalapeño poppers or a seven-layer dip.

What are some easy low-carb appetizers?

Some good low-carb appetizers include vegetable platters, meatballs, and salmon skewers. You can also serve low-carb crackers with easy dips too.

What are some good vegetarian appetizers?

Some good vegetarian appetizers include vegetable tempura, crudité canapés, and various dips and spreads.

How Many Appetizers per Person?

This really depends on the type of party you’re throwing and the time of day. If you’re having a cocktail party, you can plan on about six to eight appetizers per person. If you’re having a dinner party, you can plan on three to four appetizers per person. And if you’re having a buffet, you can plan on two to three appetizers per person.

Now that you have the best list of appetizer ideas, it’s time to make your own! Let us know which one of these you like the best in the comments below.

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mini poke bowl party appetizers
5 from 6 votes

Easy Party Appetizers Mini Poke Bowls

By: Eden
One of our favorite easy party appetizers are mini poke bowls! Not only is this recipe delicious, but it's elegant too! Serve it with chips and avocado for the ultimate party appetizer. Make sure to check out all of our easy party appetizer ideas too!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
0 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 12 people
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Ingredients 

  • 2 lb sushi-grade ahi tuna
  • 5 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1/2 cup green onions, sliced
  • 1 tbsp back sesame seeds
  • 2 large avocados , cubed
  • 1/4 cup dry seaweed, 1 to 2 sheets
  • 2 garlic cloves, roasted and chopped

Instructions 

  • Cut the tuna into small cubes with a sharp knife.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, add tuna, soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, seeds and dried seaweed and toss to combine.
  • Let the tuna marinate in the refrigerator for a bit while you slice the avocado.
  • In little bowls dive the tuna up.
  • Add in a few pieces of avocado.
  • Garnish with a few chips and green onions.

Notes

Use this recipe as a guide. You can always add more or less of each ingredient. You can also add cucumber, carrots, or a spicy mayo sauce over the top. 
You can find ahi tuna at your local seafood store or even Whole Foods.
When serving these for a party, do not add any garnishes over the top until right before you serve. Store the tuna in the refrigerator and have everything ready to go so you can just garnish and then set them out for guests to grab.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 183kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 29mg, Sodium: 452mg, Potassium: 386mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 0.5g, Vitamin A: 1746IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 22mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

About Eden

I’m Eden Passante and I develop, create, style and photograph every recipe and party on Sugar and Charm. I’m the author of Entertaining with Charm and have a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics and I’m here to help you create simple and easy recipes for entertaining and how to add charm to any gathering!

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5 from 6 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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3 Comments

  1. Teresa F says:

    5 stars
    Simply delicious! We loved these mini poke bowls and I saved the collection to make more!

  2. cate says:

    5 stars
    So many great ideas here! I’ve made a list of favorites and the hot crab dip is a favorite.

  3. Taylor says:

    5 stars
    So many amazing appetizers! The mini poke bowls were super easy and a huge hit with the crowd! The perfect individual size and so delicious!