Easy appetizer recipes with few ingredients and minimal prep time are exactly what you need for any party! Fantastic collection of the BEST appetizer ideas ever!
We’ve scoured the internet for the absolute best appetizers ever, and now we’re sharing the list with you! Most of these are super simple to make, have few ingredients and BLOW YOUR MIND with flavor. Enjoy!
Here are our most popular appetizer recipes~ perfect for casual get togethers and game day! ENJOY!
RANCH CHICKEN CHEESE DIP
Ranch Chicken Cheese Dip is the perfect appetizer for parties! This cream cheese dip recipe is made with chicken, cream cheese, cheddar cheese and ranch dressing – that’s it!
Ranch Chicken Cheese Dip comes together in just a few short minutes, making it perfect for last-minute parties and potlucks! You only need four ingredients to whip up this delicious cream cheese dip recipe. The ingredients are all ones that I keep on hand regularly so if I get asked to make something last minute, this is a perfect option! See the Ranch Chicken Cheese Dip recipe here!
BEST HOMEMADE CHICKEN STRIPS RECIPE
Chicken Strips made from scratch- so tender, juicy & flavorful. 2 simple tips to take your chicken tenders from good to great!
Chicken Strips are a favorite at our house! I’ve made homemade chicken strips many, many times over the years but until recently, they’ve just been mediocre. There are 2 small things you can do that really take homemade chicken up a notch or two. Add in some homemade fry sauce and you’ve got yourself an incredible batch of tender, juicy chicken! To show you the process, I created a video (in link above) for this recipe that helps show just how to do it.
See the Best Homemade Chicken Strips recipe here!
BEST HOMEMADE CHICKEN STRIPS EVER
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, sliced boneless, skinless
Quick Marinade
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 TBSP Frank's Red Hot Sauce
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Crispy Chicken Tender Coating
- 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup regular breadcrumbs or Italian
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 TBSP onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 cups shortening or oil for frying (omit if baking)
Instructions
- To cut chicken into strips: This is one of the tips behind better chicken strips! To get a more tender strip, you need to cut against the grain of the chicken. Don't just cut the chicken any way you like- notice where the grain lines are and be sure to cut opposite them. This makes the cooked fibers of the chicken shorter, so they tear apart easier. Cut strips as big or small as you'd like, just cut against the grain! Place chicken in a ziplock bag and set aside.
- Next, combine milk, lemon juice and sugar in a small bowl or 2-cup measuring cup.
- Whisk in the cornstarch. This is the 2nd tip I use to make better chicken! I first noticed asian recipes calling for cornstarch in the marinade. When I researched it, it turns out adding cornstarch to chicken prior to cooking it gives it a protective coating that locks in juices. You know what?! It works! It's amazing actually! The trick is to not let it marinate for too long.
- Add in the hot sauce (feel free to add more if you'd like!) and the pepper and whisk to combine. Pour marinade in the ziplock with the chicken and gently shake until chicken is coated. Place bag in the fridge and let marinate for at least 20 minutes, but no longer than 1 hour.
- Heat about 2 cups of oil to 365 degrees in a frying pan. Frying the chicken in Crisco (plain shortening) yields the crispiest tenders!
- While the oil is heating, combine all ingredients for the coating in a shallow bowl. Remove chicken pieces from bag a few at a time and thoroughly coat them in the breadcrumb mixture. I like to place them in the breadcrumbs, then spoon some on the top of the chicken, then press the chicken down- then flip and repeat the process. Repeat until all chicken is coated.
- Once oil is hot, fry chicken pieces for anywhere from 2-4 minutes per side, depending on how big they are. The small pieces cook quickly! If you're unsure if the chicken is done, by all means use a meat thermometer. It should register 165 degrees F. (I use one all the time! I have 5 kids- getting distracted while cooking is a common occurrence for me and I detest overcooked chicken!)
- Remove cooked chicken and place on a plate lined with a paper towel. Repeat until all chicken is cooked. Serve hot, with Homemade Fry Sauce (it's a Utah thing- SO good!) alongside.
- To Bake Chicken Strips: Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray and arrange chicken tenders. Cook 12-15 minutes, until tenders register 165 degrees on a meat thermometer. (Cooking time varies depending on the size of your chicken tenders! Pay attention and check often as to not overcook them!) Note that my recommendation is to fry these tenders (the photos are of fried tenders), but if you opt to bake them, they will look different as you're not submerging them in oil. To add a little moisture, I like to spray my baked tenders with a little olive oil spray prior to baking, after you bread them. It's a lot less oil than frying but I like the way they taste better that way.
Nutrition
EASY LIL SMOKIES & MEATBALL APPETIZER
Easy Meatball appetizer recipe made with an incredible 3 ingredient sauce that everyone raves about! Combine frozen meatballs & Lil Smokies in this simple & delicious appetizer recipe perfect for parties.
See the Easy Lil Smokies & Meatball Appetizer recipe here!
CHEESY MEATBALL BITES
Cheesy Meatball Bites made with crescent dough, frozen meatballs, marinara sauce and lots of cheese! Easy meatball appetizer recipe perfect for parties & game day.
See the Cheesy Meatball Bites recipe here!
Easy Chicken Salad Recipe
Easy 5-Minute Chicken Salad recipe that’s the BEST I’ve ever tasted! The simple dressing really makes it perfect. Chicken Salad recipe made with diced chicken, plain yogurt, apples, grapes, celery, cucumber, raisins and more! Great as chicken salad sandwiches or in lettuce as a wrap or on crackers. See the full recipe for Easy Chicken Salad here!
Caramel Apple Salad
BBQ Chicken Kabobs with Bacon & Pineapple
BBQ Chicken Kabobs with Bacon and Pineapple recipe with tender chicken grilled with pineapple and bacon then slathered with your favorite BBQ sauce. These are the ultimate BBQ chicken kabobs and are perfect for your next cookout! See the full BBQ chicken kabob recipe here!
Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip made with 3 cheeses, juicy chicken and a flavorful Buffalo sauce with a bit of a kick! Easy appetizer perfect for game day. See the Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe here.
Bacon Wrapped Avocado Appetizer
This Bacon Wrapped Avocados appetizer recipe is sure to win over everyone you know.Crispy brown sugar bacon wrapped around a creamy avocado, and it’s easy! I love bacon, especially when it is baked in the oven, not fried in a skillet and even more so when it’s wrapped around a creamy avocado and baked to perfection. These bacon wrapped avocados are about to rock your world.
CHEESY ZUCCHINI FRITTERS
Cheesy Zucchini Fritters are the perfect way to use up some zucchini from your garden! Great as a side dish or appetizer, they’re easy to make & flavorful!
Cheesy Zucchini Fritters (also called zucchini patties!) are the perfect way to use up some zucchini from your garden! Great as a side dish or appetizer, they’re easy to make & flavorful! I had a zucchini fritter at a restaurant once and it was so delicious, I had to try and re-create it at home. The result is cheesy, comforting and flavorful! you can serve them as an appetizer or a side dish- either way, I love them with a dollop of sour cream and fresh from the garden tomatoes.
Find the recipe here!
SAUSAGE POTATO BOATS
Sausage Potato Boats are an easy weeknight dinner made with juicy sausages topped with buttery mashed potatoes and lots of cheese! Simple & flavorful meal! This is one of the holiday appetizers ever! I first began making these over 20 years ago. It’s a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. The cheesy potatoes go so well with flavorful sausages- try it and you’ll see!
See the Sausage Potato Boats recipe here!
PIZZA PINWHEELS
These Pizza Pinwheels are made from a soft, homemade dough with delicious toppings inside and melted cheese on top, they are an amazing weeknight meal!
Pizza Pinwheels are my favorite quick weeknight dinner to whip up. They are so easy to make, they are much better than cheap frozen pizzas and I get absolutely no complaints from the kids about what is for dinner! They are always a win!
See the Pizza Pinwheels recipe here!
BACON WRAPPED MEATBALLS
This simple recipe for Bacon Meatballs is a huge crowd pleaser! Easy to make and insanely delicious with a nice twist on salty-sweet flavors!
It’s the Saturday before Labor Day which means, hello, HAPPY BACON DAY!! It may as well be a national holiday here in our house. I mean, I buy bacon in bulk and currently have about 30-lbs in my freezer. That should really explain everything, right?! Ha. I have a fabulous little appetizer for you today. They’re simple to make and I assure you, people will devour them. The recipe can be found right here!
SWISS & CHEDDAR CHEESE FONDUE
This creamy Swiss & Cheddar Cheese fondue is an easy cheese fondue recipe that is perfect for holiday dinners, parties and family gatherings! This delicious fondue recipe comes together in just a few minutes with a few simple ingredients – it is so easy to make and everyone loves it!
Swiss and Cheddar Cheese Fondue is one of my all-time favorite, go-to recipes! I can’t believe I haven’t posted it before now! This delicious meal is one that we always make on New Years Eve, although to be completely honest, we make it lots of other times throughout the year too.
Find the recipe for this easy appetizer here!
EASY RANCH SAUSAGE ROLLS
It’s Game Day season! You know what that means, right? It’s also game day food season, which makes just about everyone happy, regardless of how their team is doing. Bring on the finger foods! I stopped by our local Walmart and picked up everything I needed for these incredible sausage rolls. I love how easy they come together and oh my word, you won’t believe how good they taste. Flavorful Jimmy Dean® Premium Pork Regular Roll Sausage mixed with Ranch dressing and cheese, wrapped in delicate, buttery pastry dough. Yes, they taste just as good as they sound!
I opted for the regular Jimmy Dean sausage but if you’re feeling adventurous, you can use the Hot variety. Yum! I found the Jimmy Dean Sausage in the refrigerated section at Walmart. Be sure to have plenty of ranch dressing for dipping!
See the Easy Ranch Sausage Rolls recipe here!
BACON AVOCADO DEVILED EGGS
Bacon Avocado Deviled Eggs made with all the classic deviled egg ingredients, plus avocado! Creamy, flavorful and the best part is they have bacon on top. These are THE BEST deviled eggs you’ll ever try!
See the Bacon Avocado Deviled Eggs recipe here!
EASY NACHO CHEESE
Easy Nacho Cheese sauce recipe with only 4 ingredients and is made in minutes! Smooth, creamy with great nacho cheese flavor, this recipe is perfect for parties, busy weeknight dinners and game day food!
Our Easy Nacho Cheese recipe is easily my favorite and I’ve been making it for years! Never buy nacho cheese again when you can make it at home in minutes and it tastes so much better! It calls for just 4 ingredients- milk, cheese, taco seasoning for some great nacho flavor and corn starch for thickening. The sauce is gluten-free and easily adaptable. Like spicy foods? Replace some of the cheese with pepper jack! Serving nachos for dinner? Serve it with shredded chicken for added protein. Make the nachos however you’d like- this nacho cheese is a great starting point for a variety of options!
Find the recipe for this cheesy appetizer here!
CRANBERRY SALSA DIP
Cranberry Salsa Dip combines cream cheese, spices, and cream cheese to make a simple and sweet side dish for any holiday festivities!
The recipe for Cranberry Salsa Dip is here.
CHICKEN CLUB ROLL UPS
Chicken Club Roll-Ups are tasty, easy appetizers made from chicken, bacon, cheese & avocado rolled in a fresh tortilla. Chicken Club made simple!
Chicken Club Roll-Ups are so easy to make and really, just about anything with bacon and cheese goes well with football.Watching football is fun, but I’m sure I’m not alone when I say game day food makes it so much better! Serve them alongside some ranch dressing mixed with buffalo sauce- yum!
You can find the ingredients and instructions here.
THE BEST TEXAS CAVIAR
Texas Caviar combines delicious fresh vegetables with an amazing Italian dressing…plus you get the added crunch of tortilla chips in the mix!
Texas Caviar…if you don’t know what that is, you can thank me for blessing your life with it. The name sounds odd, I know. The first few times I heard how amazing it was, I didn’t really listen because ummm… I don’t want to try caviar. Sounds pricey. And slimy.
Then I had it at a potluck and oh how my attitude changed. It has nothing to do with actual caviar, really it’s just a play on words in an attempt to describe a ridiculously easy appetizer that is absolutely amazing! Honestly, try it. Just be prepared to ditch the chips and grab some other utensil that allows you to eat more, faster. {Wait, is it just me?!}
This Texas Caviar version has an added ingredient that’s not normally found in other versions: avocado. Don’t leave it out. In my opinion it takes the dish from good to stellar. Other versions also use Black Eyed Peas, but I think they’re harder to find and cost more than regular beans. So I use a regular cans of beans instead and you know what? It tastes the same! See The Best Texas Caviar recipe here!
CHEESE AND GARLIC CRACK BREAD
This Cheese and Garlic Crack Bread is EPIC! “Crack bread” is an appropriate name for this because it’s garlic bread – on crack! It’s basically a cheesy garlic bread, but so much more delicious!! Cheese, garlic and bread – you can’t go wrong. This is a great cost effective FUN centerpiece for your next gathering!
If you haven’t tried this Cheese and Garlic Crack Bread before, let me warn you now: garlic bread will never be the same again. It’s like a pull apart bread, but tastes like garlic bread plus you have the mozzarella cheese which stretches wonderfully as you pull bits off. This is INSANELY delicious. I especially love the way the bread is cut into diamond shapes so you can tear bite size pieces off. Every piece is garlicky and buttery and oh-so-cheesy. This is one the kids go NUTS over, don’t say I didn’t warn you! And grown ups turn into little kids when they get stuck into this. I made this for a dinner and let me tell you, it took 5 hands about 30 seconds to demolish this!
Check out the full recipe here!
SPINACH DIP BREADSTICKS
As you know, my favorite part about any holiday (after the meaningful stuff like family and togetherness, etc.) is the food. Actually, my favorite part of any given day just might be the food, but hey, to each her own. The Christmas season is especially fun because there are all sorts of opportunities for delicious little snacks that you generally don’t eat all year long. I mean, we’ve already gone through more cheeseballs in the past three weeks than we do for the entire rest of the year, and don’t even get me started on Lil’ Smokies! Anyway, I wanted to make a festive, but still easy, holiday snack you could take to any party, so I came up with these Christmas tree spinach dip breadsticks.
You can always adapt this recipe for whatever holiday you’re celebrating! See the recipe and substitutions for other holidays here!
JALAPENO POPPER WONTON CUPS
Jalapeño Popper Wonton Cups are loaded with bacon, jalapeños, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and sour cream….all in a crispy wonton shell. This easy appetizer comes together quickly and is perfect for parties or game days. If you love jalapeño poppers, you’ll LOVE this delicious twist!
These easy game day appetizers are loaded with all the flavors of jalapeño poppers – cream cheese, bacon, jalapeños, and cheese – and baked inside a crispy wonton shell. They can be prepped in advance and baked in no time, and they’re almost guaranteed to be the hit of any party.
You better believe they’ll be on our Super Bowl menu and probably on every game day menu from this point forward. Truth be told, I plan on making these Jalapeño Popper Wonton Cups as often as I possibly can. They’re just THAT good.
See the Jalapeno Popper Wonton Cups recipe here!
SPINACH ARTICHOKE
Spinach Artichoke Dip is one of those recipes that absolutely everyone seems to love. A creamy cheesy base loaded with spinach, a bit of garlic and of course marinated artichokes.
It’s all topped off with more cheese and baked until golden and bubbly. Between this recipe and our other favorites from this list, you’re pretty much guaranteed an invite to every party!
See the Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe here!
HONEY GLAZED CHICKEN WINGS
Honey Glazed Chicken Wings are easily my favorite baked chicken wings recipe. Smothered with a delicious sweet glaze, these baked chicken wingsare literally finger-lickin’ good!
See the Honey Glazed Chicken Wings recipe here!
BAKED BUFFALO WINGS
These baked buffalo wings are ultra crispy chicken wings tossed in a classic spicy sauce and served with ranch dressing. Snack away with less guilt!
Buffalo wings are a perennial favorite, they’re perfect for parties, game day, or just when you have a hankering for a hearty snack. These buffalo wings are baked instead of fried, but are just as crispy and delicious as what you’d order at a restaurant.
See the Best Buffalo Wings recipe here!
GRUYERE MUSHROOM & CARMELIZED ONION BITES
Caramelized onion bites with sautéed crimini mushrooms, balsamic caramelized onions, and applewood smoked gruyere cheese. Thee perfect little appetizers! They’re made with puff pastry and take no time at all to whip up! These are the perfect appetizers to serve your guests this holiday season.
Flakey puff pastry topped with balsamic caramelized onions, sauteéd mushrooms, a hint of garlic, and a smoked gruyere cheese bomb mixed right in. <– This is my life. Me likey likey. Be it a caramelized onion tart/tartlette, puff pastry bite, or a caramelized onion panini melt, I am down for it all.
Find the recipe here!
BEST BACON WRAPPED JALAPENO POPPERS
These bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers are creamy, spicy and loaded with cheese. The perfect party appetizer!
I have to admit, I have a weakness for jalapeno poppers. As much as I love them, I’ve never made them at home, because I’m not a fan of deep frying in my own kitchen. These bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers are baked instead of fried, and let me say, they’re even better than the original! Who can resist fresh jalapenos stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon and baked to crispy perfection? Not me, that’s for sure. This is the ultimate party appetizer!
See the best ever Jalapeno Poppers recipe here!
PICKLE ROLL UPS
The most perfect appetizer for any type of gathering! Only THREE ingredients, ten minutes of your time and guests will be raving! These pop in your mouth so easily, gone in no time!
It seemed fitting that I make this quick and scrumptious appetizer when my bff came to visit last month. I introduced her to The Pickle Roll-Up in college and we often found ourselves feasting on them in our dorm room after a trip to Hy-Vee to get supplies. We never shared them with anyone!
Find the recipe here.
THE BEST HOMEMADE SALSA RECIPE
With this recipe we’re sharing our secrets for making The Best Homemade Salsa Recipe we’ve ever tried. Healthy, fresh, and easy to adjust!
There are thousands of tomato-based salsa recipes online. Why should you make this one?
Well, we think this is The Best Homemade Salsa Recipe around because it’s healthy, quick to make, offers a fine chunky texture, and is brimming with absurd amounts of flavor.
Want to know the secret? Click here to find out and see the Best Homemade Salsa recipe!
HOT AND SAUCY MEAT
The delicious sweet-and-spicy sauce for these classic meatballs couldn’t be easier! Whip them up with some ground beef and a few seasonings and then throw them in the crock pot to keep them warm, and voila they are ready to go and you can carry on making the rest of these incredible recipes!
See the Hot and Saucy Cocktail Meatballs recipe here!
EASY TOMATO BRUSCHETTA WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE
No matter the holiday or party, easy tomato bruschetta with balsamic glaze is the perfect dish to add some colour and excitement to your table.
Bruschetta is all about getting the perfect blend of tomatoes, onions, garlic and basil together and immersing them in olive oil to bring out their intense flavours. When this blend is placed on top of toasted garlic bread and drizzled with balsamic glaze, gastronomy is born.
Find the way to make this delicious appetizer here!
THE BEST MEXICAN 7 LAYER DIP
Whether it’s football game day in the fall or winter, there’s nothing better than wandering over to the food table and finding the best Mexican 7 layer dip. It’s the best I’ve ever had!
Alright, you’ve been assigned a dip or appetizer and you just don’t have time to slave over something extravagant, but you also want to show up having shown a little more effort than just a bag of pretzels. Introducing the Best Mexican 7 Layer Dip. That’s right, this version is better than any other. We teamed up with Marzetti to share a simple Veggie Dip recipe that will have your guests devouring, and even begging for more of your recipe at the next game day party with all of your favorite people.
See the 7-Layer Dip recipe here!
GREATEST PARTY GUACAMOLE
Guacamole is a must have at every appetizer party! This one is so easy to whip up and with almost one thousand five star reviews you can count on all of your guests gobbling it all up!
The simplest Guacamole Recipe, with 5 ingredients it doesn’t get any easier! Guacamole is a healthy dip – a staple at every gathering and a must when we have taco nights! Tommy is always in charge of making the guac, and he has converted many non-avocado lovers with this recipe.
To help you with making this amazing recipe here is how to speed up the avocado ripening process: we recommend placing unripe avocados in a brown paper bag with an apple or banana for two to three days until they are ripe. We do not recommend any other method of ripening because it may cause the avocados to rot.
See the Guacamole recipe here.
DILLY CUCUMBER BITES
These fresh Dilly Cucumber Bites make a great healthy appetizer. Cucumber slices are topped with a fresh dill cream cheese and yogurt mixture, and finished with a juicy cherry tomato.
Parties and get-togethers are a great excuse to make some of my favorite more indulgent treats, like brownies and cookies and cheesy dips. But this past month I had so many occasions to make snacks that I actually got a little sick of eating junk. Can you believe it? So I wanted to make a healthy, but still delicious, appetizer to take to a recent potluck. And I did it! And the the full Dilly Cucumber Bites recipe here.
How to keep appetizers warm?
I serve many of my appetizers on a ceramic or porcelain plate or tray that I heated in the microwave. Ceramic and porcelain retain heat well, so if you plate your appetizer hot, they’ll stay warm for around 15-20 minutes, which is usually more than enough time since they tend to get eaten quickly! If it’s a casual get together, I don’t mind serving certain appetizers in a muffin tray. The muffin tray of course wraps the food and helps them stay warm as a result.
What are heavy Appetizers?
Heavy appetizers (or hearty appetizers) mean hot or cold appetizers that would be enough for a meal: skewers of shrimp or meat; wings; pizza pinwheels; roll-ups or wraps; meatballs; best homemade chicken strips– you get the picture. You’d be too full to have a regular meal if you tasted all of them!
What is a Super Bowl Party?
The Super Bowl comes once a year and provides the perfect opportunity to get your football-loving family and friends together in a party at home, where you can watch the game on your big screen TV, nibble on snacks and enjoy a range of drinks. Here are a few suggestions of the best food to make to throw your Super Bowl party at home!
Easy appetizer recipes with few ingredients and minimal prep time are exactly what you need for any party! Fantastic collection of the BEST appetizer ideas ever!
We’ve scoured the internet for the absolute best appetizers ever, and now we’re sharing the list with you! Most of these are super simple to make, have few ingredients and BLOW YOUR MIND with flavor. Enjoy!
[…] are some of our favorite appetizers and treats that are perfect for […]