Recipe Roundup

51 Appetizer Recipes That’ll Make You Want to Snack All Day

Appetizers and hors d’oeuvres that just might upstage the main course.

January 13, 2021

Photo of making one of our best appetizer recipes boneless buffalo chicken wings using tongs in a turquoise bowl

Appetizer recipes are essential for entertaining, but even in these days without gatherings indoors, sometimes you just feel snack-y. Whether you’re watching football or just spending the day doing puzzles in your pajamas, these hors d’oeuvres and appetizers are so good that eating an actual dinner afterward just might not feel necessary. Below, you’ll find our best chicken wings, creamy dips, crunchy snack mix, and more, including standout finger food like deviled eggs, pigs in blankets, and clams casino.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
1/51
Figs-in-a-Blanket With Goat Cheese
A vegetarian take on one of our favorite classic appetizer recipes, these honey-glazed figs are baked in puff pastry with creamy, tangy goat cheese and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
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Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Kate Schmidt
2/51
Boneless Buffalo Chicken "Wings"
Let's be honest: No one is into Buffalo chicken wings for the bones. So skip the hassle and make spicy fried chicken breast strips instead. Pair them with a tangy blue cheese dip and crunchy celery sticks.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Liza Jernow
3/51
Smoked Trout Croquettes
An elegant pre-dinner snack that's crunchy, savory, creamy, and luscious. They're as great with pilsner as they are with Champagne.
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Photo by Christina Holmes
4/51
Jalapeño Poppers With Smoked Gouda
Don't feel like frying? You can still make jalapeño poppers. This grilled version is filled with a combination of cream cheese and savory smoked Gouda.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
5/51
Pigs-in-a-Blanket With Sauerkraut and Mustard
Pack your pigs with extra flavor by adding punchy mustard and tangy sauerkraut inside the puff pastry.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Liza Jernow
6/51
Tonnato Eggs
Looking to make a meal out of appetizers? Don't skip these luscious deviled eggs, which are crowned with a bright and briny tonnato-inspired filling and crispy capers.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone
7/51
Classic Spinach-Artichoke Dip With Mozzarella and Parmesan
The ultimate version of spinach-artichoke dip brings together stretchy mozzarella, tangy cream cheese, and nutty Parmesan.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
8/51
Turf Mix
This crispy-crunchy, spicy, sweet-and-savory snack mix is almost as green as the turf on a football field, so it's perfect for munching while you watch the game.
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Photo by Marcus Nilsson
9/51
Creamy Queso With Chorizo
Yes, you need Velveeta to make great queso. You just can't beat it on texture. This version gets a savory, smoky boost from fresh chorizo and chipotle powder.
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Photo by Alex Lau
10/51
Kombu Celery
We adore this crunchy snack, which is seasoned with toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, and furikake.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou
11/51
Lumpia
Nothing's better than freshly-fried lumpia. Except for lumpia that you were smart enough to wrap in advance so that the frying was no trouble at all.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog
12/51
Pickled Shrimp
Pickled shrimp are bright and refreshing, perfect as hors d'oeuvres or a snacky dinner. Make them a day in advance so you're ready to serve them without any effort.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
13/51
Creamy Pinto Bean Dip
This is one of our favorite hearty dip recipes. It's made with pinto beans, red bell pepper, garlic, red wine vinegar, and chili powder and blended in a food processor.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
14/51
Pecan Brie Brûlée
Cheese and crackers: Basic. Brûléed cheese on toast with chile-pecan paste? Truly elegant. Keep this appetizer recipe in your back pocket for whenever you're feeling fancy.
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