Easy Appetizer Recipes

We've collected over 30 Easy Appetizer Recipes for you to try out at your next game day soiree, potluck, holiday get together, or family movie night.  On this list you’ll find old classics alongside new favorites for every occasion, big or small.

Jump to:

• Easy Appetizer Recipes for Every Occasion
• Cold Appetizers
• Warm Appetizer Dips
• Best Appetizers for a Party
• Our Favorite Holiday Appetizers

Easy Appetizer Recipes for Every Occasion

If you are like me, you are always looking for fun, new appetizer ideas.  Whether you are hosting a party, planning a holiday mean, or looking for simple finger food snacks for the family at home, it's nice to find something different to serve.  

The upcoming holiday season got us thinking about our very favorite Easy Appetizer Recipes to share with you.  Between the various cold appetizers, warm appetizer dips, party snacks, and favorite holiday appetizers, we are sure you’ll find something new to add to your recipe stockpile.

We tried to combine a full range of recipes - healthy recipes, vegetarian recipes, classic recipes, cold cream cheese appetizers, recipes with 3 ingredients or less, and of course, plenty of carbs and cheese!

Cold Appetizers

These easy, no-bake cold appetizers are perfect for serving all year long. Skip the cheese board and serve one of these cheeseballs or queso dips instead! We've also included classics like our Best Guacamole recipe, Mini Charcuterie Cups and cute Mini Veggie Cups.

1). Everything Bagel Seasoning Dip

If you haven't gotten on the Everything Bagel Bandwagon yet, now's the time.  This dip takes about 5 minutes to prep and tastes great with crackers, chips, pretzels and even fresh veggies.

2). BLT Dip

This dip is a creamy, simple and delicious take on the classic sandwich.  It's a perfect no-bake appetizer to make all year long.

3). Best Guacamole

Quick, easy and just as good as any guacamole you'll find at a restaurant.  Just add chips!

4). Wedge Salad Kabobs

For a fun way to eat the classic salad, try these Wedge Salad Kabobs.  It's like a party in your mouth!

5). Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

Try rolling this bad boy in bacon bits and you make it for a real crowd pleaser.

6). Jalapeno Bacon Cheese Ball

For the spicy food fans out there, we know you will love this just as much as we do.

7). Mini Veggie Cups

These Mini Veggie Cups are a perfect no-mess appetizer or snack for everything including baby showers, toddler birthday parties and after school snacks.  They are fun, healthy, fresh and super simple to prep.

8). Corn Salsa

This Corn Salsa is sweet, crunchy, zesty and oh-so-easy to make.  Full of sweet corn, cilantro, fresh lime juice and crisp veggies, it’s the perfect salsa to serve with tortilla chips during the summer or any other time of year.

Warm Appetizer Dips

Let’s get real, warm appetizer dips are the real life of the party.  Cheesy dips, spicy dips, bean dips - we’ve got them all!

9). Frank’s Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ever wish you could eat buffalo wings without all of the mess?  Now you can!

10). Jalapeno Artichoke Dip

Serve this yummy, warm, slightly spicy dip with baguette bread, crackers, chips or veggies.

11). Fiesta Corn Dip

Here's another warm dip that is completely addicting and so easy to make.  It's made with cream cheese, jalapeños, a hearty handful of Monterey Jack cheese and seasoning.

12). Pepper Jack Queso

This queso dip is bursting with flavor, creamy and has just a little of that Pepper Jack tang that we all love.

13). Cheddar Queso Dip

You won't find any Velveeta cheese here.  Super easy, super cheesy and packed full of flavor.

14). Chicken Alfredo Dip

This cheesy Chicken Alfredo Dip is made with rotisserie chicken, sour cream and two kinds of cheese. It’s an ooey gooey, super simple appetizer recipe that’s perfect for game day, party snacks and cozy movie nights at home.

15). Cheesy Bean Dip

This Cheesy Bean Dip makes the absolute best easy appetizer recipe.  It’s a warm, cream cheese bean dip, full of great Mexican flavors and tastes great served with everything from tortilla chips to fresh veggies.

Best Appetizers for a Party

Easy to make and fun to eat is the name of the game for this selection of our best appetizers for a party.  Included here are a few two-bite appetizers, flatbread recipes, pretzel bites, and more.

16). Bacon Wrapped Smokies

A little sweet, a little spicy and totally delicious, these little guys are sure to become new favorites.

17). Garlic Parmesan Wings

Never underestimate the power of classic, crispy, baked Garlic Parmesan chicken wings.

18). Pesto and Sausage Flatbread

Use a pre made flatbread dough, or else make your own.  This one is topped with pesto, cheese, bacon, peppers, onion, sausage and seasoning.

19). Three Cheese Pesto Flatbread

This three cheese version is always a favorite.  It's got three kinds of cheese, fresh tomatoes, pesto and more!

20). Pizza Monkey Bread

For a deliciously fun twist on pepperoni pizza, give this monkey bread version a try.

21). Soft Pretzel Bites

This Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe makes chewy and perfectly soft pretzel bites perfect for serving at your next party.

22). Pizza Pinwheels

These simple Pizza Pinwheels make the perfect appetizer or snack for parties, game day or movie night. They’re made with crescent roll dough, pizza sauce, cheese and your favorite pizza toppings and can be ready in just about 20 minutes flat.

23). Brazilian Cheese Bread

These Brazilian Cheese Bread puffs are slightly crisp on the outside, chewy and cheesy in the middle and naturally gluten-free. 

24). Baked Buffalo Chicken Bites

These Baked Buffalo Chicken Bites have all of the zesty flavors of Buffalo chicken without the deep-fried breading.  They’re tender, juicy and taste great covered in blue cheese crumbles and ranch dressing for dipping.

Our Favorite Holiday Appetizers

These holiday appetizers will keep your guests happy and satisfied until the dinner is served. We've got classy passed appetizers, like Crispy Potato Bites, along with seasonal favorites like our Cranberry Salsa and Spicy Italian Meatballs.

25). Italian Mini Kabob Appetizers

These only take a matter of minutes to throw together, but look elegant and taste amazing.

26). Crispy Potato Bites

These little guys are fully loaded, made with thin slices of oven baked potatoes, topped with melted cheese, ranch dressing dip, bacon bits and green onions.

27). Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

These Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms are stuffed with spicy sausage, cream cheese, and topped with a panko and a parmesan breadcrumb topping. It's a delicious and easy appetizer recipe that can be served hot or warm.

28). Cheese Filled Peppers

We absolutely love these ooey-gooey, flavorful and unbelievably simple appetizers.  They add a nice pop of color to the mix, too.

29). Bacon and Jalapeno Stuffed Peppers

Filled to the brim with two kinds of cheese, sour cream, bacon and diced jalapeños, these are sure to keep everyone satisfied until dinner is served.

30). Spicy Italian Meatballs

These Spicy Italian Meatballs have just the right amount of spicy sausage and hearty beef and one of my favorite holiday appetizers.

31). Ham and Cheddar Cheese Ball

This simple, make-ahead classic goes great with buttery crackers, tortilla chips or even a veggie tray.

32). Easy Cranberry Salsa

This quick and easy Cranberry Salsa is tangy, spicy, super fresh and tastes amazing served over soft cream cheese with your favorite crackers. 

33). Veggie Tray

This Holiday Veggie Tray is full of crisp and colorful veggies, served with homemade ranch dressing on the side.  It’s the perfect appetizer to serve at your next holiday party or gathering.

34. Brie Bites

These Cranberry Baked Brie Bites are a quick and easy bite-size appetizer to serve at your next holiday get together. Each phyllo dough cup is full of melted Brie cheese, cranberry sauce, toasted pecans, and topped with a tiny sprig of fresh rosemary.

35. Candied Kielbasa

This two-ingredient Candied Kielbasa is the perfect easy appetizer to serve for Thanksgiving, holiday potlucks, or game day. These bite-sized morsels are sweet, savory, quick to prepare, and totally addicting.

36. Mini Charcuterie Cups

These are made with our Cheese Twists with Puff Pastry and our Cinnamon Twists. Add some macaroons, cheese slices and some summer sausage for an easy-to-customize appetizer recipe.

If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you. It helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

Whether hosting a party or planning simple finger food snacks for the family at home, this list of over 30 Easy Appetizer Recipes is for you.  On this list you’ll find old classics alongside new favorites for every occasion, big or small.

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