Party Appetizers That Will Impress All Your Guests

It doesn't matter what kind of party you're throwing — having a solid food spread is key. Whether it's a weekly game night around the kitchen table with your immediate family, poker night with some friends, a backyard BBQ, or a cozy holiday party by the fireplace, you're going to want a bunch of tasty bites to pass around before the main course.

Or, let's be honest: Sometimes it's just easier and more fun to make a ton of appetizers and call it dinner. There's nothing wrong with that, and as a matter of fact, we have a variety of scrumptious recipes that are going to make you want to do just that.

There's something really exciting about filling up your plate with a pile of tiny bites and getting a wide range of flavors with every sample. Bonus points? It's not as difficult as you might think, so let's talk about some recipes that are not only going to make party planning a breeze, but are guaranteed to be a major hit among your guests.

Potstickers are one of those finger foods that look so impressive when displayed on a plate. Your guests will think you spent hours in the kitchen whipping up this classy appetizer just for them. There's no reason to tell them that our recipe for spicy chicken potstickers comes together in just over an hour. You don't even need to wait until a party to make them. Since they freeze well, you can spend a quiet afternoon making batches, and then pop them in the freezer. Party planning just got so seamless.

If you're looking for an appetizer that's warm and just a little bit hearty, we have you covered with our pierogi recipe. You'll make a simple dough and an incredibly savory cheese-and-potato filling. While these are pretty time-consuming, here's the thing: You definitely don't need to make them the day of the party. These pierogis freeze really well, which means you can take an afternoon to make trays of them, and pop them in the freezer for when you need them. They're good for three to six months in the freezer, which makes them the perfect appetizer choice for parties.

You may be wondering what exactly is baba ganoush, aside from an appetizer that sounds as impressive as it looks. It's like hummus, but not as heavy as what you might be used to. And instead of chickpeas, eggplant serves as the basis of this delicious dip, which not only makes it healthy, but also full of flavor. Paprika, cumin, and tahini are right in the spotlight.

Serve our baba ganoush on a tray with veggies, pieces of flatbread, and crackers for an appetizer everyone can share.

If you're looking for appetizers that are incredibly tasty yet light enough that they're not going to fill anyone up too much, we have you covered with our quick and easy lettuce wraps. This recipe is super versatile, and since it only takes around 30 minutes to prep and cook, it's easy to make just before the party starts.

If you're up for something a little more complicated, we also have a recipe for copycat P.F. Chang's lettuce wraps that are sure to please.

Let's talk about backyard BBQs, because whenever you're firing up the grill is the perfect time to make our Mexican street corn. While you can technically do this one in the oven under the broiler, throwing some ears of corn on the grill will make them taste that much better. In addition to the corn, you'll need a few simple ingredients like mayo and cojita cheese. It's easy enough to put together while you're standing in the backyard having a pre-burger beer, and it will definitely be requested summer after summer.

Who doesn't love Buffalo wings? And we're not talking about all the fancy varieties and flavors that have popped up over the years — we're talking about the classic, original Buffalo wing. With our recipe for Buffalo wings on deck, you'll find we're talking about the real deal. There's a base of Frank's RedHot sauce, celery and carrots on the side, and a recipe for blue cheese dip ... because any diehard Buffalo wing fan will tell you that there's no room for ranch when it comes to real wings.

The next time you fire up that grill for a BBQ, don't forget to check out our recipe for grilled shrimp. This delicious appetizer will be such a hit among your party guests. All you'll need are basic seasonings — like salt and pepper — along with a dash of lemon, some olive oil, and butter. That's it! You'll also be able to fit plenty of these skewers on your grill at once, which means there's not going to be a line ... although, there may be one for seconds.

Shrimp rolls are such classy appetizers that look gorgeous when they're plated. It might seem like an intimidating task to take on, but check out our shrimp rolls recipe for an appetizer that's not only deceptively simple, but it's also a great way to keep your more health-conscious guests happy. Appetizers don't have to be heavy and deep-fried to be delicious, and this recipe proves that.