98 Appetizer Recipes To Get Any Party Started

So, you're having a party. Wahoo! You have the invitations, the decorations, but wait, what about the food?! You're going to need an amazing app spread to keep your guests mingling and from getting hungry. But where are you going to start? Before you have a moment of panic, take a deep breath, and know that when it comes to easy, simple-to-follow, delicious recipes, Mashed always has your back, and this instance is no different.

We've put together a collection of some of our favorite appetizer recipes — 98 of them, to be exact — that we're pretty sure your guests will devour at your next cocktail party, shindig, get-together, backyard barbecue, or any other type of party. Any way you slice it, these recipes are gold and clutch to have in your repertoire in preparation for the big event. Our list has got everything from staple favorites like pigs in a blanket to seemingly more complicated recipes, like the one for individual cheese soufflés. So, what are you waiting for? Get cooking!

Nachos are a go-to appetizer, especially for sports game-viewing parties along with some wings and pigs in a blanket. In their purest form, nachos are simply tortilla chips covered in cheese, but Mashed's version from recipe developer Melissa Olivieri takes this concept up a notch adding jalapeños, veggies – including fresh tomatoes – olives, ground beef, and plenty of spices. Olivieri has tips for what kinds of cheeses to use depending on your tastes and what dips to serve alongside your nachos. What's even better, these nachos are assembled and baked on a single sheet pan making clean-up a breeze.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Nachos

Why not take the classic onion dip you usually serve as an app at parties and add a twist with some dill? This dill onion dip offers a different version of a regular onion dip that's just as perfect for dipping veggies or chips in as the traditional version. You'll simply chop up some dill, mix it with mayo and sour cream, then add some common spices and parsley. You're done in just five minutes!

Recipe: Dill Onion Dip

What's better than surprising guests with an appetizer that's got the kick of a jalapeño balanced with the coolness of cream cheese and the taste of chicken sausage to round everything out? A recipe that pulls all these elements together with just these three ingredients and cooks in the air fryer in just ten minutes, that's what. You'll simply half and hollow out the jalapeño peppers, stuff them with a mixture of cream cheese and diced sausage, and pop them in the air fryer. Alternatively, recipe developer Ksenia Prints offers instructions for how the poppers can be cooked in the oven.

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Jalapeño Poppers

This layered taco dip is perfect for a Halloween party and sure to be loved by both kids and adults alike because it's given a spooky upgrade from your usual taco dip with the addition of a sour cream web and spiders made from olives. For this recipe, you'll need plenty of spices, refried beans, Mexican cheese, salsa, and guacamole to create the layers and some veggies for the garnish on top. Get creative when decorating the dip with the web, and be sure to add several spiders for the ultimate creepy factor.

Recipe: Spider Web Taco Dip

Recipe developer Hayley MacLean says the slow cooker is the ideal appliance to cook sausages in because the low heat is perfect for optimizing the sausage's flavor and allowing it to best complement the barbecue sauce it's simmering in. The key to this easy slow cooked little smokies recipe is the barbecue sauce, which is simply a mixture of a bottle of store-bought barbecue sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and some spices. MacLean even has a recommendation if you want to add some spice to the sauce. Cook 'em up and serve them with toothpicks, because these little babies are saucy!

Recipe: Easy Slow Cooked Little Smokies

If you're a fan of Chili's southwest egg rolls and regularly flock to the restaurant to nosh on the appetizer, you know this isn't your traditional Chinese egg roll but rather a Mexican twist on the Asian classic. Recipe developer Kristen Carli was able to emulate the scrumptious taste of these creative egg rolls with this recipe calling for chicken, beans, veggies, cheese, and taco seasoning, all of which are fried in flour tortillas. Carli also recommends making a dipping sauce of guacamole mixed with ranch dressing to accompany these southwest egg rolls.

Recipe: Copycat Chili's Southwest Egg Rolls

This apple bruschetta recipe is so easy; you'll simply have to slice up a French baguette, apples — recipe developer Kristen Carli recommends Granny Smiths for their tart flavor — and brie cheese, assemble the bread and cheese slices and bake, then add the apples and drizzle with honey. They'll take just seven minutes to prep and seven minutes to cook, so you'll be ready to serve these yummy little, bite-sized morsels to party-goers in no time.

Recipe: Easy Apple Bruschetta

Hummus is always a party favorite with its smooth texture and rich flavor, and while this hummus is no different in that respect it has a creative twist making it perfect for preparing and serving in the fall months. You'll simply mix up some store-bought hummus, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin spice seasoning in a food processor or by hand with a whisk, scoop into a bowl — and maybe garnish with a few pumpkin seeds — and serve with veggies or pita chips.

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Hummus

Anyone who has ever been to an IKEA food court has seen the store's famous Swedish meatballs on the menu or on the plate of the diner next to you. Mashed's Jake Vigliotti reports that the recipe was so popular IKEA actually released the recipe to the public, but Vigliotti claims that this recipe doesn't quite fit the bill, and instead offers an alternative recipe, which includes both ground beef and ground pork, to satisfy your IKEA meatball cravings. We've also included instructions for how to make the beef sauce to pour over the meatballs and wow your party guests.

Recipe: Copycat IKEA Meatballs

What do you get when you mix gooey sticks of cheese with a crispy, flavorful exterior? Lots of elbowing for room around the app table, that's what. Recipe developer Kristen Carli has recommendations about what kind of beer to use to optimize deliciousness and notes this recipe takes just eight total minutes to prep and cook. While these sticks of joy could easily be enjoyed on their own, if you're looking for a dipping sauce, Carli recommends marinara sauce or ranch dressing.

Recipe: Beer Battered Mozzarella Sticks

It's easy to take French fries to the next level with the addition of some garlic and cheese, and this recipe takes what's usually reserved as a side to hamburgers and sandwiches to a bonafide appetizer on its own. Plus, when cooked in your air fryer, they're a bit more nutritious than fries fried in oil. You can cut your own potatoes for this recipe or even use a bag of frozen French fries to get a jump on the game. Serve these fries with some ketchup or simply enjoy on their own.

Recipe: Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Fries

Looking for an app recipe sure to please everyone, even the little ones? Look no further than this pierogi recipe for dumplings filled with potato and quark cheese. Recipe developer Alexandra Shytsman offers tips on what kinds of potatoes to use for best success and how long you'll need to knead your dough. Shytsman also recommends filling the pierogies with others, making this recipe not only a delicious treat but a family activity that everyone can participate in anticipation for the big party.

Recipe: Pierogies

Meatballs are a popular app, but just your plain 'ole beef variety can get pretty boring. Enter: These slow cooker Tex-Mex meatballs to save our taste buds and leave our mouths watering. While recipe developer Kristen Carli does use beef as the base for this recipe — she points out you could also use turkey or chicken — the beef is enhanced by the presence of chipotle adobo sauce, chili powder, diced tomatoes mixed with green chiles, and, of course, cheese. These little guys will need to cook on high in the slow cooker for about four hours.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Tex-Mex Meatballs

Having a tiki party, or any other type of party, for that matter? These coconut shrimp are an absolute must for your app spread. Coconut shrimp may just have roots in the tropics, but we're here for enjoying them no matter where you're located. To make them, you'll simply coat the shrimp in a flour-based mixture then dip them in a breadcrumb and shredded coconut batter. Fry 'em up, then it's time to enjoy! Recipe developer Ksenia Prints recommends a few dipping sauces, including one you may not expect.

Recipe: Easy Coconut Shrimp

If you're looking for a different, perhaps healthier twist on the traditional potato French fry for your app spread, check out this oven-roasted polenta fries recipe from recipe developer Ting Dalton. It's as easy as preparing the polenta, letting it chill, cutting it into strips, and baking. Dalton offers alternative spices and cheese if you don't have the ones the recipe calls for on hand, as well as a way to make these polenta fries vegetarian.

Recipe: Oven-Roasted Polenta Fries

These chicken egg rolls are as easy to prepare as they are tasty, and they're the perfect addition to any app spread for a party, or any other type of celebration for that matter, as far as we're concerned. For this recipe, you'll just cook the ingredients in a large skillet, wrap the mixture up in egg roll wrappers, and fry them in a deep saucepan. Recipe developer Kristen Carli has some great recommendations when it comes to choosing the perfect dipping sauce to accompany these chicken egg rolls.

Recipe: Easy Chicken Egg Rolls

Breaded veggies with a rich dipping sauce? Yes, please! This roasted breaded cauliflower recipe comes from recipe developer Susan Olayinka who walks you through how to properly cook the cauliflower, bread it, and instructs you on just how long to roast them in the oven for optimal deliciousness. Olayinka points out that these cauliflower bites are perfect for those guests at your party who are fussy eaters who may not get enough veggies — ahem, kids — especially when paired with a ranch dipping sauce.

Recipe: Roasted Breaded Cauliflower

Buffalo dip is a classic app and favorite of many party-goers and home cooks alike. Mashed's version ups the ante on a traditional Buffalo dip with the addition of chicken and blue cheese with a base made of mayo and cream cheese. You can control the amount of heat based on the type of hot sauce you use. After the dip bakes for about 20 minutes in the oven, let it cool, then add it to your app spread with plenty of vegetable crudité, crackers, or chips.

Recipe: Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

Recipe developer Ting Dalton was inspired by a popular Bonefish Grill appetizer when concocting this recipe for bang bang shrimp. Key ingredients include Sriracha and a Thai-style sweet chili sauce, which add the spice — aka the "bang bang," if you will — to the sauce that coats the shrimp. With just five minutes of prep time and two minutes of cooking time, featuring this bang bang shrimp at your next gathering is a no-brainer, and sure to set off taste bud fireworks.

Recipe: Best Bang Bang Shrimp

At Mashed, we're all about traditional homemade pretzels, but when it comes to the app table, we agree, pretzel bites are the way to go thanks to their easily dippable nature and ability to complement nearly any and every type of sauce. Making pretzel dough may seem intimidating, especially given the time commitment, but recipe developer Molly Allen has your back every step of the way with easy instructions, from proofing the dough to baking the individual bites.

Recipe: Soft Pretzel Bites

We love our slow cookers, not only because they make cooking a breeze, but also because of the way they allow foods to soak up sauce for the ultimate flavor. These Crockpot BBQ meatballs are no different, as after you assemble and cook — recipe developer Angela Latimer provides instructions on how to pan-fry or bake the meatballs — you'll simply mix them in with some barbecue sauce in your slow cooker and set it to low for three to four hours. Latimer suggests serving with toothpicks on your app table, or even assembling them into sliders.

Recipe: Crockpot BBQ Meatballs

A Middle Eastern-inspired, eggplant-based dip or spread with a texture similar to that of hummus, this baba ganoush is sure to be a winner on your appetizer table, both for established baba ganoush fans and first time tasters alike. Recipe developer Nathaniel Lee has recommendations on what kind of eggplant to use to create this app and points out that it is both vegetarian and vegan. Serve with pita, pita chips, or even grilled chicken or lamb bites.

Recipe: Easy Baba Ganoush

Chances are, if you've ever been to an Outback Steakhouse, you've either had or at least heard of the eatery's incredibly popular and dare-we-say famous appetizer: the Bloomin' Onion. If you've got a hankering for a Bloomin' Onion or want to make one for a party, you're in luck, because recipe developer Lindsay Mattison went to great lengths to uncover just what goes into the batter, what spices make the taste most similar to that of the restaurant's actual app, what kind of onion to use, and best prep techniques.

Recipe: Outback's Bloomin' Onion

If you're looking for a dip for your appetizer table that's a little less run of the mill than your everyday onion dip, look no further than this tapenade recipe with flavors of olives, mustard, garlic, and spices. Ideal for serving with pita chips or spreading on crostinis, this tapenade is easily made in just a few minutes in your food processor. Recipe developer Kristen Carli even has a recommendation for how to spice up a lunch favorite the next day should you have any left over.

Recipe: Tapenade

Mexican street corn is the perfect addition to an app table at any backyard barbecue when you want to use the best veggies in the summer months. But, beware, this street corn from recipe developer Maren Epstein gets quite messy when eaten, so be sure to have lots of napkins on hand. Epstein walks you through how to cook the corn either on the grill or under the broiler and what ingredients to mix to make the incredible mayo, cheese, and spice coating.

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Mexican Street Corn

This jalapeño popper recipe incorporates a few more ingredients and steps than our 3-ingredient jalapeño popper recipe, but don't let that deter you; the results are some seriously hot stuff sure to please the spicy food aficionados at your party. The recipe calls for bacon, cream cheese, Sriracha, breadcrumbs, and perhaps the most important ingredient — which may surprise you — milk. Mix up the filling, be sure to be careful hollowing out the peppers, dip in breadcrumbs, bake, and get ready for the heat!

Recipe: Jalapeño Poppers

These gyoza take some time to assemble, but to have homemade Japanese cuisine in your home is well worth the time. These dumplings from recipe developer Tommy Leung have cabbage, minced pork, soy sauce, chives, and sesame oil inside and are wrapped in dumpling wrappers before they are hand-shaped. Leung has recommendations as to what kind of pan to use to fry the gyoza in as well as some thoughts on the best dipping sauces for ultimate enjoyment at the app table.

Recipe: Savory Fried Pork and Cabbage Gyoza

Chicken-y, broccoli-y, cheesy, and pretty? Sign us up! This easy chicken broccoli braid is the perfect app because it's not only yummy, but visually appealing, too. Nervous about braiding the dough? Never fear, recipe developer Kristen Carli is here to help guide you through it and assure you that the result doesn't have to be perfect to be tasty. You may even be a little hesitant to slice it up, but once your guests have one taste, they'll be cutting off pieces left and right.

Recipe: Easy Chicken Broccoli Braid

These Christmas deviled eggs are easy, cute, and sure to be a holiday season favorite that you'll want to remake every year. Recipe developer Petar Marshall dreamed up the perfect ratio of mustard and mayo to add to your yolks for the filling, and even offers ideas for other ingredients you can add, depending on your preferences. After you fill the eggs, then comes the fun part: the garnishing! Have fun adding pomegranate seeds, rosemary, and Italian parsley to the tops of the eggs for a festive finish.

Recipe: Christmas Deviled Eggs

Grilled shrimp on a skewer is the ideal app because it's yummy and easy peasy lemon squeezy — literally! You'll squeeze some lemon on these babies. To prepare, you'll make a simple marinade of lemon juice, butter, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper to brush onto the shrimp after they've been skewered and toss them on the grill until cooked through. You're just minutes away from enjoying this sure-to-be-a-hit appetizer alongside friends and family at your next shindig.

Recipe: Quick Grilled Shrimp

Pigs in a blanket are a super easy-to-prepare, super crowd-pleaser, and they're among the best things to make with your kids. They couldn't be simpler to make and require just two ingredients: a package of hot dogs and a can of crescent rolls. Each hot dog gets rolled up inside a crescent roll, then the whole lot gets popped in the oven. Recipe developer Laura Sampson has some tips on when to pull these piggies out of the oven and the trick they'll play that may have you remove them too soon.

Recipe: Pigs in a Blanket

Spooky as it is cutesy, this Halloween skull cheese ball will be a hit at any October party where most of the guests are pint-sized and running around in costumes. Parents will be tempted to dig in, too, because, let's be honest, who doesn't love cheese? Making this skull cheese ball is as simple as combining some cream cheese, Italian dressing mix, and mozzarella, shaping the skull — including the menacing teeth — and adding the olive eyes. Recipe developer Kristen Carli recommends serving alongside some crackers or veggies for dipping.

Recipe: Halloween Skull Cheese Ball

Think: your favorite spinach and artichoke dip with the added bonus of Parmesan cheese, all served up in flaky, buttery pastry bites. Sounds pretty fantastic, doesn't it? Your party guests will think so too as they easily continue to pop these babies into their mouths — the recipe makes 12; you just might want to double that. These spinach artichoke bites are easily made by cutting the puff pastry and pressing each piece into the hole of a muffin tin, stirring together the spinach and artichoke mixture, filling in the pastry cups, topping with the cheese, and baking.

Recipe: Spinach Artichoke Bites

This goat cheese crostini from recipe developer Michelle McGlinn is quite original and sure to catch the eyes of your guests with the bright red color of the burst cherry tomatoes on top of the goat cheese mixture. As for equipment, you'll need a grill, cast iron skillet, and food processor to create these little masterpieces. McGlinn also has some ideas for how to prep some of these ingredients beforehand and assemble as soon as your guests start to arrive.

Recipe: Best Goat Cheese Crostini

This cranberry orange cheese ball is so pretty you might have trouble cutting into it, but once you do, you'll be treated with a rich, creamy, orange-y dip with cranberries and pecans mixed in. The ball's decorative exterior is thanks to a mixture of remaining orange zest, chopped cranberries and pecans, and some parsley. Set the ball out on the app table with your favorite crackers or some sliced bread and get ready to hear your guests rave.

Recipe: Cranberry Orange Cheese Ball

Why buy shrimp cocktail from the store when the homemade version is not only easy to prepare, but also ups the ante when it comes to the deliciousness factor? Mashed teamed up with recipe developer Hayley MacLean who has specific instructions on what kind of shrimp to buy and what ingredients to add to the boiling water you'll cook the shrimp in. You can omit the hot sauce when concocting the cocktail sauce to dip the shrimp in if you're not a fan of spice, or add a little extra if you can handle the heat.

Recipe: Shrimp Cocktail

Who doesn't love a ball of mozzarella cheese? We didn't see any hands raised, so we're sure you'll be pleased to learn of Mashed's marinated mozzarella balls recipe, courtesy of recipe developer Kristen Carli. Perfect as an app on their own or alongside some crackers, these mozzarella balls are marinated in a mixture of olive oil, dried basil, dried oregano, and garlic. We don't need many excuses to eat cheese, but we definitely recommend not missing out on this one.

Recipe: Marinated Mozzarella Balls

You don't have to wait for a summer picnic or another casual event to make this caramelized onion dip; it will be the perfect complement to an appetizer spread at any cocktail party, thanks to its use of real, painstakingly homemade caramelized onions. Chopping and caramelizing the onions is the hard and time consuming part of preparing this dish, but you'll be pleased with all your hard work when your guests are enjoying the finished product with some potato chips.

Recipe: Caramelized Onion Dip

Who says pasta can only be an entree? Not us, because we have this great recipe for easy pasta skewers in our back pocket. Luckily for you, we're here to share, and you'll have guests at your next get-together rethinking the way they see pasta after eating it off a stick. Take pieces of cooked rigatoni or ziti (depending on your favorite pasta shapes) and thread them onto the skewers, top with marinara sauce, cheese, and basil, then pop the sticks into the air fryer.

Recipe: Easy Pasta Skewers

Greek meatballs are a great twist on the Italian favorite, and, as recipe developer Catherine Brookes points out, their smaller size makes them perfect appetizers. Don't let the long ingredient list lead you to think these are difficult to make; you'll simply combine the ingredients, shape the balls, and then fry those little guys up in some olive oil before serving. We think these would pair nicely with a creamy dipping sauce or possibly even a marinara.

Recipe: Greek Meatballs

With two types of olives and a drizzle of honey over a creamy block of feta, this sure-to-be-a-hit appetizer is the perfect combination of salty and sweet. Mashed explains why recipe developer Kristen Carli calls for two types of olives – kalamata and castelvetrano — to create this dish, which can easily be enjoyed dip-style with crackers or veggie crudité. With just five minutes of prep time and 20 minutes in the oven, this quick dish is the ideal appetizer to keep guests mingling near the app table while you prepare the main meal.

Recipe: Baked Feta With Olives

Quesadillas are widely known as cheesy little pockets of joy — well, at least they are in our book — and when combined with a sauce generally reserved for wings, you've got yourself a home-run combo. Recipe developer Kristen Carli walks you through how to perfectly create these Buffalo chicken quesadillas, complete with your favorite Buffalo sauce, ranch dressing seasoning, and, plenty of Mexican cheese. Grab a side of sour cream dipping sauce and add to your app table ASAP.

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas

Just one glimpse at this pretty asparagus tart will have your friends and family asking questions, the kind like, "Can I have a piece?" followed shortly by, "Can I have the recipe?" The app is easy to make and only requires four ingredients: asparagus, puff pastry, Boursin cheese, and fresh thyme. You'll unroll the puff pastry, carefully cover it with a layer of Boursin cheese, line up the asparagus, bake, and enjoy. It's that simple!

Recipe: Asparagus Tart

Proper Indian papadums are thin, cracker-like flatbreads usually made with chickpea flour that are perfect to serve on your app spread alongside a chutney or dip if you're looking for a creative alternative to chips. Mashed's version from recipe developer Miriam Hahn contains the spice derived from ingredients such as cumin seeds, black pepper, garlic, and cayenne pepper to flavor the papadums, which are a good option for those guests at your get-together who are gluten-free.

Recipe: Crispy Papadum

You may think of cranberries covered in sugar as more of a dessert item, but this bruschetta-style dish from recipe developer Susan Olayinka is more suited for your appetizer spread. Served atop some sliced French baguette with a slice of brie, each piece is drizzled with honey and topped with rosemary salt and a mint leaf. You don't have to save these sparkling cranberry brie bites for Thanksgiving or Christmas; they're delicious and perfect to be enjoyed all year long.

Recipe: Sparkling Cranberry Brie Bites

Recipe developer Cecilia Ryu admits that tempura can be "intimidating to make," but rest assured; Ryu is a pro who will walk you through this recipe with such thorough instructions you'll wonder why you were ever nervous to try to make this delicious dish to begin with. Through this recipe, you'll learn how to make a tempura batter, fry the veggies and shrimp, and how to make the soy-based dipping sauce, otherwise known as tentsuyu. Your guests will be as excited to try this dish as you are satisfied with your new tempura-making skills.

Recipe: Tempura

Gather your friends around the kitchen counter because you're going to want to serve these cheese soufflés to your guests as soon as they come out of the oven to ensure they don't deflate. Recipe developer Ting Dalton walks you through how to prepare the soufflés, and we promise, it's not as hard as you think it is. Chock full of Parmesan and sharp cheddar cheeses, this savory soufflé is a delight you'll certainly want to share with others.

Recipe: Cheese Soufflés

What's better than a salmon patty app served with a side of lemon aioli or tartar dipping sauce? Salmon patties made in your new favorite appliance, of course: your air fryer! You'll make these patties with canned salmon, but if you happen to have a fresh filet on hand, you can cook it up and use that instead. These patties take just eight minutes to cook in the air fryer, so you'll be plating them up with some lemon wedges and serving them in no time.

Recipe: Air Fryer Salmon Patties

Recipe developer Autumn LeAnn says this cheese ball has "subtle flavors of Spring," which naturally makes us think of Easter as the perfect occasion to serve it to your friends and family. In addition to sour cream and some spices, you'll need a selection of cheeses to make this cheese ball come to life including cream cheese, Colby Jack, and cheddar. You'll coat the exterior with toasted pecans. Would it be cheesy to say we're nuts for this appetizer?

Recipe: Easter Cheese Ball