9 of the Best Party Appetizers
Do you love appetizers as much as I do? Here are 9 of the best party appetizers ever! You’ve had it happen to you, you get invited to a get-together of some sort and they ask you to bring something and you’re not sure what to bring that will be a real hit without a lot of time or expense? I like to offer to bring an appetizer. I usually always have these ingredients in my pantry, refrigerator, or freezer.
I’m sure you love appetizers as much as I do! Please tell me the ones you enjoy eating at family reunions, neighborhood get-togethers, or parties with friends.
The 9 Best Party Appetizers
I can easily grab the ingredients and make an appetizer in minutes! Anything delicious that you can make quickly is a win-win in my book! How many times have your kids or grandkids been super hungry and you didn’t know what to feed them as a special treat? You can easily make these appetizers. I have had instances where we’ve had last-minute company and I needed to fix something for them to eat. Over the years, I’ve figured out what to throw together and it has been awesome. Make sure you check out these best party appetizers so that you can benefit from the easiness and deliciousness of it all!
Cheese-Fresh Fruit Appetizers
Most of us have cheese and fruit in our fridge. You can easily slap this appetizer together with the help of what you have in your fridge!
- your favorite cheese-sliced
- apples (cut and cored)
- grapes-red and green make the platter look festive
- sliced strawberries
- chunks of cantaloupe
- sliced pears
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The appetizer pictured above is always popular at parties. This is a really healthy platter for people to stand around and chitty chat while munching. People love this one and it’s a great one to take to the park and enjoy the fresh air with family and friends.
Water Chestnut Appetizers
Do you have water chestnuts in your cabinet? If so, you can turn them into a delicious appetizer that everyone will surely love.
- 3 cans of whole-water chestnuts-drained
- 1-1/2 pounds thin raw bacon
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard this is optional-I like a little kick to mine
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Gather all of your ingredients. Preheat your oven to (375°F) = (190°C) Grease a 9″ by 13″ inch pan.
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Cut the package(s) of uncooked raw bacon into thirds. This creates the perfect sized strips of bacon to wrap the water chestnuts.
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Wrap a piece of raw bacon around one water chestnut and secure it with a toothpick. Place the bacon-wrapped chestnuts in the greased pan. Continue to wrap each water chestnut with a piece of bacon until all the chestnuts are wrapped. Place the pan of bacon-wrapped chestnuts on a middle rack in the oven.
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Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
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Drain the fat from the pan. This is the hardest part of the whole recipe. Be careful!
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It's time to make the delicious savory sauce! Place the ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, and dry mustard in a medium-sized bowl and whisk until smooth.
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Cover the baked chestnuts with this sauce mixture.
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Bake for an additional 20-30 minutes. Enjoy!
This is how they look while preparing them:
Sweet Little Smoky Appetizers
I think one of my favorite appetizers in the whole world are these Sweet Little Smokies. Who doesn’t love a good little smokie?
- 12-18 ounce jar of grape jelly
- 12 ounces chili sauce
- 3 pounds Little Smokies
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1. Grab a slow cooker and place the Little Smokies in it.
2. Add the grape jelly and chili sauce on top of the links.
3. Turn the slow cooker to LOW for 3-4 hours.
4. When heated through, use a heat-proof tool to place them on your serving tray!
Everyone loves this recipe! If you keep some little smokies in your freezer and a couple of jars of jelly and chili sauce in your pantry, this is an easy recipe to make and take to any get-together. These are perfect for family reunions
Pineapple-Cream Cheese Dip
Being able to take your favorite cracker or pretzel and dip it in the Pineapple-Cream Cheese Dip will put you in appetizer heaven. Sometimes you need to have a little something salty and sweet, together!
- 2- 8- ounce packages softened cream cheese
- 2- 8- ounce cans drained crushed pineapple
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoons green onion chopped optional
- 1-1/2 teaspoons all season salt-similar to Lawry’s salt
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1. Place all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.
2. Use a hand mixer to blend completely.
3. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Serve with your favorite crackers or veggies
This is an easy one to make because if you typically keep cream cheese in your refrigerator, pecans in the freezer, and crushed pineapple in the pantry you can make this one at the last minute. It’s perfect, even if you have to stop and pick up crackers at the grocery store on the way to the party. This appetizer is one of my family’s favorites! We like the crackers called Chicken In A Biscuit and also Wheat Thins served with this one.
Stuffed Baked Sausage Mushrooms
Have sausage and mushrooms on hand? These Stuffed Baked Sausage Mushrooms are so delicious you won’t be able to get enough of them. If you need a quick appetizer, go ahead and give these a try!
- 15 large mushrooms or 24-30 smaller mushrooms-washed and dried-remove the stems
- 1-8- ounce cream cheese softened
- 1-16- ounce package of Jimmy Dean Maple Sausage or your favorite flavor
- Chop the mushroom stems if desired, to add to the sausage when cooking it
- green onions-chopped fine optional I never use these
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1. Preheat the oven to (350°F) = (176°C).
2. Cook and crumble the sausage and drain the grease if any.
3. Stir in the softened cream cheese and chopped green onions.
4. Scoop the mixture into each mushroom.
5. Bake for about 15-30 minutes depending on the size of the mushrooms. Serve hot.
These are really easy to make the day before and cover with plastic wrap until you want to bake them. These are always gone within minutes.
Easy Spicy Meatball Appetizers
If you have someone in your life who enjoys something a little spicy, then give this Easy Spicy Meatballs Appetizers a try. You will enjoy the flavor of the meatballs and how easy they are to make!
- ⅓ cup Franks Hot Sauce
- 1-1/2 cups brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
- Meatballs-precooked about 40-50-depending on the size
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Combine the Franks Hot Sauce, brown sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the brown sugar dissolves. Place the precooked meatballs in a crockpot and cover with the sauce. Cook for about 2-3 hours or until warmed through. Serve with toothpicks and buttermilk ranch dressing and celery sticks, if desired.
I love this recipe because I buy the frozen meatballs from Costco and add the rest of the ingredients from my food storage stash! Get the slow cooker out and it’s ready to make another very easy appetizer. They have a little kick, but you can cut down the hot sauce so they aren’t so spicy if that is your preference. Serve out of a small slow cooker with toothpicks or place on a platter. This one is perfect for football season parties!
Cranberry-Cream Cheese Bites
Do you have cream cheese on hand? If so, these Cranberry-Cream Cheese bites are going to rock your world. One bite and you get so many different flavors!
- Cream Cheese-softened
- 1 can of Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce 14 ounces
- ½ teaspoon dried and crushed jalapeno peppers more or less depending on personal preference
- 1 box of Triscuit crackers
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Spread a small spoonful of softened cream cheese on each cracker. Combine the jalapenos and cranberry sauce in a bowl. Place a small spoonful of the cranberry sauce mixture on each cracker. Serve immediately.
Hot Chip Beef or Ham-Cream Cheese Dip
Spice up your appetizer life with this Hot Chip Beef or Ham-Cream Cheese Dip. You can dip whatever you desire into it and the taste is unlike any other dip out there
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup chip beef or ham, cut into small pieces
- 2 tablespoons fresh green onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons milk
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Gather all of your ingredients.
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Soften the cream cheese in a small bowl or baking dish so you can dip your chips or crackers with ease in the softened cream cheese. I like to allow the cream cheese to sit at room temperature as I prepare the other ingredients. I have also warmed it in the microwave at 30 second intervals, if i am a little short on time.
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Rinse the beef to remove any excess salt/sodium. Cut or chop the beef into thin slices so it can be more easily stirred into the dip mixture and stay on the chip or cracker when eaten.
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Add the sour cream. The sour cream makes the dip more soft and easy to work with, besides adding a little tart taste to the flavors in the dip.
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Mix the ingredients in the bowl using a hand mixer, or by hand, if preferred. Make sure it has a creamy texture since it will be used as a tasty dip. You can heat it in your microwave oven, at 30 second intervals, if you feel that will help soften the mixture.
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Now add the beef that's been cut. Continue to stir until fully blended with the sour cream and cream cheese mixture.
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Once the beef is blended in the dip mixture, you'll top things off with the cut-up green onions. The onions are always added to our recipe, but others will often add things like pecans, green peppers, black pepper spice, garlic powder, or other favorites to add a unique flavor to this dip. Serve with Fritos or your favorite crackers.
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Be sure to store this appetizer in the fridge until it's ready to be served, so it stays as fresh as possible. It may thicken up a bit, but should soften up some once left on the counter for a few minutes at room temperature.
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We warm it up in the microwave to serve it hot with Frito chips!
Cheesy Dill-Cream Cheese Pecan Ball
As you can see, you can make a lot of different dips out of cream cheese. This Cheesy Dill-Cream Cheese Pecan Ball is so easy to make and the perfect appetizer to throw together last minute.
- 2-8 ounce packages of cream cheese
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon dill weed
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 3 washed and chopped green onions or equal amounts of freeze-dried green onions
- Pecans or almonds to garnish on top of cheese ball optional
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Combine all the ingredients and use a hand mixer or stand mixer to blend them together. Roll in pecans or sliced almonds if desired. Serve with crackers of choice.
Final Word
I love “finger foods” for appetizers because I feel like people need more time to talk and laugh together. It seems that social media has taken the closeness of face-to-face conversation away from some of us. I love social media and use it almost every day, but I firmly believe girls need girls, women need women and friends need friends. Have a great time with friends and family soon. I hope you try some of the best party appetizers presented here! What are some of the best party appetizers that you have made over the years? I’d love to hear from you. May God Bless this world, Linda.
I tried a couple of appetizers last year and they were a hit! These also sound good.
1) Kielbasa bites: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice the kielbasa into fairly thick slices. Top each with a pineapple chunk using a toothpick. Spoon Chili/garlic sauce over (found in the aisle with the Asian inspired foods). Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes (depends on your oven but they should be glossy but very hot). Serve immediately.
2) Italian inspired bites: No cooking required. Purchase fresh basil, you will need the leaves; purchase fresh mini-mozzarella bites or slice fresh mozzarella into bite sized pieces; purchase cherry or grape tomatoes (I like the multi-colored packs). You will also need fairly long toothpicks – I like the ones with the decorative ends. Skewer 1 tomato, one basil leaf and one mozzarella. Make as many as you have mozzarella/tomatoes/basil. If you have an Italian dressing, you can brush some over the treats. Very healthy and refreshing.
HI Leanne, oh my gosh, these sound delicious! Sometimes I wish we could have a HUGE get together and share recipes! I love hearing about new ones!! I love it! Linda
Linda,
I’ve heard of reruns on TV. Based on the comment dates, it looks like this post is a rerun of a rerun one more time. LOL!!! Unfortunately, there is not much to party about with the state of this country today. Have a blessed day anyway.
We are still working on getting our stuff in order around here. Seems like a never-ending battle. So much to do outside but we keep getting deluges almost every day. Can’t depend on having clear weather to start on any outside projects. On a positive note, all the rain and abnormally cool weather for May has revived our freeze stressed oak trees. Hope all is well in Utah!
Hi Harry, it was a post from 2014 and ??, and I wanted to be able to PRINT the recipes, so I updated the post. LOL! No parties here either!! It really is a never-ending battle, getting our stuff in order! I keep donating stuff and I find more stuff to get rid of!! I look at Mark and say, “we don’t need this!” I agree there is nothing to party about with the state of affairs we have going right now! I hope the rain helps your freeze-stressed oak trees! Life is good! All is well here in Utah! Linda
Love appetizers! Your suggestions sound delicious, thanks! A couple times a year when it’s just me & the hubby for dinner, we make ourselves a little appetizer buffet. So yummy & so much fun too. 🙂
Although not the quickest appetizer to make, I often do deviled eggs when we’re invited somewhere & cash is tight. They definitely get gobbled right up!
Hi Amy, I agree deviled eggs always disappear!! I love to share recipes where we can print them. When I first started my blog, I didn’t have Print Recipes! I would love an app[etizer buffet! Linda
Linda, most of these sound yummy! Thank you for the recipes. My wife, Jane makes sweet and sour Chinese meatballs that are always a hit.
Hi Ray, oh my, Chinese meatballs? Please share the recipe, I would love those! Linda
Hi Linda,
Perfect timing on appetizer recipes! Besides all the summer holidays, we have a lot of family birthdays in the summer. They all look great & I especially love the ones in the slow cooker – saves time for getting everything else ready lol
Thanks for your great newsletter, I always look forward to it. Wishing you a wonderful safe, healthy summer!
Hi Karen, thank you for the 5 stars! I love appetizers for family birthdays and family reunions! Thank you for your kind words! Stay safe! Linda
Linda, I’ll have Jane dig the recipe out and send it to you.
Hi Ray, if you find it I will make it! Linda
Hi Linda,
It was such a nice walk down memory lane to read these recipes. I think that at one time or another, way back when, I probably made all of these recipes. AND they were good!
On another note, I need to tell you that my son Greg, passed this Sunday morning. The doctor told me that the Covid and pneumonia simply destroyed his lungs and his heart was unable to keep pumping hard and long enough to keep him going. He also said that if he had survived, he would have faced at least a year in rehab and would never be the same person again.
He is now in a better place and no longer suffering any pain. My heart is broken into a million pieces.
This is the most horrendous disease. Please Linda, take every precaution to stay well and stay safe. This is NOT something you ever want to get. And to those who think it’s a big government conspiracy, please stay safe.
SuzyQ
Hi Suzanne, my sweet friend, I’m so sorry to hear this. You know when Covid first was “announced”, I thought to myself, it’s just another “flu”. I know you are a nurse so you will understand this. My friend, Sherry is a nurse, I sent her an email to see what the BIG deal was about this COVID stuff in February 2020. She called me and said I need to be worried about it. Then she explained what it does to your lungs, stuff you would understand more than me. She watched people die within 24 hours of coming to the hospital, one was a healthy strong man. We have seen athletes with no underlying conditions die from it. It really is the most horrendous disease. I’m praying for you and your husband that you continue to gain strength after having had COVID. I can’t imagine losing a child, he is in a better place, but your heart will take time to heal. I’m glad you enjoyed looking at the recipes, they are at least 40-50 years old. Love and hugs, Linda
Hi Linda,
Thank you for your kind words. My heart is broken into a million pieces and I don’t know if it will ever be whole again. Yes, he is with God and isn’t suffering any more pain or other afflictions gotten on this earth. Greg was a kind, loving soul and had dozens of friends. We will be holding a memorial service sometime near the end of June. Then we will be moving back to Oregon between July 1 & 4th.
Thank you again Linda.
Hi Suzanne, I can’t imagine losing a child. When we go out to dinner with our friends who lost their son to cancer, I always ask how his wife is doing and the kids. It’s important to remember people want to talk about the loved ones who have gone to heaven. I watched him grow up and I can see the pain in their eyes. Greg will always be in your heart, talk about him often. I will pray for your safety to travel to Oregon. Hugs, Linda