If you're hosting a gathering, you'll want to serve some of these amazing cocktail party appetizers! We've got everything from cheesy bites to seafood and steak recipes that not only look beautiful but also taste delicious. This appetizer list will not only impress your guests, but you'll also feel like a cocktail party hosting pro! Don't forget to check out our list of creative cocktails to serve at your party.
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🧀 Cheese Appetizers
Mini Grilled Cheese Sticks Appetizer (w/ Soup Shooter) - Alexa's Get Together
These Grilled Cheese Sticks are a fancy appetizer you can prep in large batches ahead of time to serve a crowd! Pair your sticks with tomato soup shooters for easy dipping!
Mini Grilled Cheese and Soup
Whipped Ricotta Dip with Honey - Evergreen Kitchen
Creamy Whipped Ricotta Dip is always a crowd-pleaser! Just 5 minutes to make. Topped with honey, thyme, and lemon zest for extra flavor. A great make-ahead option for parties and entertaining.
Ricotta Dip
Goat Cheese Croquettes - The Littlest Crumb
These crispy goat cheese croquettes are an appetizer that everyone will love! Drizzled with honey, and sprinkled with walnuts and almonds.
Goat Cheese Croquettes
Hot Honey Baked Brie - The Endless Meal
This hot honey baked brie is gooey and sweet with a little heat. It’s a wheel of brie cheese baked with homemade hot honey and topped with pecans and fresh rosemary.
Honey Baked Brie
Baked Brie in Puff Pastry with Raspberry Jam - Syrup and Biscuits
An easy, yet elegant appetizer. A wheel of brie is topped with raspberry jam and baked in puff pastry.
Baked Brie
Jalapeno Poppers - Spend With Pennies
Jalapeno Poppers are filled with a rich creamy cheese filling and topped with a crisp Panko topping and baked until golden and bubbly!
Jalapeno Poppers
Monte Cristo Pinwheels with Puff Pastry
You'll love this easy party appetizer! Perfect for holiday gatherings or as a brunch side dish. Puff pastry is topped with mustard, thyme, ham, and cheese slices, then, rolled, sliced, and baked until golden brown. Then, they are sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with your favorite preserves!
Check out this recipe
Puff Pastry Brie Bites - Lemons and Zest
If you need a simple appetizer, these Puff Pastry Brie Bites are going to steal the show. Only about 10 minutes to prep and can be made up to 3 days ahead of time.
Puff Pastry Brie Bites
Savory Ricotta and Pumpkin Pinwheels - Mitten Girl
Full of cheeses and spices, these savory whipped ricotta and pumpkin pinwheels are a delicious and easy appetizer for the holiday season.
Pumpkin Pinwheels
Butternut Squash Crostini - The Dizzy Cook
The most flavorful butternut squash appetizer you’ll ever have, these crostini are topped with ricotta cheese, shallots, roasted butternut squash, and fresh herbs. They’re easy to make ahead and make the perfect appetizer or snack, especially for the holidays!
Butternut Squash Crostini
Apple, Honey and Blue Cheese Crostini with Fresh Thyme
A simple and elegant appetizer for easy entertaining.
Check out this recipe
Fig Crostini with Goat Cheese and Truffle Honey
An easy late summer appetizer full of sweet, tangy, and earthy flavors to tantalize your taste buds.
Check out this recipe
Asparagus and Mushroom Cheese Soufflé Bites - Cooking with Wine
These Asparagus and Mushroom Cheese Soufflé Bites are easy to make and are perfect for holiday cocktail parties or any gathering!
Cheese Souffle Bites
Spinach & Artichoke Puff Pastry Bites - The Sage Apron
These bite-sized puff pastries are filled with a quick and delicous spinach and artichoke dip filling. Such a fun little appetizer!
Spinach & Artichoke Puff Pastry Bites
How to make Garlic Parmesan Bread Bites
Garlic Parmesan Bread Bites are the perfect appetizer for almost any occasion. Pizza dough is brushed with garlic oil, topped with parmesan cheese, cut into 1-inch pieces, and then baked to a perfect golden brown and served with a side of marinara sauce or garlic butter for dipping.
Check out this recipe
Crispy Toasted Ravioli Recipe - Chew Out Loud
This Crispy Toasted Ravioli is oven baked, not fried. Panko breadcrumbs provide extra crunch. Dip your baked ravioli in your favorite marinara sauce.
Toasted Ravioli
🍄 Mushroom Appetizers
Easy Portobello Mushroom Fries Made in the Air Fryer
Crispy, delicious and healthy! These portobello mushroom fries make a great appetizer for small gatherings or a fantastic side dish for a weeknight dinner.
Check out this recipe
The Ultimate Mushroom Salad with Lemon Maple Vinaigrette
Mushroom lovers! This fun combination of earthy mushrooms, vibrant lemon, and the subtle sweetness of maple, come together in a refreshing salad. Perfect for your next picnic or get-together with friends.
Check out this recipe
The Best Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms The Belly Rules The Mind
These Cream cheese stuffed mushrooms make a delicious party appetizer, snack, or companion to a nice dinner. Chock full of flavor from the earthy mushrooms, rich butter, salty Parmesan and aromatics, these are a surefire hit each and every time!
Stuffed Mushrooms
Mini Mushroom Pies with Thyme - The Sage Apron
These mini Mushroom Pies with Thyme are the perfect savory vegetarian appetizer for mushroom lovers! Vegan variations included, too!
Mini Mushroom Pies
🫒 Charcuterie
Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs - Three Olives Branch
Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs recipe inspired by the cocktail. Tomato, Worcestershire, hot sauce, celery salt, and garlic in a finger food appetizer for game day
Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs
How to Make a Charcuterie Board - Scarlati Family Kitchen
Learn how to put together the best easy appetizer in just 20 minutes! Grab your favorite meats, cheese, crackers and more to assemble the BEST charcuterie board!
Charcuterie Board
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Antipasti Crostini - Three Olives Branch
Antipasti Crostini is a fun Italian appetizer recipe made with salami, mozzarella cheese, olives, and more! A fun twist on the classic.
Antipasti Crostini
Savory Shortbread Cookies
A savory alternative to sweet cookies! These cookies are cheesy melt-in-your-mouth heaven! They are perfect for charcuterie boards, and they make great gifts!
Check out this recipe
The Best Crostini Toasts
This crostini recipe is simple, quick to make and will get you loads of compliments from your guests.
Check out this recipe
Sweet and Savory Seasoned Pretzels - Hey Snickerdoodle
These sweet and savory seasoned pretzels are coated with brown sugar, smoked paprika, lemon zest, rosemary, and just a bit of cayenne pepper.
Sweet and Savory Seasoned Pretzels
Slow Cooker Marinated Olives - Flavorful Eats
Made with fresh garlic, herbs, lemon peel, and a variety of olives, this Slow Cooker Marinated Olives recipe is sure to be a hit with your guests! Simply toss everything in the slow cooker and you’ll have an easy and delicious appetizer that’s perfect for entertaining!
Marinated Olives
🦐 Seafood Appetizers
Crab Cakes
A rustic yet elegant appetizer featuring succulent Dungeness crab! This restuarant worthy recipe is easy to follow and a total crowd-pleaser!
Check out this recipe
Easy Fried Calamari | Carolyn’s Cooking
Fried Calamari
Spanish Mussels - Beyond Meresustenance
Spanish Mussels with saffron-infused broth and bits of chorizo is a flavorful tapas or main dish that comes together in just minutes!
Spanish Mussels
Oysters Mornay (Baked Oysters With Cheese)n - Sabrina Currie
French classic, oysters Mornay are baked in a creamy Swiss cheese sauce. Done in under 30 minutes and less than 10 ingredients.
Oysters Mornay
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp - Kelly Neil
Make these bacon wrapped shrimp with only three ingredients! They’re a perfect appetizer or snack to serve with cold drinks on the deck.
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Stuffed Shrimp with Crab - Garlic and Zest
Stuffed shrimp is an excellent appetizer for holidays & special occasions. These baked crab stuffed shrimp are easy to make & feed a crowd.
Crab Stuffed Shrimp
Vietnamese Shrimp Toast (Bánh Mì Nướng Tôm) - Savory Sweet Spoon
Vietnamese shrimp toast is a popular appetizer that consists of lightly baked slices of French baguette bread topped with a savory blend of minced shrimp, garlic, and spices. This delicious snack is a perfect appetizer for a cocktail party.
Shrimp Toast
Dilly Cucumber Bites with Salmon - Chelsea Dishes
Zesty, dilly whipped cream cheese, crisp cucumber, and savory salmon come together to make the perfect bite-sized appetizer. Great make-ahead appetizer.
Cucumber Bites
Spicy Tuna With Crispy Rice - The Heirloom Pantry
Spicy Tuna with Crispy Rice features a delicate fried rice cake topped with ahi tuna tossed in spicy Kewpie mayo and thinly sliced jalapeños. This fresh and zesty sushi dish is the perfect appetizer.
Spicy Tuna With Crispy Rice
Easy And Healthy Cod Ceviche With Lime and Jalapeño - Sabrina Currie
Delicious + easy traditional Peruvian cod ceviche with just 6 ingredients. Fresh cilantro, lime and cod come to together for a healthy treat!
Cod Ceviche
Easy Smoked Trout Dip with Lemon and Dill | Peak to Plate
Combining the delicate flavor of smoked trout with a creamy and tangy base and amazing flavors from the fresh herbs, this dip is a true delight.
Smoked Trout Dip
Salmon Sliders with Dill Yogurt Sauce — Marley’s Menu
These Salmon Sliders consist of Cajun blackened salmon and a homemade Dill Yogurt Sauce sandwiched in a Hawaiian Roll.
Salmon Sliders
🍗 Chicken Appetizers
Easy General Tso’s Chicken Meatballs - The Sage Apron
Genreal Tso’s meatballs are made with ginger and garlic and glazed in a sweet, tangy and mildly spicy sauce. Just like Chinese take out!
Chicken Meatballs
Delicious Cocktail Meatballs - The Flavor Bender
Cocktail Meatballs - juicy, flavorful meatballs coated in a honey sriracha sweet and spicy sauce. Perfect appetizer for parties or as game day snacks.
Cocktail Meatballs
Fall-off-the-bone, Crispy, Baked Chicken Wings
A perfect appetizer when entertaining a small crowd. Even the non-wing lovers will approve!
Check out this recipe
Mini Pretzel Bread Pigs in a Blanket - Erica's Recipes
Mini pigs in a blanket with salty pretzel bread and a sweet dip with red currant jelly, mustard, and honey are a perfect party finger food.
Pigs in a Blanket
Buffalo Chicken Wonton Cups - The Feathered Nester
These Buffalo Chicken Wonton Cups are super easy to make and the perfect mix of crispy, spicy, and cheesy that everyone will love!
Buffalo Chicken Wonton Cups
🥩 Steak Appetizers
Steak + Burrata Bruschetta
A great way to use leftover steak! In this recipe, store bought focaccia or homemade bread is sliced, griddled, topped with burrata cheese, flat iron steak, then, drizzled with a chunky garlic-parsley-chili sauce.
Check out this recipe
Steak Sliders with Blue Cheese and Horseradish
A perfectly balanced game day appetizer using leftover flat iron steak. Quick, easy and crowd pleasing!
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Roast Beef Crostini with Horseradish Cream - Amy Casey Cooks
Roast Beef Crostini with Horseradish Cream are an easy to make appetizer that feel a little bit fancy. Thin slices of deli roast beef top toasty crostini along with a tangy horseradish cream.
Roast Beef Crostini
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