When planning your next event, you won’t need to worry about making appetizers — these 30 make-ahead recipes will have you covered for any gathering, from casual get-togethers to fancy holiday parties, and most can be prepped hours or even a day in advance!
1. Marinated Olives and Cheese
These tasty olives and cheeses are a no-cook option to use when you want an elegant appetizer but aren’t quite sure how to prepare one.
Simply purchase quality olives and cheeses at the grocery store, and just add herbs and olive oil to them.
It is very easy to prepare and will give you an impressive appetizer spread that doesn’t require any cooking skills whatsoever.
2. Tortilla Pinwheels
Tortilla Pinwheels are a great appetizer created in a roll out format for busy hosts, because you can roll them up the night before you need them and then simply slice them as your guests arrive.
Because they contain a delicious cream cheese and a variety of mix-ins, these are sure to be a hit with your guests.
3. Fresh Dill Deviled Eggs with Lemon
These deviled eggs have a fresh take on a traditional recipe, using lemon zest and dill.
The addition of the lemon juice makes these eggs more refreshing, while the addition of the fresh herbs adds a pop of colour and flavor that is sure to be enjoyed by all.
4. Spicy Italian Pinwheels
These pinwheels are filled with three different types of Italian meats and are perfect for satisfying your guests with hearty bites of their favourite Italian sub sandwich.
Plus these can be prepared long before your event!
5. Pico de Gallo
In only 15 minutes, you can have a batch of freshly made Pico De Gallo in front of you.
It will taste much better than anything you can buy in the store!
The way this Pico de Gallo brightens up and cuts through the richness of party foods is amazing.
6. Southern Sweet Pickle Deviled Eggs
Deviled Eggs made in the south get their tang from sweet pickle juice and the diced pickles are used to garnish the top.
You will also be reminded of days gone by because of this Southern twist on the classic Deviled Egg.
This dish stimulates conversations at parties!
7. Chicken, Bacon and Cheddar Pinwheels
in just 15 minutes, you can create these fancy-looking creamy, protein-packed roll-ups!
The only downside is they will go missing before your eyes because they are too delicious!
8. Spinach Artichoke Dip
Everyone loves a deliciously creamy, restaurant-style Spinach Artichoke Dip!
This recipe is perfect for 6-8 people so that you won’t have to eat leftover dip for the next week.
9. Mexican Street Corn Deviled Eggs
All of the delicious flavors of elote (smoky chipotle, tangy cotija cheese, and sweet corn) are packed into this unique Mexican Street Corn Deviled Egg!
Sautéing the corn adds extra crunch and texture!
10. Homemade Hummus
This Simple, Nutritious Hummus Recipe will make you rethink what you think about store-bought hummus!
Baking soda is the secret to cooking canned chickpeas and making them incredibly soft for an incredibly creamy texture.
11. Fire-Roasted Salsa
Restaurant-quality salsa prepared in 10 minutes — seriously!
The fire-roasted tomatoes do most of the flavor work for you, creating a smoky, complex taste.
12. Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs inspired by Italy use a combination of dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes with fresh basil to give them a gourmet taste.
The dry-packed tomatoes provide concentrated flavor and give the deviled egg a chewy texture contrast.
13. Beet Hummus
The vibrant pink color of this hummus is much more vibrant than a regular version.
It also has a cleaner, more earthy flavor.
You will definitely impress everyone at your next appetizer spread with this hummus; plus, it’s unbelievably easy to make.
14. Chipotle Salsa
This chipotle salsa is great when you’re looking for something that tastes fresher than store-bought, but has smoky heat.
It takes less than five minutes to prepare and has the perfect amount of kick.
15. Sweet Honey Deviled Eggs with Fennel Fronds
These deviled eggs have a sweet-tangy kick from using honey in combination with spicy brown mustard, which makes them far more interesting than the usual mayo-loaded versions of deviled eggs.
Garnishing with fennel fronds creates an attractive, delicate touch.
16. Garlic Feta Dip
This dip, inspired by Mediterranean cuisine, is assembled in less than 10 minutes from ingredients likely found in most kitchens.
It combines the creamy flavor of feta with the pungency of garlic for a much tastier option than anything you would buy.
17. Roasted Salsa Verde
By roasting the ingredients together for maximum flavor, this salsa verde has much more depth of flavor when finished than when prepared using the traditional method.
Altogether, the prep time for this recipe is about 15 minutes from start to finish, although you may use the broiler step for added charring.
18. Candied Jalapeño Taco Seasoning Deviled Eggs
For those who enjoy the extremes of flavors, these deviled eggs have the added sweetness of candied jalapeños combined with the spicy heat of taco seasoning.
You may be surprised at how perfectly the sweet and spicy flavors meld together.
19. Edamame Hummus
This bright green edamame hummus is superior to any other edamame hummus out there, including the brand name products found at Trader Joe’s.
By using frozen edamame, you are always prepared to whip up this delicious hummus at a moment’s notice.
20. Dill Pickle Dip
If you love pickles, you are in for a treat!
This tangy dip takes less than five minutes to make using pantry staples that everyone should have.
You can put together something quick for the masses that will still be followed by raves!
21. Honey BBQ Seasoned Deviled Eggs with Bacon
Here is a great way to use leftover hard boiled eggs from your meal prep!
Honey and BBQ spice blend complement each other, while the crispy bacon adds a delightful crunch to each bite.
22. Spicy Boiled Peanut Hummus
This Southern-inspired hummus is made with spicy boiled peanuts rather than chickpeas.
It pairs wonderfully with sweet potato chips as well as a sandwich spread.
23. Easy Spinach Dip
Classic dip made quickly with less than 15 minutes prep time.
When making spinach dip, you will need to squeeze water out from the spinach.
If this step is skipped, you will end up with a watery dip.
24. Bacon & Chive Deviled Eggs with Hot Honey
Crispy bacon is mixed in to the filling along with a drizzle of hot honey.
The mix of sweet and salty is addictive!
25. Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Dip
Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Dip only takes about 5 minutes in a food processor and yields enough for 3 or 4 people.
Portion it out in small containers and there will be no wasted leftovers.
26. Loaded Baked Potato Dip
Ever wonder what would happen if you turned your favorite Baked Potato Ingredients into a dip?
There are more ingredients in Loaded Baked Potato Dip than most chip dips, making it perfect for hearty comfort food.
27. Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip
This healthy ranch option is much better than packets and you probably have everything in your kitchen already.
The thickness of Greek yogurt gives you the choice of thick enough for dipping or thin enough for salad dressings.
28. Sun-Dried Tomato Dip with Italian Seasoning
This dip may only take about 10 minutes to prepare, but it needs at least 4 hours in the refrigerator to develop the best flavor.
Sun-dried tomatoes will continue to soften as they sit, therefore making a super-rich and satisfying dip.
29. 7 Layer Taco Dip
Classic Taco Dip that can be made in about 20 minutes and will feed a crowd at an affordable price.
Most people have the ingredients on hand for last-minute get-together events.
30. Poblano and Corn Queso
Homemade queso is better than jarred queso!
You can control the heat level when you make it at home.
Poblano peppers add a smokey spice taste, while the sweetness of corn adds bursts of flavor and great texture.
