14 Crowd-Pleasing Appetizers

By Mia R. • Jul 22, 2024

First impressions matter, don't they? There's something pretty amazing about appetizers. Not only are they the first thing you devour at a special dinner or party, but they're also so delicious that they often are hard to quit before the main course is delivered! These 14 Appetizer Recipes are our favorites right now — which recipes will you try?

1. Sticky Mongolian Meatballs

These Asian-inspired meatballs are covered in a flavorful sauce that blends garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Sticky Mongolian Meatballs are a unique take on Mongolian beef, a favorite among Chinese restaurants for good reason. These Sticky Mongolian Meatballs can even be served as appetizers — just stick a toothpick in them. For dinner, serve alongside jasmine rice and sauteed veggies.

2. Tasty Chicken Wontons

Tasty Chicken Wontons are exactly what the name suggests: chicken wontons that bring tasty in a bite-sized form! Each crunchy, golden brown wonton contains juicy chicken in a creamy, tangy, and chili-spice-infused sauce topped with a melty crown of cheese. All they need after their trip in the oven is a little sour cream and green onion for added savoriness and tang. A quick and easy appetizer sure to please everyone, Tasty Chicken Wontons might be better named Scrumptious Chicken Wontons.

3. Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers are small, but they pack a punch! This recipe is quick, easy, and makes for a great party favor, appetizer, or snack. When you pop one of these into your mouth, your taste buds will be met with rich cream cheese, melted sharp cheddar cheese, zingy jalapeño, and crispy bacon. Make Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers any time for an explosion of flavor!

4. Roasted Parmesan Zucchini Bites

This recipe for Roasted Parmesan Zucchini Bites is savory, cheesy, and versatile enough to work as a side dish, appetizer, or even a snack! Roasted zucchini is perfectly seasoned with olive oil, salt, pepper, and sharp parmesan cheese. These tasty bites are delicious as-is, or they can be paired with tomato sauce for a fresh spin. Roasted Parmesan Zucchini Bites are easy to make and fun to eat!

5. 2-Ingredient Pigs in a Blanket

Pigs in a Blanket is the undisputed king of the appetizer game, and so 2-Ingredient Pigs in a Blanket is royally good! Each savory sausage is draped in a golden brown robe of buttery, flaky pastry that makes them even more delectable. It only takes 15 minutes to make 2-Ingredient Pigs in a Blanket so you can have them anytime, whether you have a party or not. Make sure you have plenty of dipping sauce!

6. Milanese Bites

You've had popcorn chicken before, but never with this much pop! Milanese Bites takes the classic breaded cutlet and shrinks it down to bite-size, but it can't shrink the enormous flavors of the juicy, savory chicken, the crunchy golden-brown breadcrumb coating, or the fragrance of the Italian herbs sprinkled throughout! Served with the refreshing kick of lemon, Milanese Bites can be served as the main course or as an appetizer for a big pasta dinner. Either way, you'll be enjoying every bite of these poultry poppers!

7. White Bean Bake

Everyone loves a good bean dip, and this White Bean Bake just so happens to be a great one! It's so comforting and hearty, with its balance of creamy and sweet-and-savory flavors, the vibrant richness of the tomato sauce, and the melty mozzarella on top... everyone is getting excited for it already! They won't have to wait long, since it only takes 20 minutes to whip up a fresh batch! Prepare the tortilla chips, because this White Bean Bake is sure to become a go-to appetizer at your parties and cookouts in no time!

8. Pork Belly Bites

When people think of pork, they tend to think of pork chops or bacon. Nothing wrong with either of course, but just limiting pork to those two meats misses out on some truly fantastic cuts. Pork Belly Bites show off just how delectable the most succulent cut of pork, pork belly, can taste! With just a little enhancement from smoky, sweet brown sugar and a little fragrant garlic powder, the juiciness and tenderness of pork belly really comes into its own! Of course, becoming crisp and caramelized in the air fryer doesn't hurt one bit! Pork Belly Bites can be served at game time or as an appetizer, or enjoyed as a particularly hearty snack: the real question is how willing will you be to share such a treat?!

9. Feta Dream Dip

When the barbeques and cookouts start up in earnest, you don't want just any appetizer dip. No, the occasion calls for something that tastes like a dream! The Feta Dream Dip is a very distinctly flavored dream. A dream of creamy, tangy, sharp cheese swirled with cream cheese and bright lemon flavors. Drizzled with honey for a touch of sweetness, the Feta Dream Dip makes all your flavor dreams come true. You might even be tempted to smear it on a burger, because why not? It just tastes that good!

10. Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups

Is this a meal or an appetizer? Kind of a tough question. On the one hand, Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups are grilled cheese, one of the classic dinner dishes. On the other hand, they certainly look and eat like an appetizer. Regardless, it's hard to say no to Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups, with their buttery, crisp exteriors and melty, cheesy interiors which only take half an hour to make. A much simpler question will be what dipping sauce you serve them with? Actually, that may not be so easy of a question after all... but all we know is you can never go wrong with Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups!

11. Bacon & Sausage Roll-Ups

Bacon and Sausage Roll Ups (Modified Pigs in a Blanket) image

Bacon & Sausage Roll-Ups are a fun twist on the traditional pigs-in-a-blanket snack. These little piggies are wrapped in bacon! In just 35 minutes, you'll have a delicious and truly meaty dish that you can serve as a snack or an appetizer. Bacon & Sausage Roll-Ups are savory, hearty party food, even if you're just celebrating a party of one! They're marvelous or perhaps meat-tacular!

12. Veggies & Whip

Veggies & Whip go beyond just offering a smattering of vegetables and some ranch dressing at your party. Nothing wrong with the ordinary way of doing things, but Veggies & Whip want to go beyond. With a little surprise roasting of the vegetables for a greater depth of flavor, the addition of some herbs helps to accent the veggie's natural fragrance. Then they are served alongside an extra tangy and cheesy homemade ricotta dip. That's the kind of dip that whips other appetizers into shape!

13. Easy Bruschetta

Easy Bruschetta is a simple appetizer to start your meal off right! This recipe is fresh, flavorful, and easy enough for weeknight dinners. You'll love the flavors of juicy Roma tomatoes, robust balsamic vinegar, herby basil ribbons, and crispy French bread. Easy Bruschetta is savory, tasty, and quick to make; it's guaranteed to brighten up your afternoon in or your next party.

14. Magic Balls

There's something rather enchanting about appetizers: these little morsels of food are often the most fondly remembered part of any party or meal simply because they create an amazing first impression. Since that's the case, Magic Balls are sure to cast a spell over all your guests: These crunchy, cheesy mac and cheese balls are deep-fried to a charming golden brown in a satisfying potato chip crust for a truly mystifyingly good bite. The mac and cheese within is creamy and sharp, with just a hint of heat from the pimiento peppers and the Pepper Jack cheese. Magic Balls make such a good first impression that you might need to have them ready to eat throughout the whole party!