Everyone’s hosted a watch party or get-together at some point where they’ve spent the entire party shuffling food in and out of the oven, barely seeing the big game—or catching up with others. Even if you’re just hosting your immediate family or planning a virtual get-together, you want to be there for the fun, right? When you want minimal work to do on the day of, dishes that don’t need to be kept warm are the MVP. Here are 49 cold appetizers to whip up whenever you’re entertaining so you actually have time to enjoy the party.
But first, a word to the wise: The FDA says not to leave perishable foods out at room temperature for more than two hours unless you’re keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold. So, keep that in mind when you’re serving apps like deli sandwiches, cheese boards and deviled eggs. Room-temperature foods like crackers and nuts, on the other hand, can stay out longer.