When it comes to Easter dinner (or brunch), we already know the glazed ham is going to get all the love. But it’s a holiday, and in our book, that means there should be plenty of finger foods to snack on before the main course. These 34 Easter appetizer ideas (like pineapple prosciutto tarts, carrot tarte tatin and a fun riff on spring crudités) are seasonal, crowd-pleasing and so delicious they just might steal the show—apologies in advance to that ham.
34 Easter Appetizer Ideas (Because No Matter the Holiday, We’re Ready to Snack)
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Published Mar 15, 2023
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
The beloved deviled egg is a brunch no-brainer, but if you thought it couldn’t be improved, you’ve never added creamy avocado to the mix. Make them a day ahead if you want.
2. Spicy Pineapple Prosciutto Tarts
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
Think Hawaiian pizza, but fancy (and tasty—yeah, we went there). Store-bought puff pastry makes this Easter appetizer a breeze to put together.
3. Pull-Apart Bread with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese
- Time Commitment: 3 hours, 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, vegetarian
It’s like a savory, elegant monkey bread. Serve it warm, straight out the oven, for best results. (And the crowd goes wild!)
4. Spicy Ricotta-Stuffed Phyllo Rolls
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Roll the creamy cheese filling up in phyllo dough like a burrito and finish it with simple DIY fennel salt and a spicy-sweet dipping sauce.
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
You’ll see artichokes start popping up at the grocery store and farmers market around March, and they’ll stay in season through May. Translation: There’s no better time to make these cheesy bites.
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
Serve this every-so-slightly sophisticated version of a favorite finger food with a side of green goddess dressing for dipping.
7. Goat Cheese and Honey Bites
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Once again, store-bought puff pastry proves it’s worth its weight in gold. Forget the marinated olives and mixed nuts and give the people what they want: cheese. Lots and lots of cheese.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
The coziest soup of all time, wrapped in a blanket of puff pastry. Each bite is packed with the essentials, like buttery sweet onions, beef broth and Gruyère.
9. Spring Crudités with Romesco Sauce
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly,special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
Fun fact: Sometimes an easy appetizer can do double duty as a stunning centerpiece. Make an extra batch of the sauce and keep the leftovers in the fridge to spread on sandwiches, serve with seafood and use as a dip for any veggie you love.
10. Double Pea, Prosciutto and Burrata Platter
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, <15 minutes, crowd-pleaser
When fresh peas hit the market, we’ll put them on everything. This gorgeous platter happens to be ready to serve in ten minutes and you don’t even have to turn on the oven.
11. Asparagus, Pea and Ricotta Tarts
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
Speaking of spring peas, they happen to pair really well with our other seasonal fave, asparagus. Garnish with a flurry of fresh mint right before serving.
12. Whipped Feta Dip with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
If you roast tomatoes in the oven, it won’t matter that they’re not quite in season. The heat concentrates their flavor and brings out a ton of sweetness.
13. Sweet Potato Biscuit Rolls with Honey Butter Glaze
- Time Commitment: 2 hours, 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
These hybrid rolls are delicate and yeasty, with a tender crumb and a delightful honey butter glaze that brings out the sweetness of the spuds.
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
The crusty bread gets topped with Brie and balsamic-marinated strawberries for a sweet-savory appetizer that’s sure to wow your guests.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
While we love us some good prosciutto di Parma and saucisson sec, when feeding a crowd, it’s classy to be mindful that not everyone is a diehard carnivore. Plus, what’s more beautiful that fresh fruit?
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, gluten free
As it turns out, Brussels sprouts make the cutest “buns” we’ve ever seen. Load them up with sliced charcuterie meats and mini mozzarella balls, and they’ll be devoured in all of five minutes.
17. Skillet Blueberry Cornbread
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
If you’re hosting Easter brunch, there better be a bread product to munch on with your mimosa. Why not make it this blueberry-studded skillet number, which is sweet without being cloying?
18. Deb Perelman’s Carrot Tarte Tatin
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Traditionally, tarte tatin is made with apples. This savory version has the same caramelized, buttery effect, but with a savory twist from rainbow carrots.
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <30 minutes
If we’re being honest, we prefer eating appetizers to making them…unless they take ten minutes to put together. (Besides, everyone loves pizza.)
20. Ina Garten’s Chipotle Cheddar Crackers
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
These freeze-ahead bites are easy to make and ideal for entertaining. Ina knows best, right?
21. Carrot-Ricotta Tart with Pesto and Pine Nuts
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
The secret to success with this tart—and any vegetable tart, TBH—is to par-cook the carrots and crust before assembling and baking once more to golden perfection. This ensures a flaky, crisp final result without any sogginess.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
We’ve already established that we’re not deviled egg purists, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that we’re enamored with these six-ingredient bites. They’re salty, nutty and savory in perfect balance.
23. Hanky-Pankies (Cheesy, Porky Caraway Bites)
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
If you’re not familiar with the delightful finger food that is a hanky-panky, allow us to introduce you. They’re basically tiny pumpernickel toasts topped with a cheesy sausage and caraway mixture, and they’re about to be a holiday tradition at your house.
24. Easy Bacon Jam
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients,
Secure your spot as an appetizer expert with this savory, chutney-like topping that tastes just as good alongside a cheese platter as it does on a grilled cheese (you know, in case you have leftovers).
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: <15 minutes, make ahead, beginner-friendly
This creamy dip makes crudités a little more exciting and indulgent. If you want to prep the veggies in advance, store them in a container of lightly salted water in the fridge to crisp them up and add a little extra flavor.
26. Jammy Upside-Down Onion Tart
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
This tart is deeply savory and stunning to look at, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s deceptively simple to make. (The secret is—you guessed it—store-bought puff pastry.)
27. Aran Goyoaga’s Fig and Caramelized Onion Soda Bread
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: gluten free, crowd-pleaser
The bread is leavened with baking soda instead of yeast, so it’s easy enough for beginner bakers to make. Think of it like a giant savory scone—yum.
- Time Commitment: 3 hours, 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
Roll the dough into smaller balls so you can serve these cuties alongside a cheese plate or as a dinner roll. Everyone will think you’re so fancy.
29. Scallion and Chive Flatbread
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
Skip the canned crescent rolls and make this pretty flatbread, which is just as effortless and so much more delicious. Bonus points if you top it with edible flowers for a garden party effect.
30. Apple Focaccia with Blue Cheese and Herbs
- Time Commitment: 12 hours, 20 minutes (includes overnight rise)
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead
It’s like a cheese plate within a loaf of bread, and what’s not to love about that? For a heartier twist, try adding a sliced meat, like prosciutto.
31. Wild Mushroom, Potato and Onion Tart
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
This tart can serve as an appetizer if you slice it small, or even a vegetarian main if you make the portions larger. (What’s more, you can set it out piping hot or at room temperature.)
32. Shaved Moroccan Carrot Toast
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: <15 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Make a few toasts and slice them into bite-size pieces to turn this fast first-course into a crowd-pleasing Easter appetizer.
33. Baked Feta with Dill, Caper Berries and Citrus
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian
Baked feta is a dish you can—and should—learn to make by heart. Serve it with toasted pita and let everyone help themselves.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Don't fuss too much about the arrangement of all the ingredients—a random presentation is the best way to convey that perfect “relaxed afternoon in a vineyard” vibe (even if it’s still chilly in your neck of the woods).
Katherine Gillen is PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City restaurants. She used to sling sugary desserts in a pastry kitchen, but now she’s an avid home cook and fanatic baker.
