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65 Easy Finger Food Appetizers Everyone Will Love

Everyone knows that the most enticing part of any fete is the appetizers. (And don’t even get us started on cheese boards.) But it’s time to move beyond what you know about party foods: Let’s trade the standard crudités platters and chip dips for something a little more exciting. If you’re looking for inspiration, why not try one of these 65 easy finger foods recipes for a crowd? We've got everything from pull-apart bread with caramelized onions and goat cheese to bite-size crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprouts bites, to even options for vegans (see: vegan arancini!). We’ll bring the wine—see you tonight.

The Best Appetizer Recipes in the Whole Entire Universe


1. Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 8

Say hello to our new favorite flavor combination. Instead of crisping everything in a pan, these guys are made all on one sheet tray. Easy-peasy.

2. Spicy Pineapple Prosciutto Tarts

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 8

It’s like a Hawaiian pizza, but way fancier. Even better, everyone in the room will love them.

3. Baked Mac-and-Cheese Bites

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
  • Serves: 48

Best to make a double batch of these. They’ll disappear faster than you can say “cheddar.”

4. Delicata Squash Rings with Garlic-Lemon Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

No need to peel your squash beforehand. Delicata’s thin skin is totally edible (and totally delicious).

5. Vegan Arancini

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes (+ chilling)
  • Why We Love It: vegan, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 4

You’ll be sure to please all the plant-based eaters at the party, not to mention everyone else too.

6. Spicy Ricotta-Stuffed Phyllo Rolls

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, no sugar, vegetarian
  • Serves: 24

Looking to really shake things up in the finger food department? Look no further. These easy and unexpected phyllo bites are creamy, spicy and irresistible. Serve them with hot pepper jelly to really wow the crowd.

7. Pull-Apart Bread with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese

  • Time Commitment: 3 hours, 10 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
  • Serves: one 12-inch loaf

Did someone say goat cheese? We’ll be oven in ten.

8. Mozzarella Bites

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6 to 8

C’mon, who doesn’t love mozzarella sticks? These are like the adult finger food version, and they’re so, so tasty.

9. Spinach Artichoke Squares

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 12

The ’90s called and they want their dip back, so we transformed it into a modern, puff-pastry-based finger food instead.

10. Cranberry-Brie Pie Crust Bites

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, <15 minutes
  • Serves: 14

Store-bought crackers are fine and dandy, but if you really want to impress your guests, make your own. (Psst: You can still buy the pie dough.)

11. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 6 to 8

Oh hi, most-crowd-pleasing appetizer of all time. Don’t forget the blue cheese dressing for dipping.

12. Mini Skillet Pizzas with Mushrooms and Roasted Tomatoes

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 10

An easy way to please everyone? Take an all-time favorite food (pizza) and make it bite-sized.

13. Italian Pinwheels

  • Time Commitment: 23 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, special occsasion–worthy
  • Serves: 12

Guess what? These guys require only four ingredients and less than 25 minutes to make.

14. Chicken Parmesan Bites

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 6 to 8

Crispy meat, tender chicken and plenty of marinara sauce for serving: This is a cocktail party no-brainer.

15. Italian Deli Pinwheel Sandwiches

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook
  • Serves: 6

We gave the usual cream-cheese-and-turkey wheels a little makeover, with fancy Italian cold cuts, kale and roasted peppers. Are you hungry yet?

16. Sweet Potato Crostini

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, special occasion–worthy
  • Serves: 30

Top them to your heart’s desire: smoked salmon, cream cheese, fresh cranberries, the list goes on and on.

17. Bacon, Fig and Ricotta Tartines

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy, <30 minutes
  • Serves: 6

Here’s a secret entertaining tip: Cut up fancy toast into small bites for an easy appetizer that also looks really impressive.

18. Crispy Baked Cauliflower ‘Wings’

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why We Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 3

Boring roasted vegetables? We’ll pass in favor of these obsession-worthy cauliflower bites.

19. Carrot Pigs In a Blanket

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 40

You might never go back to smoked cocktail sausages again.

20. Mexican Street Corn Deviled Eggs

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 20

If you want to make an entrance, bring these to a friend’s party and watch them disappear. Just be prepared to share the recipe.

21. Pimento Cheese Stuffed Shishito Peppers

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, gluten free
  • Serves: 6 to 8

These are like the cool, hip version of your mom’s cream-cheese-laden jalapeño poppers from the ’80s.

22. Cheesy Polenta Bites with Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, low sugar, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 8 to 10

Every single bite has the ideal ratio of crispy to creamy. We’ll take three.

23. Bacon-Wrapped Cheese Straws

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8 to 10

Because every gathering—fancy or casual—should include cheese straws.

24. Brussels Sprout Sliders

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why We Love It: gluten free, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 6 to 8

Who needs buns when you have Brussels sprouts? These might be the cutest appetizer we’ve ever seen (and we’ve seen a lot).

25. Rainbow Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why We Love It: no cook, <15 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

Can’t find heirloom tomatoes? No worries: Use cherry tomatoes instead. They’ll taste just as good, promise.

26. Goat Cheese and Honey Bites

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, vegetarian, low sugar
  • Serves: 12

Whoever first thought to combine sweet and salty was a genius.

27. Roasted Garlic and Pesto Strips

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 12

This hits all the right notes: It looks like it took a ton of effort, is effortless to whip up and tastes amazing.

28. French Onion Cups

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 12

If you can sauté onions, you can make these. Truth be told, the most difficult thing you’ll have to do is thaw the puff pastry.

29. Cranberry-Brie Puff-Pastry Pops

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
  • Serves: 9

Introducing the most grown-up (and delicious) lollipops to exist. This beats veggies and dip any day.

30. Crispy Baked Cauliflower-Corn Nuggets

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, no sugar, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 9

They’re baked, not fried, so it’s fine to eat the whole batch. (Right?)


31. Cheesy Pesto Chips

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegan, gluten free, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 4

Would you believe us if we told you these are totally vegan? The secret is nutritional yeast, which tastes cheesy without any dairy.

32. Keto Guacamole Burger Bites

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why We Love It: keto, low sugar, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 8

Confession: We’re not even on the keto diet, and we’re definitely going to have seconds.

33. Vegetarian Sushi Cups

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why We Love It: <500 calories, vegetarian, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 8

Homemade sushi? Too much work. Homemade veggie sushi? So easy. Fill them with whatever vegetables you like, and serve with chopsticks.

34. Spicy Glazed Popcorn Chicken

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
  • Serves: 6

Careful: One bite of these babies, and your guests will be back every weekend for more. But since the glaze requires just five ingredients, maybe you won’t mind.

35. Roasted Buffalo Chicken Wings

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why We Love It: high protein, gluten free, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 6

Once again, the oven beats the deep fryer by a landslide. This is a classic wing recipe, but with less cleanup and less oil.

36. Mini Chicken Shawarma

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein
  • Serves: 8

They’re. So. Little! (We’ll take two.)

37. Coconut Shrimp

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 8

They’re as good as, if not better than, any restaurant version. The sweet chili sauce is the cherry on top.

38. Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, low sugar, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 4

Yes, we 100 percent approve of serving adult chicken nuggets to your party guests. Any questions?

39. Katsu Bites with Chipotle-Gochujang Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, high protein
  • Serves: 8

Alternatively, you could take it to the next level with these Korean-inspired chicken bites. The gochujang dipping sauce is *chef’s kiss.*

40. Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free
  • Serves: 6

One bite and you’ll be transported to Santorini.

41. 15-Minute Buffalo Chicken Sliders

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, <15 minutes
  • Serves: 8

Everyone will think you spent all afternoon working on these sammies. Don’t tell them it’s rotisserie chicken and store-bought buffalo sauce.

42. Brie-Stuffed Pretzel Bites

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours, 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, low sugar
  • Serves: 40

How many can we eat? The limit does not exist.

43. Loaded Baked Potato ‘Chips’

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, gluten free, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 6 to 8

Save the bag of chips for a lazier day and make these instead.

44. Baked Gorgonzola Bites

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 8 to 10

It’s essentially a savory monkey bread, and we guarantee you won't be able to stop eating it.

45. Mini Lasagnas

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 6

These have all the things we love about lasagna (sauce, cheese, noodles) without the tedious assembly or messy slicing and serving.

46. Dairy-Free Butternut Squash ‘Fondue’

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, dairy free
  • Serves: 6

It’s surprisingly creamy and decadent without any dairy. Even the non-vegans will gobble it up.

47. Mini Quesadillas

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 24

Wonton wrappers are the secret to making these adorable finger foods. They’re packed with refried beans, cheese and scallions, yum.

48. Sweet-and-Sour Pork Skewers with Pineapple

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 6

The recipe calls for firing up your grill, but here’s a tip: You can totally make them in your oven, broiler or even on the stove.

49. Prosciutto Bites

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 6 to 8

Everything is exponentially more delicious when it’s wrapped in prosciutto. These start with store-bought pizza dough for extra convenience.

50. Mini Spinach-Ricotta Calzones

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
  • Serves: 12

Giant pockets of cheesy, saucy bread? What’s not to love?


51. Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala Meatballs

  • Time Commitment: 6 hours, 10 minutes
  • Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 4

We love meatballs. We love chicken tikka masala. So we combined them and used our Crockpot (plus a bit of garam masala) to develop layers and layers of flavor. The recipe serves four as a main, but more as an appetizer.

52. Lunch Kebabs with Mortadella, Artichoke and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: no cook, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 8

Layer your favorite deli meats and veggies (like mortadella and artichoke hearts for lots of flavor) between mini slices of bread. Just like that, your next-level appetizer is ready.

53. Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Bites

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 12

We guarantee they’re exactly what you’re craving. (And your kids will go bonkers.)

54. Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprout Bites

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
  • Serves: 8 to 10

Dish these veggie poppers up with tangy dipping sauce and cute toothpicks and then watch them disappear like magic.

55. Mini Chicken and Waffles

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 24

Pop quiz: Which appetizer will have your guests buzzing for days: (A) veggie platter, (B) canapés or (C) bite-sized chicken and waffles? The answer is definitely C.

56. Tomato-Peach Caprese Skewers

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why We Love It: no cook, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6 to 8

We’re firm believers that everything tastes better on a stick, including salad.

57. Corn Fritters with Elote Dip

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, vegetarian
  • Serves: 6 to 8

These fritters can be made with fresh or frozen corn, so they’re a year-round treat. You’re welcome.

58. Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket with Cheater’s Aioli

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8 to 10

They’re just as easy to make as the original, but with a special “pretzel” treatment that gives a gorgeously golden brown crust, and a sprinkle of everything seasoning.

finger foods for a crowd: Crispy Tofu Bites
Photo: Liz Andrews/Styling: Erin McDowell

59. Crispy Tofu Bites

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours, 10 minutes
  • Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

This high-protein veggie app will satisfy the masses.

holiday finger food recipes: Mini Nachos
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

60. Mini Nachos

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 6

Not-yo average plate of nachos... seriously.

what to serve with lamb: spring pea fritters with whipped feta
Eva Kolenko/Love and Lemons

61. Spring Pea Fritters with Whipped Feta

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why We Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 4

Yes, chef! These look like works of art... sans the effort.

finger food recipes: spicy crunchy tuna salad in lettuce cups
Katherine Gillen

62. Spicy, Crunchy Tuna Salad Lettuce Cups

  • Time Commitment: 10 minutes
  • Why We Love It: no cook, no bake, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 2

This recipe can be easily manipulated for a larger output.

finger food recipes: Air Fryer French Fries
The Recipe Critic

63. Air Fryer French Fries

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: air fryer recipe, kid-friendly, vegan
  • Serves: 4

A total classic... and without the oil, it's way better.

finger foods: Falafel Patties
Erin McDowell

64. Falafel Patties

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It: vegan, kid-friendly, air fryer recipe
  • Serves: 6 to 8

Serve with tzatziki, and you're golden.

finger food recipes: Baked Quinoa Chicken Nuggets
Katherine Gillen

65. Baked Quinoa Chicken Nuggets

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6

Extra honey mustard on the side, please.

27 Fancy Appetizers That Are Secretly Really Easy to Make


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.


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Senior Food Editor

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...

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Freelance PureWow Editor