The 65 Best Fall Appetizers to Devour This Season

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 8 to 10

Hello, panko-Parm breading and tangy Dijon dip. Here, the sprouts are baked on a sheet pan instead of fried for a healthier spin (and to minimize mess). Plate them with cute toothpicks and watch them disappear in seconds.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

Skip the store-bought tortilla chips and substitute roasted and herbed beets, turnips, parsnips and radishes. Fresh herbs take the crispy fall appetizer over the top. They'd pair with hummus, guacamole and tzatziki alike.

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

Mamma mia. These five-ingredient, prosciutto-wrapped balls of pizza dough taste like straight-up salty, savory bliss. (No one will care that you started with store-bought dough, promise.) Dip them into marinara or pesto, if you feel so inclined.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

Transform the season’s bounty in just 40 minutes—this fall appetizer will be gobbled up in five. Don't worry about peeling the squash; its stripy skin is both pretty and edible. Serve with lemon wedges for spritzing.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegan, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Because you’ll need something healthy to serve at Thanksgiving before all those fresh-baked pies hit the dessert table. Massage (or briefly sauté) the bite-sized kale to make it as tender as possible; if you don't like the texture, odds are it's because you've only tried it raw.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, Instant Pot recipe, vegan
• Serves: 4

Gluten-free, vegan and mind-blowingly simple, this soup is as stunning as it is easy to prepare. Set out bowls of peanuts, sesame seeds and diced scallions, so your guests can garnish their own bowls. Quick tip: Microwaving the squash for three minutes will soften it and make it much easier to cut.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6 to 8

Everyone’s favorite finger food just got a makeover—and it looks good, even without the green goddess dressing. (Feel free to substitute ketchup, ranch dressing or honey mustard for picky eaters at the party.) Did I mention this fall appetizer only requires eight ingredients?

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4

A bowl? Never heard of it. This elegant presentation has dinner party written all over it. Plating the salad on a cutting board makes for easier serving (you won't need to dig to the bottom to get all the crunchy toppings), plus it's easy on the eyes.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

Spicy yogurt makes everything better, right? Yes...but TBH, these fried beauties made of spaghetti squash, scallions and kale don’t need much help in the deliciousness department. (That said, I'll still take a side of dip, TYVM.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Start with fresh artichokes or opt for canned if you want to save yourself the prep work. Either way, these tangy dippers are going to taste unreal slicked in garlic aioli. And even better, they look straight-up sophisticated for only requiring six ingredients, including EVOO, salt and pepper.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Behold: a timeless starter that everyone will be eager to dig into. Pile this fall appetizer high with salami, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, cornichons and, well, whatever else strikes your fancy. Just have plenty of bread and crackers at the ready.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

Eat your heart out, Outback Steakhouse. Our test kitchen shrunk the iconic appetizer and, dare I say it, perfected it. I hope you're serving a stellar cut of beef for the main course; the horseradish dipping sauce will taste great on that, too.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, low carb
• Serves: 6 to 8

Bye-bye, buns. These veggie sliders are stuffed with prosciutto, pearl mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. Your keto guests will be stoked. Bonus points for charring the sprouts before assembling the starter.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

If you love sesame seeds, this dressing made with the heirloom variety is about to become your new best friend. The fussiest part of this recipe is quickly blitzing the zippy dressing in your blender, but the rest is all assembly.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, vegan
• Serves: 6

Appetizers don't get more classic than this. Fresh herbs, smoked paprika and cayenne bring a ton of flavor to your choice of nuts. I'm partial to a mix of almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews and pistachios, but you can use whatever assortment you fancy.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, gluten free
• Serves: 4

All hail the gourd of the hour. You'll get to use all of it, too: the flesh for the soup, the seeds for a crunchy topping and the hulled pumpkin for a bowl. How's that for Halloween dinner?

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
• Serves: 4

This vibrant pizza crust is the craftiest way to use up any spare canned pumpkin purée, if you ask me. Peppery arugula, salty prosciutto and creamy blue cheese are just the matches for buttery, sweet pumpkin crust. Throw on some toasted pepitas for additional seasonal flair, or a drizzle of hot honey for spice.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

Your favorite feel-good soup, baked into puff pastry with a boatload of Gruyère. What can go wrong? These may look fancy, but you likely have most of the necessary ingredients already on hand. Hop to it, friend.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 6

Crisp apples and chopped nuts give the quintessential summer side some fall flair. It checks all my boxes: sweet, crunchy, tart, salty and comforting. Best of all, you can prepare it in advance and keep it in the fridge until your guests arrive.

• Time Commitment: 7 hours and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 8

The edible equivalent of a mother's hug. The white cheddar-chive biscuit on top is the ultimate pièce de résistance, but the soup itself is nothing to sneer at either. Good looking out, Crockpot.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 10

Just because it’s a vegetable course doesn’t mean it can’t be wrapped in flaky pastry—especially on a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas. This masterpiece is a far cry from the mushy holiday casseroles of the past, with a downright Insta-worthy appearance.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Monique Volz’s chic twist on avocado toast is worthy of being served on a silver platter. Finish the crostini with pumpkin seeds for extra crunch, or substitute dried cranberries for pomegranate arils to nix the seeds.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8 to 12

Use any sort of sweet-tart apple you'd like, and sub honey or agave for maple syrup if you'd prefer. Whatever you do, just don't skimp on the earthy walnut pesto. It's the crowning glory of this fall appetizer, if you ask me.

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, make ahead
• Serves: 6

With fresh herbs, garlic and a drizzle of olive oil, canned white beans are transformed from a pantry shortcut to a party-ready fall starter (and crowd-pleaser). Feel free to briefly pan-fry the beans before tossing in the other ingredients for some bonus crispness.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy, dairy free
• Serves: 4

How do these ribs cook up in 20 minutes, you ask? They're deep-fried instead of smoked or grilled, so they're ready to devour in a fraction of the time. They'll be equal parts chewy and crispy, thanks to a potent tamarind glaze.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 4 to 6

Who said summer has dibs on pasta salad? This crisp, zingy number tastes good all year long. Chalk it up to the homemade Caesar dressing, complete with anchovy paste and grated Parm. Add chicken or chickpeas for extra protein.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4 to 6

Aka the most likable appetizer on the planet. Everyone will be psyched over this mix of crinkle-cut, curly and sweet potato fries and tots (especially the kids), not to mention the wide range of dipping sauces.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4 to 6

Your guests will think you ordered this spread from a fancy cheese shop. "You can follow the recipe to a T or just use my suggested cheese selection as a jumping off point," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen writes. "I think all boards are best with a creamy cheese, a semisoft cheese and a blue cheese, but anything goes."

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 10 to 12

When it comes to entertaining in the fall and winter, cheese balls are a no-brainer. Try modernized combos, like everything bagel seasoning with goat cheese, lemon-dill with cheddar and pomegranate with blue cheese.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, vegetarian, make ahead
• Serves: 8 to 12

Who can resist a snack baked in a mini muffin tray? When these hit the table, I'm a kid all over again. "If you've got picky eaters who aren't into onions, you can always sub it for a quarter teaspoon of onion powder," PureWow VP of editorial Candace Davison suggests. "It adds a little savory flavor, no crunch."

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8 to 10

Meet the savory, funky monkey bread you’ve always dreamed of but never had the pleasure of devouring. It’s only 30 minutes—and five ingredients—away, thanks to store-bought pizza dough. They're also so easy to make that kids can easily pitch in to help.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 14

This fall appetizer is eager to make its Thanksgiving debut, and your guests will never clock that you started with store-bought pie dough. If you're feeling ambitious, skip the jiggly jarred stuff and make your own red wine cranberry sauce instead.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian, kid-friendly
• Serves: 8

Careful: These are dangerously poppable. Set the bites out with marinara, ketchup and pesto at your kid's next slumber party, if not at your first holiday party of the season. They won't miss the frozen pizza bagels, promise.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Nothing cures a chilly fall day like a mini skillet of ooey-gooey fondue and a generous array of dippers. Even better, it’s loaded with crispy bacon and caramelized onions for sweet-and-savory splendor. Good luck sharing—you may want to devour it all yourself.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8 to 10

Thanks to their miniature size, each and every morsel is totally surrounded by a crispy, cheesy, buttery outer crust. (Think the corner piece of a freshly baked cornbread.) The goat cheese and pancetta on top are just tasty bonuses.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8 to 10

What looks (and tastes) incredibly seasonal and elegant is actually a breeze to prepare, even for newbies. You should probably bookmark this one for Christmas—I hear Santa is a big fan of Brie.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Save the queso and guacamole for a rainy day and serve this seasonal delicacy instead, which boasts everything from cranberry sauce to tender sweet potatoes. If you have any leftover turkey lying around (like on Black Friday, for instance), pile that on, too.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8 to 10

Like a fancy cheese ball—but even easier. This fall fancy appetizer is only nine ingredients away and pairs beautifully with seeded crackers, crostini, potato chips and crudités alike. It's a lazy hostess's dream, trust.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

OK, ready for this? Serve the soup in a hulled-out loaf of bread, then transform the topper into a melty grilled cheese sandwich for dipping. I know, I know, it's brilliant. (P.S.: The inside of the bread bowl is lined with cheese for good measure.)

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, one pan, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4

A shallow skillet makes this crowd favorite super easy to dip bread or crudités into—no metal skewers required. Smoky gouda and white wine make the dish equal parts decadent and sophisticated to boot.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, specail occasion-worthy, kid-friendly
• Serves: 6

I'm not saying you *need* to serve this fall appetizer with mini soft pretzels…but I don't see why you wouldn’t. Use your favorite pumpkin beer in the broth to up the seasonal ante, and play it fast and loose with the cheese garnish.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 2 to 4

These Cheez-Its replicas are extremely easy to make, and you can customize the type of cheese to suit your palate. (Seriously, you'll only need seven ingredients to make them, including salt.) If you prefer them spicy, try Ina Garten's chipotle cheddar crackers instead.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 10 to 12

These flaky, crisp homemade crackers are conversation-pausing swirls of goodness. Your guests will be so in awe of them that they won't even notice the store-bought puff pastry. Take it from me—you'll want to make a triple batch.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 1 to 2

Got 15 minutes? Then this satiating starter is within reach. Pro tip: Starting with a cold pan not only helps the bacon cook evenly, but it also slowly renders out its fat. Bonus points for candying the bacon in maple syrup and brown sugar. (Trust me, its autumnal sweet-and-salty flavor is worth the effort.)

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 2 to 4

Six ingredients + five minutes of prep = the most comforting fall appetizer of all time. Once you get your hands on some phyllo, you're halfway there. Serve it as a starter, side or after dinner with fresh fruit and vino.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
• Serves: 10 to 12

Because nothing gets a party started like a massive mélange of meat and cheese. This board of assorted fall appetizers features tender patatas bravas with saffron aioli and heirloom pan con tomate.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 8 to 10

Dough meets cheese: What's not to like? These poppable cuties will become a tailgate favorite at your house in no time, and your go-to for every Super Bowl party you ever host or attend. You've been warned.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 6 to 8

"These seasonal pudding parfaits wouldn’t look out of place in a cocktail party dessert spread, but kids wouldn’t turn them down either," Gillen asserts. I won't tell if you take a shortcut and use store-bought pudding instead of cooking your own; just make with the cookie crumbs, OK?

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6 to 8

Beware: Once your guests get a taste, you’ll have no choice but to whip this up for every future holiday party you ever host. A swirl of Greek yogurt and a flourish of herbs on top will inspire all the oohs and ahhs.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

Want to see some kids’ table magic? Set out a bowl of these poppable, sugary treats and watch them disappear before your eyes. Use local apple cider in the doughnut batter if you can find some.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

Well, aren’t you fancy? Trade bread for crispy roasted sweet potatoes, then top the pieces with smoked salmon and cream cheese, dried cranberries and roasted almonds (or whatever else your heart desires).

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

You’re three ingredients and 20 minutes away from the easiest fall appetizer ever. (Chalk it up to your choice of frozen meatballs.) Just stick 'em with toothpicks, dig in and serve them with a high stack of napkins.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 9

Because hors d'oeuvres (and everything else) are just better on a stick. Frozen puff pastry makes this fall appetizer a cinch to pull together at a moment's notice, and it delivers a sweet, sour and savory punch of flavor at first bite.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

Whether you serve this as starter or a side, no one will miss the mashed potatoes once they taste this. Fresh herbs and grated Parm offer plenty of savory, salty bliss to every bite of this otherwise sweet, elegant number.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 16

Since the pies are wrapped neatly in flaky biscuit dough (yup, the kind from a can), they travel like a charm. Serve them sliced into pieces as a starter or whole for dessert, ideally with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, no bake
• Serves: 8

Cocktail hour isn’t complete without these teeny-tiny sweets, starring gingersnaps and red currant jelly. Assemble them ahead and keep them in the fridge for up to two days, so you have one less thing to think about before the big meal.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

It’s made with roasted kabocha squash, also known as Japanese pumpkin, ricotta cheese and...not much else. Finish it with olive oil and shichimi togarashi for a little razzle dazzle, then plate it with all your favorite dippers. (Pretzels would be great here.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Wanna know the secret to their cute, round, shape? They’re baked in mason jar lids. Your guests won't mind the store-bought pie dough once they taste one, I swear.

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

I dare you to snack on just one pretzel and stop—I'm pretty sure it’s impossible. Not only is this crowd-pleasing fall appetizer ready in a flash, but it's also make ahead- and kid-friendly and requires no cooking at all.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10

Time to stock up on pears at the farmers market (or grocery store). Impress your guests with bakery-level beauties that are shockingly easy to tackle yourself. Have the camera ready; you'll want to remember these forever.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 4

Marinara takes a back seat to a sweet, luscious seven-ingredient sauce that’s the most decadent pairing for creamy ricotta and melted mozzarella. I wouldn't blame you for subbing (or adding) burrata to the mix, too.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8 to 12

I know you’re not supposed to have sweets before dinner...but one look at these and all your guests will make an exception (even the picky eaters at the kids' table). Who can decline a mini dessert?

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 2

Come sweater season, I nosh on sweet spuds every chance I get. Here, they're paired with a decadent homemade aioli made with a whole avocado, but you can easily substitute garlicky mayo, spicy ketchup or sriracha.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 2

A spoonful of dissolved miso paste adds a punch of funky, umami-laced richness to the dip. Swap in whatever apples you have on hand—I like using Granny Smith, but Fuji or Honeycrisp would be great too. Trade pretzels for potato chips while you're at it.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 16

Believe it or not, you don't need an electric mixer to pull off melt-in-your-mouth shortbread. Melting the butter eliminates the need for beating and creaming it, and cornstarch gives the cookies a delicate texture without any extra work.