294 appetizer recipes

No-cook rigatoni pasta tossed with raw tomatoes, sliced bell peppers, fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan. A fresh vegetarian summer pasta ready in 30 minutes.

Asparagus and crabmeat salad layers crisp-tender spears over butter lettuce, crowned with sweet lump crab folded into a tomato-Dijon mayonnaise. Elegant cold appetizer or light lunch that comes together in minutes with make-ahead dressing.

Low-fat marinated vegetable platter with crisp broccoli, carrots, celery, red pepper, olives, and artichoke hearts in tangy Italian dressing. Make-ahead appetizer that gets better as it chills.

The perfect companion for sandwiches and crackers that is great for a picnic, or even a light snack.

Beef satay skewers with a homemade curried peanut dipping sauce. Sirloin cubes broiled on bamboo skewers and served with a rich, spicy peanut butter sauce.

Deep-fried pickles breaded in seasoned breadcrumbs and served with a tangy blue cheese, sour cream, and Dijon mustard dipping sauce. A Southern bar snack and fair food favorite ready in 15 minutes.

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An easy lamb canape: crisp celery-seed toast strips spread with a quick cooked-lamb-and-mayonnaise mixture and topped with pimiento. A smart, retro party bite for using up leftover roast lamb.

Creamy pasta with oysters and shrimp in a roux-based sauce spiked with anchovy paste, Tabasco, and Worcestershire. A rich Cajun-style seafood pasta that comes together in one pan.

Chestnut-stuffed mushrooms on buttery whole-wheat croûtes: pan-fried mushroom caps filled with a chunky chestnut, onion, and nutmeg stuffing, grilled until bubbling. A festive vegetarian starter.

Chiles rellenos con queso stuffs roasted green chiles with Monterey Jack, dips them in fluffy egg batter, and fries to golden puffs. Topped with a spiced cinnamon-clove tomato sauce.

This dish was pretty easy to prepare and turned out beautifully. The potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, and olives created a wonderful medley of flavors.

Cheddar cheese pretzels made with aged cheddar, butter, Dijon mustard, and cayenne, topped with poppy seeds. A savory make-ahead appetizer that keeps for days.

Edible flower salad with nasturtium leaves and blossoms layered over Vidalia onions and tomatoes, finished with celery and vinaigrette. Stunning and peppery.

Vegan sunflower seed pate baked with nutritional yeast, grated potato, cornmeal, and a kick of horseradish. A protein-packed plant-based spread for crackers, sandwiches, or appetizer platters.

Sun-dried tomato pesto: oil-packed sundried tomatoes blended with parmigiano-reggiano, toasted walnuts, garlic, and warm olive oil. A deeper, more savory alternative to basil pesto.