Appetizer Recipes

Pepperoni pizza sticks made with refrigerated breadstick dough, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning, baked golden and served with warm pizza sauce for dipping.

Red-cooked eggs simmered in dark soy sauce, brown sugar, chicken broth, and sesame oil until deeply colored. A Chinese appetizer served with a hoisin and oyster sauce dip.

Creamed scallops in wine sauce, a retro microwave-friendly coquilles St. Jacques with mushrooms, white wine, and cream. Broiled golden in shells or ramekins for an elegant starter.

Microwave baked sweet potatoes deliver tender, fluffy potatoes in minutes. Scrub, pierce, arrange in a circle with space between them, and microwave to perfection. Quickest healthy side dish without firing up the oven.

Vegetarian tomato soup with vermicelli pasta, carrots, celery, and basil in a rich stock. A hearty one-pot soup that comes together in 40 minutes.

Paupiettes de bananes: whole bananas wrapped in ham, baked in cream with Parmesan and paprika until golden. A surprising French appetizer ready in 30 minutes.

Crabmeat custard baked in the microwave with snow crab, sharp cheddar, and a silky egg-milk custard over crustless white bread. A quick savory custard with a touch of cayenne heat.

Crostini topped with a chunky artichoke and white bean spread brightened with lemon and basil, finished with crumbles of oven-crisped prosciutto. An easy Italian appetizer built from pantry staples.

Rice and noodle casserole baked with toasted vermicelli, French onion soup, chicken broth, soy sauce, and water chestnuts. Buttery pilaf-style side, classic potluck favorite.

Guacamole de la Mixteca: an authentic Oaxaca-region guacamole with ripe avocado, white onion, serrano chile, and cilantro. Mashed chunky in a molcajete, no lime, no fuss.

Steamed seafood dumplings wrap a delicate shrimp-and-scallop filling with garlic, ginger and crunchy water chestnuts in wonton skins, then steam them light and tender. Served with a duck sauce and hot mustard dip.

Baked chicken wings glazed with cranberry sauce, honey mustard, and orange zest. Marinated overnight for deep flavor, then roasted until sticky and caramelized. Great for holiday parties.

Curried beef meatballs made with ground beef, herb stuffing mix, and curry powder, cooked in the microwave in minutes. Bite-sized appetizers perfect for parties with sweet-tart dipping sauce.

Vegan lentil and spinach soup with brown lentils, fresh ginger, garlic, tomatoes, and a finishing splash of apple cider vinegar. Hearty plant-based one-pot soup with bright, slightly spiced flavor.

Roast chicken halves brushed with butter, lacquered in raspberry glaze, and crowned with fresh kiwi slices. A retro fruit-glazed chicken with sweet-savory pop and showstopper plating.

Fresh papaya salsa with diced tomato, cucumber, scallion, jalapeño, and cilantro brightened with lime juice. No cooking, just chop and chill.