Appetizer Recipes

Fresh fruit dip made with equal parts cream cheese and marshmallow cream. A two-ingredient no-cook appetizer served with seasonal fruit on cocktail picks.

Beach Party Shrimp Saute stir-fries unshelled shrimp with jalapeño, garlic, onion, and oregano in 10 minutes, finished with fresh lemon or lime juice. A bold, easy seafood appetizer or main.

Freezer-friendly shrimp quesadillas with Monterey Jack cheese, green onions, and cilantro in flour tortillas. Assemble ahead, freeze, and cook from frozen in minutes.

Baked honey mustard chicken wings with just four ingredients: onion soup mix, honey, spicy brown mustard, and wings. Sticky, sweet, tangy, and crispy-edged party appetizers.

Homemade jalapeno breadsticks with buttermilk, sauteed onion, and fresh peppers on a cornmeal-dusted baking sheet. Chewy yeast breadsticks with real heat and golden, crispy edges.

Marinated broccoli chunks in a light rice vinegar, olive oil, dill, and garlic dressing. A crisp, no-cook appetizer that uses broccoli stalks instead of florets.

Chicken liver pate with brandy, dry sherry, and unsalted butter, finished with a hint of marjoram and optional truffles. Silky smooth and served chilled as an elegant appetizer.

Oven-baked Chinese-style spareribs glazed with a sweet and tangy sauce of tomato puree, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, and chili sauce. Sticky, saucy, and fall-off-the-bone.

Baked mushroom pate with cream cheese, Italian herbs, and a full pound of fresh mushrooms. A rich, savory vegetarian appetizer served at room temperature with crackers.

Easy carrot salad with shredded carrots, fresh herbs, scallions, and a bright lemon-and-safflower-oil dressing. A 15-minute vegan side that brings color and crunch to any plate.

Belgian endive leaves filled with whipped cream cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, piped into elegant rosettes. A make-ahead appetizer that looks stunning on any party platter.

Oktapodi Maratho Krasato is a Greek braised octopus with fennel and tomatoes simmered in red wine until fork-tender. Served warm or cold as a main dish or meze.

Oysters Philadelphia: sherry-poached oysters on a bed of sauteed celery, topped with bechamel, Parmesan, and paprika, then baked golden on rock salt. An elegant holiday appetizer.

Roast loin of pork with apricot glaze: a honey-sweetened apricot and citrus glaze brushed onto pork loin as it roasts. Elegant holiday main with a microwave shortcut for the sauce.

Crunchy deviled eggs with sour cream, crumbled bacon, parsley, and paprika, topped with a pimento-stuffed olive half. A quick no-cook appetizer ready in 10 minutes.

Homemade siopao steamed dumplings stuffed with a savory shrimp, ground pork, and water chestnut filling. Makes 30 pillowy buns from scratch, street-food style.