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14 Awesome Appetizers for your Next Party at Home

Parties are a great way to enjoy your home. Food is always expected at a party. Awesome appetizers can help to bring people together for great conversations, or can help accent any planned activity. It is not always easy to find great recipes for tried and true appetizers that will be loved by everyone. These 14 Awesome Appetizers will be a great addition to your next home party.

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Buffalo Chicken Dip Appetizer

buffalo chicken dip

This Buffalo Chicken dip is really easy to make, and it has relatively few easy to find ingredients. In other words, it is a simple appetizer. It is gluten free and keto friendly if served with celery instead of chips. The recipe includes 3 different cooking methods, slow cooker, baked and smoked. It is best for Big Game Day parties, New Year’s Celebrations, and Potlucks.

Jalapeno Poppers

These Jalapeno Poppers are quick and easy to make, find the recipe here. All of the ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store. These jalapeno poppers can be prepared ahead of time, then baked right before serving. They are gluten free and keto friendly. They are best for small gatherings, Big Game Day parties, backyard parties, and family get togethers.

Chicken Strips aka Boneless Wings

This chicken strip recipe is more difficult than your average appetizer, but it is worth the effort. Your guests will be pleased. These chicken strips would best be kept warm in a chafing dish. Pick up some great dipping options: Ranch, BBQ sauce, and honey mustard and serve them in a cute tray. Chicken strips or boneless wings are perfect for small parties, game night, and football parties.

Easy Bean Dip

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Easy Bean Dip

This bean dip recipe is so easy! The dip can take on the shape of any container, making it simple to match any party theme. Most of the ingredients are easy to find, and the recipe includes suggestions for alternative ingredients. It is gluten free. This recipe can be prepared ahead of time. There are suggestions for how to make it work for different holidays, such as serving in a football shaped bowl for a super bowl party. Overall this is the most versatile appetizer on the list, it is really great for any occasion.

Chips and Salsa or Pico de Gallo

chips and salsa
Photo by Tai’s Captures on Unsplash

If you are looking for an easy appetizer, this one is for you. Just open a bag of chips, dump it in a bowl, open a can of salsa and dump it in a smaller bowl. If you want to get fancy about it, get a cute chip and dip set.

If you want to be even more fancy, make your own Pico de Gallo. Both Pico de Gallo and some canned salsas are gluten free, and keto friendly. This appetizer is also vegan and vegetarian.

Homemade Pico de Gallo recipe

  • 5-6 Roma tomatoes chopped
  • 1 onion minced
  • 2 jalapenos minced
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1/4 cup mince fresh cilantro
  • salt to taste

Mix all ingredients and serve with tortilla chips!

Pulled Pork Street Tacos

pulled pork street tacos

These street tacos are made with 4-inch street taco shells. Certainly small enough to be an appetizer. This recipe is easy to make, especially if you have leftover pulled pork. If you do not have leftover pulled pork you can buy pulled pork at the grocery store, or make your own. To use this recipe as an appetizer, the pulled pork could be kept warm in a crockpot. The other toppings are all cold, and could be set up like a taco bar. Your guests will enjoy putting together their own taco. They are so tasty, you better plan on your guests eating more than one! Best for small gatherings, perfect for summer.

Polish Roses

polish roses

Polish roses, aka onion wraps are really easy to make. Just wrap a green onion and 1 tablespoon of cream cheese in your choice of lunchmeat. If you don’t like onions, use pickles instead. This is a very easy appetizer, gluten free and keto friendly. It can be made ahead of time and is perfect for any occasion.

Charcuterie Board

charcuterie board
Photo by Ana Maltez on Unsplash

This is a very easy appetizer. You will need to start with a charcuterie board and it would help if you had some ramekins for jams and dips. Once you have the basics, all you need are a variety of meats, soft and hard cheeses, fruits, veggies, olives, jams and dips. Get creative, don’t worry your guests will be pleased. This appetizer is best for wine tastings, book clubs, and bible studies.

Meatballs

These Thai Inspired meatballs are an amazing appetizer. Find the video recipe here. You can prepare the meatballs ahead of time, then refrigerate until you are ready to bake for your party. They would be best kept warm with a chafing dish rather than a crockpot. These meatballs would be best for a small get together. They are great for any season. Don’t expect any leftovers.

Guacamole

guacamole
Photo by Tessa Rampersad on Unsplash

Guacamole is very easy to make, find the recipe here. All of the ingredients are easy to find. It is the healthiest appetizer on this list. It is gluten free, vegetarian, vegan and keto friendly. Guacamole is versatile. It is traditionally served with tortilla chips, but it can also be used as a vegetable dip or spread on crackers. You can make it ahead of time, but it can brown a bit. To prevent browning, place a piece of plastic wrap right on top to protect the top from the air. Due to the versatility of this appetizer it would be a great addition to any gathering.

Cheese and Crackers

crackers
Photo by Raychan on Unsplash

This appetizer can be a simple as arranging a variety of crackers and cheese slices on a platter or you can make your own cheese spread.

Easy Homemade Cheese Spread recipe

  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • dash of hot sauce, more if desired (optional)

Mix all ingredients with a hand mixer. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving with crackers.

Pierogi

Pierogi served with sauteed onions and sour cream
Pierogi served with sauteed onions and sour cream

This is a difficult recipe, but it is worth the effort. It is also an awesome vegetarian option. Your guests will be amazed! Pierogi can be prepared ahead, they can even be frozen. To serve as an appetizer you will need to fry them up, then keep them warm in a chafing dish. Be sure to fry up plenty of onions to serve with the pierogi. If you are willing to put in the effort pierogi are a great appetizer for any event especially Christmas Eve parties, where they are a polish tradition.

Chips and Dip

Another easy appetizer. The key to great chip dip is to make it yourself. The best chip dip is A Spice Above – Oven Roasted Garlic. Just mix the packet with 1 cup full fat sour cream and 1 cup of mayonnaise. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours prior to serving. It is gluten free and keto friendly. This appetizer will be gone no matter where you bring it. It is a simple appetizer perfect for any event.

Easy Deviled Eggs for all Occasions

Deviled eggs are an easy and inexpensive appetizer for all occasions. They are gluten free and keto friendly. Make them cute or sophisticated. Find many recipes here:

Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar
Cowboy Caviar

Another easy amazing vegetarian and vegan option. In addition, it is also another great gluten free option. Perfect for any event!

Cowboy Caviar Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 15 ounce can Pinto Beans, drained and rinsed
  • 15 ounce can Black Beans, drained and rinsed
  • 15 ounce can Black Eyed Peas, drained and rinsed
  • 15 ounce can Corn, drained and rinsed
  • 4 ounce Jar of Pimentos, with juice
  • 4 Celery sticks chopped fine
  • 1 Orange bell pepper chopped
  • 1 sweet onion chopped
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Mix Olive oil, red wine vinegar, sugar and salt in a bowl to make the dressing. In another bowl mix all the other ingredients. Pour the dressing over the other ingredients. Chill for at least 1 hour. Serve with tortilla chips.

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Easy Fritos Bean Dip Appetizer for all occasions

I love this Easy Fritos Bean Dip recipe, because it always goes. It works great when you need a quick and easy recipe for a party appetizer. People love it and are always asking me for the recipe. It can take on any shape and can be decorated for different for any holiday and all occasions.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, I will earn commission from purchases at no additional cost to you.

Easy Fritos Bean Dip Video

Bean Dip Recipe

Ingredients:

1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened

1 9 ounce can Fritos Bean Dip

4 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese

3-4 green onions, sliced

1-2 Roma tomatoes, diced

10-12 black olives, sliced

Instructions:

Blend the Fritos bean dip and softened cream cheese until smooth and uniform. Hint: If you can’t find Fritos Bean dip, try this Copycat Recipe.

Spread the mixture in a dish or on a plate. This is where you can get creative with the dip. Because the dip can take on any shape, you can put it in a football shaped serving dish for a Super Bowl game day party, a Christmas tree shaped serving dish for a Christmas party, a heart shaped dish for Valentine’s Day or a Bridal shower. Get creative!

Top with the shredded cheese.

Layer with tomatoes, onions and olives.

Easy Bean Dip
Easy Bean Dip

This is another opportunity to get creative. For example, you could arrange the toppings like Christmas ornaments on a tree shaped platter. You can also pipe on sour cream using a frosting bag to create some fun designs. See my Easy Bean Dip Recipe seasonal designs below.

Football Party Themed Appetizer

For this football party themed bean dip I used this football shaped bowl for both the dip and the chips.

Christmas Themed Appetizer

For this Christmas Themed version of my bean dip I used a Pyrex Easy Grab Pie Dish. I covered the bean dip with Monterrey Jack cheese (white cheddar would work too). For the wreath I used shredded lettuce, cilantro, green onions and green olives. Then decorated the wreath with sliced cherry and grape tomatoes. These ingredients would also look great in a Christmas tree shaped serving dish.

Halloween Themed Appetizer

Spider Web Halloween themed Bean Dip Appetizer.

To make your Easy Bean Dip more festive for a Halloween party you could decorate it like a spider web. For the spider web I used a piping bag with a #4 tip to pipe on full fat sour cream. I topped with a couple of spider rings which I removed before serving. I still wanted the other toppings so I added them to the edge of the design. If you are really crafty you could make spiders out of olives.

Grave Yard Halloween Themed Bean Dip Appetizer

For more Halloween appetizer fun you could also make your Easy Bean dip into a grave yard. For the grave yard, I piped full fat sour cream on Wheat thins using a piping bag and a # 2 tip . Then I arranged the crackers like grave stones. I added a bat ring and a couple of skull rings too, but I removed them before serving.

Race Track Themed Appetizer

I made this appetizer for a post season Cross County Party, but you could use it for any race themed party. Just fold a label over 2 toothpicks for the finish line. Secure the toothpicks with 2 whole olives and press it down into the dip.

Is Bean Dip Gluten Free?

Yes all of the ingredients, including Fritos Original Bean Dip, are gluten free. You should however, shred your own cheese, because pre-shredded cheese could contain gluten. Also, make sure the chips you serve with it are gluten free.

Is Bean Dip Keto Friendly?

No, the Fritos Bean Dip has too many carbs. It is not keto friendly.

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Recipe for How to make the Best Jalapeno Poppers

When our neighbor brought over a large basket of home grown jalapenos, we knew we had to start using them soon. According to Healthline Jalapeno’s are packed with nutrients and have many health benefits. It would be a shame to let them go to waste. The best way to use up a lot of jalapenos quickly is to make some jalapeno poppers. You may be thinking that jalapeno popper would be way to spicy, but jalapeno peppers are only mild to moderate on the Scoville scale.1 The addition of cream cheese to the jalapeno pepper also helps to neutralize some of the heat.2 Here’s a recipe for how to make the best jalapeno poppers.

Best Jalapeno Popper Recipe

Ingredients:


11 Jalapenos
1 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
6 slices of bacon
1/2 onion minced
6 cloves of garlic minced
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1/8 teaspoon of pepper
1/4 cup Mexican blend shredded cheese

Directions:

Preheat Oven to 325 degrees F. Half and remove seeds 8 of the jalapenos, then dice the other 3. In a frying pan, and fry the bacon until crispy. Set aside the bacon to drain on a paper towel lined plate. Sauté the onion, garlic and 3 diced jalapenos until tender. Add salt and pepper. Remove from heat and add the cheeses. Crumble the bacon and add it to the mixture. Mix well. Stuff the 16 Jalapeno halves with the mixture. Place the Jalapeno halves, stuffed side up on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 10 min. or until lightly browned. Enjoy!

If you like jalapenos, then you should try my guacamole recipe.

If you need another appetizer, then you should check out my Easy Bean dip recipe.

Are Jalapeno poppers healthy?

They do have some very healthy ingredients. Jalapenos, onions, and garlic are all very healthy. However, it would be difficult to call any recipe with bacon healthy. Overall, Jalapeno poppers are not healthy and should only be enjoyed occasionally. They are great party food, but not great for every day consumption.

Are Jalapeno Poppers Gluten Free?

Yes! All of the ingredients are gluten free. However, you should shred your own cheese from a block, or make sure your pre-shredded cheese is gluten free. To make Mexican blend: shred half cheddar and half Monterey Jack.

Are Jalapeno Poppers Keto Friendly?

Absolutely! All of the ingredients are keto friendly. Enjoy!

Can you prepare Jalapeno Poppers Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can prepare your Jalapeno peppers the night before your party, just wait until your party time to bake them. Put them in the refrigerator overnight, and pull them out when you are ready to bake them.

Other Great Appetizers:

Plated Jalapeno Poppers
Delicious Jalapeno Poppers

References:

  1. https://www.pepperscale.com/jalapeno-peppers/
  2. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/packages/spicy-foods/mouth-on-fire-myths–what-really-cools-your-palate-

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