SNACKS & APPETIZERS
Whether you are preparing a tasty snack or entertaining, delicious appetizers are always a hit. Better yet, make it a tapas meal by serving an assortment of appetizers! From quick and easy to elegant, we have a collection of snacks, dips, and appetizers that will get your meal started right.
Visit the Soups & Salads page for lighter appetizer options.
Snacks
This moist and delicious Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread recipe is easy to make and perfect for using up zucchini squash from the garden or the market. It’s packed with walnuts and chocolate chips to give it that dessert-like taste, while the moisture from the fresh zucchini keeps the crumb tender and flavorful.
Whether you enjoy this delightful Spiced Applesauce as a delicious snack or a healthy dessert, you will be amazed at how quickly and easily this homemade applesauce recipe comes together. This perfectly spiced applesauce is made with juicy Honey Crisp apples, lemon juice, aromatic cinnamon sticks, star anise, cardamom, and a touch of pure maple syrup. The best part? No peeling required! And, this recipe is 100% plant based and gluten free.
This wholesome Almond Cranberry Granola recipe is loaded with rolled oats, oat bran, flaxseeds, almonds, pepitas, cranberries, honey (or pure maple syrup), cinnamon, and vanilla. This nutritious blend requires zero chopping and is quick and easy to make. So much better than store bought granola, this crunchy and healthy granola makes a great breakfast or snack, and is scrumptious over yogurt and fresh berries, It’s a breeze to make and will give you energy for hours!
Ina’s Roasted Rosemary Cashews have the perfect trio of salty, sweet & spicy flavor that envelops each cashew to create a delicious and crunchy bite. This 5 ingredients recipe makes a wonderful nibble to serve before dinner with holiday cocktails, or as an anytime snack. These roasted cashews have just enough spiciness to make them interesting without overwhelming a delicate palate. Trust me when I say that these nuts are incredibly addictive!
Crunchy and delicious, these Candied Cinnamon Pecans make the perfect sweet snack, or topping for your dessert. Also known as praline pecans, these Candied Cinnamon Pecans are not cloyingly sweet, but they are quite addicting! They add an extra special touch to ice cream, or as a topping for our Pumpkin Spice Brioche Bread Pudding. For a wow factor, combine with our Bourbon Caramel Sauce as a decadent finish to any dessert.
Oats, chunky almond butter, dark chocolate, and tart dried cherries, make these Vegan Oat Bars a tasty and healthy treat. Packed with almond pulp and other wholesome ingredients, these dessert-like energy bars will curb your hunger for hours. Finished with a drizzle of chocolate, it’s hard to believe that these yummy oat bars are dairy free, gluten free, and vegan!
Our Healthy Cashews are a full-fledged superfood snack, really yummy, and very addicting! This quick and easy, healthy snack is lightly coated with natural honey and sprinkled with Himalayan pink salt. These nuts have a nice balance of sweet and salty flavor, and the crunchy chia seeds add a lovely mild, nutty texture to this healthy snack or appetizer.
These Zesty Honey Roasted Almonds are incredibly easy to make and absolutely addicting! They have a secret ingredient, along with just a hint of spiciness. With the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and spicy, they are a healthy and tasty snack. They can easily be made kid friendly, too!
Dips & Crackers
This Silky Whipped Feta Dip with honey makes the most creamy and delicious appetizer. Made with feta, and cream cheese, Greek yogurt, olive oil, garlic, and lemon, this make ahead recipe is perfect for entertaining. This lemony dip is so versatile, you can enjoy it on its own, or for a salty sweet combination drizzle it with sweet honey or hot honey for some added spiciness. Its smooth texture and delicious taste pairs well with a variety of breads, chips, or veggies.
Dive into this rich and cheesy Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip! This easy crockpot recipe is made with spinach, tender artichoke hearts, rich cream cheese, tangy Greek yogurt, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and a blend of aromatic herbs and spices. Perfect for game night, Super Bowl Sunday, and parties, this thick and delicious dip is a crowd pleaser, making it a great choice for almost any social gathering. Instead of using mayonnaise, this slightly healthier version of spinach artichoke dip gets its added protein from Greek yogurt and is amazingly decadent.
My Quick & Easy Guacamole is so full of authentic Mexican flavor! This versatile guacamole recipe can easily be made very mild or extra spicy. Made with avocados, spicy pico de gallo, a touch of seasoning, and fresh lime juice, this 4 ingredient recipe is just as delicious as traditional guacamole. The beauty of this appetizer recipe is that it comes together in minutes, and there is virtually no chopping. It has such an amazing taste, that no one will know you didn’t make it the traditional way!
Our Healthier Lemon Mint Aioli has all the flavor but only half the fat of traditional aioli recipes. Made with fresh mint, lemon zest and juice, garlic, Greek yogurt, and yes…mayonnaise, this delicious spread will enhance any sandwich. With its Mediterranean flavor profile, it’s the perfect condiment for our Turkey Feta Burger. And, it’s terrific on beef burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches, too!
A delicious alternative to hummus, this quick and easy White Bean Roasted Garlic Dip is healthy & so flavorful. We roasted garlic to mellow out its sharpness, used buttery cannellini beans, fresh herbs, added fresh lemon juice and zest to brighten up the flavor, and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to give it a little kick. Served with homemade crostini, our white bean dip can be made ahead of time and makes the perfect appetizer for any gathering.
This quick, smoky salsa can easily be made extra mild or super spicy, and is delicious as a dip or a topping on tacos, tamales, enchiladas, and more. Crank up the heat and use it as a hot sauce for anything that needs some extra flavor! Our 3 step recipe is really tasty and so ridiculously quick and easy, that you will likely never want to buy salsa again!
Appetizers
This Pistachio Cranberry Goat Cheese Log is a tasty and easy to prepare appetizer. Creamy goat cheese is rolled in crunchy toasted pistachios, sweet and tart dried cranberries, and drizzled with a touch of golden honey. Whether it's a festive holiday party, a cozy family get-together, or a casual wine night with friends, this gourmet appetizer is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. This quick and easy appetizer takes only minutes to make, and can be made ahead!
Easy Persimmon & Prosciutto Bundles are a quick and easy appetizer to make for the holidays or whenever persimmons are in season. Each bundle is a perfect harmony of sweet and salty flavors and textures. Fuyu persimmons bring a natural sweetness that contrasts beautifully with the salty and savory profile of thinly sliced prosciutto. Mozzarella adds another layer of luxurious texture and flavor, along with the freshness of basil leaves nestled in each bundle. To balance the richness of this simple appetizer, these tasty bundles are finished with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
This Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese can be made two ways…as an appetizer or an entrée salad. This vibrant salad has a variety of flavors and textures, featuring a medley of sweet roasted beets, creamy goat cheese, peppery arugula, delicate micro greens, and the satisfying crunch of roasted hazelnuts. This scrumptious salad is tossed with my luscious balsamic vinaigrette and finished with a drizzle of decadent balsamic glaze.
These Spicy Caprese Skewers are just about one of the easiest and healthiest appetizers you can make. Made with sweet cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, pearl mozzarella, and drizzled with jalapeno olive oil and a rich balsamic glaze, these mini caprese appetizers have a spicy kick and are great any time of year. These especially spooky skewers make them perfect for Halloween! Whether you are entertaining at home, or making something for a potluck, don’t be surprised if they are the first hors d'oeuvres to be gobbled up at a party.
Not only are these Avocado Deviled Eggs a delicious treat, but they also pack a nutritious punch! Avocados are rich in heart-healthy fats, while eggs provide a protein boost, making this dish a wholesome option for health-conscious foodies. This quick and easy appetizer is a great option to serve when you have a variety of guests with dietary restrictions. This recipe is not only keto friendly, but it’s also vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, and gluten free!
These Sriracha Deviled Eggs are deliciously spicy and so easy to make. This 5 ingredient recipe can be made moderately spicy or off-the-charts hot, according to your taste. A few simple ingredients make all the difference in this spicy egg recipe. It’s hard to stop at two, so make sure you double or triple the recipe to have enough to go around at your next family gathering or for the big game!
This Cranberry Goat Cheese Log is great for entertaining! It has become my favorite appetizer to serve during the holiday season. Made with my Cranberry Topping, this goat cheese log has the perfect balance of sweetness, tartness, and tanginess. This quick and easy appetizer is delicious on crackers or freshly made crostini. To make it extra easy for entertaining, this recipe can be made in advance.
Classic Caprese Skewers are the easiest holiday appetizer ever! Simple ingredients like bite-sized mozzarella balls (Ciliegine), cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil are skewered, seasoned, and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and a balsamic glaze. These small bites of goodness are both tasty and quick to assemble, and a nice break from the heavy and rich appetizers served during the holidays. The “one-bite” size, fresh flavors, and festive colors, make these the perfect Christmas appetizer. And, they are keto friendly!
Baked Figs with Goat Cheese is an easy but impressive appetizer that your guests will love. This 5 ingredient recipe is quick to prepare and can be made ahead of time, making this a great choice for holiday entertaining. Fresh figs are stuffed with honey goat cheese, fresh sage, and walnuts, then warmed in the oven. Finished with a drizzle of honey, these figs are best served warm as a scrumptious and festive holiday appetizer.
Our Tomato Bruschetta is a lovely appetizer to serve before any meal. Garlic is slowly simmered in extra virgin olive oil, then combined with fresh vine ripened tomatoes, aged balsamic vinegar, and fresh basil. The quality of the ingredients is key in this easy recipe, since there are so few. The tangy and herby flavor pairs perfectly with our crusty homemade garlic crostini. This Tomato Bruschetta is sure to satisfy even the most traditional Italian palate.
Our Deviled Eggs are a deliciously smooth and creamy starter to any meal. As a fresh twist to this classic appetizer recipe, we used Dijon mustard and a touch of fresh lemon juice and zest to brighten the flavor. This easy recipe has only a few ingredients, and makes a perfect addition for a barbeque or picnic. To create a fancier hors d’oeuvre, just pipe on the deviled egg mixture to create a lovely swirl!
A traditional appetizer for a game day spread, these Easy Jalapeño Poppers bring delicious taste to this simple make ahead recipe! With a lightness and flavor that is not always found in the deep fried version of jalapeño poppers, our Easy Jalapeño Poppers are baked with panko breadcrumbs to make them crispy on the outside, and a secret ingredient to make the filling extra creamy and yummy. Easily customized to make them mildly spicy or extra hot, this appetizer is sure to please all who try them! And, can you believe these are healthy and even keto friendly?!
These Sweet & Spicy Cranberry Brie Bites are the perfect start to a special dinner. Served right out of the oven, these little bundles of sweet, tart, and mildly spicy flavor will bring a smile to your face. The traditional recipe was pimped up by combining my Cranberry Topping, orange zest, fresh rosemary, chopped pecans, and some cayenne pepper. These ingredients are baked atop brie cheese and puff pastry to give these delicious little appetizers a flavorful boost. They can easily be customized to your preference to make them milder or more spicy.
Our Asparagus, Leek & Asiago Puff Pastry Bundles are an easy and elegant appetizer to start off your holiday dinner. Sautéed leeks and rosemary asiago cheese are what make these asparagus puff pastry bundles recipe so unique. Combined with fresh asparagus and surrounded by a light and flaky puff pastry, this beautiful show stopper makes an impressive first course when entertaining any time of year.
These unctuous Bacon Wrapped Dates are salty, sweet, and tangy. Medjool dates are stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in bacon, and baked until they are golden and crispy. Then right out of the oven, these piping hot appetizers are brushed with a Maple Bourbon Glaze that seals in all that wonderful flavor. This easy appetizer recipe is the perfect choice for your next gathering, and using only 5 ingredients, it takes just a few minutes to prepare. These blissful bites will have your guests asking for more.
Need a quick hors d’oeuvres idea for entertaining guests with various dietary preferences? This cheeseboard easily satisfies omnivores, vegetarians, and gluten-free diets alike. It’s elegant, quick and easy to put together, and then there is that wonderful assortment of cheeses. You can’t go wrong with a Simple Cheeseboard as an appetizer!
Prepare your palate for the ultimate nachos! This Epic Chicken Nachos recipe is loaded with fresh ingredients, each of which have lots of flavor, and are actually good for you. Instead of standard chips, we used black bean flaxseed tortilla chips to boost the protein, fiber, and flavor of this dish. The result is a sheet pan full of deliciously loaded nachos that can generously serve 4 for a main dish, or 8 appetizer portions. This gluten-free recipe can also be converted to vegetarian!
Nothing satisfies like this spicy turkey avocado panini when you are craving some comfort food with a kick! Full of flavor and healthy ingredients, this is a delicious change from a traditional hot sandwich.
This Rustic Roasted Chicken Panini is loaded with flavor, and makes the perfect comfort food. Grilled sourdough combined with roasted chicken breast, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, gooey melted provolone and more yummy ingredients, makes this pressed sandwich the perfect comfort food for any time of year!
A simple French pairing gets a delicious twist in this Roasted Radish Crostoni recipe. Thick slices of fresh sourdough bread are toasted, then spread with creamy butter, sea salt flakes, and fresh dill, and topped with tender-crisp roasted radishes. The roasting brings out a mellow sweetness in the radishes while keeping their signature peppery bite, creating a tasty rustic appetizer or light snack.