55 Healthier Party Apps That Are Worth Adding To Your Menu This Year
Dietary restrictions should never stand in the way of a party.
When you finish figuring out your party guest list, there's bound to be a few last-minute invites coming along, namely your guest's dietary restrictions. And if you're throwing a party, you know it's only as good as the appetizers you serve. As far as we're concerned, healthy appetizers do not have to be boring or involve sad "health" food. "Healthy" can mean so many different things too, so we made sure to prioritize flavor in all of our healthy app recipes, whether you're dealing with gluten-free, keto, or vegan diets or simply just trying to add a bit of healthy variety to your diet. With appetizers like harissa deviled eggs and cranberry whipped feta dip, you won't feel like you're missing out on anything at the snack table!
One of our favorite easiest ways to keep everyone at the party happy is setting out all kinds of dips. Let's be real, can anyone resist a dip? Thankfully, you can make them great for any dietary restrictions by adjusting your dip vehicle (we like cucumbers, carrot sticks, and even sweet potato chips). Whether you want something a little decadent or something bright and light, we've got tons of dip options. Some of our favorites? Our recipes for avocado hummus, cowboy caviar, and veggie dip are undisputed favorites, and our chipotle vegan queso has even fooled a few non-vegans.
Want to keep this party going? We've got even more appetizer inspiration, including perfectly portioned bite-sized appetizers and easy last-minute apps. And don't forget the cocktails either! These holiday cocktail recipes and classic cocktails are just the right kind of balanced for us.
Air Fryer Loaded Zucchini Skins
These loaded zucchini skins are a fresh twist on potato skins. They're stuffed with cheddar, tomato, and avocado for intense flavor you're gonna love.
Caprese Bites
This is the easiest appetizer that always wins, particularly when you make your own balsamic glaze.
Get the Caprese Bites recipe.
Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
Bacon-wrapped scallops are one of those dishes that wow guests but secretly are so easy to make (only 5 ingredients!). For best results, use big sea scallops and thin-cut, conventional bacon, but feel free to swap out the herbs for whatever you like.
Get the Bacon-Wrapped Scallops recipe.
Cowboy Caviar
Some call it Cowboy Caviar; others call it Texas Caviar. Different names, same idea, and lots of variations—we love ours for how delicious and health-supportive it is. Black-eyed peas contain vitamin K, black beans aid in lowering blood pressure, and avocados contain omega-3 fatty acids. 😍
Get the Cowboy Caviar recipe.
Whipped Ricotta With Olives & Roasted Red Peppers
Whipped ricotta is beyond easy to make, even though it sounds so delicate and fancy. Topping with marinated olives and roasted red peppers gives the dip a briny flavor, and the red and green makes it extra festive.
Get the Whipped Ricotta With Olives & Roasted Red Peppers recipe.
Baked Salmon Sushi Cups
Making sushi at home can be intimidating. With these baked salmon sushi cups, you can skip all that but still get all the flavors of your favorite roll. Baked in mini muffin tins, these also come together fast, making them perfect to serve as a bite-sized app at your next party.
Get the Baked Salmon Sushi Cups recipe.
Best Guacamole
We can all agree: it's not a party without Mexico’s most famous dip. We're obviously huge fans of a mix-in moment, but for this recipe, we prefer to keep it simple to really let the star of the show—avocados—shine.
Get the Best Guacamole recipe.
Brown Butter Radish Crostini
Crunchy, peppery red radishes are underrated, so we decided to give them the spotlight in this fresh crostini. Queue sweet, caramelized brown butter, whipped into an unctuous cloud: the perfect foil for paper-thin radish rounds. While it may sound fancy, it all comes together in under 30 minutes for an app to impress.
Get the Brown Butter Radish Crostini recipe.
Herby Baked Falafel Bites with Spicy Mint Tahini Dip
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these falafel are baked, not fried, for less mess. Chickpea flour is your new best friend in this gluten-free treat.
Get the Herby Baked Falafel Bites with Spicy Mint Tahini Dip recipe.
Air Fryer Everything Bagel Avocado Fries
Meet the love child of two iconic breakfasts: toasted everything bagel with cream cheese and savory avocado toast. Their superpowers combine in these irresistible avocado fries, which rely on the magical air fryer for their crisp texture rather than deep-frying. Enjoy them as an app or snack any time of day.
Get the Air Fryer Everything Bagel Avocado Fries recipe.
Roasted Shrimp Cocktail With Lemon-Horseradish Aioli
We’re opting for roasting instead of the traditional poaching method to give this old-school appetizer even more flavor. The shrimp are paired with a horseradish-forward sauce to create a perfect winter-season appetizer. Serve the shrimp cocktail warm or chilled to suit your snacking occasion.
Get the Roasted Shrimp Cocktail With Lemon-Horseradish Aioli recipe.
Harissa Deviled Eggs
The bite-sized party classic gets a smoky kick from harissa (Tunisian chili pepper paste) in this simple but flavorful deviled eggs recipe. Topped with crispy fried shallots and fresh cilantro, it may stray pretty far from the original, but it’s just as delicious.
Get the Harissa Deviled Eggs recipe.
Homemade Hummus
Hummus is one of our favorite dips, made even better by how simple it is to make. Made from blending chickpeas, tahini, and a few other simple ingredients in a food processor, it’s the easiest last-minute appetizer for any get-together.
Get the Homemade Hummus recipe.
Air Fryer Tempura-Inspired Green Beans
Here, we set out to make crispy delicious green beans, minus the deep-frying. Our solve? Panko bread crumbs and your air fryer, which give the benefit of tempura's delicious crunch, without the need for a pot of hot, spattering oil or a classic tempura batter (since wet batters don't do well in the air fryer).
Bacon Guac Bombs
Bacon + guacamole = our ideal combo always. Put them in bite-sized form like these in these snack bombs, and we truly can't get enough. Homemade guacamole is rolled into pieces of bacon in these keto-friendly apps that are just as perfect for snacking on throughout the day as they are at your next party.
Get the Bacon Guac Bombs recipe.
Steamed Edamame
Simple, steamed edamame is an amazing snack that is nutritious and comes together really quickly. The little soybeans are endlessly poppable and are a fun, hands-on hors d'oeuvre (especially with the addition of our homemade chicken-salt).
Get the Steamed Edamame recipe.
Muhammara
Looking for a last-minute app? Add this sweet and tangy roasted red pepper dip to your next dinner party menu. Muhammara comes together in just a few minutes using jarred roasted red peppers and a food processor.
Get the Muhammara recipe.
Mushroom “Calamari” with Spicy Marinara
Umami-rich oyster mushrooms are lightly battered and fried for this squid-free take on a seafood favorite. You can use other mushroom varieties, but the delicate “petals” of the oyster mushrooms get especially crispy.
Get the Mushroom “Calamari” with Spicy Marinara recipe.
Homemade Falafel
Boasting a crisp, golden-brown exterior and a center that’s soft, tender, and packed with chickpeas and fresh herbs, our favorite homemade falafel recipe hits all those classic Middle Eastern flavors and familiar street food vibes.
Get the Homemade Falafel recipe.
Air Fryer Tuscan Stuffed Mushrooms
These poppable snacks harness umami to the power of three. Savory mushrooms, sweet and tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and nutty Parmesan combine for irresistible bites you’ll be craving long after they’re gone (so make extra!).
