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90 Easy Bite-Sized Appetizers For The Best Party Ever

Entertaining (or just really, really love tiny, bite-sized snacks)? These apps got you covered.

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pigs in a blanket quilted with crescent dough and topped with flaky salt
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Fact: Bigger does not always mean better, and that's absolutely the case when it comes to our snacks. Sure, fine, we are by no means scientists here at Delish, but we know one thing is 100% fact: When it comes to appetizers, we say the smaller the food, the tastier it is. Could this be why we love pigs in a blanket so much? Probably! When you can eat these appetizers in two bites, it means you and your guests can eat lots of fried goat cheese bites, bang bang shrimp, meatball sub bites, and chicken empanadas. Whether you want fancy little puff pastry bites or the classics like stuffed mushrooms and bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers, we have 90 bite-sized finger food recipes that are going to be perfect for your next dinner party, game day tailgate, or holiday potluck.

Want to really impress your guests? Try our easy (yet impressive) apps that are sure to stun. Crispy fried calamari (or even mushroom "calamari"!) couldn't be simpler to whip up. The same is true for our recipes for cheesy shrimp and grit bites, our arancini, and our Taiwanese popcorn chicken. In a rush? Check out all our best quick, last-minute appetizers. Our make-ahead appetizer recipes are like a tasty gift to your future self too.

With all these appetizers working their way around the room, you're going to need some cocktails and mocktails to go with them. Shake things up with our recipes for our best classic cocktails and our best after-dinner cocktails. If you need to stock up your bar cart, check out our favorite gin, tequila, vodka, and non-alcoholic spirit recommendations. Serving a crowd? Try one of our many big-batch cocktails so you can focus on your guests (and those apps!). Whatever you do. don't forget dessert either! These potluck-friendly dessert ideas will keep your spread looking like you hired a pro to do it.

1

Buffalo Chicken Biscuit Bombs

biscuits with buffalo chicken inside
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

If you're craving something that’s equal parts spicy, cheesy, and downright delicious, these buffalo chicken biscuit bombs are about to become your new favorite snack. Whether you're hosting game day, satisfying a late-night craving, or just looking for a crowd-pleasing appetizer, these bite-sized bombs deliver the ultimate comfort food experience. Serve them with a side of ranch or blue cheese dressing for the perfect dip—because let's face it, the best part of buffalo wings is always the sauce!

Get the Buffalo Chicken Biscuit Bombs recipe.

2

Pigs In A Quilt

pigs in a blanket quilted with crescent dough and topped with flaky salt
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

We're sure you’ve heard of pigs in a blanket, but have you heard of pigs in a quilt? Pigs in a blanket are one of the best make-ahead party bites, but it’s time they get an upgrade. Here, we swap crescent dough wrapped around the hot dog with a quilt made with woven crescent dough. All you need is some hot dogs, classic crescent dough, and egg wash for a shiny golden finish.

Get the Pigs In A Quilt recipe.

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3

Peanut Chicken Wonton Cups

shredded rotisserie chicken gets tossed in a spicy sweet peanut sauce, stuffed in a crispy baked wonton shell, and topped with bright, colorful, and crunchy veggies to make this easy two bite app
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you’re tired of appetizers that are harder to assemble than the entrée, you’ve come to the right place. These peanut chicken wonton cups are super simple to put together and packed with flavor. Tender shredded rotisserie chicken gets tossed in a spicy-sweet peanut sauce, stuffed in a crispy baked wonton shell, and topped with bright, colorful, and crunchy veggies to make this easy two-bite app.

Get the Peanut Chicken Wonton Cups recipe.

4

Air Fryer Deviled Eggs

air fryer deviled eggs
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Don’t look now, but we put deviled eggs in the air fryer. And guess what? They’re real good. Like, never-make-a-deviled-egg-the-same-way-again good. We know, it’s bold to try a new take on a traditional recipe of which most people have very strong opinions, but it was worth it. And while we love a classic deviled egg, these texture- and flavor-packed air fryer deviled eggs have got us giddy.

Get the Air Fryer Deviled Eggs recipe.

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5

Cheese Ball Bites

cheese ball bites with pretzel sticks
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

These easy bites are perfect for any holiday celebration. We love their little pretzel handles, but feel free to leave them out or even make one huge cheeseball instead!

Get the Loaded Cheese Ball Bites recipe.

6

Mozzarella-Stuffed Pretzel Bites

pretzel bites topped with salt with mozzarella in the middle
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

These mozzarella-stuffed pretzel bites are the perfect after-school or game day bite-sized appetizers. The best part is that they’re made with just three ingredients: store-bought pizza dough, mozzarella cheese sticks, and flaky salt.

Get the Mozzarella-Stuffed Pretzel Bites recipe.

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7

Carbonara Deviled Eggs

carbonara deviled eggs topped with pecorino romano and crispy pancetta
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

If deviled eggs had a classy Italian cousin, she would be these carbonara deviled eggs. Loaded with cheese and topped with crispy pancetta bits, these carbonara deviled eggs are coming to rock whatever party they join.

Get the Carbonara Deviled Eggs recipe.

8

Spinach Dip Rolls

chopped spinach, marinated artichokes, and three types of cheese rolled into flaky puff pastry, topped with everything bagel seasoning, and baked until golden brown
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Only doing passed apps, but really craving spinach artichoke dip? These rolls are the answer. To create this easy app, chopped spinach, marinated artichokes, and three types of cheese are rolled into flaky puff pastry, topped with everything bagel seasoning, and baked until golden brown.

Get the Spinach Dip Rolls recipe.

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9

Buffalo Blitz Bites

classic buffalo chicken dip with chopped chicken, cream cheese, cheddar, blue cheese, hot sauce, and chives baked into a crisp puff pastry shell until bubbling and golden
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

For these Buffalo Blitz Bites, we took classic Buffalo chicken dip mix—chopped chicken, cream cheese, cheddar, blue cheese, hot sauce, and chives—and baked it into a crisp puff pastry shell until bubbling and golden. Instead of eating the celery and carrots on the side, we tossed them in some apple cider vinegar and added them on top, making this a one-stop shop for all your favorite game-day flavors.

Get the Buffalo Blitz Bites recipe.

10

Cranberry Brie Jalapeño Poppers

jalapeños stuffed with brie and wrapped with bacon, topped with cranberry sauce on a sheet tray
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Cranberry brie bites are by far one of our favorite appetizers for the holidays, but jalapeño poppers also have place in our hearts too... So why not combine them? The spice of the jalapeño goes so well with the tart cranberries.

Get the Cranberry Brie Jalapeño Poppers recipe.

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11

Fried Mashed Potato Balls

fried balls filled with leftover mashed potatoes
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This recipe turns leftover mashed potatoes into magical, fried bites of savory deliciousness. Ready in 25 minutes, these delish creations are a perfect last-minute appetizer when you want something a bit different than your average mashed potatoes, or simply need a fun take on classic comfort food.

Get Fried Mashed Potato Balls recipe.

12

Croque Monsieur Bites

ham and cheese bites in puff pastry
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Is there any better combo than ham and cheese? Well, yes: ham, cheese, and puff pastry. Oh, and a creamy béchamel sauce... we’ll explain. We took the croque monsieur, a classic French sandwich made with toasty bread, melty cheese, salty ham, and a silky béchamel, and turned it into an appetizer that hits all the high notes.

Get the Croque Monsieur Bites recipe.

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13

Pepper Jelly & Cream Cheese Bites

pepper jelly and cream cheese bites
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

If you're a big fan of a block of cream cheese served alongside a jar of pepper jelly, this is the app for you. It's a slightly elevated spin that doesn't take too much extra effort, thanks to store-bought puff pastry.

Get the Pepper Jelly & Cream Cheese Bites recipe.

14

Crispy Hot Honey Cauliflower Nuggets

crispy hot honey cauliflower nuggets drizzled with hot honey sauce on parchment paper
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If chicken nuggets with honey mustard were your childhood fave, prepare to meet your new obsession. Coated with toasty bread crumbs and drizzled in a ridiculously unputdownable hot honey sauce, these crispy cauliflower nuggets are reinventing that childhood snack into a sweet and spicy sensation. Oh—and did we mention they’re also vegan?

Get the Crispy Hot Honey Cauliflower Nuggets recipe.

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15

Cheesy Scalloped Potato & Ham Stacks

layers of russet potatoes soaked in fresh thyme, seasoned half and half, and parmesan layered thinly sliced ham and topped each with melty cheddar cheese
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

Fans of our viral potato au gratin stacks, gather 'round! These cheesy scalloped potato and ham stacks are bound to be your next go-to app. They're just like the OG, but to make them their own thing, we added thinly sliced ham and topped each stack with melty cheddar cheese.

Get the Cheesy Scalloped Potato & Ham Stacks recipe.

16

Pigs In A Blanket

pigs in a blanket with a mustard dippings sauce
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

There's something very classic about the crescent roll dough flavor, so we tend to gravitate toward it, but puff pastry or even biscuit dough should work here too.

Get the Pigs In A Blanket recipe.

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17

Chicken Nuggets

homemade chicken nuggets
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

Want to feel like a kid again? Make homemade chicken nuggets. Coated in crispy seasoned bread crumbs, these tender, juicy bites are hard to beat. The recipe may technically serve 2 to 4, but we’ve definitely demolished an entire tray all by ourselves.

Get the Chicken Nuggets recipe.

18

Bacon Guac Bombs

bacon guac bombs
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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 a tailgate party.

Get the Bacon Guac Bombs recipe.

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19

Sausage Bundles

crescent roll bundles filled with a sausage mixture
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Looking for a quick and easy appetizer to serve at your next gathering? It doesn’t get any easier than these little bundles of deliciousness. With only three ingredients, they come together pretty fast, and believe us, that’s a great thing because the sooner they’re ready to be devoured, the better.

Get the Sausage Bundles recipe.

20

Sweet Potato Crescent Bites

sweet potato crescent bites
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Just like our famous cranberry brie bites, these little guys are hard to put down! They're the perfect amount of sweet and savory, so you can serve them before or after a holiday meal.

Get the Sweet Potato Crescent Bites recipe.

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