16 Appetizer Recipes for Easy Entertaining

Do you enjoy opening your home to friends and family? I do too. As we head into the busiest entertaining time of the year, it’s always a good idea to have festive fare to offer your guests. It does not require complicated or elaborate recipes. Easy and fun appetizers set the tone for festive get togethers. Sixteen appetizer recipes shared here make for easy entertaining.

There’s a wide selection of recipes, including something for everyone, whether it’s a casual get together or a formal sit down dinner.

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Appetizers, Hors d’oeuvres, Starters and More…

An appetizer is a small dish or bite served before a meal to stimulate the appetite. These savory selections can be passed around on trays, or placed on an appetizer buffet spread or served as a starter at a sit down dinner. There’s versatility in these dishes which lend themselves from casual get togethers to more formal sit down occasions. Come on in and join me in the kitchen.

Reader Tip: By clicking on the links below the images you can view the original posts with more details, step by step recipes and additional photos.

Boards and Platters

Boards and platters lend themselves to buffet displays where guests can help themselves as they desire. This makes for jovial mixing and mingling , which can be prepped and set-up ahead of. time allowing the host to visit with guests.

Deviled Eggs Garnishment Board

Deviled eggs are amazingly creamy and rich on their own, but by adding some great toppings you just make it that much better and fun. Elevate your deviled egg game by adding a garnishment board. There is no right or wrong way to do this and the possibilities are endless. The toppings are based on culinary pairings and personal preferences, which are both equally important.

Caviar Station

Caviar is one of those luxury culinary delights.?There’s no better time to indulge than through the upcoming holiday season.?Although it might sound intimidating, preparing a caviar serving station is fairly simple with some key details. I prefer to set up a station with a few traditional caviar pairings, allowing guests to serve themselves.?

Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie boards are always crowd pleasers. The possibilities are endless, including cured meats, assorted cheeses, varied fruits, nuts, jams, chutneys, olives, crackers, bread… and the list goes on. Just remember to include some form of meat(s} since charcuterie means “cooked meats” in French. Offerings sans meats is simply a board of some type or other.

Finger Foods

Finger foods tend to be small pieces which can be easily picked up and eaten in one or a few bites. These small bites are versatile because they can be passed out on trays, which guest can easily pick up. Finger foods can also be arranged on a buffet appetizer display for guests to help themselves. They can also be placed as a starter on individual plates for a sit down dinner. The different options create a different atmosphere for your event. Do what works for the vibe you want to create.

Blue Cheese Crostini

This super easy blue cheese crostini recipe will soon become a go to in your repertoire to share with friends and family. The recipe consists of only 3 ingredients and takes about 10 minutes to prepare. Seriously, can’t go wrong with this one.  These blue cheese crostini are perfect for entertaining, whether it’s just an intimate family affair or full blown soiree.

Quail Egg Stuffed Mushrooms

This quail egg stuffed mushroom recipe is sure to impress your family and guests, but the best part is that it’s fairly simple. Quail eggs are eaten and considered a delicacy in many parts of the world, but interesting enough I find them to taste very much like our regular, everyday chicken eggs. What I find attractive about them is their diminutive size, opening them up to creative culinary endeavors.

Stuffed Cherry Peppers

This silky stuffed cherry peppers recipe is a fantastic entertaining dish that will wow your guests, but yet it’s easy to put together. The silkiness of the Boursin herbed infused cheese is a great contrast to the tang of the cherry peppers. This is an easy recipe, which is very pretty to plate, making it a perfect entertaining dish.

Cheesy Crackers with Honeycomb

Honey and cheese is a wonderful combination and this honeycomb cheesy cracker appetizer idea elevates it to a new level. Homemade cheese crackers slathered with honey. Sounds yummy right? It’s truly scrumptious. Cheeses are often paired with many sweet offerings because the salt & sweet contrast is pleasing to our taste buds. 

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

Do you love a good tea sandwich? I do! I love their diminutive size, which only means you can eat more, right?   Tea sandwiches are not only for high tea, but make a great appetizer for a mixer, cocktail party or holiday soiree.  The quintessential tea sandwich is the cucumber sandwich.

Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches

This delicious smoked salmon tea sandwich version is somewhat special, and I share all the details. The smoked salmon version of the diminutive tea sandwiches gives me all the special occasion vibes. Making tea sandwiches in different shapes, triangles, circles, rectangles etc. creates wonderful presentations.

Manchego Cheese & Serrano Ham Finger Sandwiches

This finger tea sandwich with a twist is stacked with classic fSpanish flavors to develop a unique tea sandwich. Serrano ham with Manchego cheese and a quince paste spread to meld all the flavors together. It’s the mix of sweet and salty with subtle textures, which brings everything together with a burst of flavor.

Prosciutto & Melon

Prosciutto and melon is a classic combination. It is a very fresh and versatile food to serve, which can be presented in a variety of ways.  Although it’s perfect as skewered bites, it can also be plated as you can see on the original post. There are three ingredients for the basic recipe, which makes it fairly simple to assemble. There is no cooking involved so it’s super easy all the way around.

Caprese Skeweres

The caprese combination is another classic dish. It can be assembled as bite size skewers with grape or cherry tomatoes. It can also be plated with heirloom tomatoes and large fresh mozzarella wedges for a beautiful presentation.

Artsy Displays

These are fun displays of otherwise basic appetizer options. Everyone loves a scrumptious charcuterie board., but arranging it as a holiday wreath amps up the festive vibes. Dips and spreads are also easy and comforting options for gatherings, which displayed in a clever manner also creates a jovial vibe..

Charcuterie Wreath

Learn to make this fabulous charcuterie edible wreath, and you will wow your friends and family time and time again. It’s easier to make than it looks, and it can be adapted to many tastes and culinary preferences.

Floral Crudités

This flower crudités appetizer platter is festive and fun and deliciously healthy. It can be adapted to different seasons and events, depending on the selection used. Darker and moodier veggies would be perfect for the Autumnal feels.

Soups

Soups can be hot or cold and lend themselves to a sit down environment. Although soups can also be served in small individual containers where guests can help themselves, just make sure you supply spoons.

Vichyssoise

Have you heard of Vichyssoise? It’s one of my favorites soups. I will show you how it’s not only delicious, but it’s the best soup for entertaining your guests with a big wow factor. Vichyssoise {vee-shee-SWAHZ} is basically a potato leek soup, but since it’s served cold or room temperature, it makes a great choice for entertaining.

Roasted Tomato Boursin Soup

Have you heard of the viral Boursin tomato soup? This is my take on this silky, creamy, delicious soup. The soup is not only delicious, but it’s also fairly easy to prepare. The depth of flavor will have you believe otherwise, but my method streamlines the cooking process, making it simple and unlocking the key to an uncomplicated dish.

Of course sallads are always fabulous as starters as well. This post {The Best Salad Recipes for Any Occasion} has many options you might enjoy. I like playing in the kitchen and if this is your jam as well and you like to entertain and share with others, consider signing up so you don’t miss any new content. There are some new seasonal recipes scheduled for the blog soon.

Reader Tip: By clicking on the links below the images you can view the original posts with more details, step by step recipes and additional photos.

Closing Thoughts

I hope some of these selections speak to you and help you in the upcoming busy months during the entertaining season. There is a wide array of options from more elaborate canapés to simpler offerings. The key to entertaining is to remain relaxed, which puts your guests at ease.

If you try any of these recipes, please let me know. I would love to hear. Thanks for dropping by today and can’t wait to see you next time.  Au revoir!

Shopping the Look for Easy Entertaining

• White Platters are perfect for entertaining and I love the scalloped edges on these Ceramic Serving Platter Set
• This set of white platters has clean lines Large Serving Platter Set 16/14/12inch Large Serving Tray – Rectangular White Serving Trays for Party
• I absolutely love this MACKENZIE-CHILDS Enamel Round Tray, Unique Serving Platter for Food and Drinks, Green-and-White Emerald Check
• This is a lovely platter for Fall Pfaltzgraff Autumn Berry Oval Platter, 14-3/4-Inch x 11-Inch
• A basic wooden board is key 16′ Round Cutting Board, Artisan Crafted from Mango Wood, Elegant Wooden Serving Platter for Charcuterie, Appetizers, Cheese Displays, Entertaining, Dinner Parties, and Stylish Home Decor
• This tired tray is a great Vertical Solution 3 Tier Serving Trays for Party, Porcelain Serving Platters and Trays, 12 Inch Tiered Tray Stand
• If blue is your jam, these platters are really pretty with a vintage vibe Lynns Paradise Royal Rose 14-Inch Oval Platter, Set of 2, Blue
• Love all the beautiful details on this Spode Christmas Tree Ribbons Square Platter with Bow Handles – 11-Inch Holiday Serving Plate for Desserts, Appetizers, & Treats
• I always love me some Lenox Serveware, Holiday Serving Platter, Service for, 1 15.25-Inch Ivory Porcelain Dishwasher Safe, Winter Hosting
• This would be fantastic for a New Year’s Eve soiree Gold Rock Edge Cheese Tray – Luxurious Gold Plated Serving Platter for Cheese, Fruits, and Appetizer

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A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.”

Thomas Kelller

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