31 Best Hearty Appetizer Recipes

1Mac & Cheese Pizza Bites mac and cheese with pepperonis in a muffin tin shape PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON2Sausage Rolls

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3Bacon Guac BombsPHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE4Buffalo Chicken MeatballsPHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

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5Maple Cranberry Baked Brie wrapped baked brie topped with cranberry and maple and served with crackers PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Get your holiday parties started right with this seasonal spin on classic baked brie. An easy-to-make homemade maple and cranberry jam gets layered into buttery puff pastry-wrapped brie, then drizzled with maple syrup for an app no one will be able to stop eating.

Get the Maple Cranberry Baked Brie recipe.

6Crab Cake Egg Rolls jumbo lump crab, tossed with mayo, chili garlic sauce, and old bay seasoning, folded in a wonton wrapper, then deep fried until deep golden brown and crisp PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

These two-bite beauties combine the decadence of a crab cake, and the crisp-chewy texture of your favorite take-out side all into one platter-friendly package. Fresh jumbo lump crab gets tossed with scallions, panko, a little bit of mayo, and Old Bay seasoning, then snuggly wrapped in a wonton wrapper before taking a dunk in hot oil until golden brown.

Get the Crab Cake Egg Rolls recipe.

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7Ham and Cheese Pinwheels close up of ham and cheese pinwheels garnished with poppy seeds Joel Goldberg

These ham and cheese pinwheels are made easy using store-bought crescent roll dough. They’re chock-full of melty cheese and savory-sweet ham, topped with fresh parsley and toasty poppy seeds for texture and flavor you and your guests will love.

Get the Ham and Cheese Pinwheels recipe.

8Baked Feta Bites puff pastry with feta rosemary and peppers PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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9Air Fryer Crab CakesAndrew bui

Crab cakes are the best because you get all the deliciousness of crab without all of the tedious, messy work of pulling meat from the shells. Since you’re already skipping that mess, go even further and skip the pan-fry too. These are the ideal dish to cook in the air fryer, because you can get that perfect crispy texture without oil-logged cakes.

Get the Air Fryer Crab Cakes recipe.

10Smoked Trout Spread smoked trout spread with chives and dill PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

This easy-to-make appetizer is a guaranteed hit at any holiday party. Creamy, smoky, and bright, it’s delicious piled onto toasted bread, crackers, or crisp endive leaves.

Get the Smoked Trout Spread recipe.

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11Roasted Shrimp Cocktail With Lemon-Horseradish AioliPHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM12Cheesy Mini Meatball Skillet Dip mini meatball skillet dip garnished scallion and red onion PHOTO & FOOD STYLING: ANDREW BUI

Part cheese dip, part meatballs, this skillet dip is not only delicious, but a fun activity for the whole family. To keep it cute and easy-to-eat, mini-meatballs are the way to go. Gather up your little helpers, wash those hands clean, and get to shaping: You should yield at least 60 meatballs.

Get the Cheesy Mini Meatball Skillet Dip recipe.

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13Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs turkey meatballs covered in a red cranberry glaze PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON14Air Fryer Potstickers air fryer potstickers with bacon PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

We here at Delish love dumplings of all kinds, but making them completely from scratch can be a lot. If you want something that’s a little less work intensive (and you love using your air fryer), this recipe is all yours.

Get the Air Fryer Potstickers recipe.

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15Bacon-Wrapped Scallops bacon wrapped scallops Photographer: Lucy Schaeffer. Food Styling: Brooke Caison.

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.

16Air Fryer Pizza RollsPHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Good news for pizza roll lovers everywhere. The fastest way to make them is also the best way! Your air fryer cooks them up in just 8 minutes while making them the crispiest they’ve ever been. They will still be piping hot, so be careful on that first bite, just like always! It leaves us wondering how Bagel Bites and Hot Pockets will do.

Get the Air Fryer Pizza Rolls recipe.

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17Upside-Down Cream Of Mushroom Tartlets individual puff pastry squares topped with a cheesy mushroom duxelles, slices of roasted mushrooms, and fresh thyme PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON18Herby Baked Falafel Bites With Spicy Mint Tahini Dip green baked falafel with mint tahini sauce and pita on a pink plate EMILY HLAVAC GREEN

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19Buffalo Chicken Dip buffalo chicken dip in a skillet beside carrots, celery, and tortilla chips PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This instant classic remains a favorite of dip lovers everywhere. It’s so quick and easy to make. (This recipe only takes 10 minutes to throw together, though if you want to make it even EASIER, you can choose to make it in your slow cooker.)

Get the Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.

20Antipasto BundlesPHOTO; ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLIST; BARETT WASHBURNE

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