If you’re having a party, you may want to provide small snacks or appetizers instead of a full meal. Some appetizers can be quite costly. Of course the cost will vary based on how many people, but the following appetizers should be pretty cost effective.
Protein
The following appetizer ideas contain protein. Make sure to offer toothpicks with these appetizers.
- Pigs in a blanket
- Jelly meatballs
- BBQ Lil smokies
- Lil smokies (grape & chili sauce)
- Mini corn dogs
- Bacon crackers (bacon, brown sugar, cracker)
- Sausage balls
- Big Mac bites
- Cheese, meat, olive kabob
- Wings
- Mini quiche
- Pickle roll ups (pickle, cream cheese & ham)
- Blt kabobs
- Deviled eggs
Vegetables
These are some specific vegetable ideas.
- Celery & pb or cream cheese
- Jalapeño poppers
- Deep fried pickles
- Potato skins
- Tot kabobs
- Caprese salad kabobs
Salad
The first two salads are meant to be eaten as is (make sure to provide spoons), the rest are good with chopped veggies, crackers, or in a mini sandwich.
- Pasta salad
- Fruit salad
- Egg salad
- Tuna salad
- Chicken salad
- Salmon salad
- Crab salad
- Ham salad
Bacon Wrapped
All of the following appetizer ideas are bacon wrapped items. To make them wrap raw bacon around the fully prepared and cooked (if necessary) food, stab with a toothpick, and bake at 425 for 15-20 minutes
- Bacon wrapped shrimp
- Bacon wrapped pineapple
- Bacon wrapped Brussels sprouts
- Bacon wrapped carrots
- Bacon wrapped dates
- Bacon wrapped tater tots
- Bacon wrapped asparagus
- Bacon wrapped green beans
- Bacon wrapped water chestnuts
- Bacon wrapped meatballs
- Bacon wrapped lil smokies
Dips
The following dips can all be eaten with crackers. Some are great with veggies, and a few sweet options are perfect for fruit.*
- Buffalo chicken dip
- Bean dip
- Spinach dip
- Artichoke dip
- Spinach artichoke dip
- Ranch dip
- Clam dip
- Crab dip
- Fruit dip*
- Taco dip
- Pickle dip
- Pizza dip
- Mediterranean dip
- Piña colada dip (coconut, pineapple, cottage cheese)*
- Guac
- Salsa
- Hummus
- Cream cheese, fruit, spicy pepper*
Other
The following items don’t really fit into another category, but they are great appetizers.
- Charcuterie board
- Veggie tray
- Bruschetta
- Pinwheel sandwiches
- Mini sandwiches
- Sliders
- Cheese balls
- Mozzarella sticks
- Dumplings
- Queso
