When it comes to entertaining, cold appetizers are the perfect solution for keeping things simple, stylish, and stress-free.
When it comes to entertaining, I’m all about the make-ahead option. Whether I’m whipping up a cheeseball or my legendary trifle, I find the lack of time pressure makes the process so much more enjoyable, which always ends in a better result.
Plus I show at my event cool, calm, and collected, not all sweaty and sweary.
Cold appetizers are the ultimate make-ahead choice. In addition, whether you’re hosting a summer barbecue, a holiday party, or a casual get-together, cold appetizers have so much variety and adaptability. They cater to diverse tastes and dietary preferences, making it simple to please a crowd.
Plus they’re super easy to transport and serve, which means they work well for everything from buffets to outdoor picnics.
(Check out these tips for picnic dates for a creating a romantic picnic to remember).
Cold appetizers
Upgrade your game-day hosting with this effortless yet delicious easy vegetarian 7-Layer Dip! Made with just seven simple ingredients, this Mexican-inspired dip is a crowd-pleaser that takes mere minutes to assemble.
Homemade, creamy, fresh hummus. Three bold flavors: balsamic, roasted red peppers, and basil will have you eating this hummus straight from the bowl.
Baba Ganoush is a creamy vegan roasted eggplant dip flavored with tahini and aromatic oriental spices that pairs so well with fresh vegetables, falafel, bread and crackers.
Everything you love about buffalo chicken is wrapped inside a tortilla and served as an appetizer that everyone will love.
These adorable ladybug appetizers are the perfect bite-sized treat, made with simple ingredients like crackers, cheese, and veggies.
Cheese straws are a crispy, cheesy appetizer perfect for any occasion.
Cooked shrimp, punchy bites of red onion, jalapeño, and chunks of creamy avocado are added to a zingy shrimp cocktail sauce made with V8.
Here's the easiest way to make lox at home. You just need salmon, salt, pepper, and an abundance of time and patience.
These quick and easy caprese skewers with salami are the best appetizer when you're in a hurry but want to impress your guests. They're easy and only take 10 minutes to make.
These charcuterie skewers are a super fun appetizer for parties. They're hand held, bite sized antipasto and they combine meat, cheese and veggies-all on a stick.
Salty, sweet, creamy, and crunchy, this easy crostini recipe is an easy appetizer recipe for any reason throughout the year.
With crunchy pickles, fresh dill, and a creamy base, this dill pickle dip is perfect with crackers, pretzels, or fresh veggies. Ideal for parties, game days, or casual gatherings.
These spring rolls or summer rolls are fresh, colorful, and refreshing, and the vegetables are wrapped in rice paper and served with spicy and delicious peanut dipping sauce.
It is hard to describe the wonder of this easy and quick appetizer. It has a flavor combination that rivals any dip out there.
This restaurant quality guacamole is made using fresh ingredients and a simple technique that makes it the best you'll ever have.
Add a bit of spice to your next party with this jalapeno popper cheese ball recipe! It is loaded with cream cheese, crispy bacon, cheddar, and just the right amount of heat from fresh jalapenos.
Mini cheese ball bites taste just like a loaded classic cheese ball but are mini size making them the perfect grab-and-go party appetizer.
These prosciutto rolls are an elegant and flavorful appetizer, combining the sweetness of fresh pear, the creamy tang of goat cheese (gorgonzola or other blue cheese types are perfect choices as well if you're like me and loathe goat cheese), and the peppery bite of arugula.
These delicious smoked salmon and dill canapes require only five ingredients and can be made in 10 minutes or less.
Delicately rolled in seaweed, this combination of succulent smoked salmon, crisp vegetables, creamy cream cheese and perfectly seasoned rice offers a harmonious dance of textures and tastes.
Stuffed grape leaves, also known as dolmas, are a staple in Mediterranean cuisine. This dish consists of grape leaves filled with a tantalizing mixture of rice, herbs, and seasonings, all rolled up and cooked until perfectly tender.
This spicy cheese ball recipe is a great party or game day appetizer. This tex mex cheese ball is an easy appetizer recipe that is great served with your favorite crackers, pretzels, or fresh veggies for dipping.
This corn crack dip is an easy creamy corn dip that is flavored with jalapeno peppers, green onions, and plenty of cheese and seasonings.
Tomato and olive bruschetta is a colourful salad made using Mediterranean vegetables and is used as a topping for toasted ciabatta.
These easy Italian pinwheels transform classic Italian sandwich ingredients – meats, cheese, and veggies – into delicious bite-sized portions that are perfect for parties.
Cold appetizers are a practical and delicious option for no fuss entertaining. Add some to your repertoire this summer.
If you loved the pinwheel sandwiches in this collection, make sure you check out the rollup roundup here.
If the savory dips are more your style, check out more here.
And if you’re all over dill pickles, get more of your fix here.