26 Appetizer Recipes to Kick Off Any Meal

Set the tone for your meals with these 26 appetizer recipes. From bite-sized snacks to shareable plates, each dish is packed with flavor and easy to prepare. Perfect for parties, weeknight dinners, or casual gatherings, these appetizers are sure to impress and leave everyone asking for more.

Keto Chicken Wings

These are the perfect keto chicken wings! Deliciously crispy and flavorful, this keto chicken wing recipe will leave your taste buds satisfied. These wings are bursting with flavor and will keep you wanting more.
Get the Recipe: Keto Chicken Wings

Easy Ham and Cheese Sliders

Ham and Cheese Sliders are delicious and easy appetizer that are great for holiday parties and pot lucks! Made with ham, mozzarella cheese, mustard, butter, poppy seeds, onions and of course Hawaiian rolls!
Get the Recipe: Easy Ham and Cheese Sliders

Crispy Fried Panko Shrimp

Panko shrimp with dipping sauce. — Crispy Fried Panko Shrimp. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Crispy and delicious fried panko shrimp will satisfy any seafood lover. Enjoy this tasty dish with your favorite sides or dipping sauce!
Get the Recipe: Crispy Fried Panko Shrimp

Paneer Pakora

Bite into a crispy, hot Paneer Pakora and it’s not hard to see why this north Indian snack is so popular. Pieces of tender paneer are batter fried to a crispy, crunchy golden brown.
Get the Recipe: Paneer Pakora

Thai Fish Cakes

Thai Fish Cakes or Tod Mun Pla are loaded with layers of intense flavors from Thai curry paste, cilantro, and fish sauce.
Get the Recipe: Thai Fish Cakes

Eggplant Napoleons with Whipped Ricotta

Stack of breaded eggplant slices layered with whipped feta and roasted tomatoes on a decorative plate, with a fork and knife on the side. — Eggplant Napoleons with Whipped Ricotta. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Eggplant Napoleons shine with crisp fried eggplant, whipped ricotta, and slow-roasted cherry tomatoes, all layered to perfection and topped with fresh thyme. Light yet indulgent, they’re ideal for an appetizer or a refined light meal.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Napoleons with Whipped Ricotta

Rattlesnake Bites

A hand with blue nail polish pulling apart a cheesy rattlesnake bite with jalapenos. — Rattlesnake Bites. Photo credit: Baking Beauty.

My rattlesnake bites have melty cheese and spicy jalapenos inside an ultra-crispy breading. This copycat Texas Roadhouse recipe tastes like a mozzarella stick, and a jalapeno popper had a baby!
Get the Recipe: Rattlesnake Bites

Southwest Egg Rolls

These super crunchy southwest egg rolls are filled with perfectly spiced chicken and melty cheese.
Get the Recipe: Southwest Egg Rolls

Crab Cream Cheese Wontons

A plate of crab wontons garnished with green onions. — Crab Cream Cheese Wontons. Photo credit: Baking Beauty.

Super crispy wontons stuffed with a juicy and flavorful crab filling. This delicious appetizer is cheaper and faster than takeout!
Get the Recipe: Crab Cream Cheese Wontons

Cheeseburger Egg Rolls

A cut open egg roll showing cheese, hamburger meat, and pickles. — Cheeseburger Egg Rolls. Photo credit: Baking Beauty.

These cheeseburger eggrolls have perfectly seasoned ground beef, and melty cheese inside an ultra-crispy shell. They taste like a cheeseburger in egg roll form. Can't decide between fast food or Chinese, now you can have both!
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Egg Rolls

Deep Fried Mac and Cheese

A deep fried macaroni and cheese ball being dipped in marinara. — Deep Fried Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Baking Beauty.

Creamy macaroni and melty cheese coated in a crispy, crunchy batter. Satisfy your craving with this tasty appetizer!
Get the Recipe: Deep Fried Mac and Cheese

Mouth-Watering Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls Recipe

A plate of crispy egg rolls filled with beef, green and red peppers. A small dish of dipping sauce is visible on the side. — Mouth-Watering Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls Recipe. Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

Philly cheesesteak egg rolls are the perfect combination of the aroma of sizzling steak, melted cheese, and fresh vegetables. They add a delicious twist on classic traditional Chinese egg rolls.
Get the Recipe: Mouth-Watering Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls Recipe

Creamy Coconut Shrimp Buffet Style- Quick and Easy

Juicy shrimp cooked in creamy coconut sauce, just like buffet-style on a black plate. — Creamy Coconut Shrimp Buffet Style- Quick and Easy. Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

Creamy coconut Shrimp buffet style is a popular Chinese appetizer that has been adapted to American tastes.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Coconut Shrimp Buffet Style- Quick and Easy

Extra Crispy Tater Tots Croquettes

Extra Crispy Keto Tater Tots Croquettes inside white bowl. — Extra Crispy Tater Tots Croquettes. Photo credit: Low Carb - No Carb.

This super easy and extra crispy Tater Tots Croquettes Recipe made with only 3 ingredients is the best side dish you can have. Fluffy and soft from inside, golden and extra crunchy from outside, those kid friendly, dairy-free, gluten-free, low carb tots will change your life forever.
Get the Recipe: Extra Crispy Tater Tots Croquettes

Crispy Low Carb Tortilla Chips Gluten-Free

Keto Tortilla Chips with gucamole behind. — Crispy Low Carb Tortilla Chips Gluten-Free. Photo credit: Low Carb - No Carb.

Extra crispy Low Carb Tortilla Chips made with only 3 ingredients will be on your table as the best snack. Better than doritos or nachos for sure. Fully gluten-free, made from low carb flours and no cheese whatsoever, the crunchiest ever savory snacking is here.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Low Carb Tortilla Chips Gluten-Free

Fried Cheese Balls

Our Homemade Fried Cheese Balls made with only one and a half ingredients are going to be your next appetizer for a perfect game night, Super Bowl, home entertaining, or just a snack for your lunch box. Fully low carb, gluten-free, grain-free, and perfect for diabetics, those cheese puffs balls will be great crispy cheddar bites whenever needed.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cheese Balls

Mini Spicy Canned Salmon Patties

These Mini Spicy Canned Salmon Patties are a delicious appetizer that can be made in just 30 minutes. They are made with ingredients like canned salmon, jalapeño, and a touch of cayenne pepper. They are pan-fried until golden brown before being topped off with a drizzle of lemon dill aioli.
Get the Recipe: Mini Spicy Canned Salmon Patties

Sweet Potato Fritters with Sweet & Spicy Sauce

A serving basket of sweet potato fritters next to a bowl of dipping sauce and a single serving on a plate. — Sweet Potato Fritters with Sweet & Spicy Sauce. Photo credit: Renee Nicole's Kitchen.

Sweet potato fritters are pan-fried until crispy & served with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce. An easy-to-make appetizer perfect for game day!
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fritters with Sweet & Spicy Sauce

Crispy Fried Onions Recipe

A bowl with crispy fried onions. — Crispy Fried Onions Recipe. Photo credit: Tiny Batch Cooking.

Crispy fried onions are so satisfying. Their golden crunch makes even simple dishes better, like magic. Store-bought ones have preservatives and don’t taste as good as homemade ones. When cooking for one or two, making small batches of crispy fried onions is perfect because you enjoy them at their freshest.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Fried Onions Recipe

Crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings

A pile of crispy fried onion rings rests on parchment paper, accompanied by a small bowl of red dipping sauce in the background. — Crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Few things beat the smell of crispy onion rings on a cozy weekend. These Crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings deliver the perfect crunch, making them a must alongside burgers or as a snack on their own.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings

Coxinhas – Brazilian Chicken Croquettes

A Brazilian Coxinha on a serving plate with a bite taken out of it. — Coxinhas – Brazilian Chicken Croquettes. Photo credit: The Honour System.

Coxinhas are crispy chicken croquettes that are a popular street food choice in Brazil. Learn how to make this delicious Brazilian snack in two ways – baked and fried!
Get the Recipe: Coxinhas – Brazilian Chicken Croquettes

Smoked Gouda and Ricotta Fritters

Close-up of hands pulling apart a crispy, golden-brown, fried cheese ball, revealing melted cheese inside. More cheese balls are visible in a bowl in the background. — Smoked Gouda and Ricotta Fritters. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

I’d host a weekly cocktail party just for these Smoked Gouda and Ricotta Fritters. With a crisp golden crust and a smoky, creamy center, they’re downright irresistible. Think of them as the love child of an Arancini and a Gougère—pure cheesy perfection!
Get the Recipe: Smoked Gouda and Ricotta Fritters

Pan-Fried Dumplings

Pan-fried dumplings are a type of Chinese dumpling that is pan-fried with the bottoms of the wrapper remaining intact.
Get the Recipe: Pan-Fried Dumplings

Chinese Egg Rolls

A plate of crispy egg rolls, some cut open to reveal a filling of vegetables and meat. A small dish of dipping sauce is nearby on a speckled black surface. — Chinese Egg Rolls. Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

Chinese Egg rolls are a traditional Chinese dish, they are one of the most popular snacks in Chinese cuisine.
Get the Recipe: Chinese Egg Rolls

Low Carb French Toast

Keto French Toast slices layered on top of each other. — Low Carb French Toast. Photo credit: Low Carb - No Carb.

Our Low Carb French Toast recipe done in less than 5 minutes with proper French brioche toast bread is a perfectly fluffy, rich, sweet, and high in protein breakfast choice. Fully low carb, grain-free, gluten-free, and diabetic friendly, this low carb french toast will be loved by the whole family.
Get the Recipe: Low Carb French Toast