55 Easy Finger Food Recipes Everyone Will Love
Everyone knows that the most enticing part of any fete is the appetizers. (And don’t even get us started on cheese boards.) But it’s time to move beyond what you know about party foods: Let’s trade the standard crudités platters and chip dips for something a little more exciting. If you’re looking for inspiration, why not try one of these 55 easy finger foods recipes for a crowd? We've got everything from next-level pull-apart breads to bite-size poppers to even options for vegans. We’ll bring the wine—see you tonight.
RELATED: The Best Appetizer Recipes in the Whole Entire Universe
1. Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
Say hello to our new favorite flavor combination. Instead of crisping everything in a pan, these guys are made all on one sheet tray. Easy-peasy.
2. Spicy Pineapple Prosciutto Tarts
It’s like a Hawaiian pizza, but way fancier. Even better, everyone in the room will love them.
3. Baked Mac-and-Cheese Bites
Best to make a double batch of these. They’ll disappear faster than you can say “cheddar.”
4. Delicata Squash Rings with Garlic-Lemon Sauce
No need to peel your squash beforehand. Delicata’s thin skins are totally edible (and totally delicious).
5. Vegan Arancini
You’ll be sure to please all the plant-based eaters at the party, not to mention everyone else too.
6. Spicy Ricotta-Stuffed Phyllo Rolls
Looking to really shake things up? Look no further. These easy and unexpected phyllo bites are creamy, spicy and irresistible. Serve them with hot pepper jelly to really wow the crowd.
7. Pull-Apart Bread with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese
Did someone say goat cheese? We’ll be oven in ten.
8. Mozzarella Bites
C’mon, who doesn’t love mozzarella sticks? These are like the adult version, and they’re so, so tasty.
RELATED: 10 Warm and Gooey Cheese Appetizers You Need in Your Life
9. Spinach Artichoke Squares
The ’90s called and they want their dip back, so we transformed it into a modern, puff-pastry-based app instead.
10. Cranberry-Brie Pie Crust Bites
Store-bought crackers are fine and dandy, but if you really want to impress your guests, make your own. (Psst: You can still buy the pie dough.)
11. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Oh hi, most-crowd-pleasing appetizer of all time. Don’t forget the blue cheese dressing for dipping.
12. Mini Skillet Pizzas with Mushrooms and Roasted Tomatoes
An easy way to please everyone? Take an all-time favorite food (pizza) and make it bite-sized.
13. Italian Pinwheels
Guess what? These guys require only four ingredients and less than 25 minutes to make.
14. Chicken Parmesan Bites
Crispy meat, tender chicken and plenty of marinara sauce for serving: This is a cocktail party no-brainer.
15. Italian Deli Pinwheel Sandwiches
We gave the usual cream-cheese-and-turkey wheels a little makeover, with fancy Italian cold cuts, kale and roasted peppers. Are you hungry yet?
16. Sweet Potato Crostini
Top them to your heart’s desire: smoked salmon, cream cheese, fresh cranberries, the list goes on and on.
RELATED: 23 Sweet Potato Recipes You Need in Your Life
17. Bacon, Fig and Ricotta Tartines
Here’s a secret entertaining tip: Cut up fancy toast into small bites for an easy appetizer that also looks really impressive.
18. Crispy Baked Cauliflower ‘Wings’
Boring roasted vegetables? We’ll pass in favor of these obesession-worthy cauliflower bites.
19. Carrot Pigs in a Blanket
You might never go back to smoked cocktail sausages again.
20. Mexican Street Corn Deviled Eggs
If you want to make an entrance, bring these to a friend’s party and watch them disappear. Just be prepared to share the recipe.
21. Pimento Cheese Stuffed Shishito Peppers
These are like the cool, hip version of your mom’s cream-cheese-laden jalapeño poppers from the ’80s.
22. Cheesy Polenta Bites with Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta
Every single bite has the ideal ratio of crispy to creamy. We’ll take three.
23. Bacon-Wrapped Cheese Straws
Because every gathering—fancy or casual—should include cheese straws.
24. Brussels Sprout Sliders
Who needs buns when you have Brussels sprouts? These might be the cutest appetizer we’ve ever seen (and we’ve seen a lot).
25. Rainbow Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta
Can’t find heirloom tomatoes? No worries: Use cherry tomatoes instead. They’ll taste just as good, promise.
26. Goat Cheese and Honey Bites
Whoever first thought to combine sweet and salty was a genius.
27. Roasted Garlic and Pesto Strips
This hits all the right notes: It looks like it took a ton of effort, is effortless to whip up and tastes amazing.
28. French Onion Cups
If you can sauté onions, you can make these. Truth be told, the most difficult thing you’ll have to do is thaw the puff pastry.
29. Cranberry-Brie Puff-Pastry Pops
Introducing the most grown-up (and delicious) lollipops to exist. This beats veggies and dip any day.
30. Crispy Baked Cauliflower-Corn Nuggets
They’re baked, not fried, so it’s fine to eat the whole batch. (Right?)
RELATED: The 50+ Best Cauliflower Recipes of All Time
31. Cheesy Pesto Chips
Would you believe us if we told you these are totally vegan? The secret is nutritional yeast, which tastes cheesy without any dairy.
32. Keto Guacamole Burger Bites
Confession: We’re not even on the keto diet, and we’re definitely going to have seconds.
33. Vegetarian Sushi Cups
Homemade sushi? Too much work. Homemade veggie sushi? So easy. Fill them with whatever vegetables you like, and serve with chopsticks.
34. Spicy Glazed Popcorn Chicken
Careful: One bite of these babies, and your guests will be back every weekend for more. But since the glaze requires just five ingredients, maybe you won’t mind.
35. Roasted Buffalo Chicken Wings
Once again, the oven beats the deep fryer by a landslide. This is a classic wing recipe, but with less cleanup and less oil.
RELATED: The 23 Best Side Dishes to Make with Wings
36. Mini Chicken Shawarma
They’re. So. Little! (We’ll take two.)
37. Coconut Shrimp
They’re as good as, if not better than, any restaurant version. The sweet chili sauce is the cherry on top.
38. Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders
Yes, we 100 percent approve of serving adult chicken nuggets to your party guests. Any questions?
39. Katsu Bites with Chipotle-Gochujang Sauce
Alternatively, you could take it to the next level with these Korean-inspired chicken bites. The gochujang dipping sauce is *chef’s kiss.*
40. Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce
One bite and you’ll be transported to Santorini.
41. 15-Minute Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Everyone will think you spent all afternoon working on these sammies. Don’t tell them it’s rotisserie chicken and store-bought buffalo sauce.
42. Brie-Stuffed Pretzel Bites
How many can we eat? The limit does not exist.
43. Loaded Baked Potato ‘Chips’
Save the bag of chips for a lazier day and make these instead.
44. Baked Gorgonzola Bites
It’s essentially a savory monkey bread, and we guarantee you won't be able to stop eating it.
45. Mini Lasagnas
These have all the things we love about lasagna (sauce, cheese, noodles) without the tedious assembly or messy slicing and serving.
46. Dairy-Free Butternut Squash ‘Fondue’
Even the non-vegans will gobble it up.
47. Mini Quesadillas
Wonton wrappers are the secret to making these adorable finger foods. They’re packed with refried beans, cheese and scallions, yum.
48. Sweet-and-Sour Pork Skewers with Pineapple
The recipe calls for firing up your grill, but here’s a tip: You can totally make them in your oven, broiler or even on the stove.
49. Prosciutto Bites
Everything is exponentially more delicious when it’s wrapped in prosciutto. These start with store-bought pizza dough for extra convenience.
50. Mini Spinach-Ricotta Calzones
Giant pockets of cheesy, saucy bread? What’s not to love?
RELATED: 39 Appetizers for a Crowd That Are Easy and Unexpected
51. Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala Meatballs
We love meatballs. We love chicken tikka masala. So we created a recipe that combines both—slow-cooker chicken tikka masala meatballs—and used our Crock Pot (plus a bit of garam masala) to develop layers and layers of flavor.
52. Lunch Kebabs with Mortadella, Artichoke and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Layer your favorite deli meats and veggies (like mortadella and artichoke hearts for lots of flavor) between mini slices of bread. Just like that, your next-level appetizer is ready.
53. Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Bites
We guarantee they’re exactly what you’re craving. (And your kids will go bonkers.)
54. Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprout Bites
Dish these veggie poppers up with tangy dipping sauce and cute toothpicks and then watch them disappear like magic.
55. Mini Chicken and Waffles
Pop quiz: Which appetizer will have your guests buzzing for days: (A) veggie platter, (B) canapés or (C) bite-sized chicken and waffles? The answer is definitely C.
RELATED: 17 Fancy Appetizers That Are Secretly Really Easy to Make
