NPR: I need appetizer help

amylee545

I'm in charge of bringing appetizers for a few different functions over the next couple weeks and I need help. I'm usually the dessert guru so I don't have a very good appetizer recipe list. I prefer something easy that doesn't need to be reheated or served hot, but certainly not opposed to it if it's delicious and worth the work. And I also prefer a dip of some sort, whether it's served with chips or crackers.

So here I turn to you ladies. What are your appetizer go-to recipes?

SassyPants150

Crab Rangoon dip, Cheese dip with spicy sausage and rotel, buffalo chicken dip...those have been my top 3 favorites from parties. The crab and buffalo dip can be served cold but I love a hot dip!

Pintobean39

Easy and everyone loves. Caprese bites. Cut cherry or grape tomatoes in half and fresh mozzarella in bite size pieces, marinate in balsamic vinegar dressing over night or a few hours. Stick on a toothpick with a leaf of fresh basil.

Easy: cream cheese with pepper jelly poured on top served with crackers.

2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, about 2 sprigs green onion. Mix together with mayo to make it stick together. You can put it in a bowl and put in fridge to get cold and put on a platter, served with crackers. You can even pour pepper jelly on top.

My favorite but it has to be cooked in the oven and severed hot. Brown and crumbled sausage mixed with velveta and season with Oregon. Spoon on cocktail rye or pumpernickel squares and bake until crispy. These can be made ahead of time frozen on a cookie sheet then transferred in a ziplock bag. Just pull out and throw in the oven when you need quick appetizers.

ellab043

The easiest ever and everyone loves it:
Block of softened cream cheese with raspberry chipotle sauce on it served with crackers

Also these are amazing and good served luke warm hot or cold:

https://picky-palate.com/2011/01/31/baked-spinach-dip-mini-bread-bowls/

Also love buffalo chicken dip and caprese dip:

kac22

I make these BLT bites every year during the holidays and people go gaga for them.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/blt-bites

tinyjoys

Crab dip: imitation crab, softened cream cheese, green onion and hot sauce all ran through the stand mixer with the paddle until well mixed. I serve with crackers.

Not a dip, but I've made these a few times and they've been a huge hit. Jalapeno popper cups:

Ingredients

• 32 wonton wrappers
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 4oz can diced jalapenos, well drained OR 4-6 fresh jalapenos, roasted and diced (include seeds if you like it really spicy)
• 1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese + 1/4 Cup for topping

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Brush each wonton wrapper with melted butter and place into a mini muffin tin, bake 5 minutes remove and cool.
3. Mix remaining ingredients (except 1/4 cup cheddar cheese) in a small bowl.
4. Fill each wonton wrapper with the cream cheese mixture and top with remaining cheese.
5. Bake 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and wonton is browned.
6. Cool for about 3 minutes and serve warm

Pintobean39

Oh yeah and little smokies wrapped in bacon sprinkled with brown sugar baked in the oven.

lgsdesigner

Homemade mango salsa or pico de gallo served with multi-grain blue chips. 

beezybaby

Not a dip, but everybody always exclaims over these:

Thinly sliced baguette lightly toasted

Small leaf of arugula

Small slice of brie, gorgonzola, or even Swiss cheese

Very thin slice of pear

walnut half

drizzle of honey 

Layer the ingredients in the order listed

Pop them in the oven at 350 until cheese is barely melted.

Serve!

They are fancy, easy, and a bit lighter than most party fare.

dukwok

I do a baked brie. My phone isn't let me copy and paste but here's the site to a similar recipe

https://www.cooks.com/recipe/gc7xr4d1/baked-brie-w-pecans-and-brown-sugar.html

lladymack

Warm garlic cheesy Naan Bread

Ingredients
Naan bread
Fresh garlic
Mascarpone cheese
Provolone cheese
prosciutto
Basil

Combine minced garlic and mascarpone cheese. Spread thick layer on bread. Tear into about inch pieces Layer on prosciutto , basil and provolone
Bake for 10 min (or until cheese is hot and bubbly) at 375
Cut into finger sized pieces

You can sub on thinly sliced pears for the basil.

delicious!!

Lezzie82

Since you are into desserts one of my favorite fall "sweet" appetizers is the cream cheese caramel toffee dip for apples.

Ingredients:

A bag of small to medium granny smith apples

A package (or two depending how many you are serving) of cream cheese

A jar of GOOD Caramel dip, Marzetti (sp?) does just fine

Heath Toffee bits, you can find them in the choc chip section usually, don't get the chocolate kind

Cut your apples into bite size slices RIGHT before serving to prevent over browning

Put your block of cream cheese on a platter and let it soften.  Cover with caramel and toffee and serve.

It is DELICIOUS.  Unique flavors come together in this one, one of my favorites.

Lezzie82

Another good one is a layered bean dip.

I like to start with a can of refried beans, followed with sour cream seasoned with taco mix, salsa then mexican cheese, top with diced tomatoes and optional peppers of some sort....  serve with tortillas and easy!

Sarahbmcd

https://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2012/12/easy-feta-dip.html

I love this Greek feta dip (though more of mixture you put on baguette)

Always a huge hit

katietopaz

I know this isn't a classic appetizer or a dip, but if you wanted to mix it up, there's a fruit "salad" recipe I've used a lot in the past that people love. I change up the exact fruits from time to time, but I usually chop up strawberries, bananas, and apples, and thrown in a can of mandarin oranges and sprinkle on some blueberries. The secret ingredient is a can of peach pie filling. It ties it all together and makes it nice and sweet. It also looks really pretty, and doesn't need to be served cold.

Just an idea if you wanted to try something a little different. All these recipes look yummy!

amylee545

Ah these all look incredible and now I'm starving and want to make all the food. Thanks for the great suggestions! Definitely gonna use a few of these.

KER9171

Crockpot cocktail meatballs are always a hit. Between this and the two thanksgiving meal planning threads, I am DYING!!!

Swanky929

I always have my taco dip or buffalo chicken dip requested.

Taco dip:

Mix 2 boxes of cream cheese with 16 ounces of sour cream and one packet of Ortega taco mix (I use the 40% less sodium one). Put that on the bottom of a tray, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top then layer lettuce, tomatoes, and olives on top. Serve with tortilla chips.

Buffalo Chicken Dip:

Mix equal parts cream cheese and sour cream, throw in a couple cans of white meat chicken, and add Texas Pete's buffalo sauce to taste. You can throw this in a crock pot and put some cheddar cheese on top. I also serve this with tortilla chips and with baguette slices.