12 Appetizer Recipes That Will Get The Party Started

By Jenn Segal

Pop open the sparkly, turn on the music, and set out the hors d’oeuvres. These appetizer recipes will get the party started!

L’Auberge Chez François Herbed Cottage Cheese Spread

This creamy blend of cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic, scallions and fresh herbs comes from the acclaimed L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, VA. Served with garlic bread, it’s the perfect beginning to a special meal.
Gougères (French Cheese Puffs)

Oh so French, gougères are savory cheese puffs made from cream-puff dough, with a generous amount of cheese folded in. Slightly warm, with a crisp shell and a cheesy, pillowy interior, they are the perfect little bite to pop in your mouth between sips of sparkling wine or cocktails.
Baked Brie en Croûte with Honey, Dried Cherries, Rosemary & Pecans

This warm and creamy Brie topped with honey, dried cherries and nuts encased in golden puff pastry is elegant and easy. The secret is store-bought puff pastry.
Candied Bacon

Candied bacon (AKA “Man Candy”) has all the makings of an addictive snack: it’s crispy, chewy, sweet, salty, smoky, and even a little spicy. I use thick-cut applewood smoked bacon and slather it with a maple syrup, brown sugar and chipotle glaze halfway through cooking.
Buffalo Chicken Dip

This creamy and spicy Buffalo chicken dip has all the great flavor of Buffalo wings, but without the mess. And since it’s made with a shredded rotisserie chicken, it’s the perfect easy appetizer for a get-together.
Cheddar & Herb Cheese Straws

These crisp and flaky cheese straws specked with fresh herbs and crushed red chili flakes make a wonderful hors d’oeuvre to go along with wine and cocktails, and they’re also delicious with a bowl of soup. They are wildly addictive, and just plain fun to serve.
Salmon Cakes

Made from fresh salmon and dill, these salmon cakes are as elegant as crab cakes but so much more affordable to make. You can throw them together on a busy weeknight or serve them to company. And, as a bonus, they can be made entirely ahead of time and reheated.
Creamy Whipped Feta Dip

This is an American riff on htipiti, the salty, tangy feta spread that’s typically served as part of a Mediterranean mezze. Serve it with sliced vegetables and toasted pita wedges, and garnish it with crushed red pepper flakes, toasted sesame seeds, and olive oil.
Swedish Meatballs

These mini beef and pork meatballs in a light cream sauce are always a crowd-pleaser. Don’t want to wait for the holiday? Go ahead and serve them over rice or noodles for dinner.
Crispy Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Red Chili Sauce

This restaurant-style dish is remarkably easy to make and you can can do all of the preparation in advance, so all that’s left to do before serving is quickly fry the shrimp. And the sauce comes straight out of a bottle!
Sriracha Deviled Eggs

Spiked with sriracha, these deviled eggs are truly devilish and pop-in-your-mouthable.
Smoked Salmon Dip

If you’re ever in need of a festive and elegant dish to make for a party (and aren’t we all right about now?), this smoked salmon dip will save the day. You can serve it with crackers and cocktails or set it out on a brunch buffet with bagels — either way, it’s a hit.