Tried and true appetizer recipes..

[prairie_girl]

I could Google this, but I like real live peoples help instead…

In a few weeks, my family is having its first get together since January ‘20. Even my brother and his fiancé are flying in from Toronto.

Everybody has been tasked with bringing some sort of snack or appetizer. I don’t want to just buy a frozen box of something, I’d prefer to bring something homemade. Trouble is, I don’t really have any recipes. So, I’m hoping people will post their favourite recipes so I can decide what to make. There are two diet restrictions..I am allergic to tree nuts, and my brothers fiancé is Jewish so she doesn’t eat pork at all.

Post away!!

 

[Kitty 34]

How do you know we're real people? We all could just be a bunch of bots!!


For appetizers I do different chips and dips. My Velvetta cheese melted in chili via the microwave is one of my family's favorite.

 

[laughinplace199]

I do cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil on toothpicks. Drizzle with olive oil or balsamic before serving.

 

[stsomewhere]

caaramel apple dip

1 block of cream cheese softened, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, a TBsp of vanilla blend together with mixer ( let it sit for a few hours before serving.

spread into dish ( i like to use 9 x13 baking dish. top with spreadable caramel dip. Serve with sliced apples.

 

[Random Ninja]

This is more of a sweet snack rather than a hearty appetizer, but it’s always a hit: candy popcorn. I usually used bagged popcorn because of the wait time with fresh popcorn (fresh popcorn smell changes the taste a bit).
https://www.thereciperebel.com/grandmas-candy-popcorn-and-a-giveaway/

 

[ronandannette]

Hot buffalo chicken dip is always a winner. Shred about 2 cups of a rotisserie chicken or roast off 2 large chicken breasts (seasoned with salt and pepper) and shred them. Melt together a block of regular cream cheese and about 1/4 cup of bottled buffalo wing sauce or more to taste. Stir in a small can of drained, chopped green chilies and a cup or so of shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Fold in the chicken and season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat in the oven in a small casserole or warm in a small crock pot. Serve with tortilla chips and crackers.

I know you said no bacon but I also love to do steak bites, and the the rest of the crowd will like them. Cube good quality sirloin steak into 1” pieces. Toss them in a bowl with a fairly heavy amount of Montreal steak spice. Wrap each piece in a 1/2 slice of thick cut bacon and secure with a toothpick. Broil at 375 for 7 or 8 minutes. I serve them with two dips; one a mix of sour cream and steak sauce (A1 or HP) and the other the most excellent President’s Choice bacon jam straight out of the jar.

Have a wonderful time! It is SO GOOD to be getting back together again.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Here's my crowd pleaser: sour cream, softened cream cheese, crumbled feta, shredded mozzerella, packet of Hidden Valley farms dressing mix (not the ranch packet, its something like garlic and herbs), can of artichoke hearts, sliced kalamata olives, garlic powder (alot). Mix all together - top with bread crumbs, bake for maybe half hour at 400, serve with crunchy bread.

 

[easyas123]

Fresh Pico de Gallo is one of my go-to and easy takes. Here is what I do:

fresh tomatoes
green bell pepper
yellow or orange bell pepper
cilantro
jalapenos
salt, pepper, cumin
1 freshly squeezed lime, juiced into it all
red onion
Stir, let flavors meld a few hours in fridge, taste and add more of whatever you think it needs if you think it needs anything.
jazz it up? Add some pineapple or mango
*sorry, I have no measurements, I kinda eyeball this one.

Crab Dip is also something I make a lot:

1 lb. of crab meat (lump if you can get it, backfin will do in a pinch. Jumbo lump & claw don't work well w/ this recipe in my opinion- non pasteurized if you can get it) - squirt a bit of lemon juice over the meat.
2 blocks of cream cheese
splash of half & half or milk
splash of prosecco, champagne or white wine (optional)
Old Bay or JO seasoning to taste
melt cream cheese in heavy saucepan on low heat until it is smooth and stirred. Add other liquids, stir. Add seasonings, stir. Add crab meat and fold in over low heat allowing it to just get a touch bubbly. Pour into a pan (8X8?) and if you are so inclined, sprinkle with a bit more seasoning. Bake until brown and bubbly. Serve with bread dippers or wheat thins or whatever floats your boat. Serves well hot or warm.

 

[Moliphino]

Reuben dip! I don't have the exact recipe right now, but this looks about the same: Reuben Dip

We also make a dip with avocado, goat cheese, lemon juice, salt/pepper/cayenne/paprika.

Or pan fry some queso fresco/blanco and top with chorizo.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Shrimp cocktail

Buy frozen raw, deveined, large or extra large shrimp. Cook in boiling water. Cool, then serve over ice with lemon wedges and favorite cocktail sauce. (These come out sort of dry, unlike frozen cooked shrimp which can be kind of wet and soggy. Really delicious and get eaten right up, so buy two bags!)

 

[mjkacmom]

I’m usually a very adventurous cook, but I have to say every one seems to love spinach dip in the bread bowl. I never use pre-made mixes for anything, but this. https://www.culinaryhill.com/knorr-spinach-dip-recipe/

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Have you ever done a charcuterie board? They’re kind of fun, and you can put on there whatever you like.

DD did this one recently. Some of the things on there: hummus, vined cherry tomatoes, mini caprese salad sticks that @laughinplace199 mentioned above, fig jam, white chocolate covered pretzels, grapes raspberries and strawberries, salami, sliced cheese, alouette spreadable cheese, assorted crackers, trail mix, pretzel snacks, garlic stuffed olives, etc. People stood around the board snacking for quite a while!

 

[AppleDumpling]

Sweet and sour meatballs. You can make the meatballs yourself or use frozen, and heat them in a slow cooker. Sauce is a mix of chili sauce and grape jelly, one jar of each. Always a hit.

 

[disneychrista]

Jalapeño Popper Dip.

24oz Whipped Cream Cheese
1/2 cup Mayo
1/2 cup Sour Cream
4oz chopped green chilies
2oz diced Jalapenos
1 cup shredded Jack Cheese

Mix together & microwave until cheese is melted. Keep warm in a small crop pot.

Serve with white corn tortilla chips

 

[wvjules]

Bacon wrapped dates.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

I love this super easy taco dip!
Blend:
16oz sour cream
1packet taco seasoning
1 can refried beans
Spread in a 8x9 dish or whatever you have. I would double the recipe if you’re using 9x13.
Top with chopped tomatoes, green onions and shredded cheddar cheese. Serve with tortilla chips.

 

[mmbrad02]

Million Dollar Dip

Always a crowd pleaser for us! It's best kept chilled in my opinion.

Paula Deen Corn Salad

Put it in small clear cups and viola it's an appetizer. I don't like corn myself but it's always a hit when I've taken it to a group event.

Dried Beef Cheese Ball

Definitely not fancy but my DH and I can put away one of these on our own during the holidays!

 

[ronandannette]

Sweet and sour meatballs. You can make the meatballs yourself or use frozen, and heat them in a slow cooker. Sauce is a mix of chili sauce and grape jelly, one jar of each. Always a hit.

Yes! I’ve never seen anything go as fast as the grape jelly meatballs. I do mine homemade with ground turkey mixed with frozen chopped spinach, egg, onion and breadcrumbs. Just a note though that we’re talking about Heinz (or similar) bottled chilli sauce, NOT a hot sauce like Frank’s. This isn't a spicy dish.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

I could Google this, but I like real live peoples help instead…

In a few weeks, my family is having its first get together since January ‘20. Even my brother and his fiancé are flying in from Toronto.

Everybody has been tasked with bringing some sort of snack or appetizer. I don’t want to just buy a frozen box of something, I’d prefer to bring something homemade. Trouble is, I don’t really have any recipes. So, I’m hoping people will post their favourite recipes so I can decide what to make. There are two diet restrictions..I am allergic to tree nuts, and my brothers fiancé is Jewish so she doesn’t eat pork at all.

Post away!!

We do a couple different appetizers.

1. Thaw a bag of frozen corn. Mix with a rinsed/drained can of black beans, a small diced jalapeno (seed if you don't want it too spicy), small dice tomatoes, small dice red onion, some cilantro, lime juice and salt. You can add diced rotisserie chicken if you want it meaty. Serve with tortilla chips.

2. roast some small potatoes (like the little bags of golden ones you can find in the grocery store) (rubbed with olive oil, salt and pepper). When cool, cut in half and remove a little bit of the potato or cut in half and smash, then bake for a little bit longer until crispy. Top with diced rotisserie chicken (that you mix with a bit of butter and buffalo chicken sauce); heat in oven for a few minutes. Top with green onions, and serve with ranch or sour cream.


We also do cheese fondue, with pretzel bread, rye and sourdough breads, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and celery. We do either a traditional type, with gruyere and emmenthal, or a beer and cheddar/gruyere combination.

Or chocolate fondue. We like the dark chocolate/semi-sweet chocolate/peanut butter mix, with green apples, marshmallows, pineapple, banana, and Dewey's cookies (lemon, ginger and brownie flavors).

 

[Kae]

I’m usually a very adventurous cook, but I have to say every one seems to love spinach dip in the bread bowl. I never use pre-made mixes for anything, but this. https://www.culinaryhill.com/knorr-spinach-dip-recipe/

loves this and have made it a lot lately but I did change to using fresh spinach, I just kinda chiffonade chop it so much easier than the frozen kind and it doesn't stick in your teeth as bad. Been loving it with Cucumbers out of the garden..