25 Cheese Appetizers (Easy Party Recipes)

Want to get the party started? Then look no further than these cheese appetizers!

They’re salty, savory, and oh-so-ooey-gooey.

There are a bunch of different types of cheese, which is why this list of cheese appetizers is so varied.

You can make simple mozzarella sticks or fried curds, or think outside the box with airy cheese puffs.

There’s never a bad way to serve cheese. So make one or more of these recipes and your party will be a hit!

1. Fried Cheese Curds

Fried cheese curds are a fantastic snack and are even more impressive when deep-fried.

They come out of the frier with a crispy, crunchy shell and a gooey inside that melts in your mouth. 

They’re like little cheesy pockets of heaven. 

Be sure to put out plenty of dipping sauces, like marinara or honey mustard. 

2. Cheese Puffs

Cheese puffs (or gougères if you want to get fancy) are delicate and addictive French pastries that don’t require advanced pastry skills. 

You take a simple mixture of pastry dough and plenty of cheese and pipe it into delicate balls to bake.

Think of them like fancy French cheddar bay biscuits!

To serve, either garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary or dill. For a salty/sweet contrast, sprinkle some dried fruit on top. 

3. Goat Cheese Appetizer

Where are all my goat cheese fanatics? I love goat cheese because it’s so rich and creamy with a patented tang.

The tanginess from goat cheese is the perfect backdrop for sweet and savory additions like fried cranberries and fresh herbs. 

These goat cheese balls’ beautiful green, red, and white colors are perfect for the holidays when you want to add a festive flair to the dinner table. 

4. Mac and Cheese Bites

Stay alert if a party guest turns down a mac and cheese bite. They might be a robot. 

These mac and cheese bites are classic comfort food in appetizer form. 

The crispy crunch shell tastes like the topping of any good baked back and cheese, and the insides are so gooey and soft. 

5. Gruyère Cheese Twists (Torsades au Fromage)

Known as ‘cheese straws’ in the UK, Torsades au Fromage are cheesy, crisp, and wonderfully flaky.

Use frozen puff pastry and a block of Gruyère for the best results. Just sandwich the cheese between pastry sheets, cut, and twist. So easy!

You can even jazz these up with pesto or homemade marinara if you like.

6. Mozzarella Bites

Mozzarella sticks are great, but they might be too big if you want a small, delicate appetizer. 

These tiny mozzarella bites ensure everyone maintains their appetite for the main course. 

Plus, they’re easier than you think. They utilize string cheese cut into small pieces to keep each ball uniform in size. 

7. Irish Pub Cheese

This Irish pub cheese recipe is an easy party dip, and the flavors are out of this world. 

Like any good Irish pub dish, this dip incorporates light and hoppy beer that pairs so well with melty Irish cheddar. 

Serve this dip with savory dipping vehicles like tortilla chips, pita wedges, French bread, and veggies. 

8. Tenderloin Bites with Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onions

Appetizers are always a little carb-heavy, and this recipe omits the bread completely.

I mean, who needs carbs when you have tender pieces of tenderloin?

These tenderloin bites may be small, but they explode with flavor.

Small cuts of tenderloin serve as a bed for sweet caramelized onions and fragrant bleu cheese. 

9. Cheese Balls

These aren’t your average cheese balls.

Instead of incorporating just one type of cheese, they include both Amul Cheese and mozzarella with a host of fresh spices. 

The outside earns a crispy, crunchy crust, and the insides absolutely melt in your mouth. 

They may take extra effort, but they are well worth the time!

And your hungry party guests might ruin their appetite for the main course. 

10. Pimento Cheese Dip

Pimentos are good for more than just olives, you know! And this pimento cheese dip is proof. 

It pairs salty pimento peppers with two styles of cheddar cheese and creamy additions like mayo and cream cheese. 

Serve it with chewy, crusty bread and veggies; it will be a big hit at your next potluck. 

And if you’re wondering, what are pimentos? They’re small, mild, and lightly sweet peppers you’ll find in a ton of South American and Spanish recipes

11. Garlic Butter French Bread Pizza Bites

When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with mini pizza bites!

These delicious appetizers taste like the heavenly fusion of pizza and garlic bread. Is your mouth watering yet?

They’re impossibly garlicky and cheesy, and the mini pepperonis take the flavors over the edge. 

12. Air Fryer Cheesy Tater Tots

Homemade tater tots taste nothing like the frozen kind at the grocery store. It’s like night and day. 

These cheesy and delicious homemade tater tots will surely be a big hit at your next party. 

Bonus points: they crisp up like a dream in your air fryer, which means they’re 100 percent oil-free!

13. Crispy Baked Cheesy Salami Appetizer Bites

The pairing of cheese and salami earns a place in the appetizer hall of fame.

It’s the perfect pairing of salty and cheesy flavors that explode in your mouth. 

And the best part? These appetizers are so insanely easy.

Throw slices of salami in a cupcake tin, add a cube of cheese, and bake. That’s it!

You can serve them on their own or add a crunchy cracker and garnish them with fresh herbs. 

14. Cranberry Cream Cheese Appetizer Bites

They might be small, but there’s so much hidden flavor in these delicate cranberry cream cheese appetizer bites!

While they look like something out of a French bakery, they’re deceptively easy.

The recipe combines pre-made pie crust, a block of cream cheese, and cranberry sauce. 

The pie crusts are tender and cheesy with a kick of spice from chili powder.

And the tart cranberry sauce adds a subtle hint of sweetness. 

15. Mozzarella Sticks

These mozzarella sticks are the perfect appetizer for a tailgate or Super Bowl party.

With a crunchy outside and gooey insides, they’re hard to resist. 

And this isn’t your average breading.

It combines super crispy panko breadcrumbs with bright seasoning from Italian seasoning, parsley, and garlic powder. 

Pair with the perfect marinara sauce, and get the party started!

16. Cheesy Garlic Butter Potatoes

Garlic potatoes are lovely. Add a boatload of cheese on top, and you’re in business!

These cheesy garlic potatoes are like poetry. It boasts tender cuts of rustic potatoes in a rich, buttery garlic sauce. 

Throw in the mozzarella cheese on top, and you have an appetizer that people will talk about for months. 

17. Spinach Cheese Squares

What can make spinach shine? Cheese, of course!

These delicate spinach squares serve as a vehicle for so much cheesy goodness. 

Frozen spinach is mixed in an egg and flour base that binds with Monterey Jack and sharp cheddar cheese. 

It doesn’t get much easier than this quick (and incredibly affordable) cheesy appetizer. 

And if you can’t find it, check out these Monterey Jack cheese substitutes.

18. Jalapeño Pimento Cheese Balls

These jalapeno pimento cheese balls have it all. They’re sweet, smokey, cheesy, savory, and nutty. 

It features bacon, pecans, pimentos, and cheese in a cream cheese base.

They’re seriously like tiny little flavor explosions in your mouth. 

For easy handling (and even more salty flavors), stick each ball with an edible toothpick- a pretzel stick!

19. Vegetarian Stuffed Mushrooms with Cream Cheese

Need a vegetarian option that even the meat-eaters at the party will love? Stuffed mushrooms with cream cheese to the rescue!

Button mushrooms deliver savory flavors with a meat-like texture that demands to be stuffed. 

The insides of these stuffed mushrooms are so creamy and cheesy with cream cheese, shredded Parmesan, fresh herbs, and breadcrumbs. 

20. Crispy Cheesy Chicken Bites

Think of these crispy, cheesy chicken bites like elevated chicken nuggets!

With minced chicken, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella, and a crispy crust, they’re pretty addictive. 

Pair them with a delicious marinara, and watch them disappear before your eyes. 

21. Bacon and Cream Cheese Crescent Appetizer

You’ll surely be the MVP of your next tailgate if you come stocked with these bacon and cream cheese crescent appetizers.

They’re savory, smoky, creamy, and 100 percent delicious. 

What I love most about this recipe is that it looks complicated but is surprisingly easy.

It utilizes a can of Pillsbury crescent rolls to create those delicate, flaky layers. 

The insides are tender and gooey with smoky bacon, cream cheese, and Parmesan.

22. Crab and Cream Cheese Stuffed Snow Peas

Looking for an appetizer that is a little on the healthy side?

These crab and cream cheese stuffed snow peas are just as delicious as they look!

It has a rich crab and cream cheese mixture with crispy, crunchy snow peas. 

There’s no need to fry these bad boys for an added crunch because the snow peas are crunchy on their own!

23. Roasted Mini Sweet Peppers with Goat Cheese 

While we’re talking stuffed veggies, these roasted mini sweet peppers are colorful, flavorful, and delicious. 

Bonus points: they’re a great healthy alternative to fat and carb-heavy appetizers. 

The recipe features sweet peppers stuffed with tangy and tart goat cheese combined with fresh herbs. 

Sometimes, it’s the most simple appetizers that are the most addictive. 

24. Sausage and Cheese Appetizer Bites

These sausage and cheese appetizer bites are like meatballs, only better!

Bisquick is mixed with breakfast sausage and sharp cheddar cheese into delightful balls.

To take those flavors over the top, it also pairs those rich and smoky flavors with orange marmalade for a punch of sweet acidity.

They’re unique and so delicious. 

25. Cream Cheese Wontons

Whenever I get Chinese takeout, cream cheese wontons are a must! 

They’re crispy outside with delightfully creamy crab-infused insides like heaven on a plate. 

And making your own at home is so easy! It pairs wonton wrappers with seasoned cream cheese and crab mixture. 

They come out of the deep frier golden and delicious with melt-in-your-mouth insides.