50 Best Finger Foods and Easy Appetizer Ideas

From chips and dip to breadsticks, pizza, and stuffed peppers, these finger food recipes offer a little bit of everything.

Technically, anything can be finger food if it’s small enough! It’s so nice to eat with your hands without having to worry about making a mess. 

I love to have lots of different kinds of delicious appetizers whenever I have people over.

With these simple finger foods, you won’t need to worry about people struggling with a knife and fork on their laps.

I guarantee you’ll find something that tickles your fancy on this list of 50 of the best finger food recipes.

No-Cook Finger Foods for A Party

Party Pinwheels

When I’m planning a dinner party or BBQ, I like to offer a variety of party foods to my guests, and finger food just makes it so much easier to mingle!

These pinwheels are an easy appetizer that you can serve up on a platter, letting people pick and choose as they go. 

They might be simple, but they’ll definitely be a hit at your next party.

Fruit Kabobs 

Fruit kabobs are a fun and colorful way to enjoy fruits. You can easily create a beautiful display sure to wow your guests. 

Use strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, kiwi, grapes, blackberries, and/or whatever fruit you have on hand.

Antipasto Skewers

You can’t go wrong with antipasto skewers. 

These colorful sticks are loaded with a variety of tasty treats, from olives and tomatoes to salami and mozzarella. 

And let’s not forget the pièce de résistance – delicious cheese tortellini.

Grab a skewer and take a bite.

The Ultimate Mediterranean Appetizer Platter

Charcuterie boards have recently taken over social media, and I’ve seen so many variations all over my feeds.

This delicious appetizer platter is full of veggies, dips, fruits, and cheese and can be served up to meat-eaters and vegan at the same time.

Just keep the bacon off the broccoli, please! 

Smoked Salmon Appetizer Bites

These might look dainty and fiddly to make, but I have a trick up my sleeve.

Use tortillas to make this en masse. Then, once it’s chilled, slice it into perfect little cubes.

I’ve tried this delicious appetizer with white bread, but you can’t get the same neatness when cutting. Use flavored tortillas for a bit of color.

Melon Prosciutto Skewers

Looking for party appetizers that are less decadent but just as delicious? Try these low-FODMAP prosciutto-wrapped cantaloupe bites.

They’re an incredible mix of sweet, salty, and savory flavors, and they’re totally addictive. Fortunately, though, they aren’t super unhealthy.

Melon is always a nutritious treat, and the prosciutto slices are thin and not too indulgent. Your dietary-restricted guests will love these.

Smoked Salmon Tartare

Smoked salmon tartare may not seem like one of the best party food ideas.

But when you consider all the things you can serve it on, you’ll understand why it’s actually perfect.

It’s elegant and sophisticated, ideal for more formal events and parties. It’s also versatile. Spread it on crackers, toasted baguettes, bagels, and more!

The Best Homemade Fresh Tomato Salsa

This recipe has everything you’d expect in salsa, such as tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, and cilantro (leave it out if you hate it).

There are also some crunchy extras, like cucumber and peppers.

This is actually more of a pico de gallo since you’re using raw ingredients, and it’s chunky. It’s perfect for your next Taco Tuesday!

Alabama Fire Crackers

Why pay for a box of seasoned crackers when you can just make these golden-brown munchies at home?

I’m betting you already have the ingredients needed. These crackers are flavorful, spicy, and extra crispy. You’ll love them.

Popular Appetizers

Scotch Eggs

Scotch eggs may seem like strange finger foods for a party, especially an American party. After all, they’re a classic British food.

But trust me on this one. Try them once, and you’ll be making them for every party, get-together, and brunch date in the near future.

They’re meaty, eggy, deep-fried balls of YUM.

Pigs in a Blanket

Delight your guests with the delicious crowd-pleaser that is pigs in a blanket!

These little bites of heaven are made with sausage wrapped in flaky puff pastry, all rolled up and baked to golden perfection.

These sausage rolls are so irresistible you’ll want to make them again and again.

Franks Redhot Buffalo Wings

Spice up your snack game with Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wings! 

These crispy and juicy chicken wings are coated in a fiery sauce that packs a serious kick.

Once you start, you won’t be able to stop. So why settle for boring chicken when you can have Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wings? 

Air Fryer Dumplings

Air fryer dumplings to the rescue! These delicious bites are a lifesaver when it comes to last-minute party preparations. 

Delicious and ready in no time, they’re sure to save the day and impress your guests. 

Forget the stress of party planning and let these air fryer dumplings be your hero.

Sausage Rolls

Sausage rolls are a classic snack that never disappoints. 

The flaky, golden puff pastry on the outside perfectly complements the savory pork mince and crispy bacon on the inside. 

They’re tasty, filling, and easy to make in large batches, making them a crowd-pleasing addition to any party. 

Fryer Mozzarella Sticks 

I might’ve saved the best for last. There’s no denying that fryer mozzarella sticks are the ultimate comfort food, so it’s no surprise they made it onto this list.

Crispy on the outside and rich & gooey on the inside, these golden sticks of goodness are delightfully decadent.

Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

Want a surefire way to get your guests (or your kids) to eat more Brussels sprouts? Wrap them in bacon and drizzle them in syrup and brown sugar.

I’m not sure doing all that won’t negate the health benefits of eating Brussels sprouts, but hey!

They taste great, are easy to make, and DO HAVE Brussels sprouts somewhere in there.

Detroit-Style Pizza Recipe

Detroit-style pizza is rectangular, crispy, and made with sauce layered on top of the melty cheese.

Another unique thing about this pizza is that it calls for cubes of cheese rather than shredded.

I love this version because each bite has big pockets of gooey cheese and a lovely tender crust.

Popcorn Shrimp

When it comes to easy finger foods, you can’t go wrong with popcorn shrimp.

Lightly breaded, savory, and succulent, they’re tasty little morsels everyone will enjoy. And this recipe will ensure you get the breading just right.

Serve them with some cocktail sauce or other favorite dipping sauces for even more flavor.

Bacon Cranberry Brie Bites

Serve a tray of these gorgeous brie bites, and they won’t last five minutes.

Between the golden pastry, salty bacon, and sweet-tart cranberry, they’re impossible to resist.

Better yet, you can easily modify this recipe with different fillings. That way, you can have a few different options.

Vegetarian Finger Food Ideas

Veggie Pizza

Clever and colorful, this veggie pizza is a great way to introduce vegetables to your kids.

It starts with a crescent roll base, which is fluffy and as easy as opening a can.

Rather than a tomato sauce, this has a creamy ranch mix and cream cheese spread to hold all the veggies down.

3-Ingredient Mini-Stuffed Peppers Recipe

Stuffed peppers are normally more of a dinner dish than party food, but these bites are a little different.

I love peppers, and these minis are just the thing to serve on a plate as a perfect appetizer that’s crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside.

Not only are they super colorful, but all you’ll need are peppers, cheese, and some honey. 

Gougères (French Cheese Balls or Puffs)

Have you ever tried savory choux pastry? You’re about to!

These cheese balls incorporate the delicious taste and texture of the choux with the salty goodness of cheese.

Feel free to throw in some bacon bits or chopped jalapeños and serve with whipped garlic veggie cream cheese.

Mini Falafel Bites with Tzatziki and Pickled Red Onions

I love descriptive recipe names that tell you everything you need to know about what you’re eating. That’s definitely the case with these party appetizers.

They’re precisely what they say they are: mini falafel bites infused with pickled red onions and fresh tzatziki.

They have an absolute overload of flavor and are so easy to make.

Blooming Onion Bites with Dipping Sauce

I know the steaks are good, and the drinks are great, but I go to Outback for the crispy bloomin’ onion. Tell me I’m not alone?

This recipe is so simple; I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before. A bloomin’ onion is, after all, one giant onion ring, right?

Sweet Potato Fries

Fries are the best finger foods, right? Each bite is salty, crispy, and perfect with everything from ketchup to curry sauce.

These golden-brown sweet potato fries are a healthier alternative, with just as much flavor and crispy goodness. Plus, the seasoning mixture is to die for!

Buttery Garlic Breadsticks

Whatever you do, don’t leave me alone with the bread basket! You’ve been warned!

The best thing about this recipe is that you won’t need to mold the dough. Just roll it out and cut it into strips.

The twist gives the breadsticks a bit of character, and like the popcorn shrimp, this bread is best with marinara.

7 Layer Dip

Dips can be sweet, savory, creamy, spicy, thick, hot, or cold. This seven-layer dip is a mixture of many of those attributes.

It’s thick, savory, creamy, chunky, and full of delightful South-of-the-Border flavors to tantalize your taste buds. It’s even a nice mix of hot and cold.

When you’ve got seven layers to work with, you can do a lot!

Quick Bites

Parmesan Bread Bites

Is there a person on the planet that doesn’t love warm, garlicky bread? I mean, it doesn’t get much better in my eyes. 

I love that this recipe uses pizza dough to bake these bread bites. That way, you can make extra and have a complete pizza feast at your next party.

Light Shrimp Cocktail Bites

People love shrimp cocktail. Unfortunately, it often leaves dishes to clean up. And your guests have to carry the glasses of cocktail sauce around.

So, while it tastes fantastic, it isn’t the best idea when searching for finger foods for a party.

These shrimp cocktail bites remedy all of that. They’re everything you love about shrimp cocktail in a single mouthful.

Thai Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce

Who says you can’t put an ethnic spin on your party appetizers? Whoever it is, they’re 100% wrong, and these Thai chicken skewers are my proof.

These sweet, savory, and spicy skewers are Asian food at its finest.

And still, they’re easy-to-eat finger foods your guests can carry around while chatting and moving through the party.

Roasted Grape and Goat Cheese Crostini

These gorgeous, elegant appetizers are perfect for any occasion, including more formal ones like weddings, Christmas dinners, and more.

They look absolutely stunning and have the mouth-wateringly delicious taste to match. They’re sweet and nutty with just a hint of tanginess from the goat cheese.

They take a little time and effort, but your guests will appreciate them.

Tomato Basil Bruschetta with Balsamic Drizzle

Bruschetta is almost like the Italian version of pan con tomate – crispy toasted bread slices rubbed with garlic and topped with a tomato mix.

This differs in that the tomatoes are diced and typically mixed with basil and onions. When it comes to the balsamic, remember that a little goes a long way.

Chicken Taquitos

Chicken taquitos are another of those things you can buy from the store, but you shouldn’t. While making them from scratch tastes longer, it’s worth it.

The flavor of homemade chicken taquitos blows store-bought taquitos out of the water. The comparison is laughable.

These are extremely flavorful and crisp, not soggy and greasy like frozen taquitos.

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Give these crab-stuffed mushrooms a try for a delicious appetizer that’s ready in minutes.

Each shroom is stuffed with crab, green onions, cheese, and plenty of herbs for a savory, umami-packed bite.

These easy finger foods are nice and tender on the outside and ridiculously creamy on the inside.

Easy Crab Cakes

When planning your party foods, you should always have crab cakes on the menu. They’re quick and easy to make, and people love them.

They have a delightful crunch and a rich, umami-packed taste. I call them the “seafood for people who hate seafood” because they’re pretty universally loved.

Jalapeño Poppers

Time to kick up your next party with the easy appetizer: jalapeño poppers! 

They’re stuffed with a blend of cream cheese, cheddar, and chives, then topped with a crispy breadcrumb and butter topping.

In short, jalapeño poppers are the perfect combination of crunchy and melty-gooey goodness with just the right amount of kick.

Easy Coconut Shrimp

If you’re on the hunt for more seafood finger food ideas, look no further than coconut shrimp. These crispy bites are the perfect addition to any party platter or game day spread. 

Think of it as an elevated version of the shrimp cocktail, with a crunchy coconut coating and sweet-spicy dipping sauce. 

Prepare to be amazed!

Sausage Balls

Sausage balls are classic, easy finger foods that both kids and adults appreciate. They’re savory, succulent morsels of sausage and biscuit dough.

What’s not to love?!

Making them from scratch can be a pain, but not with this recipe! Using Bisquick instead of a homemade dough recipe will save you tons of time.

They’ll still taste just as good, though!

Grilled Shrimp Skewers

These grilled shrimp skewers are a smoky twist on the classic shrimp cocktail. 

Here, the shrimp is marinated in a zesty lemon and herb dressing, giving them a bright flavor that’s perfect for summer barbecues. 

Simply skewer them up and toss them on the grill for a few minutes – the result is sweet, juicy shrimp with a nice charred flavor. 

Cream Cheese Wontons

 I discovered cream cheese wontons as a teenager when the first Chinese restaurant opened up in my town. I’ve loved them ever since.

These are somewhat different than the ones I first tried. (Those were sweet; the ones in this recipe are savory.) But I love them just as much.

You’ll also appreciate their thin, crispy shells and savory filling.

Lobster Rangoon

Indulge in the succulent harmony of lobster rangoon. They’re delicate parcels of crispy golden bliss filled with fresh lobster, cream cheese, and aromatic spices.

Each bite is an irresistible blend of textures and flavors. They’re definitely a culinary delight worth savoring.

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

You’ve tried buffalo chicken. You’ve MAYBE even tried buffalo chicken dip. But what about buffalo chicken meatballs?

These 30-minute appetizers are thick, meaty balls of goodness. They contain well-seasoned chicken and veggies breaded and baked to perfection.

Then, you’ll coat them in a generous amount of tangy buffalo sauce for good measure. Delicious!

Deviled Eggs

Get ready for a blast from the past with classic deviled eggs! 

These creamy, tangy bites are the perfect throwback appetizer for any occasion. 

With a little bit of mayo, mustard, and a sprinkle of paprika, deviled eggs are a delectable and savory snack. 

Indulge in these nostalgic little bites and let the good times roll.

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls

Just when you think this classic comfort food couldn’t get any better, this recipe takes it up a notch.

These fried mac & cheese balls are crisp on the outside, creamy on the inside, and simply irresistible.

Each bite takes you on a nostalgic journey to your childhood but with an added breaded twist.

Fried Pickles

I was skeptical about trying fried pickles at first. But just one bite and I was hooked.

There’s something about their crispy exteriors and tangy pickles inside that hits the spot.

Plus, you can dip them in almost anything – ranch, barbecue sauce, honey mustard – you name it.

If you haven’t tried them yet, what are you waiting for?

Bacon Wrapped Brown Sugar Smokies

Meat lovers, say hello to these mouth-watering bacon-wrapped brown sugar smokies. 

These sausage rolls are the perfect combination of savory and sweet, with juicy little smokies hugged by crispy bacon and topped off with a sprinkle of brown sugar. 

But be warned, these little guys are highly addictive and may disappear faster than you can imagine.

The Best Dips

Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe

Is there anything better than a big bite of this bubbling spin’ dip? I think not!

For this recipe, you’ll need six ingredients and about 20 minutes. Yes, really! By using garlic and herb cheese, you’ll skip a couple of steps from the get-go.

The key is to use canned artichokes and frozen spinach.

Jalapeño Popper Dip

The beauty of jalapeño poppers is that they give you just the right amount of heat and a nice creamy inside to mellow it out.

This dip gives you all that, along with a crunchy top made of buttery crackers and parmesan.

I think it’s great with just the jalapeños, but adding some chopped tomatoes would make it really pop.

Blue Cheese Dip

Is it still baseball season? Super Bowl? Beats me! I just bring the best finger foods to Game Day parties.

It’s easy to open a jar of dip, but why not make your own?

This blue ranch dip is cool, creamy, and full of tangy sour cream and blue cheese flavor. The green onions and garlic are on point, too!

Hot Reuben Dip

I love dips of all kinds – sweet, savory, cold, and hot. But I prefer them hot. Don’t get me wrong, I love cold dips, too.

But there’s just something about dipping into a warm, thick, creamy dip with gooey melted cheese that really does it for me.

And this hot Reuben dip is one of the best.