15 Easy Party Appetizers for Procrastinators

The last few weeks of the year always seem to fly by. Between the holidays and all celebrations before and after the big days, before you know it, New Year’s Eve is here. Whether you’re hosting the end-of-year bash or you’re a guest at a party you’re bringing an appetizer to, you’re probably going to need something quick and easy.

These 15 appetizers are simple to make. They don’t require fancy ingredients, but they’re real crowd-pleasers. Pick a few of them and see how easy it is to entertain your friends and family.

Deviled eggs aren’t just for spring and summer picnics and potlucks. They’re a hit at any gathering. This recipe for turning hard boiled eggs into finger food is classic but adds a little kick from paprika and either cayenne or Tabasco.

Contributors Amy and Julie Luxemberg say, “Any spreadable goat cheese (or chevre) works well for this recipe. If you’d like to make the recipe dairy-free, you can substitute a vegan goat cheese alternative.”

Senior Editor Laurel Randolph says, “You can swap out the pretzels, cheese crackers, and/or nuts for other mix-ins, such as bagel chips, peanuts or mixed nuts, oyster crackers, Cheerios, and more. I especially like adding sesame sticks.”

Dips are a must on an appetizer table. Treat your guests to this one made with roasted red peppers, walnuts, pomegranate molasses, and seasonings. Serve it with raw or roasted vegetables, warm pita bread, or pita chips. Leftovers make a tasty sandwich spread.

Go retro with this customizable cheese ball. Start with softened cream cheese and add shredded cheddar or any semi-hard cheese such as Gouda (smoked or not) or pepper Jack. You can add bacon for a savory treat or leave it out. Roll it all into a big ball and dip in crushed pecans for a nice presentation.

Editorial Director Ariel Knutson says, “Make sure your cream cheese is softened: If your cream cheese isn’t soft, it’s going to be really hard to mix with the mayonnaise. If you’re really in a pinch, I recommend giving the cold cream cheese a whirl in your stand mixer with the paddle attachment to warm it up.”

Contributor Micah Siva says, “Think it’s smooth enough? Think again! Purée hummus for at least 4 to 5 minutes.”

Use store-bought pizza dough to make quick work of assembling stromboli, or you can use homemade if you have a bit more time. Roll out the dough and fill it with whatever deli meats and cheeses you have on hand, add roasted red peppers and capers, then roll it up and bake.

This cheesy, full-of-crab fondue comes together in under 30 minutes. It’s simple to make but guests will think it’s something super special. Have plenty of day-old cubed French or Italian bread for dipping. If you don’t want to keep a flame going on a fondue pot, serve the dip in a slow cooker on warm.

An adorable and simple way to use puff pastry, these pinwheels are filled with creamy Italian herb spread made with fresh herbs, Dijon, and mayonnaise plus prosciutto and Parmesan cheese. Roll the filling in the puff pastry, chill, then slice into rounds before baking.

You can use fresh or frozen spinach for the dip, but if you use frozen you’ll need to take the time to squeeze all the water out. Sauté the spinach in olive oil before adding it to the slower cooker with cream cheese, sour cream, and feta. Serve with pita chips and raw veggies.

Contributor Karishma Pradhan says, “Make sure to purchase feta in brine (liquid), not the dry, crumbly version, as it will be easier to blend smoothly.”

Nothing but assembly going on here, and the quaintness of cucumber sandwiches helps temper the richer fare often on an appetizer spread.

Frozen puffed pastry crust is the base of many quick and delicious appetizers. In this recipe, the pastry is cut and added to a mini muffin pan before being topped with filling. If you want to make them ahead, freeze the unbaked mini-quiches in tins, then pop them out and bag them. Put them back in the tins still frozen before baking.

Perfect for spreading over crackers or toasted thin baguette slices, this easy cream cheese spread packs retro pizzazz. Start with cream cheese, then top with Major Grey’s or Trader Joe’s mango chutney plus grated cheese.