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These 45+ cold appetizer recipes are simple, flavorful, and made for sharing. Whether you’re hosting a summer get-together or just want something snacky without turning on the oven, there’s something here for every kind of crowd. From dips to crostini to creative charcuterie boards, these recipes will cover you from start to finish.
When the temperatures climb, or you just don’t feel like cooking, cold appetizer recipes are a lifesaver. These are the kinds of dishes you can prep ahead, serve straight from the fridge, and still have people asking for the recipe. No heat, no stress, just really good food for any gathering.
This round-up is full of easy, crowd-pleasing ideas. Whether you’re building a snack board for game night, putting together a mid-day spread, or hosting a summer patio hang, having a reliable set of cold appetizers in your back pocket is essential. This isn’t just chips and dip. It’s a full lineup – guacamoles, crostini, finger-friendly bites, and cheese boards that are just the right balance of fresh, creamy, tangy, and bold.
There are over 45 recipes in this list, so you’ll find plenty of variety, from savory to fruity, spicy to herby. And because none of these need to be served hot, they’re ideal for parties where people are grazing over a couple of hours. You can mix and match, or even build your own DIY appetizer bar if you’re feeling fancy.
easy cold appetizer recipes
Black Bean Corn Salsa Dip
This black bean corn salsa dip is the ultimate quick and easy appetizer. Made with fresh veggies like bell peppers and corn, pantry staples, and just the right amount of zing, this recipe is a must for parties, meal prep, or anytime snacking!
Easy Charcuterie Board
An Easy Charcuterie Board for any random weeknight? We say YES. Cheese boards don’t just have to be for fancy occasions. A little spread of meat and cheese plus a glass of wine at the end of any day is well-deserved!
Italian Charcuterie Board
Build the ultimate Italian charcuterie board with prosciutto, salami, fresh mozzarella, and classic Mediterranean additions. We are sharing our top tips for selecting meats, cheeses, and pairings for the best appetizer spread.
Pineapple Mango Salsa
If you love fresh and flavorful salsa, then try this easy recipe featuring sweet pineapple and juicy mango. The sweet and savory combination adds a tropical twist to your next meal or as a refreshing appetizer.
easy whipped ricotta
Ready in only 5 minutes, this creamy whipped ricotta is the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer. Top with your favorite toppings to customize it however you like for a crowd-pleaser!
Stuffed Dates 4 Ways
Stuffed dates are an easy, no-cook appetizer (or snack!) that can be made in a variety of ways. Fill fruity and chewy dates with FOUR creamy, cheesy, and savory fillings to get your sweet and salty fix. Make just one type or make them all!
Quick Pickled Carrots
Quick Pickled Carrots are ready to enjoy in just one hour, with only 15 minutes of prep time! They are tangy, crunchy, and sweet, making them the ultimate snack anytime of the day. Serve them on sandwiches, over salad, on tacos, and so much more!
Marinated Mozzarella Balls
Simple Marinated Mozzarella Balls are a quick and easy appetizer that always wow’s a crowd. It’s the ideal snack for any of your holiday gatherings or celebrations. Serve it with crusty bread or as a part of your charcuterie/cheese board!
Creamy Greek Hummus
This is the easiest way to make the most flavorful Greek Hummus! Authentic, smooth, and incredibly creamy, this recipe is so much better than anything you can buy in the store. We are sharing all the best tips and tricks to make homemade Greek style hummus.
Fruit Charcuterie Board
Fruit Charcuterie Board is a unique take on a charcuterie board! If you need a fun and festive centerpiece for your next gathering, this is definitely the one for you. I’ve included seasonal recommendations, as well as ways to customize this board for any occasion.
Burrata Caprese Salad
Burrata Caprese Salad is a simple, yet elegant summer salad made with fresh tomatoes, creamy burrata cheese, and basil. This salad is ideal for a light lunch or dinner, but it’s also a hit as an appetizer for a party! The fresh flavors are simple and delicious, making this simple recipe easy to prepare and enjoy.
Summer Charcuterie Board
A Summer Charcuterie Board is the ultimate way to embrace the flavors of summer! Bursting with an array of seasonal fruits, refreshing dips, and a tempting assortment of artisanal cheeses and cured meats, this board is a grazer’s ultimate dream. It is an unforgettable centerpiece for any summer gathering!
Fall Charcuterie Board
A fall charcuterie board is an easy way to upgrade your seasonal gatherings. The art of crafting this centerpiece board is simple, but guests won’t know that when they experience the rich flavors and vibrant autumn ingredients. It’s ideal for hosting, whether you are serving it as a snack or a main meal.
Chunky Salsa
Chunky Salsa is perfect for serving at parties and gatherings of all sizes (or for a casual weeknight snack)! There’s nothing that beats the flavor of fresh homemade salsa, so skip the store bought stuff. It’s very easy to make and the longer you let it sit, the better it ends up tasting.
Caprese Bruschetta
Discover the ultimate taste of summer with Caprese Bruschetta! Juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and aromatic basil come together on a crusty bed of bread to create a burst of flavors that perfectly capture the essence of the season. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar glaze at the end!
Whipped Goat Cheese Salsa Dip
Whipped Goat Cheese Salsa Dip is the perfect no-fuss appetizer for any summer gathering! It’s quick and easy, and you can even make it ahead of time. Topped with fresh chunky salsa (or store-bought if you are in a rush!) and candied bacon, everyone will be in the party mood!
Roasted Asparagus Herb Ricotta Crostini
Roasted Asparagus Herb Ricotta Crostini is an easy appetizer that screams spring. Golden toasted baguette slices are topped with a creamy lemon and herb ricotta that’s been whipped to perfection. Topped with roasted asparagus, it is simple, fresh, and ideal for large gatherings.
Roasted Cranberry Goat Cheese Crostini
Tart, tangy, creamy, and a little sweet, this crostini is a killer appetizer for the holiday season.
Salame Peach Ricotta Crostini
This post has been sponsored by Gallo Salame, Inc. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Salame Peach Ricotta Crostini are the perfect combination of crunchy, creamy, salty, and sweet. Made with Gallo Salame® Italian Dry Salame and fresh summer ingredients, this crostini is the ultimate summer snack. It also can be a delicious appetizer
Tomato Peach Bruschetta
Tomato Peach Bruschetta is a fruity upgrade on the Italian appetizer that you will not be able to stop eating. The sweet peaches with the meaty tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil are the easiest and tastiest bread topping ever!
Avocado Bruschetta
Easy avocado bruschetta is a flavorful snack that is killer for a party and also as a midday treat. The bright flavors are so satisfying, and the creamy addition of avocado is the best twist on the Italian classic!
Honey Lime Shrimp Guacamole Tostadas
Honey Lime Shrimp and Guacamole Tostadas are my new crunchy, tangy go-to for a party, or for any ol’ weeknight when I want to add a little flair to the menu. They are loaded with guacamole, my favorite shrimp, pico de gallo, red onion slices, and queso fresco. It’s an easy meal that can be made in less than 30 minutes!
Smoked Salmon Avocado Cream Cheese Pastries
Smoked Salmon Avocado Cream Cheese Pastries will seriously impress at your next gathering. They are ideal for Easter or Mother’s Day brunch.
Citrus Guacamole
Citrus Guacamole captures the juicy, bright flavors of some of your favorite fruits in a savory dip that brings a burst of sunshine into your mouth. The combination of orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, and grapefruit juice makes the avocado stand out in a whole new tangy way! If you love guacamole, this is the next one you have to try.
Tropical Guacamole
Tropical guacamole is a way to escape to the islands, but without that pricey plane ticket. A combination of pineapple, papaya, mango, and coconut makes this dip sweet and savory. It’s an ideal snack or a killer topping for chicken and carnitas tacos!
BLT Guacamole
BLT Goat Cheese Guacamole is a fun twist on guacamole that’ll have everyone coming back for more. Crispy bacon, acidic tomato, and refreshing lettuce elevate the smooth and creamy guacamole; to make it a delightful snack packed with a ton of flavor!
Bang Bang Shrimp Tostada Bites with Mango Slaw
Currently OBSESSED with bright, crispy and spicy Bang Bang Shrimp Tostada Bites with Mango Slaw! It’s the best bang bang shrimp fix at home, and in bite-sized form. Bust out this recipe for your next party and watch them disappear in a snap!
Spicy Tuna Poke and Avocado Wonton Cups
Spicy Tuna Poke Wonton Cups are how I take myself back to Hawaii through food. Each bite of the spicy, fresh, delicious fish in crispy golden wonton cups is an explosion of complex flavors that only take a few minutes to pull together. If you can’t fly to Hawaii, then take yourself there on a wave of these island flavors!
Chipotle Bacon Deviled Eggs
Smoky, savory and spicy Chipotle Bacon Deviled Eggs are the one thing your summer picnics need! The bacon, homemade chipotle seasoning and avocado make these little guys the bees knees.
Chipotle Chorizo Guacamole
If guacamole is my soulmate, Chipotle Chorizo Guacamole is its fiery, smoky, sultry side that I absolutely can’t get enough of… Your Cinco de Mayo festivities are begging for you to make this!
Veggie Guacamole
Veggie Guacamole is a vegetable-packed, spicy guacamole that will have everyone gathering around the table (yes, even those crazy health nuts you know). With all those vegetables packed in there, you don’t have to feel guilty about loading up chips with a heaping scoop! Guacamole is my “healthy food”. I am not the best at
Avocado Fennel Salad
Avocado Fennel Salad is a wonderful way to start off any of your upcoming holiday meals. All throughout the holidays, this salad is a refreshing and bright starter that everyone will love.
Cranberry Walnut Goat Cheese Ball
A Cranberry Walnut Goat Cheese Ball filled with winter herbs and tangy goat cheese is a holiday appetizer no one will forget! Form it, chill, and serve.
Spicy Avocado Chimichurri Salsa
Spicy Avocado Chimichurri Salsa is a quick and easy salsa that breaks up the usual red-based salsa routine. It’s chunky, spicy, and packed with herbaceous flavor that’s impossible for anyone to resist!
Avocado Goat Cheese Crostini
Avocado Goat Cheese Crostini are how I get fancy with avocados! The goat cheese and fresh cherry tomatoes are the bright and acidic accents the humble avocado needs to take your appetizer game to the next level. Let’s continue rocking the appetizer game, shall we? At the end of last week I brought you some killer egg
marinated cheese
Two kinds of cheese layered and soaked in a herby, peppery marinade. It’s colorful, bold, and the kind of appetizer that has people hovering over the platter until it’s gone. Top with herbs like fresh parsley or fresh dill.
garlic herb cream cheese dip
Smooth cream cheese mixed with herbs and garlic for a quick dip that brings the flavor in under five minutes. Perfect for spreading, dipping, or just keeping on hand when snack cravings hit.
sour cream spinach dip
A classic party dip made from scratch with real ingredients. No powdered soup mix here—just sour cream, cream cheese, spinach, and a whole lot of flavor.
prosciutto wrapped mozzarella bites
Salty prosciutto wrapped around creamy mozzarella and a little basil. Just four ingredients and about 15 minutes from start to snack. They’re simple, satisfying, and totally addictive.
strawberry salsa
Juicy strawberries, a splash of lime, and a handful of fresh basil make this salsa bright and unexpected. Pile it on chips, grilled chicken, or anything else that could use a pop of sweet summer flavor.
cajun shrimp deviled eggs
Classic deviled eggs, leveled up with spicy shrimp and bold Cajun flavor. They’re creamy, savory, and always the first thing to vanish from the appetizer table.
vietnamese spring rolls
Packed with fresh veggies, herbs, and vermicelli noodles, these rolls are light, crisp, and seriously satisfying. The peanut dipping sauce pulls it all together. A great hands-on app for parties, or just a fun way to switch up dinner.
fruit salsa
A sweet and tangy mix of chopped fruit that’s been winning over party guests and snack-loving kids for decades. It’s colorful, refreshing, and dangerously easy to inhale with cinnamon chips or straight off the spoon.
shrimp ceviche
Citrus-marinated shrimp tossed with fresh herbs and veggies – it’s bright, bold, and surprisingly simple. Serve it up with chips and let people think you spent hours prepping (you absolutely didn’t).
bacon ranch cheese ball
Cheddar, ranch seasoning, and crispy bacon all rolled into one creamy, crunchy, can’t-stop-eating-it cheese ball. This one earns its spot at any party table and disappears faster than you can say “pass the crackers.”
Smoked salmon appetizer
Fresh cucumber, creamy dill sauce, and smoky salmon stacked into one bite-sized snack. This one’s cool, crisp, and a little fancy without being fussy—ideal for holiday spreads or last-minute get-togethers when you want to impress without stress.
my must-haves for making cold appetizer recipes
Start with a good set of mixing bowls! You’ll use them constantly for tossing salads, mixing dips, and marinating ingredients.
A sharp chef’s knife and sturdy cutting board are essential for clean cuts, especially when prepping ingredients like avocado, fresh herbs, or fruit.
If you’re making crostini, a good bread knife is key.
For dips, grab a mini food processor or blender (like a Vitamix) to whip things up.
Lastly, keep some mini bowls or ramekins around for organizing garnishes and small-batch items like marinated mozzarella balls or pickled veggies. It’s a simple way to make everything feel more intentional and keep things from sliding around.
kitchen favorites
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Let’s talk drinks to pair with cold appetizer recipes. Here are some cocktails that go great with the recipes in this round-up:
- Coconut Margarita – Creamy and citrusy, this one pairs perfectly with guacamole-based bites and shrimp appetizers.
- Blackberry Gin Fizz – A little sweet, a little tart, great with charcuterie and anything that leans savory-sweet.
- Strawberry Mimosa – Ideal for brunchy spreads with avocado toasts, whipped goat cheese, or pickled veggies.
Consider making any of these in a big batch ahead of time so you can help save yourself prep work on the day of your party or gathering!
