Looking for delicious, but easy appetizers for your next party? Whether it’s a holiday gathering, office potluck, or barbecue, the 3 appetizers below are sure to wow the crowd.
I’ve used these appetizers for family, friends, and co-workers. No matter how picky or diverse the crowd – these appetizers have always been a success.
Trader Joe’s is my store of choice, so the ingredients below all came from Trader Joe’s. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you, you can find substitutes for most of the ingredients at your local grocery store.
1. Honey Chevre and Raisin Rosemary Crisps
Cheese and crackers are a staple at any party or gathering. But this particular pairing of Trader Joe’s honey chevre and raisin rosemary crisps is sooo unbelievably good!
I served these as an appetizer at my last dinner party. My guests couldn’t get enough of them. One even asked for a doggy bag to take home any leftovers. That’s a pretty amazing request for just cheese and crackers! They’re seriously that delicious!
What you’ll need:
- 8 oz log of Trader Joe’s Chevre with Honey
- 5.3 oz box of Trader Joe’s Raisin Rosemary Crisps
How to prepare:
- Place the honey chevre on a cheese board with a cheese knife. Keep the cheese in the refrigerator until ready to serve. It’s a pretty soft cheese so can get messy quickly.
- Place the raisin rosemary crisps on a plate or in a bowl and serve next to the cheese.
And that’s it! Be prepared to accept all the compliments on how delicious it tastes!
2. Mediterranean Lentil Salad
My cousin Emily introduced me to this amazing Mediterranean lentil salad recipe. It was an instant hit with my family.
This particular recipe calls for feta cheese and tortilla chips. To make the dish healthier, you can skip the cheese and substitute celery sticks for the tortilla chips.
I love this dish because of its unique flavors. It’s also incredibly filling. I often make a batch of it on Sunday nights and eat it for lunch at work for the rest of the week.
What you’ll need:
- 17.6 oz box of Trader Joe’s steamed lentils
- 14.5 oz tub of Trader Joe’s bruschetta sauce (you’ll use half of the tub in this recipe)
- 6 oz tub of Trader Joe’s crumbled feta cheese with Mediterranean herbs
- 1 large or 2 small cucumbers
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 bag tortilla chips
How to prepare:
- Peel and dice the cucumber.
- Core and dice the red bell pepper.
- Spoon half the bruschetta into a large bowl. I prefer to drain some of the liquid from the bruschetta before adding it to the bowl, but feel free to include.
- To the large bowl with the bruschetta, add the lentils, crumbled feta cheese, diced cucumber, and diced red bell pepper.
- Use a fork to combine all the ingredients. (I find a fork is easier for breaking up the lentils.)
- Place the tortilla chips on a plate or in a bowl and serve next to the lentil salad.
Yum – get ready for the compliments to start rolling in from your guests!
3. Crab Cocktail Dip
My mom’s neighbors throw a great Christmas Eve celebration for their friends and family. One of my favorite dishes is the crab cocktail dip.
Just four ingredients make this wonderful dish. It’s a crowd-pleaser at the neighbors’ Christmas Eve party and is now a highlight at my own dinner parties.
What you’ll need:
- 8 oz block of cream cheese
- 11 oz bottle of cocktail sauce (sometimes called seafood cocktail sauce)
- Can or tub of crab meat (you use very little crab meat for this recipe, so find the smallest container available)
- 9 oz box of wheat crackers
How to prepare:
- Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on a plate. The amount of cream cheese you use will depend on the size of your plate. Start with half of the block and add cream cheese as you go.
- Spread a thin layer of cocktail sauce on top of the cream cheese. Cocktail sauce has a strong taste, so you don’t need a lot. I generally use less than half the bottle.
- Sprinkle a thin layer of crab meat on top of the cocktail sauce. You don’t need to use a lot; a little crab will go a long way with this dish.
- Place the wheat crackers on a plate or in a bowl and serve next to the crab cocktail dip.
Once your guests try this dish, they’ll come back for more!
Bonus: Time Management Tips for Your Next Party
Planning for parties can be stressful and time-consuming – even if you’re not hosting! Here are some tips to help you manage your time for your next party:
Try to make food dishes in advance.
All three appetizers above can be made in advance. Just pop them in the refrigerator and pull them out as the guests arrive or you head out to your party.
Take advantage of grocery delivery or pick-up services.
Trader Joe’s currently doesn’t participate with grocery delivery/pick-up services, but many other grocery stores do! You can save yourself time by ordering your groceries in advance and either picking them up or having them delivered to you. No wasted time looking for a spot in the grocery store parking lot, hunting for your ingredients in crowded aisles, or standing in long lines! You can read more about these services here. I’ve used and recommend both AmazonFresh and Peapod for online grocery shopping. Here are some online grocery services you can try:
Make sure you have serving plates, dishes, and utensils.
Ever create a beautiful dish and then realize you don’t have anything to serve it in or with? I have! Now I stock up on serveware in advance so I have it on hand when I need it.
Select your outfit several days in advance.
If you’re like me, you may have party attire that you only wear a few times a year. I’ve made the mistake of not trying it on in advance – and then had to make last minute outfit changes when I discovered it was too wrinkled or didn’t fit quite right. You can eliminate this stress by planning your outfit in advance.
With these tips (and appetizers!) I hope you have a fantastic time at your next event!
