Appetizers

Whipped feta, cheese balls, stuffed peppers, and crostini put cheese at the center of a small plate. These recipes range from cool spreads to warm bites, with herbs, fruit, or chiles adding contrast.

A crisp slice of bread can carry creamy cheese, ripe tomatoes, or fruit with savory accompaniments. These crostini, toasts, and canapés offer small portions with a balance of crunch and topping.

Cucumber dip, almond poppy seed dip, and cheese spreads offer different textures for a shared bowl. Choose a dip or spread to accompany vegetables, bread, crackers, or another suitable partner.

Deviled eggs, candied bacon, and pickled preparations bring eggs into the first course. These small servings offer a different way to enjoy a familiar ingredient, from creamy fillings to tangy bites.

Small portions make room for variety: stuffed poblanos, bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, crackers, and vegetable chips each bring a different texture. These finger foods offer ideas for a plate of bites to share.

Beef carpaccio, bacon-wrapped bites, and pepperoni kabobs take meat and poultry beyond the main course. Browse small portions that use slicing, wrapping, and savory accompaniments to shape the opening plate.

Pickled shrimp, shrimp cocktail, and salmon preparations give seafood a place at the start of a meal. Cool servings and richer savory dishes offer different textures and approaches to the first course.

Goat cheese–stuffed piquillo peppers offer a small plate with a Spanish connection. This compact tapas collection invites attention to the balance between a tender pepper and its creamy filling.

Vegetable appetizers can be crisp, tender, cool, or gently charred. Zucchini pancakes, pepper preparations, and cucumber dip show how vegetables contribute both flavor and texture to the beginning of a meal.