Top 10 List: Favorite Appetizer Recipes
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Next to dessert, dips and appetizers are by far my favorite type of food. I could make meals out of just about any appetizer (and have on many occasions). In fact, I’m pretty sure that I made guacamole and chips lunch one Sunday during football season. So as you might expect, there are quite a few dip and appetizer recipes here on the site. As a continuation of the Top 10 List series, and with the cookout and party season kicking into high gear, I thought it would be the perfect time to narrow down my appetizers to my all-time favorites. Not surprisingly, most of the recipes on this list are dips, but there are also a few finger foods and snacks sprinkled in. Enjoy browsing!
(I got extremely hungry putting this post together!)
1. Artichoke Spinach Dip – One of my all-time favorite restaurant appetizers, and I was finally able to recreate the perfect blend of flavors at home. Creamy, cheesy and a great balance of spinach and artichoke. A must for your dip and appetizer repertoire!
2. Cheddar Ale Spread – This dip is a hit wherever it goes. I have lost count of how many times the recipe has been requested, and for good reason – anytime you combine beer, cream cheese and cheddar it’s bound to be a hit.
3. Chicken Spread – This is one of those old-school recipes from my mom’s little recipe book with index cards that she made for get togethers all the time when we were younger. It’s one that is still a favorite and I can never get enough of whenever one of us makes it.
4. Fontina-Stuffed, Bacon-Wrapped Dates – These are hopelessly addicting. The bacon and dates sort of caramelize in the oven and, along with the cheese, make a sweet and salty snack. Since they are bite size, it’s incredibly easy to blow through a whole batch in no time. A definite party must!
5. Guacamole – A classic! I could eat an entire bowl of this with a bag of chips.
6. Homemade Cracker Jack (Caramel Peanut Popcorn) – I loved Cracker Jack when I was a kid, but always wished there were more peanuts. Well, when you make your own you can make the rules 
And this is the perfect recipe for caramel peanut popcorn. Would be great for a movie night.
7. Homemade Restaurant-Style Salsa – This is a new-found love and I’ve already made it three times. The flavors are so bright and fresh – the tomatoes, cilantro and lime especially stand out. Definitely on par with what you get at authentic Mexican restaurants and a million times better than anything out of a jar.
8. Hot Reuben Dip – This has all the great elements of a Reuben – chopped corned beef, cream cheese, Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing… all in a dip. Serve it with little squares of rye or those flat pretzels.
9. Pepperoni Bread – My grandma has been making this recipe for as long as I can remember. It is the epitome of comfort food for me.
10. Taco Dip – Another from my mom’s old arsenal that always showed up at family parties. It couldn’t be much simpler to make, and everyone goes crazy for it. You can mix up the toppings based on your personal preferences. Definitely another party staple.
What are some of your favorite dips or appetizers to take to a party? I’m always on the lookout for great dips especially, so feel free to share recipes!
No joke, my mouth actually watered when I was reading this post!
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I love appies! I shouldn’t have read this post before bed! I am starving now!!!
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My family LOVES dips too! Almost every Sunday after church, we snack on some kind of crackers with dip to hold us over until dinner time! If you want to try a unique dip, check out my post for Warm Chicken Curry Dip. http://ambitionskitchen.blogspot.com/2011/02/warm-chicken-curry-dip.html
Let me know if you try it!
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Mmm I love just having appetizers for dinner sometimes! These all look lovely!
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Feta cheese and watermelon paired together on a stick is fantastic! With only 2 ingredients be sure they are the best quality.Those who like salt on their melon should try this. Another sweet and salty combo
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I’m a big fan of cream cheese tortilla wraps — you’re right about the cream cheese thing. They’re bite size, which makes it all that much easier to make them disappear. Ranch dressing mix gives the cream cheese a bite, and then chopped black olives and multicolored peppers are thrown in for color and crunch. They’ve been a big hit in my family for years, especially as an alternative to ham, which ultimately turns off the vegetarians in the group.
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The Hot Reuben Dip was the hit of the Super Bowl party! Everyone loved it!
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ohh pepperoni bread looks amazing!
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I used to live on spinach artichoke dip! My friends and I made it so often it was simply called dip and we all knew what it was. My recipe is almost the same as yours, but instead of the jack cheese, I used asiago… so amazing!
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Thanks for putting together this list of appetizers. Everything looks delish! I have to make both the Cheddar Ale and the Chicken spreads. All of these appetizers will be great for summer parties.
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Wow! What a great collection! I’m definitely bookmarking this for future reference. Your grandma’s pepperoni bread looks just like my mom’s. She made it all the time too.
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I would appreciate eating everything on this list, EVERYTHING!!!! I LOVE appetizers as a meal too. Who needs a ‘main course’ when you have 10 fabulous apps/dips?
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Great list of appetizers! I want to have a party now:)
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i’ve been making a roasted yellow pepper + goat cheese dip for a few years now, it’s my fave!
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I actually prefer snacks/appetizers to real meals so these ideas are perfect!!
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I love appetizers! Any kind of slider is one of the favorites at my house, but your dips look so good! Bookmarking the beer cheese dip to try…thank you
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Oh how I love appetizers! They all look soooo good
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Love it when you post lists. So many yummy things to choose from.
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I think I could live on appetizers. In fact, I have been ordering a tossed salad and an app instead of a full dinner. Yum…can’t wait to try your spinach & artichoke dip. The chicken dip brought back memories, too. My mom made it countless times, but in cheeseball form. She chilled the mixture, formed it into a ball and then rolled it in chopped pecans. It was always a party with the chicken ball and her dill dip for a veggie platter.
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everything looks amazing! i should make some of this stuff for the game thats in two hours!
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OMG, that cheddar ale spread…I must make it, and soon.
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A wonderful selections of appetizers. You have some of my favorites and a few I’ve never tried before. I think I’ll start with the Reuben dip. This list will carry me through the summer.
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Great list of easy appetizers, Michelle. I have to try that Cheddar Ale Dip.
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MMMmmmmm! I just had supper and this still made me hungry!! I have to say that I have an ‘appetizer addiction’. I could eat apps anytime and am always on the lookout for something new and delish. Thanks for posting these wonderful recipes! My newest and biggest hit since my Buffalo Chicken Dip is a Jalapeno Popper Dip – it was fabulous! Thanks for sharing your amazing recipes
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What a fantastic round up. Makes me want to invite the whole street for drinks and nibbles!
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I just made bacon-wrapped dates for a party and they were a smash hit! The caramelized dates paired with the salty bacon are heavenly. Might try it with cheese next time…
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Jenna on November 18th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
Try stuffing the dates with goat or bleu cheese and an almond before you wrap them in bacon….Sweet, salty, creamy and crunchy all in one! So amazing!
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I can’t wait to try out your recipe for the spinach and artichoke dip. I could eat an entire serving to myself! If you wanna try a killer dip, go for the super simple BLT Dip. Cup of Mayo, Cup of sour cream, chopped up fried bacon and a tomato chopped up and thrown in. It tastes amazing with crackers, chips or bits of bread!
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