50 Finger Food Party Appetizers

This recipe turns leftover mashed potatoes into magical, fried bites of savory deliciousness. Ready in 25 minutes, these delish creations are a perfect last-minute appetizer when you want something a bit different than your average mashed potatoes, or simply need a fun take on classic comfort food.

Get Fried Mashed Potato Balls recipe.

Fried calamari doesn't have to be reserved for beachfront restaurants. It's easy to make at home and comes out extra crispy and crunchy. A squeeze of lemon juice and fresh marinara and you're ready to go. After you master this, give fish and chips a go!

Get the Crispy Fried Calamari recipe.

Classic deviled eggs get a smoky kick from harissa (Tunisian chili pepper paste) in this simple but flavorful deviled eggs recipe. Topped with crispy fried shallots and fresh cilantro, it may stray pretty far from the original, but it’s just as delicious.

Get the Harissa Deviled Eggs recipe.

Simply toss canned black-eyed peas with raw chopped collard greens, bell pepper, scallions, and garlic, and toss with an apple cider vinaigrette. Pile the mix onto toasted baguette slices and top with crispy, smoky pork to complete this shareable appetizer.

Get the Black-Eyed Pea Bruschetta recipe.

Shrimp cocktail is a classic, and it couldn't be easier. We've updated this party standby with a zesty homemade sauce that packs a flavorful punch thanks to ketchup, chili sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. The secret ingredient? A small amount of celery salt ties it all together.

Get the Shrimp Cocktail recipe.

If you’re a fan of our cranberry brie bites, we’ve got news for you: There’s a new app in town, and it’s inspired by another fan fave, baked feta pasta. This cheesy finger food features the flavors you know and love, all nestled into bite-sized cups of golden crescent dough.

Get the Baked Feta Bites recipe.

Tiny hot dogs before your regular-size hot dogs? Why not?! There's something very classic about the crescent roll dough flavor, so we tend to gravitate toward it, but puff pastry or even biscuit dough both should work here too.

Get the Pigs In A Blanket recipe.

Grape jelly meatballs might not sound like an ideal combo, but trust us, it is! The sweet jelly mixed with smoky BBQ sauce is a match made in heaven. We added some sriracha to give it a bit of a kick that we found so addicting.

Get the Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs recipe.

These poppable snacks harness umami to the power of three. Savory mushrooms, sweet and tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and nutty Parmesan combine for irresistible bites you’ll be craving long after they’re gone (so make extra!).

Get the Air Fryer Tuscan Stuffed Mushrooms recipe.

Here at Delish, we’re all about a good reuben sandwich. Creamy dressing, corned beef, Swiss cheese… what’s not to love? Pair all those delicious ingredients between pickle chips for the the perfect bite-size appetizer (and they come together SO fast).

Get the Reuben Pickle Bites recipe.

If you're unfamiliar with dates, it's time to familiarize yourself! The date's sweetness is the perfect counterpoint to crisp, salty bacon and creamy goat cheese.

Get the Bacon-Wrapped Dates recipe.

These cheese puffs (aka gougères) are a triple threat: easy to make, impressive looking, and insanely delicious. And the good news is you probably already have most (or all) of the ingredients.

Get the Cheese Puffs recipe.

These easy bites are perfect for literally any occasion. We love their little pretzel handles, but feel free to leave them out or even make one huge cheeseball!

Get the Loaded Cheese Ball Bites recipe.

The Italian dish is prepared by forming cooled risotto into balls, filling them with some sort of filling (typically cheesy!), then breading and deep frying them into golden, crispy perfection. We've got three different flavor options here, but our fave for spring is pesto provolone!

Get the Arancini, 3 Ways recipe.

These seasonal potstickers are a super-clever and delicious fall appetizer. They're easy to put together and most of your time is spent roasting your squash until really tender, which can be done ahead of time. Crimping takes a little practice, but the good news is that even if they look a little wonky, they are still going to taste great!

Get the Butternut Squash Potstickers recipe.

Air fryers are slowly winning us over. First with these amazing air-fryer pickles (obvs), and now with this amazing coconut shrimp. They get totally crispy, and the spicy mayo goes perfectly with the sweet coconut. Match made in heaven!

Get the Air-Fryer Coconut Shrimp recipe.

The spice mix here is what sets this crispy popcorn chicken apart: five-spice heightened with some white pepper, Sichuan peppercorns, onion powder, and mildly spicy gochugaru.

Get the Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken recipe.

Looking for an appetizer that doubles at a centerpiece? This cheesy, savory crescent ring is perfect for your holiday gathering. And if it's a vegetarian app you're after, we'd suggest subbing in sautéed mushrooms for the bacon.

Get the Bacon Brie Crescent Wreath recipe.

Crunchy, peppery red radishes are so underrated. Sure, they add a lovely kick of crisp heat to skillet migas or pineapple shrimp tacos. We thought it was time to give them the spotlight, front-and-center on this springy crostini with plenty of sweet, caramelized brown butter.

Get the Brown Butter Radish Crostini recipe.

Here, we set out to make crispy delicious green beans, minus the deep frying. Our solve? Panko bread crumbs and your air fryer, which give the benefit of tempura's delicious crunch, without the need for a pot of hot, spattering oil or a classic tempura batter (since wet batters don't do well in the air fryer).

Get the Air Fryer Tempura-Inspired Green Beans recipe.